[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33747-33749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15932]


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PANAMA CANAL COMMISSION

35 CFR Part 61

RIN 3207-AA41


Health, Sanitation, and Communicable Disease Surveillance; 
Licensing of Activities

AGENCY: Panama Canal Commission.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Panama Canal Commission is amending its regulations in 
title 35 of the Code of Federal Regulations in order to delete 
reference to activities assumed by the Republic of Panama in accordance 
with the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and to reflect the sanitation and 
communicable disease surveillance activities performed by the

[[Page 33748]]

Commission. The procedural rights of the users of the Panama Canal are 
unaffected by this amendment.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective June 23, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John A. Mills, Secretary, Panama Canal 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, Panama Canal Commission, 
International Square, 1825 I Street NW., Suite 1050, Washington, DC 
20006-5402, (Telephone: (202) 634-6441); or John L. Haines, Jr., 
General Counsel, Panama Canal Commission, Unit 2300, APO AA 34011-2300; 
Telephone 011-507-272-7511; Facsimile: 011-507-272-3748.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Licensing of various activities was a 
governmental function conducted by the Canal Zone Government. The 
Panama Canal Treaty of 1977 and the implementing legislation, Public 
Law 96-70, approved September 27, 1979, eliminated those functions. The 
regulations concerning those pre-treaty activities are removed by this 
amendment. The following parts including their identified sections are 
removed: Subpart B--Barbers, Beauticians, and Manicurists; Subpart C--
Examination of Food Handlers; Inspection of Food-Handling 
Establishments; Subpart D--Food and Beverages. Subpart E--Maritime 
Communicable Disease Surveillance is being amended to reflect the 
correct titles of the positions involved in these activities.
    The Commission has been exempted from Executive Order 12866 and, 
accordingly, the provisions of that directive do not apply to this 
rule. Even if the Order were applicable, this rule would not have 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    Further, the agency has determined implementation of the rule will 
have no adverse effect on competition, employment, investment, 
productivity, innovation, or on the ability of the United States-based 
enterprises to compete with foreign based enterprises in domestic or 
export markets.
    Finally, the Secretary of the Panama Canal Commission certifies 
these changes in regulations meet the applicable standards provided in 
sections 2(a) and 2(b)(2) of Executive Order No. 12778.

List of Subjects in 35 CFR Part 61

    Biologics, Communicable diseases, Harbors, Public health, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.

    Accordingly, 35 CFR part 61 is amended as follows:

PART 61--HEALTH, SANITATION, AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE

    1. The authority citation for part 61 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 3811.

Subparts B, C, D, Secs. 61.31-61.95 [Removed and Reserved]

    2. In 35 CFR part 61 remove and reserve subparts B, C, and D, and 
Secs. 61.31-61.95 [removed and reserved] and amend subpart E as 
follows:

Subpart E--[Amended]

Subpart E--Maritime Communicable Disease Surveillance

    3. In subpart E remove the words ``medical officer'' and ``medical 
officer in charge'' and add, in their place, the words ``Chief, 
Occupational Health Division'' each place they appear.


Sec. 61.121  [Amended]

    4. In Sec. 61.121 add the abbreviation ``(WHO)'' after the ``World 
Health Organization''.
    5. In Sec. 61.122 remove the definitions of Medical officer and 
Medical officer in charge and add the following definitions in 
alphabetical order:


Sec. 61.122  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Boarding official (admeasurer) means an official or employee of the 
Panama Canal Commission specially trained and assigned to communicable 
disease surveillance duty by authority of the Chief, Occupational 
Health Division.
* * * * *
    Chief, Occupational Health Division means the officer of the Panama 
Canal Commission responsible for the application of these regulations.
* * * * *
    6. Section 61.152 is amended by revising the first sentence to read 
as follows:


Sec. 61.152  Vessels; sanitary inspection and corrective measures.

    The master or his/her designated officer shall make a daily 
sanitary inspection of all compartments or the vessel normally 
accessible to passenger or crew. * * *


Sec. 61.154  [Amended]

    7. In Sec. 61.154(a) remove the words ``suspected smallpox''.
    8. Section 61.155 is amended by revising paragraph (a) (1) and 
paragraph (d) to read as follows:


Sec. 61.155  Vessels; yellow fever.

    (a) * * *
    (1) An infected or suspected vessel as defined in Sec. 61.226; or
    (2) * * *
    (b) * * *
    (c) * * *
    (d) The Quarantine Office of the Government of Panama, upon 
request, will be provided complete information from the ship's required 
entry documents for specified vessel(s) which have either transited the 
Panama Canal or docked at a port of Panama.
* * * * *


Sec. 61.193  [Amended]

    9. Section 61.193(a) is amended by adding the word ``(admeasurer)'' 
after the words ``boarding officer'' in the fourth sentence and by 
removing the words ``medical officer or'' in paragraph (b).


Sec. 61.195  [Amended]

    10. Section 61.195(b) is amended by revising the words ``his 
judgment'' to read ``his/her judgment''.


Sec. 61.20  [Amended]

    11. Section 61.201 is amended by revising the words ``medical 
officer'' to read ``boarding officer (admeasurer)'', and by adding 
after the words ``this subpart'' and before the words ``or 
destruction,'' the words ``shall not render liable to detention, 
disinfection,''.
    12. Section 61.222 is amended by revising the words ``medical 
officer'' to read ``boarding officer (admeasurer)'' in paragraphs (d) 
and (e) and by adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (e) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 61.222  Cholera; vessels and things.

* * * * *
    (e) * * * The ship will be instructed not to dispose of any 
potentially contaminated water of feces into Canal waters.


Secs. 61.223, 61.224, 61.225, 61.227, 61.242, 61.243, 61.263, 61.242, 
61.243, 61.263, and 61.264  [Amended]

    13. In Secs. 61.223(c), 61.224(c), 61.225, 61.227, 61.242(b), 
61.243, 61.263(b), and 61.264 remove the words ``medical officer'' and 
add, in their place, the words ``boarding officer (admeasurer)'' each 
place they appear.
    14. Section 61.263(a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 61.263  Provisional pratique.

    (a) Provisional pratique signifies the vessel may proceed, but 
additional measures regarding the sanitary condition of the vessel, as 
specified, must be taken in connection with the entering or proceeding 
through the Canal. Free pratique shall be issued after

[[Page 33749]]

the additional measurers have been completed.
* * * * *
    Dated: June 12, 1997.
John A. Mills,
Secretary, Panama Canal Commission.
[FR Doc. 97-15932 Filed 6-20-97; 8:45 am]
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