[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34105-34106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16524]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 97-035]


Vessel Response Plan Workshop

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard, together with the Maritime Association of the 
Port of NY/NJ, is conducting a workshop to solicit comments from the 
public on potential changes to the marine salvage and firefighting 
requirements currently found in 33 CFR 155. This workshop is intended 
to serve as an open forum for the discussion of issues relevant to 
specifying salvage and firefighting response capabilities and 
responsibilities. Federal, state, and local agencies and the public are 
invited to participate and provide oral or written comments. This 
notice announces the date, time, location, and format for the workshop.

DATES: The workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, August 5, 1997, from 8:00 
a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held at the Holiday Inn and Suites, 625 
1st Street, Alexandria, Virginia. Written comments should be mailed to 
Commandant (G-MOR-3), Room 2100, U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, ATTN: LT Roger Laferriere.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LT Roger Laferriere, Response Operations Division (G-MOR-3), U.S. Coast 
Guard, telephone (202) 267-0448, fax (202) 267-4085.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The vessel response plan regulations found 
in 33 CFR 155 require vessel owners and operators to identify salvage 
and firefighting assets in their response plans. These assets must be 
ensured available through the use of contracts or other approved means.
    Due to concerns over the capacity of salvage and firefighting 
resources in the United States that existed in 1993, no specific 
response times were mandated for the salvage or firefighting resources 
for five years. However, under the final rule, Vessel Response Plans, 
61 FR 1052 (January 12, 1996), beginning on February 18, 1998, vessel 
response plans submitted for approval must identify salvage and 
firefighting resources that are capable of being deployed to the port 
nearest to the area in which the vessel operates within 24 hours of 
notification.
    The regulations currently leave it up to vessel owners and 
operators to determine their salvage and firefighting response needs, 
and to arrange for the appropriate level of resources. In order to 
ensure consistency throughout the U.S., and to ensure that adequate 
salvage and firefighting resources are in place as required, the Coast 
Guard is considering amending the regulations to specify requirements 
for salvage and firefighting contractors.
    The workshop format will consist of an opening plenary session to 
discuss

[[Page 34106]]

the Coast Guard's purpose for the workshop, followed by concurrent 
workgroup breakout sessions. The workshop will conclude with a closing 
plenary session including reports from the breakfast sessions and a 
summary of the workshop findings. Depending on the interest generated 
by this notice, there may be time for limited individual presentations 
before the breakout sessions. Anyone wishing to make a presentation 
should submit their name, address, organization (if any) and a 
summation of their presentation at least 14 days prior to the workshop 
to Commandant (G-MOR), Room 2100, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20593-0001, ATTN: LT Roger Laferriere.

    Dated: June 13, 1997.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-16524 Filed 6-23-97; 8:45 am]
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