[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 133 (Friday, July 11, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 37134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-18263]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 155

[CGD 79-116]
RIN 2115-AA03


Qualifications for Tankermen, and for Persons in Charge of 
Transfers of Dangerous Liquids and Liquefied Gases

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; Establishment of a delayed compliance date.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard establishes a delayed compliance date for a 
portion of the final rule concerning qualifications for tankermen and 
for persons in charge of transfers of dangerous liquids and liquefied 
gases. The delayed compliance date also applies to a paragraph that was 
established in the interim rule, but not revised in the final rule. 
Because the Coast Guard finds that added time will be necessary for 
affected mariners to comply, the Coast Guard establishes a delayed 
compliance date for one requirement for licensing with respect to a 
vessel with a capacity of 250 barrels or more.

DATES: The effective date of the final rule published in the Federal 
Register on May 8, 1997 (62 FR 25115), remains June 9, 1997. However, 
the compliance date for the revisions to 33 CFR 155.710(e) introductory 
text, (e)(1), (e)(2), and (e)(3) is January 1, 1998. Furthermore, the 
compliance date for 33 CFR 155.710(e)(4), not revised in the final 
rule, is January 1, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Mark C. Gould, Project Manager, Maritime Personnel Qualifications 
Division, (202) 267-6890.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 33 CFR 155.710(e) introductory text, (e)(1), 
(e)(2), (e)(3), and (e)(4) were published in the interim rule (60 FR 
17134). In the final rule, 33 CFR 155.710 (e) introductory text, 
(e)(1), (e)(2), and (e)(3) were revised--33 CFR 155.710 (e)(4) was not.
    Because procurement of a license or MMD with a Tankerman-PIC 
endorsement on any vessel with a capacity of 250 or more barrels of 
fuel oil, cargo oil, hazardous material, or liquefied gas as regulated 
in Table 4 of 46 CFR part 154 presupposes formal training and proof of 
service, and because there are mariners who only now realize that they 
must obtain licenses or MMDs, it is clear that they are unable to 
comply by June 9, 1997. There are too few schools in the areas most 
affected, nor can the regional examination centers of the Coast Guard 
handle such an increase in customers in such a short time. To allow 
ample time for those mariners to obtain both the required training and 
the license or document, the Coast Guard establishes a delayed 
compliance date for 33 CFR 155.710(e) introductory text, (e)(1), 
(e)(2), (e)(3), and (e)(4), of January 1, 1998.

    Dated: July 3, 1997.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-18263 Filed 7-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M