[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45197-45198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22675]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 95, 100, 173, 174, 175, 177, 179, 181, and 183

46 CFR Part 25

[CGD 97-029]


Review of Regulations on Boating Safety

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments; reopening and extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: In a notice published on May 28, 1997, the Coast Guard 
announced that it will conduct a comprehensive review of currently 
effective boating safety regulations during and after the meeting of 
the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) in October 1997. 
The notice described the regulations to be reviewed and solicited 
comments from the boating community about which regulations should be 
changed. This Notice reopens and extends the comment period.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before September 30, 
1997.


[[Page 45198]]


ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA, 3406) [CGD 97-029], U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or 
deliver them to room 3406 at the same address between 9:30 a.m. and 2 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
regulatory review. Comments, and documents as indicated in this 
preamble, will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Carlton Perry, Project Manager, Office of Boating Safety, Program 
Management Division, 202-267-0979. You may obtain a copy of this Notice 
by calling the U.S. Coast Guard Infoline at 1-800-368-5647, or on the 
Internet Office of Boating Safety Web Site at URL address http://
www.uscgboating.org/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    In a notice published on May 28, 1997 (62 FR 28824), the Coast 
Guard set the original close of the comment period at July 28, 1997, to 
allow summarizing the comments received and providing the summaries to 
the NBSAC members prior to the meeting date. (The Coast Guard will 
publish details of the exact time and place of the meeting in the 
Federal Register at a later date. The meeting will be open to the 
public.) Due to the small number of comments received by the close of 
the comment period and a request from the National Association of State 
Boating Law Administrators, the Coast Guard is reopening and extending 
the comment period to provide additional time for submission of public 
comment. The Coast Guard will summarize--and will provide to the 
members of NBSAC for them to consider at the meeting in October 1997--
all comments received during the extended comment period in response to 
this Notice. It will consider all relevant comments in the formulation 
of any changes to the boating safety regulations that may result from 
this review. (This review is not required by but is consistent with 5 
U.S.C. 610, which directs agencies to conduct periodic reviews of 
regulations they issue that have a significant impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.) The review will encompass currently 
effective boating safety regulations in 33 CFR Parts 95, 100, 173, 174, 
175, 177, 179, 181, and 183 and 46 CFR Subparts 25.30, 25.35, and 
25.40. It will not encompass any rules not yet final.

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons from all segments of 
the boating community to participate in this regulatory review by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments regarding any changes to 
the currently effective boating safety regulations, including 
elimination or revocation of any requirements. Persons submitting 
comments should include their names and addresses, identify this Notice 
[CGD 97-029] and the specific provision in the regulation to which each 
comment applies, state each change needed, and give all reasons to 
support each change. Please submit two copies of all comments and 
attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, 
suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting 
acknowledgment of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
addressed postcards or envelopes.

    Dated: August 18, 1997.
Ernest R. Riutta,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-22675 Filed 8-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M