[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61336-61338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30056]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Fees for Sanitation Inspections of Cruise Ships and Consultation 
Services for Ship Construction and Renovation

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces fees for vessel sanitation inspections 
effective January 1, 1998. The Public Health Service (PHS) proposes an 
additional vessel size category for ships >90,000 gross register 
tonnage. The purpose of the new ``Mega'' size category is to more 
accurately recover costs of the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) for 
conducting sanitary inspections of these super-large ships. The PHS 
also proposes to begin charging fees for consultation services for ship 
construction and renovation. The purpose of these charges would be to 
recover costs of conducting the consultation services for ship 
construction and renovation.
    Public comment is requested on the proposed administrative policies 
to add the new size category for inspections, and to charge for 
consultation services for ship construction and renovation.

DATES: To ensure consideration, respondents must have their written 
comments regarding the new size category and charges for services for 
ship construction and renovation to the VSP by January 2, 1998. Fees 
for vessel sanitation inspections are effective January 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by mail or facsimile to the 
Vessel Sanitation Program, Special Programs Group, National Center for 
Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 
4770 Buford Highway, NE., (F16), Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, facsimile 
(770) 488-4127.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel M. Harper, Program Manager, 
Vessel Sanitation Program, National Center for Environmental Health, 
telephone (770) 488-7093 or e-mail [email protected], or Dave Forney, Public 
Health Advisor, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, 
National Center for Environmental Health, telephone (770) 488-7333 or 
e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Background

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operates a 
vessel sanitation inspection program for cruise ships with 
international itineraries and calling at United States ports under 
sections 361-369 (42 U.S.C. 264-272) of the Public Health Service Act, 
as amended. Regulations for the inspection program appear at 42 CFR 
part 71.

[[Page 61337]]

    The Vessel Sanitation Program is a cooperative activity between the 
cruise ship industry and CDC. The purpose and goals of the VSP are to 
achieve and maintain a level of sanitation that will lower the risk for 
gastrointestinal disease outbreaks and assist the passenger line 
industry in its effort to provide a healthful environment for 
passengers and crew.
    The fee schedule for sanitation inspections of passenger cruise 
ships currently inspected under the VSP was first published in the 
Federal Register on November 24, 1987 (52 FR 45019), and revised in a 
schedule published in the Federal Register on November 28, 1989 (54 FR 
48942). Since then, CDC has published the fee schedule annually. The 
purpose of this notice is to announce the revised fee schedule for the 
period January 1, 1998, through September 31, 1998. Public comment is 
also being requested on the proposal to create a new ``Mega'' category 
and on the proposal to charge fees for consultation services for ship 
construction and renovation.

Revised Inspection Fee Schedule

    This notice announces fees effective January 1, 1998. The proposed 
revised size/cost factor is presented in Appendix A. The formula used 
to determine the fees is as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN17NO97.039

    The average cost per inspection is multiplied by a size/cost factor 
to determine the fee for vessels in each size category. The fee 
schedule for sanitation inspections is presented in Appendix A and will 
be effective January 1, 1998, through September 30, 1998. Beginning 
October 1, 1999, all VSP fiscal activities will be on a Federal fiscal 
year basis (October 1-September 30). Should a substantial increase 
occur in the cost of air transportation, it may be necessary to 
readjust the fees before September 30, 1998, since travel constitutes a 
sizable portion of the costs of this program. If such a readjustment in 
the fee schedule is necessary, a notice will be published in the 
Federal Register 30 days before the effective date.
    Calender year 1997 opened with the delivery of the first cruise 
ship exceeding 100,000 gross tonnage. Records for new ship construction 
document that additional ships of equal or greater tonnage are coming 
into the U.S. market in 1998 and beyond. As set out in Appendix A, the 
PHS proposes an additional vessel size category for ships >90,000 gross 
register tonnage. The purpose of the new ``Mega'' size category is to 
more accurately recover the VSP's costs for conducting sanitary 
inspections of these super-large ships.

Construction and Renovation Consultation Fees

    As part of the program designed to assist cruise ship operators in 
achieving and maintaining a healthy level of sanitation, the VSP offers 
consultative services upon the request of a ship's owner or operator. 
The VSP staff review ship construction or renovation plans before 
construction begins and conduct on-site inspections of the cruise ship 
during construction as needed. After each review or inspection, VSP 
staff members issue a written advisory report summarizing any 
recommended changes to conform to CDC inspection guidelines.
    The proposed fees for consultation services by VSP for ship 
construction and renovation will be three times the cost of a routine 
sanitation inspection of a passenger cruise ship (based on tonnage) 
inspected under the VSP, plus travel and per diem costs. The fee 
schedule for sanitation inspections of passenger cruise ships is 
published annually in the Federal Register and is determined by 
dividing the full cost of the VSP by the estimated number of 
inspections and multiplying by a size/cost factor based on the size of 
the vessel and the number of vessels in each category.
    The proposed fee structure for consultation services is based on 
the following time commitment from two VSP inspectors:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                           Number of                            
                                               Number of     Number of      days for                Total number
                                                days for      days for      shipyard     Initial       of days  
                Gross tonnage                     plan         office        visit         U.S.     consultation
                                                reviews    consultations   (including   inspection    provided  
                                                                            travel)                             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<3,000......................................            1             3             3            1             8
3,000-15,000................................            2             3             3            1             9
15,000-30,000...............................            2             3             4            1            10
30,001-60,000...............................            2             4             4            1            11
60,001-90,000...............................            2             5             5            1            13
>90,000.....................................            2             5             6            1            14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Procedure for Requesting Consultation Services

    Requests for consultation services for ship construction and 
renovation must be in writing and received at least 45 days prior to 
the requested travel dates. (See Appendix B for a sample request.)

Applicability

    The inspection fees will be applicable to all passenger cruise 
vessels for which sanitation inspections are conducted as part of CDC's 
VSP. The construction and renovation fees will be applicable to all 
passenger cruise vessels for which CDC provides consultation on ship 
construction and renovations.

    Dated: November 7, 1997.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Appendix A

                            Size/Cost Factor                            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Average  
                    Vessel size (GRT\1\)                        cost X  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra Small (< 3,001)......................................         0.25
Small (3,001-15,000).......................................         0.50
Medium (15,001-30,000).....................................         1.00
Large (30,001-60,000)......................................         1.50
Extra Large (60,001--90,000)...............................         2.00
Mega (>90,000).............................................         2.50
------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 61338]]


            Fee Schedule January 1, 1998--September 30, 1998            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Vessel size (GRT\1\)            Inspection \2\   Consultation 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Extra Small (< 3,001)...................         $ 1,075         $ 3,225
Small (3,001-15,000)....................         $ 2,150         $ 6,450
Medium (15,001-30,000)..................         $ 4,300         $12,900
Large (30,001-60,000)...................         $ 6,450         $19,350
Extra Large (60,001-90,000..............         $ 8,600         $25,800
Mega (>90,000)..........................         $10,750        $32,250 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ GRT-Gross Register Tonnage in cubic feet, as shown in Lloyd's       
  Register of Shipping.                                                 
\2\ Inspections and reinspections involve the same procedure, require   
  the same amount of time, and will, therefore, be charged at the same  
  rate.                                                                 

Appendix B

Sample

Fax to: Henry Falk, M.D., Director, Division of Environmental 
Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental 
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 
Buford Highway, NE., (F28), Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 Facsimile (770) 
488-4127
Fax copy to: Program Manager, Vessel Sanitation Program, Special 
Programs Group, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, NE., 
(F16), Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, Facsimile (770) 488-4127

    We request the presence of a DHHS representative for 
consultation on cruise liner (NAME). We tentatively expect to take 
delivery of the cruise liner on (DATE). We would like to schedule 
the consultation for (DATE). We expect the consultation to take 
approximately (NUMBER OF DAYS).
    We will pay CDC in accordance with the consultation fee 
published in the Federal Register, and for all expenses in 
connection with the shipyard inspection. We will make all necessary 
arrangements for lodging and transportation, which includes airfare 
and ground transportation in (CITY, STATE, COUNTRY). We will provide 
in-kind for lodging and transportation expenses. All remaining 
expenses, such as en route per diem and meals and miscellaneous 
expenses, including ground transportation to and from the airport 
nearest the representatives work site or residence, should be sent 
to the following address:

Company
Attention:
Street Address
City, State, Country
Zip Code
Office Telephone Number
Facsimile Number

    If you have questions regarding this confirmation, please 
contact:

    Signed:
[FR Doc. 97-30056 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P