[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50848-50849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25464]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 197

[USCG-1998-3786]
RIN 2115-AF64


Commercial Diving Operations

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment 
period.

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SUMMARY: In response to public requests, the Coast Guard is extending 
the period for public comment on its Advance Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (ANPRM), Commercial Diving Operations, published in the 
Federal Register on June 26, 1998. The comment period will be extended 
for 45 days.

DATES: Comments must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before 
November 9, 1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Docket Management Facility 
(USCG-1998-3786), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to room 
PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same 
address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at room PL-401

[[Page 50849]]

on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the above address between 
10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You 
may also access this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information concerning the advance notice of proposed rulemaking 
(ANPRM) provisions, contact LT Diane Kalina, Project Manager, Vessel 
and Facility Operating Standards Division, Coast Guard, telephone 202-
267-1181. For questions on viewing, or submitting material to the 
docket, contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department of 
Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this rulemaking (USCG-1998-3786) and the specific section of 
the ANPRM to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each 
comment. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound 
format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and 
electronic filing to the Docket Management Facility at the address 
under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments 
should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period. It may change the proposed rule in view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Docket Management Facility at the 
address under ADDRESSES. The request must identify this docket [USCG-
1998-3786] and should include the reasons why a public meeting would be 
helpful to this rulemaking. If it determines that the opportunity for 
oral presentation will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a 
public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the 
Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    The existing commercial diving operations regulations are over 20 
years old and do not include current safety and technology standards 
and industry practices. The Coast Guard needs current information on 
these subject areas to help us identify necessary regulatory revisions.
    In response to several public requests, the Coast Guard is 
extending the period for public comment on its Advance Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), Commercial Diving Operations, published in 
the Federal Register on June 26, 1998 (63 FR 34840). The comments 
stated that more time was needed to collect data, and the diving 
industry is typically very busy during the summer months and divers 
need more time to develop comments to the ANPRM. Based on these 
requests and on the small number of comments received so far, the Coast 
Guard has decided to extend the comment period for an additional 45 
days.

    Dated: September 17, 1998.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting, Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 98-25464 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M