[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 79 (Monday, April 26, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 20236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10381]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Chapter I

[USCG-1998-4501]
RIN 2115-AF68


Improvements to Marine Safety in Puget Sound-Area Waters

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting and availability of Statement of Work.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces a meeting to describe the 
methodology for a cost-benefit analysis of potential rules that would 
improve marine safety in Puget Sound-Area waters. The meeting is being 
held in conjunction with a meeting regarding the Port Access Routes 
Study; Strait of Juan de Fuca and Adjacent Waters (15 April 1999; 64 FR 
18651).

DATES: The meeting will be held on May 12, 1999, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 
The meeting may conclude early if all questions are addressed before 
the scheduled end of the meeting.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration's Western Regional Center's auditorium in 
Building 9, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115.
    For a copy of the statement of work for the cost-benefit analysis, 
contact Commander Timothy M. Close under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT.
    If you would like to submit your questions on the statement of work 
before the meeting, they may be submitted by mail, fax, or electronic 
means to Commander Timothy M. Close at the address under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning the meeting 
or to obtain a copy of the statement of work, contact Commander Timothy 
M. Close, Human Element and Ship Design Division (G-MSE-1), U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, 
telephone 202-267-2997, fax 202-267-4816, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Participation

    The Coast Guard encourages you to participate by attending the 
meeting.

Background and Purpose

    On November 24, 1998, the Coast Guard published an advance notice 
of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) (63 FR 6437) seeking public comment on 
potential rules that would improve marine safety in Puget Sound-Area 
waters including Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, passages 
around and through the San Jan Islands, and the Olympic Coast National 
Marine Sanctuary. The ANPRM also announced the Coast Guard's intention 
to begin a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis to study the feasibility 
of implementing new safety measures, including extended tug escort 
requirements for certain vessels and a dedicated pre-positioned rescue 
vessel. In the ANPRM, the Coast Guard requested that comments 
addressing cost-benefit-analysis issues be submitted to the docket by 
December 24, 1998. The comments received helped us develop the 
statement of work. The statement outlines the scope, timeline, and 
methodology for the cost-benefit analysis. It is this statement that 
will be described at the meeting. Preparation of the cost-benefit 
analysis, itself, is still underway.
    If regulatory changes are eventually proposed, the public will have 
an additional opportunity to comment on the cost-benefit analysis for 
the selected regulatory proposals.

Meeting

    The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is to 
describe the statement of work and, as time allows, respond to 
questions on the statement. Questions during the meeting should related 
to the statement of work. This meeting is being held at the same 
location and on the same day as a meeting regarding the Port Access 
Routes Study; Strait of Juan de Fuca and Adjacent Waters (64 FR 18651).

Information of Service for Individuals with Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Commander Timothy M. Close under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as 
soon as possible.

    Dated: April 21, 1999.
[FR Doc. 99-10381 Filed 4-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M