[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 5, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53970-53971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-25865]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 20

46 CFR Part 5

[USCG-1998-3472]
RIN 2115-AF59


Rules of Practice, Procedure, and Evidence for Administrative 
Proceedings of the Coast Guard

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period on interim rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is reopening the period for public comment on 
its interim rule, Rules of Practice, Procedure, and Evidence for 
Administrative Proceedings of the Coast Guard. Because of several 
requests for extension, the Coast Guard is reopening the period for 180 
days.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before April 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your comments and related material by any one 
of the following methods (but by only one, to avoid multiple listings 
in the public docket):
    (1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, [USCG-1998-3472], 
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (2) By delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400

[[Page 53971]]

Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-
366-9329.
    (3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251.
    (4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management 
System at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on the substance of the 
rulemaking, call George J. Jordan, Attorney-Adviser, Office of the 
Chief Administrative Law Judge, telephone 202-267-0006. For questions 
on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Dorothy 
Walker, Chief of Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone 202-
366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The interim rule, published on May 24, 1999 [64 FR 28054], 
encouraged interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments by July 23, 1999. This 
request does the same, except that it invites their submitting them by 
April 3, 2000.
    Persons submitting comments should include their names and 
addresses, identify this docket [USCG-1998-3472] and the specific 
section of the interim rule to which each comment applies, and give the 
reason for each comment. Please submit one copy of each comment and 
attachment in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, 
suitable for copying and electronic filing, to the DOT Docket 
Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. If you want 
acknowledgment of receipt of your comment, enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period. It may change this interim rule in view of them.
    The Coast Guard plans no public meeting. Persons may request one by 
writing to the Docket Management Facility at the address under 
ADDRESSES. The request must identify this docket [USCG-1998-3472] and 
should include the reasons why an opportunity for oral presentations 
would be helpful to this rulemaking. If such an opportunity would help 
the rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a public meeting at a time 
and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard seeks to improve its adjudicative process. 
Improvement will also affect certain actions involving merchant 
mariners. First, the interim rule consolidates all Coast Guard 
adjudicative procedures to include the following: the suspension and 
revocation (S&R) of merchant mariners' licenses, certificates of 
registry, and documents and the procedures involving class II civil 
penalties. Second, the interim rule eliminates unnecessary procedures 
from S&R proceedings. The Coast Guard expects the interim rule to 
facilitate the efficient use of administrative resources relating to 
adjudication by the Coast Guard. It will save time, effort, and money 
for all parties who are or may become involved in actions of the Coast 
Guard.

    Dated: September 27, 1999.
Robert S. Horowitz,
Acting Chief Counsel.
[FR Doc. 99-25865 Filed 10-4-99; 8:45 am]
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