[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 19, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56286-56287]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27284]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Ch. I

[USCG-1998-4501]


Improvements to Marine Safety in Puget Sound-Area Waters

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting and reopening comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces two identical meetings to describe 
the results of the cost-benefit analysis of potential rules that could 
improve

[[Page 56287]]

marine safety in Puget Sound-Area waters and to describe ongoing 
activities to improve marine safety in the region. Under consideration 
are regulatory requirements for tug escorts and/or dedicated rescue 
tugs for certain vessels operating in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and 
adjacent waters. Additionally, the docket for the advance notice of 
proposed rulemaking for these tug measures has been reopened until 
January 31, 2000.

DATES: The meetings will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, 
November 16, 1999 and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17, 
1999. Comments to the docket for the advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before 
January 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Hotel Edgewater at 
Pier 67, 2411 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98121.
    You may submit your written comments and related material by only 
one of the following methods:
    (1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG-1999-4501), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (2) By hand to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400 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.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments and documents, as indicated in this notice, will 
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or 
copying at room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the 
same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. You may electronically access the public docket for 
this notice on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on the public meeting, 
contact CDR 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]. For questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department 
of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate by submitting comments and related 
material. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify 
the docket number [USCG-1998-4501], indicate the specific section of 
this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for 
each comment. You may submit your comments and material by mail, hand 
delivery, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at 
the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and 
material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or hand 
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 
inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them 
by mail and would like to know they reached the Facility, please 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will 
consider all comments and material received during the comment period. 
We may change this rule in view of them.

Public Meeting

    The purpose of the meeting is to describe the results of the cost-
benefit analysis. Also, as time allows, The Coast Guard will respond to 
questions about the cost-benefit analysis, and to discuss how the 
results will be used. Attendance is open to the public.

Background and Purpose

    On November 24, 1998, the Coast Guard published an advance notice 
of proposed rulemaking for marine safety in the Puget Sound region (63 
FR 64937). Under consideration were regulatory requirements for tug 
escorts and/or dedicated rescue tugs for certain vessels operating in 
the Strait of Juan de Fuca and adjacent waters. Comments to guide a 
cost-benefit analysis were requested by December 24, 1998. Based upon 
the comments received, the Coast Guard framed a cost-benefit analysis 
of these two measures as well as variations of their application. A 
public meeting was held on May 12, 1999 to discuss the framework for 
and conduct of the cost-benefit analysis. The purpose of the November 
4, 1999 public meeting is to provide the public with a briefing on the 
results of the cost-benefit analysis. Comments to the docket regarding 
the results of the cost-benefit analysis and their interpretation are 
encouraged. These comments will be used by the Navigation Safety 
Advisory Council panel formed to develop a long-term oil-spill risk 
management plan for the region (64 FR 48442) and by the Secretary in 
the final determination regarding the regulatory measures under 
consideration. Directions for obtaining a copy of the final report of 
the cost-benefit study will be provided at the Public Meeting. 
Additionally, a copy will be provided in the docket.

Information on Services for the Handicapped

    Contact CDR Close for information on facilities or services for the 
handicapped or to request special assistance at the meetings as soon as 
possible.

    Dated: October 13, 1999.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 99-27284 Filed 10-18-99; 8:45 am]
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