[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 223 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63266-63267]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-30270]


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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 rescheduled meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the rescheduling of the two meetings 
to describe the results of and solicit comments on the cost-benefit 
analysis of potential rules that could improve marine safety in Puget 
Sound-Area waters. These meetings, originally scheduled for Tuesday 
November 16, 1999 and Wednesday November 17, 1999 (64 FR 56286, October 
19, 1999), will now be conducted on December 10, 1999. 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.

DATES: The meetings will be held from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 2:00 
PM to 5:00 PM on Friday December 10, 1999, with additional time for 
questions to the regulatory analysis study team from 12:00 PM to 1:00 
PM. 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 Jackson Federal 
Building Auditorium, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1067.
    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.

[[Page 63267]]

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 discuss how the results 
will be used. Attendance is open to the public.

Background and Purpose

    This meeting has been rescheduled to allow time for the contracted 
study team to finalize the report. The purpose of the 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. The analysis 
and 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, September 3, 1999) and by the 
Secretary in the final determination regarding the regulatory measures 
under consideration. The cost-benefit study will be available from the 
Coast Guard's Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Internet site 
at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/gmhome.

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: November 16, 1999.
Jeffrey High,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 99-30270 Filed 11-16-99; 3:05 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U