[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 53798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22566]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG-2000-7847]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and 
its working groups will meet to discuss various issues relating to the 
training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. MERPAC advises the 
Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to the training, 
qualifications, licensing, certification and fitness of seamen serving 
in the U.S. merchant marine. All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES: MERPAC will meet on Tuesday, September 19, 2000, from 8 a.m. to 
4 p.m. and on Wednesday, September 20, 2000, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
These meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished. Requests 
to make oral presentations should reach the Coast Guard on or before 
September 5, 2000. Written material and requests to have a copy of your 
material distributed to each member of the committee or subcommittee 
should reach the Coast Guard on or before September 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: MERPAC will meet on both days at the Catholic Seamen's Club, 
2330 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121. Further directions regarding the 
location of the Catholic Seamen's Club may be obtained by contacting 
Ms. Diane Bentley at (206) 441-4773. Send written material and requests 
to make oral presentations to Lieutenant Commander Luke B. Harden, 
Commandant (G-MSO-1), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street 
SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001. This notice is available on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact 
Lieutenant Commander Luke B. Harden, Acting Executive Director of 
MERPAC, or Mr. Mark C. Gould, Assistant to the Executive Director, 
telephone 202-267-0229, fax 202-267-4570, or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of these meetings is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.

Agenda of September 19, 2000 Meeting

    The full committee will meet to discuss the objectives for the 
meeting. The committee will then break up into the following working 
groups: Recommendations on a training and assessment program for 
officers in charge of a navigation watch ``coming up through the 
hawsepipe,'' and; Recommendations on a training and assessment program 
for officers in charge of an engineering watch ``coming up through the 
hawsepipe.'' The phrase ``coming up through the hawsepipe'' means 
informal in-service training leading from the rating of unlicensed 
seaman to a position as licensed officer. New working groups may be 
formed to address any new issues or tasks. At the end of the day, the 
working groups will make a report to the full committee on what has 
been accomplished in their meetings. No action will be taken on these 
reports on this date.

Agenda of September 20, 2000, Meeting

    The agenda includes the following:
    (1) Introduction.
    (2) Oath of Office to New Members and Re-appointed Members.
    (3) Working Group Reports.
    (a) Recommendations on a Training and Assessment Program for 
Officers in Charge of a Navigation Watch Coming Up Through the 
Hawsepipe.
    (b) Recommendations on a Training and Assessment Program for 
Officers in Charge of an Engineering Watch Coming Up Through the 
Hawsepipe.
    (4) Other items to be discussed:
    (a) Standing Committee--Prevention Through People
    (b) Other items brought up for discussion by the committee or the 
public

Procedural

    Both meetings are open to the public. Please note that the meetings 
may adjourn early if all business is finished. At the Chair's 
discretion, members of the public may make oral presentations during 
the meetings. If you would like to make an oral presentation at a 
meeting, please notify the Executive Director no later than September 
5, 2000. Written material for distribution at a meeting should reach 
the Coast Guard no later than September 1, 2000. If you would like a 
copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee or 
subcommittee in advance of the meeting, please submit 25 copies to the 
Executive Director no later than September 1, 2000.

Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact 
the Executive Director as soon as possible.

    Dated: August 25, 2000.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 00-22566 Filed 9-1-00; 8:45 am]
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