[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 250 (Thursday, December 28, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 82303-82304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33079]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 164

46 CFR Parts 25 and 27

[USCG-2000-6931]


Fire-Suppression Systems and Voyage Planning for Towing Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public meeting to discuss proposed 
rules for improving the safety of towing vessels. A supplemental notice 
of proposed rulemaking published on November 8, 2000, would require the 
installation of fixed fire-extinguishing systems in towing vessels' 
engine rooms, and it would require owners or operators, and masters, to 
ensure that voyage plans are complete before their towing vessels 
commence trips with any barge in tow. These rules would reduce the 
number of uncontrolled fires in engine rooms, and other fire-related or 
operational mishaps on towing vessels; as a result, they would save 
lives, diminish property damage, and reduce the associated threats to 
the environment and maritime commerce.
    The Coast Guard encourages interested parties to attend the meeting 
and submit comments for discussion during the meeting. In addition, the 
Coast Guard seeks written comments from any party who is unable to 
attend the meeting.

DATES: The Coast Guard will hold this public meeting on February 8, 
2001, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. This meeting may close early if all 
business is finished. Written material for discussion during the 
meeting should reach the Docket Management Facility on or before 
February 2, 2001. Other written comments must reach the Docket 
Management Facility on or before March 8, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The Coast Guard will hold this public meeting at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Nassif Building, rooms 2230 and 2232, 400 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001. The telephone number is 
202-267-1181. You may mail your comments to the Docket Management 
Facility [USCG-2000-6931], U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them 
to 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 for 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    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 also access this docket on the 
Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact 
Randall Eberly, P.E., Project Manager, Lifesaving and Fire Safety 
Division of the Office of Design and Engineering Standards (G-MSE-4), 
Coast Guard, telephone 202-267-1861. For questions on viewing, or 
submitting material to the docket, contact Dorothy Beard, Chief, 
Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Requests for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views, or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include 
their names and addresses, identify this notice [USCG-2000-6931], and 
give the reason for each comment. Please submit all comments and 
attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, 
suitable for copying and electronic filing to the Docket Management 
Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting 
acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
addressed postcards or envelopes.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period.

Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities

[[Page 82304]]

or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact Mr. Eberly at 
the address or phone number under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as 
soon as possible.

Background Information

    The U.S. Coast Guard's supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking 
(SNPRM) on ``Fire-Suppression Systems and Voyage Planning for Towing 
Vessels'' [USCG-2000-6931] was published in the Federal Register 
November 8, 2000 [65 FR 66941]. The SNPRM proposes the installation of 
fixed fire-extinguishing systems in the enginerooms of towing vessels, 
and it proposes that owners or operators, and masters, ensure that 
voyage planning is conducted before vessels towing barges get underway 
on trips or voyages of at least 12 hours. Towing vessels that engage 
only in assistance towing, pollution response, or fleeting duties in 
limited geographical areas would be exempt from the measures in this 
SNPRM. The SNPRM stems from the incident on January 19, 1996, off the 
coast of Rhode Island when the tugboat SCANDIA, with the tank barge 
NORTH CAPE in tow, caught fire five miles off the coast. Crewmembers 
could not control the fire and, without power, they were unable to 
prevent the barge carrying 4 million gallons of oil from grounding and 
spilling about a quarter of its contents into the coastal waters. The 
spill led Congress to amend the law to permit the Secretary of 
Transportation--``in consultation with the Towing Safety Advisory 
Committee'' (TSAC)--to require fire-suppression and other measures on 
all towing vessels. The measures outlined in the SNPRM would likely 
decrease the number and severity of injuries to crews, prevent damage 
to vessels, structures and other property, and protect the environment.

Public Meeting

    This meeting is open to the public. Please note that the meeting 
may close early if all business is finished. Members of the public may 
make oral presentations during the meeting. If you would like to make 
an oral presentation at the meeting, please notify the Coast Guard 
point of contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later 
than February 2, 2001.

    Dated: December 19, 2000.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 00-33079 Filed 12-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P