[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 6748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1666]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG-2001-8680]


Coast Guard Advisory to Recreational Boaters on Carbon Monoxide 
Hazard Caused by Generator Exhaust

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Consumer advisory notice.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard advises owners and operators of boats to turn 
off gasoline-powered generators with transom exhaust ports when the 
swim platform on the stern is in use. The Coast Guard further advises 
that swimmers should not enter the cavity of a boat designed with a 
generator emitting exhaust into the cavity between the swim platform 
and the transom of the vessel. The Coast Guard is concerned about the 
serious health risk from carbon monoxide poisoning and seeks to prevent 
loss of life and personal injury.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Cappel, Chief, Recreational 
Boating Product Assurance Division, Commandant (G-OPB-3), 2100 Second 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20593, telephone (202) 267-0988, e-mail 
[email protected]. Documents mentioned in this notice as being 
available in the docket, are part of docket USCG-2001-8680 and are 
available for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard was made aware of the deadly 
combination of generator exhaust and swim platforms through a September 
2000 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 
study of houseboat carbon monoxide deaths on Lake Powell in Arizona. 
The study showed that the particular design of the stern swim platform 
on certain models of houseboats created a cavity between the hull of 
the vessel and the swim platform where the gasoline-powered generator 
exhaust port is located. When the generator is running the carbon 
monoxide buildup in this cavity, as well as the swim platform and rear 
deck space, is so high that it creates an imminent danger of death for 
anyone who enters the cavity even for a very short period of time. The 
common practice of keeping generators running to power air 
conditioning, entertainment centers, and electronic suites while moored 
or anchored has exacerbated the problem.
    The Coast Guard has conducted a preliminary investigation into the 
problem and has issued a letter to all known houseboat manufacturers 
informing them of this hazard and soliciting their plans for reducing 
the danger.
    The problem may not be confined to houseboats, however, since any 
boat with the generator exhaust located in the transom and a swim 
platform could present the same lethal hazard. The Coast Guard is 
expanding its investigation of this problem to include all types of 
boats.
    Previous carbon monoxide warnings and educational materials have 
concentrated on the hazards created by the exhaust of the main 
propulsion engines while underway. Although these dangers still exist, 
the Coast Guard will develop new educational materials to emphasize the 
additional hazards of using a gasoline-powered generator, especially 
while not underway.
    The Coast Guard warns all boaters that this is an extremely 
dangerous matter that could result in serious injury or death and 
advises all boat owners to heed this warning.

    Dated: January 12, 2001.
John W. Whitehouse,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Assistant Commandant for Operations.
[FR Doc. 01-1666 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U