[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 164 (Monday, August 25, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50992-50993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21643]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 4

[USCG-2001-8773]
RIN 1625-AA27 (formerly 2115-AG07)


Marine Casualties and Investigations; Chemical Testing Following 
Serious Marine Incidents

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; notice of public meeting; 
reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is reopening the comment period on the notice 
of proposed rulemaking for Marine Casualties and Investigations; 
Chemical Testing Following Serious Marine Incidents published in the 
Federal Register on February 28, 2003. In response to requests for a 
public meeting that were submitted to the public docket, the Coast 
Guard will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC. The purpose of the 
meeting is to obtain information from the public in addition to the 
comments already submitted to the docket.

DATES: The meeting will be held Friday, September 19, 2003, from 9 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. in Washington, DC. This meeting may close early if all 
business is finished. Comments must reach the docket on or before 
September 30, 2003.

ADDRESSES: The meeting location is: United States Coast Guard 
Headquarters, Transpoint Building, 2100 Second Street, SW., Room 2415, 
Washington, DC 20593. You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard 
docket number USCG-2001-8773 to the Docket Management Facility at the 
U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). To avoid duplication, please 
use only one of the following methods:
    (1) Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov.
    (2) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility, DOT, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (5) Delivery: Room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC,

[[Page 50993]]

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this proposed rule, 
contact Mr. Robert C. Schoening, Drug and Alcohol Program Manager, 
telephone 202-267-0684; e-mail address: [email protected]. For 
questions on viewing material in the docket, call Andrea M. Jenkins, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, DOT, telephone 202-366-0271.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted, 
without change, to http://dms.dot.gov and will include any personal 
information you have provided. We have an agreement with the DOT to use 
the Docket Management Facility even though the Coast Guard has recently 
transferred to DHS. Please see the DOT's statement on the Privacy Act 
under the section titled Viewing comments and documents.
    Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include your 
name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking [USCG-
2001-8773], indicate the specific section of the proposed rule to which 
each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. You may 
submit your comments and material by electronic means, mail, fax, or 
delivery 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 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 that 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 in developing the final 
rule.
    Viewing comments and documents: To view comments, as well as 
documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, 
go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time and conduct a simple search using 
the docket number. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in 
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. Privacy Act: Anyone can search the 
electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the 
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, or the 
like). You may review the DOT's statement on the Privacy Act in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 [65 FR 19477], or you may 
visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Background Information

    The 1998 Coast Guard Authorization Act requires the Coast Guard to 
establish procedures ensuring alcohol testing is conducted within two 
hours of a serious marine casualty. The Coast Guard proposes to 
establish requirements for testing within the statutory time limits, to 
expand the existing requirements for commercial vessels to have alcohol 
testing devices on board, and to authorize use of a wider variety of 
testing devices (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, [68 FR 9722], February 
28, 2003). This rulemaking would also make additional minor procedural 
changes to Part 4, including a time limit for conducting drug testing 
following a serious marine incident. The Coast Guard reopened the 
comment period and scheduled this public meeting in response to 
comments previously submitted to the docket.

Public Meeting

    The public meeting will be held September 19, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 
5 p.m., at the United States Coast Guard Headquarters, Transpoint 
Building, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC. The building is 
located adjacent to Army Fort Leslie J. McNair at Buzzard Point. Entry 
to the Transpoint Building is controlled. All attendees must have a 
picture identification issued by a U.S. Federal Agency or a State or 
Territory issued drivers license. Valid Passports and Merchant Mariner 
Documents are also acceptable. Everyone is subject to a weapons search.
    Members of the public may provide oral statements at the meeting. 
Oral statements may be time limited if there are numerous speakers. 
Persons wishing to make oral statements should notify Mr. Robert C. 
Schoening listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than 
two days before the meeting.
    On street public parking in the vicinity of Coast Guard 
Headquarters is very limited. James Creek Marina, National Park 
Service, is adjacent to Coast Guard Headquarters and has some parking 
available for a nominal fee. The closest Metro Station is SEU-
Waterfront on the Green Line, about nine blocks from Coast Guard 
Headquarters. Attendees are encouraged to utilize taxi or public buses 
serving the Buzzard Point area. (For Bus Schedules, please see the 
Washington Area Metro Transit Authority-WMATA Web site at http://www.wmata.com/. Bus Route 71 serves Coast Guard Headquarters).

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to request assistance at the meeting, Contact Mr. 
Robert C. Schoening listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as 
soon as possible.

    Dated: August 18, 2003.
L.L. Hereth,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and 
Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 03-21643 Filed 8-22-03; 8:45 am]
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