[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 247 (Wednesday, December 24, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74625-74627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-31729]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2003-16730]


Recreational Boating Safety Projects, Programs and Activities 
Funded Under Provisions of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century; Accounting of

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: For each of 5 fiscal years starting in 1999, the 
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century has made $5 million 
available to the Secretary of Transportation for payments of Coast 
Guard expenses for personnel and activities directly related to 
coordinating and carrying out the national recreational boating safety 
program. This notice is being published to satisfy a requirement of the 
Act that a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and 
activities funded under the national recreational boating safety 
program provision of the Act be published annually in the Federal 
Register. In this notice, we have specified the amount of monies the 
Coast Guard has committed, obligated or expended as of September 30, 
2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain Scott Evans, USCG, Chief, 
Office of Boating Safety, telephone 202-267-1077, fax 202-267-4285, or 
Mr. Jeffrey N. Hoedt, Chief, Program Management Division, telephone 
202-267-0950, fax 202-267-4285.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century became law on June 9, 1998 (Pub. L. 105-178; 112 Stat. 107). 
The Act required that of the $5 million made available to carry out the 
national recreational boating safety program each year, $2 million 
shall be available only to ensure compliance with Chapter 43 of title 
46, U.S. Code--Recreational Vessels. The responsibility to administer 
these funds was delegated to the Commandant of the United States Coast 
Guard. With the transfer of the Coast Guard to the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS), this authority in the Transportation Equity 
Act for the 21st Century has been transferred to the Secretary of the 
DHS from the Secretary of the Department of Transportation (Sec. 888 of 
the Homeland Security Act of 2002), and redelegated to the Coast Guard 
(Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.).
    Subsection (c) of sec. 7405 of the Act directs that no funds 
available to the Secretary under this subsection may be used to replace 
funding traditionally provided through general appropriations, nor for 
any purposes except those purposes authorized; namely, for personnel 
and activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the 
national recreational boating safety program. Amounts made available 
each fiscal year 1999 through 2003 shall remain available until 
expended.
    Use of these funds requires compliance with standard Federal 
contracting rules with associated lead and processing times resulting 
in a lag time between available funds and spending. The following 
activities have been initiated using fiscal year 1999 through 2003 
funds transferred to the Coast Guard from the Aquatic Resources 
(Wallop-Breaux) Trust Fund. The total amount of fiscal year 1999, 2000, 
2001, 2002 and 2003 funding committed, obligated and/or expended for 
each activity is shown.
    Factory Visit Program: An initial contract was awarded to establish 
a national recreational boat factory visit program using contractor 
personnel. The contract included the development of a plan of action 
and an 18-month pilot program to validate the elements of the plan and 
the concept of the program. The pilot program commenced in the summer 
of 2000. ``Compliance associates'' (inspectors) were trained and formal 
factory visits were initiated in January 2001. The factory visit 
program currently allows contractor personnel, acting on behalf of the 
Coast Guard, to visit approximately 2,000 recreational boat 
manufacturers each year to inspect for compliance with the Federal 
regulations, communicate with the manufacturers as to why they need to 
comply with the Federal regulations, and educate them, as necessary, on 
how to comply with the Federal regulations. ($6,284,665)
    Boat Compliance Testing: Funding is provided for expansion of the 
boat compliance testing program whereby new manually propelled and 
outboard recreational boats are purchased in the open market and tested 
for compliance with the Federal flotation standards. The expanded 
program includes inboard/sterndrive boats and used boats. ($651,381)
    Associated Equipment Compliance Testing: A contract was awarded to 
buy recreational boat ``associated equipment'' (e.g., starters, 
alternators, fuel pumps, and bilge pumps) and test this equipment for 
compliance with Federal safety regulations. This new initiative 
complements the boat compliance testing program. ($426,220)
    Compliance Associated Travel: Travel by employees of the Office of 
Boating Safety is being performed to carry out additional compliance 
actions and to gather background and planning information for new 
compliance initiatives. ($108,395)
    New Boat Manufacturer Outreach Package: A contract was awarded to 
design and develop a comprehensive and user-friendly outreach package 
for distribution to new recreational boat manufacturers. Included in 
the package are a brochure and video that outline the many facets of 
the recreational boat manufacturing business, including Federal 
regulations, voluntary standards, self-certification, financial 
aspects, insurance concerns, liability issues, points of contact and 
the steps necessary to become a new recreational boat manufacturer. The 
package also includes plain language guidelines that help clarify 
Federal requirements. The outreach package is aimed at increasing the 
level of new recreational boat manufacturer compliance with applicable 
Federal regulations. ($433,995)
    National Recreational Boating Survey: The national recreational 
boating survey was completed on November 30, 2003. The purpose of this 
project was to obtain up-to-date statistical estimates on recreational 
boating. Over 25,000 surveys were completed with individuals who boated 
between September 2001 and September 2002. Survey findings were 
extrapolated to produce national, regional and State estimates of boat 
use as well as the characteristics of boat operators, passengers, 
boats, safety equipment, and

[[Page 74626]]

the boating environment. The final report is available upon request to 
the U.S. Coast Guard Infoline at 1-800-368-5647. ($1,809,144).
    Boating Accident Report Database (BARD): A contract has been 
awarded to enhance the capability of all States and the Coast Guard for 
the successful electronic exchange, management, and reporting of 
recreational boating accident report data using the BARD software 
application. This contract provides for software module development, 
software module testing, applicable rework, implementation, 
maintenance, and technical support for the user community in the 50 
States, five Territories, and the District of Columbia. ($2,953,755)
    State Incident Notification: The Coast Guard Search and Rescue 
Management Information System (SARMIS) software has been modified to 
electronically notify the relevant State boating law administrators 
regarding any fatal recreational boating incident cases to which the 
Coast Guard responds. The intent of this notification is to ensure that 
these cases are captured in the accident report data submitted by the 
State boating law administrators to the Boating Accident Report 
Database (BARD). ($12,678)
    Articulated Mannequins/Computer Simulation Model: The objective of 
this contracted program is to improve the safety of recreational 
boaters by fostering developmental technology for improved personal 
flotation devices (PFDs). This program is furthering development of 
flotation mannequins and a water forces computer simulation program to 
promote the rapid, objective evaluation of different PFD designs on 
various body types that are representative of the recreational boating 
population. The computer simulation program will be validated through 
the use of a family of anthropomorphic, articulated mannequins. Under 
the contract to develop the articulated mannequins and computer 
simulation model, a male model has been built and is almost perfected. 
Currently, a female and a child mannequin are being developed. The 
development of a computer simulation program will facilitate evaluation 
of the effectiveness of new and unique PFD designs. ($814,341)
    Risk-Based Personal Flotation Device Approval Process: This ongoing 
effort will improve the approval process for personal flotation devices 
(PFDs) by developing a risk-based compliance system that is based on an 
objective Life Saving Index. This index will provide a formal structure 
and consistency to the process for accepting new approaches to 
designing devices for drowning prevention. The risk-based process 
identifies critical factors for evaluating PFD lifesaving potential and 
defines the minimum level of performance necessary for approval. 
($421,509)
    Carbon Monoxide Research: The Office of Boating Safety has entered 
into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Health and Human 
Services, U.S. Public Health Service, Federal Occupational Health 
Program, to continue investigation into identifying and classifying 
additional recreational boating carbon monoxide related deaths and 
injuries. ($573,475)
    Houseboat Manufacturers Workshop/Conference Support: Funding 
provided support services for a Coast Guard-sponsored gathering of the 
houseboat industry to explore potential design solutions to the carbon 
monoxide poisonings that have occurred on recreational houseboats. 
($17,030)
    Hull Identification Number (HIN) Economic Analysis: This contracted 
effort provided the Coast Guard with a cost/benefit analysis on the 
effects of expanding the current 12-character HIN to a 17-character HIN 
for all newly constructed recreational boats. ($47,626)
    Virtual Reality Personal Watercraft (PWC): A virtual reality PWC 
was developed under contract to provide a platform to gather objective 
data on operator reactions to various scenarios. This information would 
otherwise be unobtainable or would require more costly methods and 
sources, due to the risk of injury to the operator as well as due to 
the difficulty of accurately replicating conditions for all operators. 
The virtual reality PWC is being used in various test scenarios to 
collect human factors data including the measurement of reactive 
movements and reaction time that will assist in making decisions or 
taking action to improve personal watercraft safety. The data from this 
effort will give greater insight into the human-machine interface 
related to PWC operation and will assist in the effort to attempt to 
reduce PWC accidents. ($407,638)
    Knowledge Management System: The first phase of a proposed three-
phase contracted effort to develop a comprehensive Knowledge Management 
plan for automating office processes within the Office of Boating 
Safety was successfully completed. This phase provided the system 
requirements, potential applications and over-arching possible utility 
of the knowledge management system. Upon review of phase one analysis 
it was determined that the project should be terminated. This decision 
was based upon information obtained while performing this segment. In 
addition, it was determined that with projected changing software 
systems within the federal government that it was in our best interest 
to wait until the new federal system was made available. The second and 
third phases will not be implemented until further federal direction is 
obtained. Phases two and three, if implemented, would install document 
imaging software to capture and fully automate product assurance and 
consumer files and provide support that will ultimately enhance 
efficiency in supporting customers, partners and stakeholders. This 
would provide quicker, more effective and efficient program oversight 
while providing customers with the ability to do business with the 
Coast Guard via web-based technology, thus enabling the Coast Guard to 
reduce the amount of paper transactions involved in servicing external 
customers. This system will assist in the electronic monitoring, 
storage and daily use of information and materials within the Office of 
Boating Safety. ($431,890)
    Coast Guard Infoline/Office of Boating Safety Web Site: Funding has 
been provided for both technological and educational enhancements to 
the toll-free Coast Guard Infoline and the Office of Boating Safety Web 
site to create a one-stop customer service center. The Infoline 
provides information about safety, regulations, communications, Coast 
Guard policy, and available material related to boating safety issues. 
Additionally, this effort provides a complete interactive recreational 
boating safety Web site that offers the public and boating safety 
agencies and organizations real-time information on every aspect of 
recreational boating safety. One of the goals of this program is to 
create a one-stop customer service center for all users. ($859,798)
    Federal Requirements Publication: A customer-friendly ``Federal 
Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats'' publication was 
developed based on easy-to-read, high visibility graphics, and with 
subject-specific safety tips that promote high retention by the reader. 
Both hard copy and electronic interactive versions have been created 
for the public. The enhanced Federal Requirements brochure is being 
widely distributed, and in addition, can be downloaded from the Office 
of Boating Safety Web site (http://www.uscgboating.org). ($427,000)
    Emergency Radio Call Procedures Decal: An emergency radio call 
procedures decal was produced and disseminated that provides the 
recreational boater with the proper

[[Page 74627]]

procedures to use in making an emergency or distress call via VHF-FM 
Channel 16. This decal will be distributed via the Coast Guard 
Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, and State boating offices, as well as 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tennessee Valley Authority, and the 
Bureau of Land Management. This item also supports the Vessel Safety 
Check (VSC) program provided by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power 
Squadrons and States. The VSC program is a free service provided by 
these organizations offering a safety check of recreational boats 65' 
or less in length. ($25,810)
    Aids to Navigation Booklet: A full-color booklet, ``U.S. Aids to 
Navigation System,'' was produced to assist recreational boaters in 
better understanding the use and identification of navigational aids. 
This booklet is now used as an educational adjunct to the safe boating 
classes taught by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, and 
many of the States. It is also distributed in conjunction with the 
Vessel Safety Check program. ($135,327)
    ``Operation BoatSmart'' Support: Funding support was provided to 
this initiative which coordinated Coast Guard and other boating safety 
organizations aims to energize recreational boating safety programs by 
strengthening and extending partnerships at the national, State and 
local levels. Through combined and coordinated efforts, the BoatSmart 
partners targeted those activities and behaviors that presented the 
greatest risk for the recreational boater. ``Operation BoatSmart'' 
brought together these organizations to work in tandem to promote a 
positive change in boater awareness and behavior, with special emphasis 
on inland waters where most recreational boating takes place. Special 
emphasis was focused on encouraging life jacket wear, boater education, 
and scrupulous enforcement of boating under the influence laws by 
appropriate authorities. ($273,586)
    Recreational Boating Safety Program Marketing Support: A national 
marketing, awareness and education campaign in support of ``Operation 
BoatSmart,'' as well as America's Boating Course, Boating Under the 
Influence Campaign, and the Vessel Safety Check (VSC) Program, has been 
funded. America's Boating Course is a joint boating safety education 
course developed by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Power 
Squadrons, supported by the Coast Guard. This course, available via CD-
Rom or Internet will set the standard for recreational boating safety 
in our country. The Boating Under the Influence (BUI) campaign, ``It's 
a Different World on the Water,'' is a multi-year effort to educate the 
recreational boater about the hazards of boating under the influence of 
alcohol or drugs. The marketing plan utilizes nationally recognized 
cartoon characters, Popeye and Olive Oyl, to advertise the VSC program 
to the boating public at marinas, yacht clubs, boat storage facilities, 
retail outlets and other recreational outlets. ($98,956)
    Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Outreach Program: This program 
provides full marketing, media, public information, and program 
strategy support to the RBS effort. The goal is to coordinate the RBS 
outreach campaigns some of which include: National Boating Under the 
Influence Campaign (BUI), Operation BoatSmart, PFD Wear, Vessel Safety 
Check Program (VSC), America's Boating Course, and other recreational 
boating safety issues on an as needed basis. ($2,189,254)
    Kayak/Canoe Sponson Study: Study completed on the efficacy of the 
use of sponsons on canoes and kayaks. ($26,171)

Field Support--District Funded Projects

    Seventeenth Coast Guard District Boating Safety Detachment: Funding 
was provided on a one-time, non-recurring basis to the Seventeenth 
Coast Guard District in support of a Coast Guard Boating Safety 
Detachment to assist in the transition of the State of Alaska's 
assumption of Recreational Boating Safety Program responsibilities. 
($25,000)
    Seventeenth Coast Guard District Boating Education and Safety 
(BEST)Teams: A 3-year effort, the BEST teams operated in the 17th 
District in 16 separate locations, with more than 30 team members 
providing educational benefits to the boaters of that district. 
($150,000)
    Eighth Coast Guard District Western Rivers Strike Team: Similar to 
the 17th District program these strike teams operated in the western 
rivers in the 8th District conducting safety education and providing 
waterway management assistance to various state RBS related activities 
within the Eighth Coast Guard District on an as needed basis. 
($190,000)
    National Boating Registration System: As a service for States/
Territories that currently have inadequate (or no) computer software 
program to maintain their vessel numbering system information, funding 
was provided to the U.S. Coast Guard Operations Systems Center (OSC) to 
develop a National Boating Registration System software program that 
can easily be adapted by any State/Territory for their own use. The 
software that has been provided to States/Territories at no cost 
includes a function to automatically generate the annual report on 
numbered vessels that must be submitted to the Coast Guard each year. 
($25,000)
    Marine Dealer Literature Display Racks: Display racks for U.S. 
Coast Guard and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary literature were purchased to 
improve distribution of boating safety literature. These display racks 
are intended to be used at retail outlets and marine dealers. ($23,725)
    Personnel Support: Funding is providing for personnel to support 
the development of new regulations, to support new contracting 
activities associated with the additional funding, and to monitor and 
manage the contracts awarded. ($905,791)
    Marine Accident Investigating and Reporting: An initial contract 
was awarded to investigate and provide reports on marine accidents. The 
contractor also provides statistical analysis on causes. ($95,000)
    A total of $20,844,160 of the $25,000,000 made available to the 
Coast Guard through annual transfers of $5 million in fiscal years 
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 has been committed, obligated or 
expended as of September 30, 2003.

    Dated: December 17, 2003.
Jeffrey J. Hathaway,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Operations Policy.
[FR Doc. 03-31729 Filed 12-23-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P