[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 161 (Friday, August 20, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 51698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19159]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2004-18840]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

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 Homeland Security on matters relating to the training, 
qualifications, licensing, and certification of seamen serving in the 
U.S. merchant marine. All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES: MERPAC will meet on Monday, September 20, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. and on Tuesday, September 21, 2004, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 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 6, 2004. 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 6, 2004.

ADDRESSES: MERPAC will meet on both days in the Atherton Halau of the 
Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St., Honolulu, HI 96817. Further directions 
regarding the location of the Bishop Museum may be obtained by 
contacting (808) 323-3318. Send written material and requests to make 
oral presentations to Mr. Mark Gould, 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 
Mr. Mark C. Gould, Assistant to the Executive Director, telephone (202) 
267-6890, 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 (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 
Stat. 770, as amended).

Agenda of Meeting on September 20, 2004

    The full committee will meet to discuss the objectives for the 
meeting. The committee will then break up into the following working 
groups as necessary: Task statement 30, concerning utilizing military 
sea service for STCW certifications; Task statement 36, concerning 
recommendations on a training program for officers in charge of an 
engineering watch coming up through the hawsepipe; Task statement 40, 
concerning methods to determine the date at which a mariner established 
competency in Basic Safety Training in light of National Maritime 
Policy Letter 12-01; Task statement 43, concerning recommendations on a 
training and assessment program for able-bodied seamen on sea-going 
vessels in preparation for discussions of this issue at the 
Subcommittee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping at the 
International Maritime Organization; and Task statement 46, review of 
the draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular concerning the 
medical standards applicable to merchant mariners. These task 
statements may be viewed at the MERPAC website at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/advisory/merpac/merpac.htm.
    New working groups may be formed to address issues proposed by the 
Coast Guard, MERPAC members, or the public. 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 Meeting on September 21, 2004

    The agenda comprises the following:
    (1) Introduction.
    (2) Working Groups' Reports
    (a) Task Statement 30, concerning Utilizing military sea service 
for STCW certifications.
    (b) Task Statement 36, concerning Recommendations on a training 
program for officers in charge of an engineering watch coming up 
through the hawsepipe.
    (c) Task statement 40, concerning Qualifications in Basic Safety 
Training.
    (d) Task Statement 43, concerning Recommendations on a training and 
assessment program for able-bodied seamen on sea-going vessels.
    (e) Task Statement 46, concerning Review of the draft Navigation 
and Vessel Inspection Circular concerning the medical standards 
applicable to merchant mariners.
    (f) Other task statements which may have been adopted for 
discussion and action.
    (3) Other items to be discussed:
    (a) Standing Committee--Prevention Through People.
    (b) Briefings concerning on-going projects of interest to MERPAC.
    (c) 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 Mr. Mark Gould no later than September 6, 2004. 
Written material for distribution at a meeting should reach the Coast 
Guard no later than September 6, 2004. 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 Mr. Gould no later 
than September 6, 2004.

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 
Mr. Gould as soon as possible.

    Dated: August 9, 2004.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 04-19159 Filed 8-19-04; 8:45 am]
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