[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7955-7956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2945]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2005-20103]


Nontank Vessel Response Plan Guidance

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a document that 
provides interim guidelines for the development and review of plans for 
responding to a discharge, or threat of a discharge, of oil from 
nontank vessels. The document, in the form of a Navigation and Vessel 
Inspection Circular, is available as indicated in this

[[Page 7956]]

notice. Federal law requires that these response plans be prepared and 
submitted to the Coast Guard no later than August 8, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on the 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular, call the Vessel Response 
Plan Program staff at telephone 202-267-6714. If you have questions on 
viewing material in the docket, call Ms. Renee K. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-0271.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On August 9, 2004, the President signed the Coast Guard and Marine 
Transportation Act of 2004 (Pub. L. 108-293) (2004 Act). Section 701 of 
the 2004 Act amends section 311(a) and (j) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act to require the preparation and submission of oil 
response plans for nontank vessels. The 2004 Act defines ``nontank 
vessel'' as a self-propelled vessel of 400 gross tons or greater, other 
than a tank vessel, that carries oil of any kind as fuel for main 
propulsion and that is a vessel of the United States or operates on the 
navigable waters of the United States. Under the 2004 Act, response 
plans must be submitted to the Coast Guard by August 8, 2005.
    The 2004 Act requires the Coast Guard to issue response plan 
regulations. However, to assist industry in meeting the August 8, 2005, 
deadline, the Coast Guard has issued guidance, in the form of a 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC), for use in the 
preparation and submission of response plans until regulations are in 
effect. As there are already certain provisions in the existing statute 
that these response plans must meet, the NVIC identifies those 
requirements, as well as the Coast Guard's recommendations.

Access to the NVIC

    A copy of the nontank vessel response plan NVIC can be found in the 
docket at http://dms.dot.gov/ and at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/. 
For those individuals without Internet access, a copy of the NVIC may 
be obtained by contacting the VRP Program staff at the number above, or 
your local U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office.

    Dated: February 10, 2005.
T. H. Gilmour,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 05-2945 Filed 2-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P