[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 29, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37410-37411]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12806]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[ATSDR-211]


Vessel Sanitation Program; Notice of Revision and Implementation 
of the Vessel Sanitation Program Operations Manual

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of 
Health and Human Services.

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the revision and implementation of the 
Vessel Sanitation Program Operations Manual. The manual will become 
effective on August 1, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Forney, Chief, Vessel Sanitation 
Program, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services 
(EEHS), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), telephone 
(770) 488-7333 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Background

    The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) is a cooperative activity 
between the cruise ship industry and the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services. The purpose and goals of VSP are to achieve and 
maintain a level of sanitation that will lower the risk for 
gastrointestinal diseases and will assist the cruise ship industry in 
its efforts to provide a healthful environment for passengers and crew.

Comments

    In 2003, CDC announced plans to revise the Vessel Sanitation 
Operations Manual, November 2000. Input and comments requested and 
received from the cruise ship industry, private sanitation consultants, 
other Federal

[[Page 37411]]

agencies, and other interested parties were discussed in detail at a 
public meeting held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 27, 2004. On 
the basis of comments received, VSP staff drafted a third revised 
manual that was discussed at a public meeting held in Fort Lauderdale 
on August 23-26, 2004. Input from the cruise ship industry was critical 
of this document. VSP revised the document and incorporated the 
comments received from the cruise ship industry, private sanitation 
consultants, and other interested parties who attended the public 
meetings or submitted comments in writing. A final draft of the VSP 
Operations Manual, 2005 was put on the VSP Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp) and was presented to attendees at the VSP annual 
public meeting held in Fort Lauderdale on April 26, 2005.
    VSP acknowledges the helpful participation and the input of the 
cruise ship industry, private sanitation consultants, and other 
interested parties throughout the revision process. Major input for 
this document was provided by the International Council of Cruise Lines 
(ICCL), which represents the 16 largest passenger cruise lines that 
call on major ports in the U.S. and abroad.

Implementation and Transition for the VSP Operations Manual, 2005

    The VSP Operations Manual, 2005 will become effective on August 1, 
2005. At that time, the VSP Environmental Health Officers will begin 
using the new manual and inspection report when they conduct their 
routine operational inspections.
    For one year or for two routine inspections, whichever comes first, 
VSP staff will document deficiencies that indicate noncompliance with 
the 2005 operations manual. However, no points will be deducted for 
failure to meet the revised provisions in the 2005 manual. During the 
phase-in period, these deficiencies will be cited with a star on the 
inspection report, and no points will be deducted so that corrective 
actions can be taken.
    One example of the new requirements in the 2005 manual is that hand 
wash sinks with the electronic sensors that cannot be user-adjusted 
have a maximum water temperature of 52 [deg]C (125 [deg]F). The VSP 
Operations Manual, 2000 required only a minimum water temperature for 
the sinks with the sensors. For the first year or for two routine 
inspections, whichever comes first, inspectors will document water 
temperatures above the maximum at the handwash sinks with the sensors, 
but the item will be cited with a star on the inspection report, and no 
points will be deducted.

Applicability

    The VSP Operations Manual is applicable to all passenger cruise 
vessels that have international itineraries and that call on U.S. 
Ports.

Availability

    Final copies of the VSP Operations Manual, 2005 can be found on the 
VSP Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp; by contacting Stephanie 
Lawrence, Program Management Assistant for the Vessel Sanitation 
Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mail stop 
F23, 4770 Buford Highway NE., Atlanta, GA 30341-3274; or by e-mail at 
[email protected]. Requests may also be sent to [email protected].

    Dated: June 24, 2005.
Kevin A. Ryan,
Acting Director, Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, National 
Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry.
[FR Doc. 05-12806 Filed 6-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P