[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 131 (Monday, July 11, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 39699-39700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13074]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

49 CFR Chapter I

[USCG-2005-20052]


Potable Water on Inspected Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry; request for information.

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits public input on the amount of potable 
water that should be available on inspected vessels. Section 416 of the 
Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Act of 2004 amended 46 U.S.C. 
3305 on ``Scope and standards of inspection.'' This amendment adds a 
new item to the inspection process; that is, to ensure that each 
inspected vessel has an adequate supply of potable water for drinking 
and washing by passengers and crew. The Coast Guard is considering the 
options for implementing the new statute and seeks public input and 
information on criteria to determine the amount of potable water that 
should be available on inspected vessels.

DATES: Information and related material must reach the Docket 
Management Facility on or before September 9, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit information identified by Coast Guard docket 
number USCG-2005-20052 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S. 
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one 
of the following methods:
    (1) Web site: http://dms.dot.gov.
    (2) Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (3) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (4) Delivery: 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. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    (5) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or e-mail Mr. Craig Burch, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Design and 
Engineering Standards, telephone 202-267-2206, e-mail 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Andrea M. Jenkins, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-0271.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Information

    All comments and information 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 Department of 
Transportation (DOT) to use the Docket Management Facility. Please see 
DOT's ``Privacy Act'' paragraph below.
    Submitting comments and information: If you submit information, 
please include your name and address, identify the docket number for 
this notice (USCG-2005-20052) and give the reason for each comment or 
for bringing information to our attention. You may submit your 
information by electronic means, mail, fax, or delivery to the Docket 
Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit 
your information 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 information received during the comment 
period.
    Viewing comments and documents: To view comments, 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 
and information 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, etc.). You may 
review the Department of Transportation's Privacy Act Statement in the 
Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may 
visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Background and Purpose

    Section 416 of the Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Act of 
2004 amended 46 U.S.C. 3305 on ``Scope and standards of inspection.'' 
This amendment adds a new item to the inspection process; that is, to 
ensure that each inspected vessel has an adequate supply of potable 
water for drinking and washing by passengers and crew. The Coast Guard 
seeks public input and information on criteria that could be used to 
determine an adequate supply of potable water on inspected vessels. In 
this case, inspected vessels include ships, manned barges, and Mobile 
Offshore Drilling Units. Factors that will be used to determine an 
adequate supply are:
     The size and type of vessel;
     The number of passengers and crew on board;
     The duration and routing of voyages; and
     Guidelines for potable water recommended by the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention and the Public Health Service.

[[Page 39700]]

    Through this notice, the Coast Guard asks for comments and 
information related to the following questions:
     What other factors should be considered in determining the 
amount of potable water that should be available on a vessel?
     What design practices and policies are used for potable 
water systems on vessels?
     Are periodic water tests conducted on U.S. vessels to 
determine continued potability?
     What protocols or test methods are being used and who is 
conducting the testing?
     What industry standards could be applied to the design and 
testing of potable water systems on vessels?
     Should the Coast Guard consider incorporating the 
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)standards 15748-1 
on Ships and marine technology--Potable water supply on ships and 
marine structures--Part 1: Planning and Design and 15748-2 on Ships and 
marine technology--Potable water supply on ships and marine 
structures--Part 2: Method of calculation?
    ISO standards 15748-1 and 15748-2 have not been put into the public 
docket because they are protected by copyright. These standards are 
available for purchase through the International Organization for 
Standardization, 1, rue de Varemb[eacute], Case postale 56, CH-1211 
Geneva 20, Switzerland. These standards may also be viewed at U.S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters. Please call or e-mail Mr. Craig Burch, U.S. 
Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards, telephone 202-
267-2206, e-mail [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 3305, 46 U.S.C. 3306, Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

    Dated: June 27, 2005.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety, and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 05-13074 Filed 7-8-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P