[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 15 (Tuesday, January 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3874-3875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-754]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2006-23652]


Temporary Authorization To Extend Certificates of Inspection and 
Certificates of Compliance

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of policy.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that Congress authorized (through 
H.R. 4508), the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend temporarily 
the duration or the validity of Certificates of Inspection and 
Certificates of Compliance that are issued under chapter 33 or 37, 
respectively, of title 46, U.S. Code. These certificates may be 
extended for up to three (3) months for any vessel inspected by the 
Coast Guard in Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana.

DATES: This temporary extension authorization for the Secretary of 
Homeland Security expires on February 28, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Vessel owners or operators must send written requests for 
extensions to the local Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) for 
consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions regarding this 
notice, contact Lieutenant Commander Brian J. Downey, Office of Vessel 
Activities (G-PCV-1), by telephone 202-267-0495, fax 202-267-4394, or 
e-mail [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing to the 
docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-493-0402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that struck the U.S. 
Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, the Coast Guard mounted an unprecedented 
emergency response. Urgent reprioritization of Coast Guard missions and 
reallocation of resources was required to effectively manage the 
regional response. In an effort to reduce the impact to the marine 
industry because of the Coast Guard's hurricane response measures, 
Congress authorized temporary vessel inspection regulatory relief 
through H.R. 4508.

Policy

    Vessel owners or operators must send written requests for 
extensions to the local Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) for 
consideration. OCMIs, at their discretion, may extend expiration dates 
for Certificates of Inspection (COIs) and Certificates of Compliance 
(COCs) that will expire before February 28, 2006. Extensions are only 
authorized in cases where the OCMI lacks resources to provide timely 
service or in cases where vessel operators clearly document that an 
extension is required to provide direct/emergent hurricane relief 
efforts. Vessels, not normally inspected in Alabama, Mississippi or 
Louisiana are not eligible for extension. Vessels with certificates 
expiring after February 28, 2006 are not eligible for extension. Vessel 
owner/operator requests should define the length of extension required 
(not to exceed 90 days), outline the cause for the extension, and 
should attest to the vessel's substantial compliance with applicable 
inspection regulations. OCMIs must authorize all extensions with 
official correspondence to the requester detailing the extended 
expiration date. Vessels operating with expired COIs and COCs without a 
written extension are in violation of

[[Page 3875]]

applicable vessel inspection laws and can be subject to enforcement 
action.

    Dated: January 13, 2006.
Craig E. Bone,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Assistant Commandant for 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-754 Filed 1-23-06; 8:45 am]
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