[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 9367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2546]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2005-21610]


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 revised 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 change to 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 01-05, is available as 
indicated in this notice. Federal law requires that these response 
plans be prepared and submitted to the Coast Guard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on the change to 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 01-05, call Lieutenant 
Commander Rob Smith or Lieutenant Eric Bauer, Office of Vessel 
Activities 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 202-493-0402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On August 9, 2004, the President signed the Coast Guard and 
Maritime 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 have been 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 announced the availability of a Navigation 
and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) in the Federal Register on 
February 16, 2005, (70 FR 7955) 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. Change 1 to NVIC 01-05, 
Interim Guidance for the Development and Review of Response Plans for 
Nontank Vessels provides additional guidance for nontank vessels 
preparing and submitting response plans.

Access to the NVIC

    A copy of Change 1 to NVIC 01-05 can be found in the docket at 
http://dms.dot.gov/ [USCG-2005-21610] and at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/. For those Individuals without Internet access, a copy of 
Change 1 to NVIC 01-05 may be obtained by contacting the VRP Program 
staff at 202-267-6714 or your local U.S. Coast Guard Sector Command.

    Dated: February 15, 2006.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-2546 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
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