[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13414-13415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3643]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2006-24106]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and 
its working groups will meet to discuss various issues relating to the 
training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. MERPAC advises the 
Secretary of Homeland Security on matters relating to the training, 
qualifications, licensing, and certification of seamen serving in the 
U.S. merchant marine. All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES: Two MERPAC working groups will meet on Monday, April 3, 2006, 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The full MERPAC committee will meet on 
Tuesday, April 4, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Wednesday, 
April 5, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. These meetings may adjourn 
early if all business is finished. Requests to make oral presentations 
should reach the Coast Guard on or before March 24, 2006. Written 
material and requests to have a copy of your material distributed to 
each member of the committee or subcommittee should reach the Coast 
Guard on or before March 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The MERPAC working groups will meet on April 3, 2006, in 
Rooms 3317 (Task Statement 53) and 3319 (Task Statement 49) of U. S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20593. The full MERPAC committee will meet on April 4-5, 2006, in Room 
2415 of U. S. Coast Guard Headquarters. Further directions regarding 
the location of Coast Guard Headquarters may be obtained by contacting 
(202) 267-6890. Send written material and requests to make oral 
presentations to Mr. Mark Gould, Commandant (G-PSO-1), U.S.

[[Page 13415]]

Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-
0001. This notice is available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact 
Mr. Gould, Assistant to the Executive Director, telephone 202-267-6890, 
fax 202-267-4570, or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of these meetings is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 
Stat. 770, as amended).

Agenda of Meetings on April 3, 2006

    The working groups for Task Statement 49, concerning 
recommendations for use of a model sea course project in conjunction 
with an approved program for officer in charge of an engineering watch 
coming up through the hawse pipe, and Task Statement 53, concerning 
medical certification standards and disqualifying medical conditions 
for merchant mariners, will meet to conduct deliberations in 
preparation for delivering proposed MERPAC recommendations to the full 
committee.

Agenda of Meeting on April 4, 2006

    The full committee will meet to discuss the objectives for the 
meeting. The working groups addressing the following task statements 
may meet to deliberate: Task Statement 30, concerning utilizing 
military sea service for STCW certifications; Task Statement 49, 
concerning recommendations for use of a model sea course project in 
conjunction with an approved program for officer in charge of an 
engineering watch coming up through the hawse pipe; Task Statement 51, 
concerning minimum standard of competence on tanker safety; Task 
Statement 52, concerning recommendations on the Coast Guard's draft 
proposals on issues that will be affected by the revisions to the 1997 
Interim Rule Implementing the 1995 amendments to the STCW Convention; 
and Task Statement 53, concerning medical certification standards and 
disqualifying medical conditions for merchant mariners. In addition, 
new working groups may be formed to address issues proposed by the 
Coast Guard, MERPAC members, or the public. All task statements may be 
viewed at the MERPAC Web site at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/gm/advisory/merpac/merpac.htm.
    At the end of the day, the working groups will make a report to the 
full committee on what has been accomplished in their meetings. No 
action will be taken on these reports on this date.

Agenda of Meeting on April 5, 2006

    The agenda comprises the following:
    (1) Introduction.
    (2) Working Groups' Reports
    (a) Task Statement 30, concerning utilizing military sea service 
for STCW certifications;
    (b) Task Statement 49, concerning recommendations for use of a 
model sea course project in conjunction with an approved program for 
officer in charge of an engineering watch coming up through the hawse 
pipe;
    (c) Task Statement 51, concerning minimum standard of competence on 
tanker safety;
    (d) Task Statement 52, concerning recommendations on the Coast 
Guard's draft proposals on issues that will be affected by the 
revisions to the 1997 Interim Rule Implementing the 1995 amendments to 
the STCW Convention;
    (e) Task Statement 53, concerning medical certification standards 
and disqualifying medical conditions for merchant mariners; and
    (f) Other task statements which may have been adopted for 
discussion and action.
    (3) Other items to be discussed:
    (a) Standing Committee--Prevention Through People.
    (b) Briefings concerning on-going projects of interest to MERPAC.
    (c) Other items brought up for discussion by the committee or the 
public.

Procedural

    All meetings are open to the public. Please note that the meetings 
may adjourn early if all business is finished. At the Chair's 
discretion, members of the public may make oral presentations during 
the meetings. If you would like to make an oral presentation at a 
meeting, please notify Mr. Gould no later than March 24, 2006. Written 
material for distribution at a meeting should reach the Coast Guard no 
later than March 24, 2006. If you would like a copy of your material 
distributed to each member of the committee or subcommittee in advance 
of the meeting, please submit 25 copies to Mr. Gould no later than 
March 24, 2006.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact 
Mr. Gould as soon as possible.

    Dated: March 7, 2006.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Assistant Commandant for Prevention.
 [FR Doc. E6-3643 Filed 3-14-06; 8:45 am]
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