[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 147 (Tuesday, August 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43506-43507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12334]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2006-25461]


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: A MERPAC working group will meet on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, 
from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The full MERPAC committee will meet on 
Wednesday, September 13, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on 
Thursday, September 14, 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 August 30, 
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 August 30, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The MERPAC working group will meet on September 12, 2006, in 
Room 6 South of Building 2 of the Maritime Institute of Technology and 
Graduate Studies (MITAGS), 692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, 
MD 21090-1952. The full MERPAC committee will meet on September 13 and 
14, 2006, in the main auditorium in Building 3 at the same location. 
Further directions regarding the location of MITAGS may be obtained at 
the following link: http://www.mitags.org/text_directions?SESS=c7447c7629f9bae5605ea186e6e1b178 c7629f9bae5605ea186e6e1b178. Send written material and requests to make 
oral presentations to Mr. Mark Gould, Commandant (G-PSO-1), U.S. 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 202-372-1409, 
fax 202-372-1926, or e-mail [email protected]. For questions about 
hotel room availability at MITAGS, please call 866-900-3517.

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 Meeting on September 12, 2006

    The working group for Task Statement 57, concerning a national 
training program for operational and management level officers 
including integration of the STCW Code into the USCG license 
examination process, will meet to conduct deliberations in preparation 
for delivering proposed MERPAC recommendations to the full committee.

Agenda of Meeting on September 13, 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 51, 
concerning minimum standard of competence on tanker safety; Task 
Statement 55, concerning recommendations to develop a voluntary 
training program for deck and engine department entry level mariners on 
domestic and seagoing vessels; and Task Statement 57, concerning a 
national training program for operational and management level officers 
including integration of the STCW Code into the USCG license 
examination process. 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/g-m/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 September 14, 2006

    The agenda comprises the following:
    (1) Introduction.

[[Page 43507]]

    (2) Working Groups' Reports
    (a) Task Statement 30, concerning utilizing military sea service 
for STCW certifications;
    (b) Task Statement 51, concerning minimum standard of competence on 
tanker safety;
    (c) Task Statement 55, concerning recommendations to develop a 
voluntary training program for deck and engine department entry level 
mariners on domestic and seagoing vessels;
    (d) Task Statement 57, concerning a national training program for 
operational and management level officers including integration of the 
STCW Code into the USCG license examination process; and
    (e) 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 August 30, 2006. Written 
material for distribution at a meeting should reach the Coast Guard no 
later than August 30, 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 
August 30, 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: July 27, 2006.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of National and International Standards, Assistant Commandant 
for Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-12334 Filed 7-31-06; 8:45 am]
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