[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75421-75422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21335]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 151 and 158

46 CFR Parts 30, 98, 151, and 153

[USCG-2006-26341]


Revised MARPOL Annex II and IBC Code Implementation: Publication 
of Guidelines

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Navigation and 
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) No. 03-06, titled ``Guidance on 
Implementation of Revisions to MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code.'' This 
NVIC provides guidelines on how the revisions to Annex II of the 
International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 
1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL), 
and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships 
Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) will be implemented in 
the U.S. These revisions come into force internationally on January 1, 
2007.

DATES: The Coast Guard issued NVIC 03-06 on November 28, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of NVIC 03-06 from U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters (CG-3PSO-3), Room 1214, 2100 2nd Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20593. The NVIC is available on the Internet at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/index.htm. It is also available in the public 
docket (USCG-2006-26341) and is available for inspection or

[[Page 75422]]

copying at the Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, room PL-402, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. You may also find this public docket on the Internet at 
http://www.dms.dot.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, contact 
LT Jennifer Stockwell, Hazardous Materials Standards Division, U.S. 
Coast Guard, telephone 202-372-1419, e-mail: [email protected]. If 
you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 
202-493-0402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a letter to the International Maritime 
Organization (IMO) dated October 10, 2006, the Coast Guard sought to 
explain the effect of the revised Annex II and amended IBC Code for 
foreign ships trading at U.S. ports and U.S.-flag ships trading at 
foreign ports. That letter also advised the IMO that a relevant NVIC 
would be forthcoming and available online. On November 28, 2006, the 
Coast Guard issued NVIC 03-06. NVIC 03-06 provides guidance to foreign 
and U.S. vessels operating in U.S. waters that carry Noxious Liquid 
Substances (NLSs) in bulk, reception facilities that handle these 
products, and Coast Guard personnel conducting inspections and 
examinations. This NVIC addresses numerous implementation issues for 
owners and operators of vessels and reception facilities, and Coast 
Guard personnel with respect to the revised MARPOL Annex II, IBC Code, 
and current U.S. regulations. The Coast Guard encourages all affected 
parties to review NVIC 03-06 to ensure compliance with the revisions to 
MARPOL Annex II, IBC Code, and all applicable U.S. regulations. NVIC 
03-06 encourages voluntary compliance, but is not intended to and does 
not impose legally binding requirements on any party outside the Coast 
Guard.

    Dated: November 29, 2006.
J. G. Lantz,
Director of National and International Standards, Office of the 
Assistant Commandant for Prevention.
[FR Doc. E6-21335 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P