[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 18, 2009)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7576-7577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-3155]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 71, 114, 115, 122, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 178, 
179, and 185

[Docket No. USCG-2007-0030]
RIN 1625-AB20


Passenger Weight and Inspected Vessel Stability Requirements

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is reopening the period for public comment on 
its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on regulations governing the 
stability of passenger vessels and the maximum number of passengers 
that may safely be permitted on board a vessel. The comment period will 
close on March 20, 2009.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published at 73 FR 
49244, August 20, 2008, and reopened at 73 FR 74426, December 8, 2008, 
is again reopened. Comments and related material must be received on or 
before March 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2007-0030 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these methods. For 
instructions on submitting comments, see the ``Public Participation and 
Request for Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call Mr. William Peters, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Design and 
Engineering Standards, Naval Architecture Division (CG-5212), telephone 
202-372-1371. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material 
to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard has requested comments as to all aspects of the 
rulemaking. We particularly encourage you at this time to submit 
comments and related material on the ``Pontoon Vessel Passenger 
Crowding Stability Criteria Study, Appendix 1.'' All comments received 
will be posted, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will 
include any personal information you have provided.
    Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2007-0030) and provide a reason for 
each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and 
material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only 
one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of 
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding 
your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the 
screen, insert ``USCG-2007-0030'' in the Docket ID box, press Enter, 
and then click on the balloon shape in the Actions column. If you 
submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.
    Viewing comments and Appendix 1: To view the comments and the 
``Pontoon Vessel Passenger Crowding Stability Criteria Study, Appendix 
1'' go to http://www.regulations.gov, select the Advanced Docket Search 
option on the right side of the screen, insert USCG-2007-0030 in the 
Docket ID box, press

[[Page 7577]]

Enter, and then click on the item in the Docket ID column. If you do 
not have access to the Internet, you may view the docket online by 
visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground 
floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement 
with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management 
Facility.
    Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a 
Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in 
the January 17, 2008 issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Background and Purpose

    On August 20, 2008, The Coast Guard published an NPRM entitled 
``Passenger Weight and Inspected Vessel Stability Requirements'' (73 FR 
49244). During the NPRM's original comment period, which ended November 
18, 2008, members of the public requested that the Coast Guard add to 
the docket a study cited in support of certain stability findings that 
resulted in proposed changes to 46 CFR 171 in the NPRM.
    The 12-page study, entitled the ``Pontoon Vessel Passenger Crowding 
Stability Criteria Study,'' was added to the docket on October 30, 2008 
(document number USCG-2007-0030-0139.1). Following the addition of the 
study, members of the public stated that they did not have sufficient 
time to review and comment on this study before the close of the 
comment period. On December 8, 2008, the Coast Guard reopened the 
comment period for 60 days to afford the public additional time to 
comment (73 FR 74426).
    During the reopened comment period the Coast Guard became aware 
that an appendix to the study, that had not been previously released, 
would assist the public in understanding the Pontoon Vessel Passenger 
Crowding Stability Criteria Study. We added this information, entitled 
``Pontoon Vessel Passenger Crowding Stability Criteria Study, Appendix 
1'' to the docket on February 09, 2009 (document number USCG-2007-0030-
0204.1). In order to ensure the public has sufficient time to utilize 
the information in the appendix we will reopen the comment period, 
which closed February 6, 2009, for 30 additional days. The comment 
period will close on March 20, 2009. Additionally, you are reminded 
that you may comment on any aspect of the rulemaking, including on any 
comments placed in the docket. We may change the proposed rules in 
response to the comments received.

    Dated: February 10, 2009.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. E9-3155 Filed 2-17-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P