[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8658-8659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3322]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 148

[USCG-2009-0091]
RIN 1625-AB47


Bulk Solid Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With the 
International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Rule; information collection approval.

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SUMMARY: On October 19, 2010, the Coast Guard amended its regulations 
governing the carriage of solid hazardous materials in bulk to allow 
use of the IMSBC Code as an equivalent form of compliance. The 
amendment triggered information collection requirements affecting the 
Special Permits issued by the Coast Guard that allow the carriage of 
hazardous bulk solid materials not addressed in the amended 
regulations. This notice announces that the collection of information 
has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget

[[Page 8659]]

(OMB) and may now be enforced. The OMB control number is 1625-0025.

DATES: The collection of information requirement under 46 CFR part 148 
will be enforced beginning February 15, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
document, contact Mr. Richard Bornhorst at 202-372-1426 or 
[email protected]. If you have questions about viewing the 
docket (USCG-2009-0091), call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, 
Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 1, 2011, compliance with the 
IMSBC Code became mandatory for all vessels subject to the 
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, 
as amended, that carry bulk solid cargoes other than grain. The final 
rule (75 FR 64586) allows use of the IMSBC Code as an alternate form of 
compliance with 46 CFR part 148, subject to conditions and limitations. 
The rule reduces the need for the current Special Permits for the 
carriage of certain solid hazardous materials in bulk.
    The Coast Guard issues Special Permits as part of its mission to 
ensure maritime safety and facilitate U.S. commerce. To ensure that the 
carriage requirements imposed by the Special Permit are sufficient and 
that the permit holder is complying with the terms of the permit, the 
Coast Guard requires the submission of information concerning the 
history of shipments made under the terms of the Special Permit.
    With the exception of this collection of information, the Bulk 
Solid Hazardous Materials: Harmonization With the International 
Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code rule became effective on 
January 1, 2011. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520), an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of 
information until the collection is approved by OMB. Accordingly, the 
preamble to the final rule stated that the Coast Guard would not 
enforce the collection of information requirements occurring under 46 
CFR part 148 until the collection of information request was approved 
by OMB, and also stated that the Coast Guard would publish a notice in 
the Federal Register announcing that OMB approved and assigned a 
control number for the requirement.
    The Coast Guard submitted the information collection request to OMB 
for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. On 
January 28, 2011, OMB approved the collection of information and 
assigned the collection OMB Control Number 1625-0025 entitled 
``Carriage of Bulk Solids Requiring Special Handling--46 CFR 148''. The 
approval for this collection of information expires on January 31, 
2014. A copy of the OMB notice of action is available in our online 
docket (USCG-2009-0091) at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: February 7, 2011.
F.J. Sturm,
Acting Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast 
Guard.
[FR Doc. 2011-3322 Filed 2-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P