[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16434-16435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6885]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0171]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Committee Management; Notice of Committee Establishment.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that the 
establishment of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee 
(MERPAC) is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the 
performance of duties of the U. S. Coast Guard.
    Name of Committee: Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.

ADDRESSES: If you desire to submit comments on this action, they must 
be submitted by April 22, 2011. Comments must be identified by (USCG-
2011-0171) and may be submitted by using one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
    (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 four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on the 
establishment of the MERPAC, call or e-mail Mark C. Gould, Commandant 
(CG-5221), Attention MERPAC, U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second St., SW., 
STOP 7126, Washington, DC 20593-7126; e-mail: [email protected]; 
fax: (202) 372-1926. 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

    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-2011-0171), indicate the specific section of this document 
to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion 
or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online 
(via http://www.regulations.gov) or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online via 
http://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered received by the Coast 
Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax, hand 
deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered as having been 
received by the Coast Guard when it is received at the Docket 
Management Facility. We recommend that you include your name and a 
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a telephone 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, 
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become 
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu select 
``Notice'' and insert ``USCG-2011-0171'' in the ``Keyword'' box. Click 
``Search'' 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 comments 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 Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
click on the ``read comments'' box, which will then become highlighted 
in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0171'' and click 
``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. 
You may also visit 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 notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Establishment of the Committee

    For the reasons set forth below, the Secretary of Homeland Security 
has determined that the establishment of the MERPAC is necessary and in 
the public interest. This determination follows consultation with the 
Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration.
    The MERPAC is being established in accordance with the provisions 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-
463). The MERPAC will act in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of 
the Department of Homeland Security through the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards on 
matters relating to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine, including 
but not limited to training, qualifications, certification, 
documentation, and fitness standards. The MERPAC will provide focused 
recommendations to relevant maritime personnel issues and we anticipate 
that it will be very responsive to the Coast Guard's need for 
recommendations on short turn-around issues. The Committee's unique 
industry perspective will provide critical support to the Coast Guard's 
efforts to ensure the safety of the U.S. merchant marine. This 
information would otherwise have to be drawn from the broad population 
involved in merchant vessel personnel matters. There is no other 
current entity which can provide the level of technical expertise and 
experience that is afforded by this advisory committee.

Balanced Membership Plans

    The Committee membership is mandated by its charter and consists of 
nineteen (19) members appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security 
as follows: a. Nine active U.S. Merchant

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Mariners including: (1) Three deck officers who represent the viewpoint 
of merchant marine deck officers, two of whom shall be licensed for 
oceans any gross tons, one of whom shall be licensed for inland or 
river route with a limited or unlimited tonnage, two of whom must have 
master's license or a master of towing vessels license, and one of whom 
must have significant tanker experience; and, to the extent 
practicable, one of these deck officers shall represent the point of 
view of labor and another shall represent a management perspective; (2) 
three engineering officers who represent the viewpoint of merchant 
marine engineering officers, two of whom shall be licensed as chief 
engineer any horsepower, one of whom shall be licensed as either a 
limited chief engineer or a designated duty engineer; and, to the 
extent practicable, one of these engineers shall represent a labor 
point of view and another shall represent a management perspective; (3) 
two unlicensed seamen, including one who represents the viewpoint of 
Able-Bodied Seamen and one who represents the viewpoint of Qualified 
Members of the Engine Department; and (4) one Pilot who represents the 
viewpoint of merchant marine pilots. b. Six Marine Educators, 
including: (1) Three who represent the viewpoint of Maritime Academies, 
two of whom shall represent State Maritime Academies, and one of whom 
may represent either the State Maritime Academies or the Federal 
Maritime Academy; and (2) three who represent the viewpoint of other 
maritime training institutions, one of whom shall represent the 
viewpoint of the small vessel industry. c. Two individuals who 
represent the viewpoint of shipping companies employed in ship 
operation management. d. Two members who are drawn from the general 
public.
    Duration: Continuing.
    Responsible DHS Officials: MERPAC will provide advice and 
recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security 
through the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, United 
States Coast Guard and the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

    Dated: March 17, 2011.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2011-6885 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P