[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3784-3785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-1539]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2010-1066]


Recreational Boating Safety Projects, Programs and Activities 
Funded Under Provisions of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st 
Century; Accounting of

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In 1999, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century 
made $5 million per year available to the Secretary of Homeland 
Security for payment of Coast Guard expenses for personnel and 
activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the 
national recreational boating safety program. In 2005, the law was 
amended, and the amount was increased to $5.5 million. The Coast Guard 
is publishing this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Act that a 
detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded 
under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the 
Act be published annually in the Federal Register. In this notice, we 
have specified the funding amounts the Coast Guard has committed, 
obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2011, as of September 30, 
2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, call 
Jeff Ludwig, Regulations Development Manager, telephone (202) 372-1061.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background and Purpose

    The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century became law on 
June 9, 1998 (Pub. L. 105-178; 112 Stat. 107). The Act required that of 
the $5 million made available to carry out the national recreational 
boating safety program each year, $2 million shall be available only to 
ensure compliance with Chapter 43 of Title 46, U.S. Code--Recreational 
Vessels. On September 29, 2005, the Sportfishing and Recreational 
Boating Safety Amendments Act of 2005 was enacted (Pub. L. 109-74; 119 
Stat. 2031). This Act increased the funds available to the national 
recreational boating safety program from $5 million to $5.5 million 
annually, and stated that ``not less than'' $2 million shall be 
available only to ensure compliance with Chapter 43 of Title 46, U.S. 
Code--Recreational Vessels.
    These funds are available to the Secretary from the Sport Fish 
Restoration and Boating Trust Fund established under section 9504(a) of 
title 26 U.S. Code for payment of Coast guard expenses for personnel 
and activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the 
national recreational boating safety program. Subsection (c) of section 
7405 of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, codified at 
46 U.S.C. 13107(c), directs that no funds available to the Secretary 
under this subsection may be used to replace funding traditionally 
provided through general appropriations, nor for any purposes except 
those purposes authorized; namely, for personnel and activities 
directly related to coordinating and carrying out the national 
recreational boating safety program. Amounts made available each fiscal 
year from 1999 through 2011 shall

[[Page 3785]]

remain available during the 2 succeeding fiscal years. Any amount that 
is unexpended or unobligated at the end of the 3-year period during 
which it is available, shall be withdrawn by the Secretary and 
allocated to the States in addition to any other amounts available for 
allocation in the fiscal year in which they are withdrawn or the 
following fiscal year.
    Use of these funds requires compliance with standard Federal 
contracting rules with associated lead and processing times resulting 
in a lag time between available funds and spending. The total amount of 
funding transferred to the Coast Guard from the Sport Fish Restoration 
and Boating Trust Fund and committed, obligated, and/or expended during 
fiscal year 2011 for each activity is shown below.

Specific Accounting of Funds

    National Recreational Boating Safety Survey: Funding was provided 
toward a national recreational boating survey that will cover a five 
year period. The purpose of this survey is to obtain up-to-date 
statistically valid estimates on recreational boating safety. During 
this five year period, three surveys will be conducted. During fiscal 
year 2011, funding was provided to conduct the first two surveys. 
($6,345,764).
    Factory Visit Program/Boat Testing Program: Funding was provided to 
continue the national recreational boat factory visit program, 
initiated in January 2001. The factory visit program currently allows 
contracted personnel, acting on behalf of the Coast Guard, to visit 
1,150 recreational boat manufacturers each year to either inspect for 
compliance with Federal regulations, communicate with the manufacturers 
as to why they need to comply with Federal regulations, or educate 
them, as necessary, on how to comply with Federal regulations. Funding 
was also provided for testing of certain associated equipment and in-
water testing of atypical and used recreational boats for compliance 
with capacity and flotation standards. Funding in the amount of 
$1,995.416 was provided for the Factory Visit Program/Boat Testing 
Program. This amount, along with approximately $100,000 of the funding 
provided for ``personnel support'' and approximately $140,000 of the 
funding provided for ``reimbursable salaries'' detailed below, 
satisfies the legal requirements that ``not less than'' $2 million be 
available to ensure compliance with Chapter 43 of Title 46, U.S. Code--
Recreational Vessels. ($1,995,416).
    New Recreational Boating Safety Associated Travel: Travel by 
members of the Boating Safety Division's strategic planning panel was 
undertaken to attend meetings to develop the next iteration of the 
national recreational boating safety program strategic plan. ($652).
    Boating Accident News Clipping Services: Funding was provided to 
continue to gather daily news stories of recreational boating accidents 
nationally for more real time accident information and to identify 
accidents that may involve regulatory non-compliances or safety 
defects. ($79,119).
    Web-based Document Management System: Funding was provided to 
continue to provide a Web-based document management system to better 
enable the handling of thousands of recreational boating recall case 
and campaign reports. ($75,000).
    Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Outreach Program: Funding was 
allocated for this program which provides full marketing, media, public 
information, and program strategy support to the nation-wide RBS 
effort. The goal is to coordinate the RBS outreach initiatives and 
campaigns, some of which include: National Boating Under the Influence 
Campaign (BUI), ``Boat Responsibly!'', Life Jacket Wear, Vessel Safety 
Check Program (VSC), Boating Safety Education Courses, Propeller Strike 
Avoidance, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Awareness and Education, and other 
recreational boating safety issues on an as needed basis. ($940,988).
    Boating Accident Report Form: Funding was provided to update the 
Coast Guard's Form CG-3865, which is used to report boating accidents. 
The form was updated to reflect a few minor changes in reporting 
requirements, and to ensure the electronic version of the form met all 
federal accessibility requirements. ($1,110).
    Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) Web System: Funding was 
allocated to continue providing the BARD Web System, which enables 
reporting authorities in the 50 States, five U.S. Territories, and the 
District of Columbia to submit their accident reports electronically 
over a secure Internet connection. The system also enables the user 
community to generate statistical reports that show the frequency, 
nature, and severity of boating accidents. Fiscal year 2011 funds 
supported system maintenance, development, and technical (hotline) 
support. ($320,945).
    Personnel Support: Funding was provided for personnel to support 
the development of new regulations and to conduct boating safety-
related research and analysis. ($693,266).
    Reimbursable Salaries: Funding was provided to carry out the work 
as prescribed in 46 U.S.C. 13107(c) and as described herein. The first 
position was that of a professional mathematician/statistician to 
conduct necessary national surveys and studies on recreational boating 
activities as well as to serve as a liaison to other Federal agencies 
that are conducting boating surveys so that we can pool our resources 
and reduce costs. The second position was that of an Outreach 
Coordinator with responsibilities that include overseeing and managing 
RBS projects related to carbon monoxide poisoning, propeller injury 
mitigation, and manufacturer compliance initiatives. ($296,823).
    Of the $5.5 million made available to the Coast Guard in fiscal 
year 2011, $507,703.80 has been committed, obligated, or expended and 
an additional $10,241,378.91 of prior fiscal year funds have been 
committed, obligated, or expended, as of September 30, 2011. 
Approximately $5.4 million has not been committed, obligated, or 
expended from previous years and is being reserved for the five year 
national boating survey that was previously discussed in this Notice.
    This notice is issued pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 13107(c)(4).

    Dated: January 18, 2012.
Paul F. Thomas,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Director of Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-1539 Filed 1-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P