[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 216 (Wednesday, November 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66856-66857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27249]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0980]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee: Intercessional 
Meeting AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Working Group Meeting.

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SUMMARY: A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory 
Committee (MERPAC) will meet to work on Task Statement 77 concerning 
the development of new performance measures which can be used to assess 
mariner competencies in the International Convention on Standards of 
Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, specifically 
Electro-Technical Officers and Electro-Technical Ratings. This meeting 
will be open to the public.

DATES: A MERPAC working group will meet on November 27 and November 28, 
2012, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Please note that the meeting may adjourn 
early if all business is finished. Written comments to be distributed 
to working group members and placed on MERPAC's Web site are due by 
November 20, 2012.

ADDRESSES: The working group will meet in Room 5-1224 of Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Ave. SW., Washington, DC. Attendees will be 
required to provide a picture identification card and pass through a 
magnetometer in order to gain admittance to the U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters Building. Visitors should also arrive at least 30 minutes 
in advance of the meeting in case of long lines at the entrance.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance, contact Mr. Rogers 
Henderson at 202-372-1408 or [email protected].
    To facilitate public participation, we are inviting public comment 
on the issues to be considered by the work group, which are listed in 
the ``Agenda'' section below. Written comments must be identified by 
Docket No. USCG-2012-0980 and may be submitted by one of the following 
methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments (preferred method to 
avoid delays in processing).
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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.
     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.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this 
action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
may review a Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the 
January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read documents or comments 
related to this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    This notice may be viewed in our online docket, USCG-2012-0980, at 
http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rogers Henderson, Alternate 
Designated Federal Officer of MERPAC, telephone 202-372-1408. If you 
have any questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 
202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463).
    MERPAC is an advisory committee established under the Secretary's 
authority in section 871 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Title 6, 
United States Code, section 451, and chartered under the provisions of 
the FACA. The Committee acts solely in an advisory capacity to the 
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 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 Committee 
advises, consults with, and makes recommendations reflecting its 
independent judgment to the Secretary.

Agenda

Day 1

    The agenda for the November 27, 2012, working group meeting is as 
follows:
    (1) Develop new performance measures which can be used to assess 
mariner competencies listed in the International Convention on 
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 
(STCW), 1978 as amended, specifically Electro-Technical Officers and 
Electro-Technical Ratings;
    (2) Public comment period;
    (3) Discuss and prepare proposed recommendations for the full 
committee to consider with regards to Task Statement 77, concerning the 
development of new performance measures which can be used to assess 
mariner competencies in the STCW, specifically for Electro-Technical 
Officers and Electro-Technical Ratings.

Day 2

    The agenda for the November 28, 2012, working group meeting is as 
follows:
    (1) Continue discussion on proposed recommendations;
    (2) Public comment period;
    (3) Discuss and prepare final recommendations for the full 
committee to consider with regards to Task Statement 77, concerning the 
development of new performance

[[Page 66857]]

measures which can be used to assess mariner competencies in the STCW, 
specifically for Electro-Technical Officers and Electro-Technical 
Ratings; and
    (4) Adjournment of meeting.
    Procedural: A copy of all meeting documentation, including the Task 
Statement, is available at https://homeport.uscg.mil by using these key 
strokes: Missions; Port and Waterways Safety; Advisory Committees; 
MERPAC; and then use the event key. Alternatively, you may contact Mr. 
Henderson as noted in the ADDRESSES section above.
    Public oral comment periods will be held during the working group 
meeting. Speakers are requested to limit their comments to 3 minutes. 
Please note that the public oral comment periods may end before the 
prescribed ending time indicated following the last call for comments. 
Contact Rogers Henderson as indicated above to register as a speaker.

    Dated: November 2, 2012.
F. J. Sturm,
Acting Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2012-27249 Filed 11-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P