[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11214-11215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03549]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0073]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will 
meet on March 12, 2013 and March 13, 2013 in Houston, TX, to discuss 
various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine 
personnel. This meeting will be open to the public.

DATES: MERPAC working groups will meet on March 12, 2013, from 8 a.m. 
until 4 p.m., and the full committee will meet on March 13, 2013, from 
8 a.m. until 4 p.m. This meeting may adjourn early if all business is 
finished.

ADDRESSES: The Committee will meet in the Red Room of the West Gulf 
Maritime Association (WGMA), 1717 Turning Basin, Suite 200 Houston, 
Texas 77029. For further information on the location of WGMA, please 
contact Mr. Niels Lyngso at (713) 715-6443.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance, contact Mr. Davis Breyer 
at 202-372-1445 as soon as possible.
    To facilitate public participation, we are inviting public comment 
on the issues to be considered by the committee and working groups as 
listed in the ``Agenda'' section below. Written comments for 
distribution to committee members and inclusion on MERPAC's Web site 
must be submitted by February 26, 2013.
    Written comments must be identified by Docket No. USCG-2013-0073 
and 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.
    A public oral comment period will be held each day. Speakers are 
requested to limit their comments to 3 minutes. Please note that the 
public oral comment period may end before the

[[Page 11215]]

prescribed ending time indicated following the last call for comments. 
Contact Davis Breyer at [email protected] or at at 202-372-1445 
no later than February 26, 2013, to register as a speaker. This notice 
may be viewed in our online docket, USCG-2013-0073, at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer (ADFO), telephone 202-372-1445, or at 
[email protected].
    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, 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 will 
advise, consult with, and make recommendations reflecting its 
independent judgment to the Secretary.

Agenda of Meeting

Day 1

    The agenda for the March 12, 2013, meeting is as follows:
    (1) The full committee will meet briefly to discuss the working 
groups' business/task statements, which are listed under paragraph 2 
(a)-(g) below.
    (2) Working groups addressing the following task statements, 
available for viewing at http://homeport.uscg.mil/merpac will meet to 
deliberate:
    (a) Task Statement 30, Utilizing Military Education, Training and 
Assessment for STCW (the International Convention on Standards of 
Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) (1978), as 
amended) and U.S. Coast Guard Certifications;
    (b) Task Statement 58, Stakeholder Communications during Merchant 
Mariner Licensing and Documentation Program (MLD) Restructuring and 
Centralization;
    (c) Task Statement 71, Review of USCG Operational Level Examination 
(3rd Mate/2nd Mate and 3rd/2nd Assistant Engineer) Topics and Questions 
and Alignment with the STCW Code;
    (d) Task Statement 73, Development of Training Guidance for 
Engineers Serving on Near-Coastal Vessels;
    (e) Task Statement 77, Development of Performance Measures 
(Assessment Criteria);
    (f) Task Statement 78, Consideration of the International Labor 
Organization's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; and
    (g) Task Statement 80, Crew Training Requirements Onboard Natural 
Gas-Fueled Vessels Other Than Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers.
    (3) Public comment period.
    (4) Reports of working groups. At the end of the day, the working 
groups will report to the full committee on what was accomplished in 
their meetings. The full committee will not take action on these 
reports on this date. Any official action taken as a result of this 
working group meeting will be taken on day 2 of the meeting.
    (5) Adjournment of meeting.

Day 2

    The agenda for the March 13, 2013, Committee meeting is as follows:
    (1) Introduction;
    (2) Remarks from Coast Guard Leadership;
    (3) Roll call of committee members and determination of a quorum;
    (4) Designated Federal Officer (DFO) announcements;
    (5) Reports from the following working groups;
    (a) Task Statement 30, Utilizing Military Education, Training and 
Assessment for STCW and U.S. Coast Guard Certifications;
    (b) Task Statement 58, Stakeholder Communications during MLD 
Program Restructuring and Centralization;
    (c) Task Statement 71, Review of USCG Operational Level Examination 
(3rd Mate/2nd Mate and 3rd/2nd Assistant Engineer) Topics and Questions 
and Alignment with the STCW Code;
    (d) Task Statement 73, Development of Training Guidance for 
Engineers Serving on Near-Coastal Vessels;
    (e) Task Statement 77, Development of Performance Measures 
(Assessment Criteria);
    (f) Task Statement 78, Consideration of the International Labor 
Organization's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; and
    (g) Task Statement 80, Crew Training Requirements Onboard Natural 
Gas-Fueled Vessels Other Than Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers.
    (6) Other items for discussion:
    (a) Report on National Maritime Center (NMC) activities from NMC 
Commanding Officer, such as the net processing time it takes for a 
mariner to receive his or her credential after application submittal;
    (b) Report on Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division 
activities, such as its current initiatives and projects;
    (c) Report on International Maritime Organization (IMO)/
International Labor Organization (ILO) issues related to the merchant 
marine industry;
    (d) Report on the implementation of the 2010 amendments to the STCW 
Convention; and
    (e) Briefings about on-going Coast Guard projects related to 
personnel in the U.S. Merchant Marine, such as proposed Task Statements 
concerning:
     Training for officers and crewmembers aboard ships 
operating in polar waters;
     Review of CG-719K (Merchant Mariner Physical Examination 
Report) & CG-719K/E (Merchant Marine Certification of Fitness for Entry 
Level Ratings); and
     Development of competency requirements for engineers 
working on small vessels with high horsepower.
    (7) Public comment period/presentations.
    (8) Discussion of working group recommendations. The committee will 
review the information presented on each issue, deliberate on any 
recommendations presented by the working groups and approve/formulate 
recommendations for the Department's consideration. Official action on 
these recommendations may be taken on this date.
    (9) Closing remarks/plans for next meeting.
    (10) Adjournment of meeting.

Procedural

    A copy of all meeting documentation, including the Task Statements, 
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. Breyer as 
noted above.
    Minutes will be available 90 days after this meeting.

    Dated: February 11, 2013.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2013-03549 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P