[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 21, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51736-51737]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20350]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0756]


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 September 11, 2013 and September 12, 2013 in Linthicum Heights, 
MD, 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 September 11, 2013, from 8 
a.m. until 4 p.m., and the full committee will meet on September 12, 
2013, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Please note that this meeting may 
adjourn early if all business is finished.

ADDRESSES: The Committee will meet in Room A-111/113 of the Maritime 
Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS), 692 Maritime 
Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. For further information on the 
location of MITAGS, please contact Mr. Brian Senft at (410) 859-5700.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance, contact Mr. Davis Breyer 
at 202-372-1445 or at [email protected] 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 Web site must 
be submitted on or before August 28, 2013.
    Written comments must be identified by Docket No. USCG-2013-0756 
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, enter the 
docket number in the ``Search'' field and follow the instructions on 
the Web site.
    Public oral comment periods will be held each day. 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 
following the last call for comments. Contact Davis Breyer as indicated 
above no later than August 28, 2013, to register as a speaker.
    This notice may be viewed in our online docket, USCG-2013-0756, 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 Barbara Hairston, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal

[[Page 51737]]

Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Title 5, United States Code (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.
    A copy of all meeting documentation is available at https://homeport.uscg.mil by using these key strokes: Missions; Port and 
Waterways Safety; Advisory Committees; MERPAC; and then use the 
announcements key. Alternatively, you may contact Mr. Breyer as noted 
in the ADDRESSES section above.

Agenda

Day 1

    The agenda for the September 11, 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 the International Convention on Standards of Training, 
Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) and U.S. Coast 
Guard Certifications;
    (b), Task Statement 58, Communication between External Stakeholders 
and the Mariner Credentialing Program, as it Relates to the National 
Maritime Center;
    (c) Task Statement 78, Consideration of the International Labor 
Organization's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006;
    (d) Task Statement 80, Crew Training Requirements Onboard Natural 
Gas-Fueled Vessels Other Than Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers.
    (e) Task Statement 81, Development of Competency Requirements for 
Vessel Personnel Working Within the Polar Regions;
    (f) Task Statement 82, Review and submit recommendations for 
proposed revisions to CG-719K, Merchant Mariner Credential Medical 
Evaluation Report and CG-719K/E, Merchant Mariner Evaluation of Fitness 
for Entry Level Ratings; and
    (g) Task Statement 83, Development of competency requirements to 
meet STCW Chief Engineer III/2 for personnel working on small vessels 
with high horsepower.
    (3) Public comment period. This will be held prior to the Reports 
of working groups.
    (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 September 12, 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, Communication between External Stakeholders 
and the Mariner Credentialing Program, as it Relates to the National 
Maritime Center;
    (c) Task Statement 78, Consideration of the International Labor 
Organization's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006;
    (d) Task Statement 80, Crew Training Requirements Onboard Natural 
Gas-Fueled Vessels Other Than Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers.
    (e) Task Statement 81, Development of Competency Requirements for 
Vessel Personnel Working Within the Polar Regions;
    (f) Task Statement 82, Review and submit recommendations for 
proposed revisions to CG-719K, Merchant Mariner Credential Medical 
Evaluation Report and CG-719K/E, Merchant Mariner Evaluation of Fitness 
for Entry Level Ratings; and
    (g) Task Statement 83, Development of competency requirements to 
meet STCW Chief Engineer III/2 for personnel working on small vessels 
with high horsepower.
    (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 possible Task Statements 
concerning:
     Correction of merchant mariner credentials issued with 
clear errors;
     Review of draft update to Volume III of the Marine Safety 
Manual, Chapters 20 to 26; and
     Seafarer fatigue
    (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.
    A copy of all meeting documentation is available at http://homeport.uscg.mil/merpac. Alternatively, you may contact Mr. Breyer as 
noted in the ADDRESSES section above.

    Dated: August 15, 2013.
J. G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2013-20350 Filed 8-20-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P