[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58989-58990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23280]



[[Page 58989]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 143

46 CFR Parts 110 and 111

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0850]
RIN 1625-AC00


Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Locations; Extension of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Electrical Equipment in 
Hazardous Locations,'' published on June 24, 2013, until November 30, 
2013. We are extending the comment period at the request of industry to 
ensure stakeholders have adequate time to submit complete responses.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published June 24, 2013 
(78 FR 37760) is extended. Comments and related material must be 
submitted and received on or before November 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to 
our online docket via http://www.regulations.gov or reach the Docket 
Management Facility by the date given above. You may submit comments 
identified by docket number USCG-2012-0850 using any one of the 
following methods:
    (1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (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 this proposed 
rule, call or email Mr. Raymond Martin, Systems Engineering Division 
(CG-ENG-3), Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1384, email 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking (USCG-2012-0850), 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 or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of 
these means. We recommend that you include your name and a mailing 
address, an email address, or a phone 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 and 
insert ``USCG-2012-0850'' in the ``Search'' box. Click on ``Submit a 
Comment'' 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 and may change this proposed rule based on your 
comments.

B. 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, 
insert ``USCG-2012-0850'' and click ``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket 
Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. If you do not have access to the 
Internet, you may view the docket online by visiting 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.

C. 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).

II. Regulatory History and Information

    The Coast Guard published an NPRM entitled ``Electrical Equipment 
in Hazardous Locations'' on June 24, 2013 (78 FR 37760) proposing to 
amend its regulations. This proposed subpart would be applicable to 
foreign Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), floating facilities, 
and vessels that engage in OCS activities for the first time after the 
effective date of the regulations. The proposed subpart would also be 
applicable to newly constructed U.S. MODUs, floating facilities, and 
vessels, excluding offshore supply vessels (OSVs). The proposed 
regulations would expand the list of national and international 
explosion protection standards deemed acceptable, as well as add the 
internationally accepted independent third-party certification system, 
the IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for 
use in Explosive Atmospheres, as an accepted method of testing and 
certifying electrical equipment intended for use in hazardous 
locations. The proposed regulations would also provide owners and 
operators of existing U.S. MODUs, floating OCS facilities, and vessels, 
other than OSVs, that engage in OCS activities and U.S. tank vessels 
that carry flammable or combustible cargoes the option of choosing 
between the compliance regime contained in existing regulations or the 
one contained in the proposed subpart 111.108. All comments on this 
NPRM were originally due by September 23, 2013.

III. Background and Purpose

    On September 6, 2013, we received a letter from the International 
Association of Drilling Contractors requesting an extension of the 
comment period until November 30, 2013. It noted additional

[[Page 58990]]

time was desired to review the proposal and its regulatory analysis. 
The U.S. Coast Guard is extending the public comment period, as 
requested, to ensure stakeholders have adequate time to submit complete 
responses.

IV. Authority

    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: September 18, 2013.
F.J. Sturm,
Acting, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast 
Guard.
[FR Doc. 2013-23280 Filed 9-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P