[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 97 (Tuesday, May 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 28926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11597]



[[Page 28926]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket No. CDC-2014-0008]


Vessel Sanitation Program: Annual Program Status Meeting; Request 
for comment

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS)

ACTION: Notice of public meeting and request for comment

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within 
the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the 2014 
annual Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) public meeting. The annual 
meeting serves as a forum for HHS/CDC to update interested persons on 
work completed in 2013 and plans for future activities. HHS/CDC is also 
opening a public docket so that additional comment and materials may be 
submitted. The official record of this meeting will remain open for 30 
days (through July 10, 2014) so that additional materials or comments 
may be submitted and made part of the record.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before July 10, 2014.
    The meeting will be held on June 10, 2014, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m. in the auditorium of the Port Everglades Administration Building, 
1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. Information regarding 
logistics is available on the VSP Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/2014annualmeeting.htm).
    Deadline for Requests for Special Accommodations: Persons wishing 
to participate in the public meeting who need special accommodations 
should contact CAPT Jaret Ames ([email protected] or 954-356-6650 or 770-488-
3141) by Monday, June 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2014-
0008 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Vessel Sanitation Program, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE., MS F-58, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30341.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket Number. All relevant comments received will be posted 
without change to http://regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CAPT Jaret Ames, Vessel Sanitation 
Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford 
Highway NE., MS F-58, Atlanta, Georgia 30341, email: [email protected], 
phone: 954-356-6650 or 770-488-3141.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public of VSP's 
activities in assisting the cruise industry to prevent the introduction 
and spread of gastrointestinal (GI) illness to U.S. ports from ships 
under VSP's jurisdiction (ships with 13 or more passengers and an 
itinerary that includes foreign and U.S. ports).
    The meeting will include a review of HHS/CDC's public health 
support activities from 2013, provide perspective on VSP's approach to 
vessel sanitation, and offer industry the opportunity to provide input 
regarding industry efforts to exceed VSP requirements. Presentations 
will clarify the roles and responsibilities of VSP, cruise line public 
health management, and shipyards constructing cruise ships. 
Presentations will also include initiatives for improved epidemiologic 
study of disease outbreaks and strategic approaches to public health 
risk reduction for 2015 and the future.
    Matters to be discussed:

 VSP year in review--operational and construction inspections, 
budget, and vessel sanitation training
 CDC Calicivirus Laboratory--norovirus projects
 GI illness data and epidemiology projects--VSP review and 
progress report
 Cruise line public health initiatives
 CDC Quarantine--Border Health Services Branch Update, 
including surveillance
 Shipyard construction--strengthening public health through 
engineering controls
 Cruise Lines International Association--industry public health 
challenges and response

    Meeting Accessibility: The meeting is open to the public, but space 
is limited to availability. Visitors must present government-issued 
identification to pass through the vehicle port security checkpoint and 
enter the administration building.
    Advanced registration is encouraged; the meeting room can 
accommodate approximately 100 persons. Information regarding logistics 
is available on the VSP Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/2014annualmeeting.htm). Attendees at the annual meeting normally 
include cruise ship industry officials, private sanitation consultants, 
and other interested parties.

    Dated: May 15, 2014.
Ron A. Otten,
Acting Deputy Associate Director for Science, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-11597 Filed 5-19-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P