[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 162 (Thursday, August 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49524-49526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-19844]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0576]


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 will meet to 
discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant 
marine personnel. This meeting will be open to the public.

DATES: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee working groups 
will meet on September 10, 2014, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., and the full 
committee will meet on September 11, 2014, from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. 
Written comments for distribution to committee members and for 
inclusion on the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee Web site 
must be submitted on or before August 27, 2014. Please note that this 
meeting may adjourn early if all business is finished.

ADDRESSES: The Committee will meet in the Newberry Auditorium of the 
Calhoon Marine Engineer Beneficial Association (MEBA) Engineering 
School, 27050 Saint Michaels Rd., Easton, MD 21601. For further 
information on the location of the

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Calhoon MEBA Engineering School, please contact Ms. Janet Sadler at 
410-822-9600, extension 370 or email [email protected].
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance, please contact Mr. Davis 
Breyer as indicated in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT paragraph 
below.
    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 must be 
identified by Docket No. USCG-2014-0576 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 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 Mr. Davis Breyer as 
indicated below to register as a speaker. This notice may be viewed in 
our online docket, USCG-2014-0576, at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer, telephone 202-372-1445, or at [email protected]. 
If you have any questions on viewing or submitting material to the 
docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, 
telephone 202-366-9826 or 1-800-647-5527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix, Public Law 92-463, 
86 Stat. 770 as amended.
    The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee was 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 Federal Advisory Committee Act. The 
Committee acts solely in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the 
Department of Homeland Security 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. Davis Breyer as 
noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.

Agenda

Day 1

    The agenda for the September 10, 2014, 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 will address the following task statements which 
are available for viewing at http://homeport.uscg.mil/merpac:
    (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 81, Development of Competency Requirements for 
Vessel Personnel Working Within the Polar Regions;
    (c) Task Statement 86, Recommendations on the Coast Guard's Advance 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Training of Personnel and Manning on 
Mobile Offshore Units and Offshore Supply Vessels Engaged in U.S. Outer 
Continental Shelf Activities; and
    (d) Task Statement 87, Review of Policy Documents Providing 
Guidance on the Implementation of the December 24, 2013 International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping and 
Changes to National Endorsements Rulemaking.
    (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 September 11, 2014, committee meeting is as 
follows:
    (1) Introduction;
    (2) Remarks from Coast Guard Leadership;
    (3) Swearing in of new members;
    (4) Roll call of committee members and determination of a quorum;
    (4) Designated Federal Officer announcements;
    (5) Reports from the following working groups;
    (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 81, Development of Competency Requirements for 
Vessel Personnel Working Within the Polar Regions;
    (c) Task Statement 86, Recommendations on the Coast Guard's Advance 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Training of Personnel and Manning on 
Mobile Offshore Units and Offshore Supply Vessels Engaged in U.S. Outer 
Continental Shelf Activities; and
    (d) Task Statement 87, Review of Policy Documents Providing 
Guidance on the Implementation of the December 24, 2013 International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping and 
Changes to National Endorsements Rulemaking.
    (6) Other items for discussion:
    (a) Report on the Implementation of the 2010 Amendments to the 
International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and 
Watchkeeping;

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    (b) Report on National Maritime Center activities from the National 
Maritime Center Commanding Officer, such as the net processing time it 
takes for mariners to receive their credentials after application 
submittal;
    (c) Report on Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division 
activities, such as its current initiatives and projects;
    (d) Report on International Maritime Organization (IMO)/
International Labor Organization (ILO) issues related to the merchant 
marine industry;
    (e) How to Fill out Travel Claims; and
    (f) Briefings about on-going Coast Guard projects related to 
personnel in the U.S. merchant marine.
    (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. Davis 
Breyer as noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.

    Dated: August 8, 2014.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2014-19844 Filed 8-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P