[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 162 (Friday, August 21, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50861-50862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20681]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0698]


Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security, Coast Guard.

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee will meet to 
discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for 
issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, merchant mariners' 
documents, medical standards and guidelines for the physical 
qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner 
education, and medical research. The meeting will be open to the 
public.

DATES: The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee is scheduled to 
meet on Monday, September 28 and Tuesday, September 29, 2015, from 8 
a.m. to 5:15 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. respectively. Please note 
that the meeting may close early if the committee has completed its 
business. All submitted written materials, comments, and requests to 
make oral presentations at the meeting should reach Lieutenant Ashley 
Holm, Alternate Designated Federal Officer for the Merchant Mariner 
Medical Advisory Committee, no later than September 21, 2015. For 
contact information, please see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section below. Any written material submitted by the public both before 
and after the meeting will be distributed to the Merchant Mariner 
Medical Advisory Committee and become part of the public record.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Texas A&M Maritime Academy, 
Mary Moody Northen Banquet Room, 200 Seawolf Parkway, Galveston, TX 
77554 (http://www.tamug.edu/corps/index.html). For further information 
about the meeting facilities, please contact Ms. Kathey Walker at (409) 
740-4408.
    For information on services for individuals with disabilities or to 
request special assistance at the meeting, contact the individual 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section as soon as 
possible. For planning purposes, please notify the Merchant Mariner 
Medical Advisory Committee Alternate Designated Federal Officer of your 
attendance as soon as possible.
    To facilitate public participation, we are inviting public comment 
on the issues to be considered by the committee as listed in the 
``Agenda'' section below. Written comments must be submitted no later 
than September 21, 2015, in order for committee members to review 
comments before the meeting, and must be identified by docket number 
USCG-2015-0698 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, insert USCG-
2011-0138 in the ``SEARCH'' box, press Enter and then click on the item 
you wish to view.
    A public comment period will be held on September 28, 2015, from 
approximately 11:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. and September 29, 2015 from 
approximately 2:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m. Speakers are requested to limit their 
comments to 5 minutes. Please note that the public comment period may 
end before the time indicated, following the last call for comments. 
Additionally, public comment will be sought throughout the meeting as 
specific issues are discussed by the committee. Contact Lieutenant 
Ashley Holm as indicated below to register as a speaker.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Ashley Holm, Alternate 
Designated Federal Officer for the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory 
Committee, at telephone 202-372-1128 or email [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 United States Code Appendix. The 
Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee Meeting is authorized by 46 
United States Code 7115 and advises the Secretary on matters related to 
(a) medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, 
certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' documents; (b) medical 
standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators 
of commercial vessels; (c) medical examiner education; and (d) medical 
research.
    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; MEDMAC and then use the 
announcements key. Alternatively, you may contact Lieutenant Ashley 
Holm as noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.

Agenda

Day 1

    The agenda for the September 28, 2015 meeting is as follows:
    (1) Opening remarks from Texas A&M leadership.
    (2) Opening remarks from Coast Guard leadership.
    (3) Opening remarks from the Designated Federal Officer.
    (4) Roll call of committee members and determination of a quorum.
    (5) Review of last full committee meeting's minutes.
    (6) Introduction of new task(s).
    (7) Presentation on Merchant Mariner Fitness for Duty.
    (8) Public comments.
    (9) Presentation on Infectious Diseases.

[[Page 50862]]

    (10) Working Groups addressing the following task statements may 
meet to deliberate--
    (a) Task Statement 13, Mariner Occupational Health Risk Analysis. 
This is a joint task statement with the Merchant Marine Personnel 
Advisory Committee.
    (b) The Committee will receive new task statements from the Coast 
Guard, review the information presented on each issue, deliberate and 
formulate recommendations for the Department's consideration.
    (8) Adjournment of meeting.

Day 2

    The agenda for the September 29, 2015 meeting is as follows:
    (1) Continue work on Task Statements.
    (2) Public comments.
    (3) By mid-afternoon, the Working Groups will report, and if 
applicable, make recommendations for the full committee to consider for 
presentation to the Coast Guard. The committee may vote on the working 
group's recommendations on this date. The public will have an 
opportunity to speak after each Working Group's Report before the full 
committee takes any action on each report.
    (4) Closing remarks/plans for next meeting.
    (5) Adjournment of Meeting.

    Dated: August 14, 2015.
V.B. Gifford,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-20681 Filed 8-20-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P