[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 191 (Friday, October 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59800-59801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25114]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2014-1053]


Towing Safety Advisory Committee; October 2015 Meeting

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee meeting.

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

SUMMARY: The Towing Safety Advisory Committee will meet in Washington, 
DC, to review and discuss recommendations from its subcommittees and to 
receive briefs listed in the agenda under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. 
All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES: The Towing Safety Advisory Committee Subcommittees will meet on 
Thursday, October 22, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The full Towing 
Safety Advisory Committee will meet on Friday, October 23, 2015, from 8 
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. These meetings may close early if the Committee has 
completed its business.

ADDRESSES: All meetings will be held at the Department of 
Transportation Headquarters Media Center, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590. The Telephone Number for the DOT HQ Media Center 
is (502) 992-5326 and the Fax is (502) 589-4905.
    You must present a form of government issued identification to gain 
entrance to the Department of Transportation Headquarters. We recommend 
you arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
the individuals listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, 
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. If you want the Committee members to be able 
to review your comments before the meeting, submit them no later than 
October 15, 2015 and they must be identified by Docket No. USCG-2014-
1053. Written comments may be submitted using the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact Mr. Abernathy 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document 
for alternate instructions.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number, ``USCG-2014-
1053.'' All 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 the Federal Docket 
Management System in the March 24, 2005 issue of the Federal Register 
(70 FR 15086).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read documents or comments 
related to this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov insert USCG-
2014-1053 in the Search box, press Enter, and then click on the item 
you wish to view.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. William J. Abernathy, Alternate 
Designated Federal Officer for the Towing Safety Advisory Committee; 
Commandant (CG-OES-2), U.S. Coast Guard, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. 
Avenue SE., Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-7509; telephone 202-372-
1363, fax 202-372-8382; or email [email protected]; or 
Commander Jose A. Perez, Designated Federal Officer; telephone 202-372-
1410, fax 202-372-8382; or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix. This Committee is 
established in accordance with, and operates under the provisions of, 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act. As stated in 33 U.S.C. 1231a, the 
Towing Safety Advisory Committee provides advice and recommendations to 
the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to shallow-
draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.

Agenda of Meetings

    The subcommittees will meet on October 22, 2015, from 8:30 a.m. to 
5 p.m., to work on their specific task assignments:
    (1) Recommendations for the Maintenance, Repair, and Utilization of 
Towing Equipment, Lines, and Couplings.
    (2) Recommendations to Establish Criteria for Identification of Air 
Draft for Towing Vessels and Tows.
    (3) Recommendations concerning the MODU KULLUK Report of 
Investigation.
    (4) Recommendations regarding the automation equipment, testing, 
and trial periods to be considered by Officers-in-Charge, Marine 
Inspection for a reduction in engine room personnel on towing vessels.
    On October 23, 2015, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Towing Safety 
Advisory Committee will meet to discuss the progress of its 
subcommittees and expects to receive and consider the draft final 
reports from the subcommittees on the MODU KULLUK and Towing Gear. The 
Committee will also receive new tasking requesting recommendations 
regarding Articulated Tug and Barge operations and manning, and use of 
Electronic Charting on Towing Vessels. The Committee will also receive 
an update on a tasking request to review and provide recommendations 
regarding engine room operations on towing vessels equipped with 
systems automation in order to determine manning levels.
    There will be a comment period for Towing Safety Advisory Committee 
members and a comment period for the public after each report 
presentation, but before each is voted on by the Committee. The 
Committee will review the information presented on each issue, 
deliberate on any recommendations presented in the Subcommittees' 
reports, and formulate recommendations for the Department's 
consideration.
    A copy of each available draft report and presentation as well as 
the meeting agenda will be available by October 15, 2015, at: https://homeport.uscg.mil/tsac. Any revisions or updates to the presentations 
and the reports that are received subsequent to the meeting will be 
posted no later than 90 days following the meeting.
    An opportunity for oral comments by the public will be provided 
during the meeting on October 23, 2015. Speakers are requested to limit 
their comments to 3 minutes. Please note the public oral comment period 
may end before 5:30 p.m., if the Committee has finished its

[[Page 59801]]

business earlier than scheduled. Please contact Mr. William J. 
Abernathy, listed above in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
to register as a speaker.

Minutes

    Minutes from the meeting will be available for public review and 
copying within 90 days following the close of the meeting and can be 
accessed from the Coast Guard Homeport Web site http://homeport.uscg.mil/tsac.

     Dated: September 29, 2015.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2015-25114 Filed 10-1-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P