[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73199-73200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29837]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2015-1018]


Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee's Response to Task 
Statement 1, Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08 Revision

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Merchant 
Mariner Medical Advisory Committee's response to Task Statement 1, 
``Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08 Revision Working 
Group.'' This document recommends various changes to NVIC 04-08, 
``Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner 
Credentials,'' which the Coast Guard uses when making decisions on 
mariner credentialing. The Coast Guard has not adopted this document as 
policy, but will consider it in future policy development.

ADDRESSES: Task Statement 1 and the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory 
Committee's response to the task are available on the Coast Guard's Web 
site at: https://homeport.uscg.mil. To locate the documents on the Web 
site, select Missions/Ports and Waterways/Safety Advisory Committees/
MEDMAC/Announcements/MEDMAC's Response to Task Statement 1--Navigation 
and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08 Revision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (the Committee) is 
authorized under 46 United States Code 7115 and operates in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Title 5 U.S.C., Appendix). The 
Committee advises the Secretary on matters related to (a) medical 
certification determinations for issuances 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.
    The Committee voted to accept Task Statement 1 during the second 
public meeting held on May 8-9, 2012 in Martinsburg, WV. This task 
requested

[[Page 73200]]

that the Committee review sections of NVIC 04-08, ``Medical and 
Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials,'' to 
ensure that the Coast Guard's guidance is in compliance with all 
current regulations and reflects medical considerations that are 
appropriate for merchant mariners.
    Task Statement 1 required the following inputs. First, it required 
the working group to review the introduction and Enclosures 1, 2, 5, 
and 6 of NVIC 04-08 to ensure compliance with existing Coast Guard 
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations. Second, it required the 
working group to review all medical conditions listed in Enclosures 3 
and 4 of the NVIC and perform the following actions:

--Identify circumstances defining inordinate risk for the condition.
--Identify circumstances which would decrease the risk from inordinate.
--Determine appropriate amplifying information and testing required to 
assess the condition.
--Identify the standards used to determine the suitability of the 
condition.
--Determine the minimum compliance for the condition that should allow 
safe operation.
--Determine whether or not a waiver is required and define waiver 
parameters.
--Work with the Top Mariner Conditions working group to incorporate 
their recommendations for the top medical conditions.

    Subsequently, a working group was established. The working group 
was comprised of individual members of MEDMAC and the public, although 
the composition of the working group changed over time. The Committee 
voted to accept the response to Task Statement 1 provided by the 
working group during the sixth public meeting held on September 29-30, 
2014 in Piney Point, MD. All working group meetings were open to the 
public.
    The response to Task Statement 1 is in the form of a revised NVIC 
04-08. This revision includes both the introduction to NVIC 04-08 as 
well as revised versions of each of the enclosures. In accordance with 
the task statement, the working group has made revisions to each 
enclosure, but made substantial revisions to enclosures 3 and 4. These 
enclosures, entitled ``Vision and Hearing Standards'' and ``Guidance on 
Specific Medical Conditions,'' provide detailed guidelines that can 
help the Coast Guard make fitness determinations for mariners to 
maintain their credentials.
    The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee's response to Task 
Statement 1 is a work product of the Committee and therefore is not an 
official Coast Guard policy and may not be cited as an official agency 
position. The Coast Guard may use the response, or portions of the 
response, for development of future policy.

Authority

    This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 46 
U.S.C. 7101 et seq., 46 CFR 10.215, and Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0710.1.

    Dated: November 17, 2015.
V. B. Gifford, Jr.,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-29837 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P