[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 18567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08869]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket No. CDC-2018-0041]


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 2018 
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 2017 and plans for future activities. HHS/CDC is also 
opening a public docket so that additional comments and materials may 
be submitted. The official record of this meeting will remain open 
through July 26, 2018 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 26, 2018.
    The meeting will be held on June 20, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m. in the Ballroom at the DoubleTree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay, 1717 
North Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL 33132. Information regarding logistics 
is available on the VSP website (www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp).
    Deadline for Requests for Special Accommodations: Persons wishing 
to participate in the public meeting who need special accommodations 
should contact CDR Aimee Treffiletti ([email protected] or 954-356-6650 or 
770-488-3141) by Monday, May 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CDC-2018-
0041 by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: 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 www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CDR Aimee Treffiletti, 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 2017, 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 2019 and the future.
    Matters to be discussed:

 VSP year in review: operational and construction inspections, 
budget, and vessel sanitation training
 GI illness data and epidemiology projects: VSP review and 
progress report
 VSP 2018 Operations Manual and Construction Guidelines: 
implementation of the new guidance
 Shipyard construction: how to strengthen public health through 
engineering controls

    Meeting Accessibility: The meeting is open to the public, but space 
is limited to approximately 70 people. Advanced registration is 
encouraged. Information regarding logistics is available on the VSP 
website (www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp). Attendees at the annual meeting 
normally include cruise ship industry officials, private sanitation 
consultants, and other interested parties.

    Dated: April 19, 2018.
Sandra Cashman,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-08869 Filed 4-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P