[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18567-18568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08870]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

[Docket No. CDC-2017-0115]


Availability of Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) Operations Manual 
and VSP Construction Guidelines

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located 
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the 
availability of the 2018 Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) Operations 
Manual and the VSP Construction Guidelines.

DATES: The final documents are available April 27, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The final documents are found in the docket at 
www.regulations.gov, Docket No. CDC-2017-0115 and at www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander Aimee Treffiletti, Chief, 
Vessel Sanitation Program, National Center for Environmental Health, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS 
F-59, Chamblee, Georgia 30341-3717; phone: 800-323-2132 or 954-356-
6650; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 4, 2017, CDC published a notice 
in the Federal Register (82 FR 57272) requesting public comment on the 
draft versions of the VSP Operations Manual and VSP Construction 
Guidelines. In these drafts, VSP revised the VSP Operations Manual to 
reflect new technologies, current food science, disease patterns and 
trends, and

[[Page 18568]]

emerging pathogens. VSP also revised the VSP Construction Guidelines as 
a framework of consistent construction and design guidelines related to 
public health, including vessel facilities related to food storage, 
preparation, and service and water bunkering, storage, disinfection, 
and distribution.
    CDC received five comments on the document from industry and the 
public. Comments related to document format (highlighted versions), 
height requirements for handwashing stations, requirements for chlorine 
and pH monitoring of production water, language in specific sections of 
the Operations Manual, and a general comment about the effectiveness of 
the program.
    In response to the comments, CDC has provided highlighted versions 
of the 2018 Operations Manual and Construction Guidelines and included 
requirements for handwashing station height and chlorine and pH 
monitoring. Regarding the comment suggesting language changes, CDC 
developed the draft 2018 Operations Manual through a cooperative change 
request system with industry. In 2015, CDC provided change request 
forms and instructions to industry partners, then held in-person and 
web-based meetings with partners over 2 years to review the change 
requests they submitted. Proposed substantive changes would need to be 
accepted through the same process before CDC could consider including 
them in the draft 2018 Operations Manual. CDC took no action in 
response to the general comment about the program being ineffective. 
CDC carefully reviewed and considered all comments in development of 
the final documents.

    Dated: April 23, 2018.
Sandra Cashman,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2018-08870 Filed 4-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4163-18-P