[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 8, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39109-39111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-16948]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0494]


Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY: U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its 
Working Groups will meet to discuss various issues related to the 
training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. The meetings will be 
open to the public.

DATES: Meetings: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and 
its Working Groups are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, September 11, 
2018, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and the full Committee is 
scheduled to meet on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. 
until 5:30 p.m. Please note that these meetings may adjourn early if 
the Committee has completed its business.
    Comments and supporting documentation: To ensure your comments are 
received by Committee members before the meetings, submit your written 
comments no later than September 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the STAR Center, 2 West Dixie 
Highway, Dania Beach, FL 33004, https://www.star-center.com/.
    Pre-registration Information: Pre-registration is not required for 
access. All attendees will be required to provide a driver's license or 
government-issued identification card in order to gain admittance to 
the building.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
the Alternate Designated Federal Officer as soon as possible using the 
contact information provided in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section of this notice.
    Instructions: You are free to submit comments at any time, 
including orally at the meetings, but if you want Committee members to 
review your comment before the meetings, please submit your comments no 
later than September 5, 2018. We are particularly interested in 
comments on the issues in the ``Agenda'' section below. You must 
include ``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number USCG-
2018-0494. Written comments may also be submitted using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If you encounter 
technical difficulties with comments submission, contact the individual 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section below. Comments 
received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
may review the Privacy and Security Notice for the Federal Docket 
Management System at https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Docket Search: For access to the docket to read documents or 
comments related to this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type 
USCG-2018-0494 in the ``Search'' box, press Enter, and then click on 
the item you wish to view.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee, 
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-
7509, telephone 202-372-1445, fax 202-372-8382 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given pursuant to 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Title 5 United States Code 
Appendix.

[[Page 39110]]

    The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee was established 
under authority of U.S. Code, title 46, section 8108. The Committee 
acts solely in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of the Department 
of Homeland Security through the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard on 
matters relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, 
including training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and 
fitness standards and other matters as assigned by the Commandant. The 
Committee also reviews and comments on proposed U.S. Coast Guard 
regulations and policies relating to personnel in the United States 
merchant marine, including training, qualifications, certification, 
documentation, and fitness standards.

Agenda

Day 1

    The agenda for the September 11, 2018, meeting is as follows:
    (1) The full Committee will meet briefly to discuss the Working 
Groups' business/task statements, which are listed under paragraph (3) 
(a)-(e) below.
    (2) A job task analysis briefing will be presented to the full 
Committee regarding the merchant mariner credentialing program's 
efforts to establish or validate credentialing examinations, 
performance assessments, and training curriculum standards within the 
context of current occupational practices associated with each 
credentiale.
    (3) Working Groups will separately address the following task 
statements which are available for viewing at https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/ports-and-waterways/safety-advisory-committees/merpac;
    (a) Task Statement 87, Review of policy documents providing 
guidance on the implementation of the December 24, 2013, International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers rulemaking;
    (b) Task Statement 98, To continue the progress made by the 
military services towards meeting the goals on the use of Military 
Education, Training and Assessment for STCW and National Mariner 
Endorsements as identified in the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014 and subsequent legislation;
    (c) Task Statement 101, Provide feedback and avenues to further 
enhance open communication between external stakeholders and the U.S. 
Coast Guard's mariner credentialing program regarding all aspects of 
the program;
    (d) Task Statement 101a, Review of the draft medical certificate 
cancellation policy;
    (e) Task Statement 104, National Transportation Safety Board 
recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard regarding the sinking of the 
S.S. El Faro.
    (4) Public comment period.
    (5) Reports of Working Groups. At the end of the day, the Working 
Groups will report to the full Committee on what was accomplished in 
their meetings. The full Committee will not take action on these 
reports on this date. Any official action taken as a result of these 
Working Group meetings will be taken on day two of the meeting.
    (6) Adjournment of meeting.

Day 2

    The agenda for the September 12, 2018 full Committee meeting is as 
follows:
    (1) Introduction.
    (2) Swearing in of newly appointed Committee members.
    (3) Remarks from U.S. Coast Guard Leadership.
    (4) Designated Federal Officer announcements.
    (5) Roll call of Committee members and determination of a quorum.
    (6) Reports from the following Working Groups:
    (a) Task Statement 87, Review of policy documents providing 
guidance on the implementation of the December 24, 2013, International 
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for 
Seafarers rulemaking;
    (b) Task Statement 89, Review and update of the International 
Maritime Organization's Maritime Safety Committee Circular MSC/
Circ.1014 Guidelines on fatigue mitigation and management;
    (c) Task Statement 90, Review of International Maritime 
Organization's Model Courses Being Validated by the International 
Maritime Organization's Subcommittee on Human Element, Training and 
Watchkeeping;
    (d) Task Statement 94, Review the MERPAC recommendations with a 
view to evaluating their current relevance;
    (e) Task Statement 96, Review and comment on the course and program 
approval requirements including 46 CFR 10.402, 10.403, 10.407 and 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 03-14 guidelines for approval 
of training courses and programs;
    (f) Task Statement 98, To continue the progress made by the 
military services towards meeting the goals on the use of Military 
Education, Training and Assessment for STCW and National Mariner 
Endorsements as identified in the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014 and subsequent legislation;
    (g) Task Statement 99, Review and comment on the ``Guidelines for 
Issuing Endorsements for Tankerman PIC Restricted to Fuel Transfers on 
Towing Vessels'' policy letter (CG-MMC Policy Letter No. 01-17);
    (h) Task Statement 101, Provide feedback and avenues to further 
enhance open communication between external stakeholders and the Coast 
Guard's mariner credentialing program regarding all aspects of the 
program;
    (i) Task Statement 101a, Review of the draft medical certificate 
cancellation policy;
    (j) Task Statement 102, Consider and make recommendations regarding 
the current requirement for a U.S. Merchant Mariner to read and write 
using English; and
    (k) Task Statement 104, National Safety Board recommendations to 
the U.S. Coast Guard regarding the sinking of the S.S. El Faro.
    (7) Other items for discussion:
    (a) Report on the Mariner Credentialing Program;
    (b) Report on National Maritime Center activities from the National 
Maritime Center Commanding Officer;
    (c) Report on International Maritime Organization Activities 
affecting merchant mariner credentialing; and
    (d) Briefings about other on-going U.S. Coast Guard projects 
related to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine.
    (8) Public comment period.
    (9) Discussion of Working Group recommendations. The Committee will 
review the information presented on each issue, deliberate on any 
recommendations presented by the Working Groups, approve/formulate 
recommendations and close any completed tasks. Official action on these 
recommendations may be taken on this date.
    (10) Closing remarks/plans for next meeting.
    (11) Adjournment of meeting.
    A public comment period will be held during each Working Group and 
full Committee meeting concerning matters being discussed.
    A copy of all meeting documentation will be available at https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/ports-and-waterways/safety-advisory-committees/merpac no later than September 5, 2018. Alternatively, you 
may contact Mr. Davis Breyer as noted in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section above.
    Public comments will be limited to three minutes per speaker. 
Please note that the public comment periods will

[[Page 39111]]

end following the last call for comments. Please contact Mr. Davis 
Breyer, listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, to 
register as a speaker. Please note that the meeting may adjourn early 
if the work is completed.

    Dated: July 31, 2018.
Jeffrey G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2018-16948 Filed 8-7-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P