[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00207]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
46 CFR Parts 8 and 197
[Docket No. USCG-1998-3786]
RIN 1625-AA21
Commercial Diving Operations
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; withdrawal.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is withdrawing the proposed rule entitled
``Commercial Diving Operations'' published in the Federal Register on
February 19, 2015. We are taking this action because there have been
changes in the industry since we published the NPRM in 2015, including
new standards and technologies. We have concluded that the rule we
proposed in 2015 is no longer appropriate in light of those changes.
The Coast Guard may issue a new rulemaking in the future if warranted.
DATES: The advance notice of proposed rulemaking published on June 26,
1998 (63 FR 34840); comment period extended on September 23, 1998 (63
FR 50848); second advance notice of proposed rulemaking published on
January 6, 2009 (74 FR 414); notice of proposed rulemaking published on
February 19, 2015 (80 FR 9151), and reopening of comment period on
August 24, 2015 (80 FR 51173) are withdrawn as of January 11, 2023.
ADDRESSES: The docket for this withdrawal is available at the Federal
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. Please search for
docket number USCG-1998-3786.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document
call or email Kenneth A. Smith, General Engineer, Vessel and Facility
Operating Standards Division, CG-OES-2, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone
202-372-1413, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On February 19, 2015, the Coast Guard published a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Commercial Diving Operations'' in
the Federal Register (80 FR 9152).\1\ The intent of the proposed
rulemaking was to amend the regulations for commercial diving conducted
from deepwater ports or deepwater port safety zones, in connection with
Outer Continental Shelf activities, or from vessels that are required
to have a Coast Guard certificate of inspection. The proposed
rulemaking sought to amend these regulations to improve the safety of
people and property involved in commercial diving operations and to
protect the environment in which they operate, as well as to include
current industry best practices. The proposed regulations also aimed to
allow the Coast Guard to approve independent third-party organizations
to assist with ensuring regulatory compliance of commercial diving
regulations.
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\1\ The Coast Guard published four additional documents related
to the 2015 NPRM. We issued our first advance notice of proposed
rulemaking (ANPRM) on June 26, 1998 (63 FR 34840) and extended the
comment period on September 23, 1998 (63 FR 50848). On January 6,
2009, we published a second ANPRM (74 FR 414). After publishing the
2015 NPRM, we reopened the comment period on August 24, 2015 (80 FR
51173).
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Withdrawal
The Coast Guard is withdrawing the proposed rule published on
February 19, 2015. Upon further review of commercial diving
technologies and standards, it is evident that significant changes have
occurred in the industry and we no longer consider the original
proposal an appropriate solution.
The Coast Guard will continue to assess the standards and
technologies used and practiced in the commercial diving industry,
support the continued development of commercial diving standards to
improve commercial diving safety, oversee the work of recognized
organizations, and request input from our Federal advisory committees
as appropriate. The Coast Guard may decide to develop new rulemaking
proposals in the future, but Unified Agenda item 1625-AA21 will be
withdrawn once this notice is published.
This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: January 4, 2023.
W.R. Arguin,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-00207 Filed 1-10-23; 8:45 am]
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