[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 57 (Friday, March 24, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17740-17741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05947]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 122 and 185

[Docket No. USCG-2021-0306]
RIN 1625-AC69


Fire Safety of Small Passenger Vessels; OMB Approval of 
Information Collection Request

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Interim rule; information collection approval.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that it has received approval from 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection 
request associated with the interim rule requirements for fire safety 
on certain covered small passenger vessels. This

[[Page 17741]]

rule announces the effective dates for the requirements for vessel 
operators to log the occurrence of passenger emergency egress drills 
and to post passenger safety bills in overnight accommodation spaces. 
In the interim rule, we stated we would publish a document in the 
Federal Register announcing the effective date of the collection-of-
information related sections upon OMB approval. This rule establishes 
April 24, 2023 as the effective date for those sections.

DATES: This rule is effective April 24, 2023. The amendments to 46 CFR 
122.507, 122.515, 185.507, and 185.515, published on December 27, 2021 
(86 FR 73160) are effective on April 24, 2023.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned as being available in the 
docket, including the interim rule published on December 27, 2021 (86 
FR 73160), search the docket number USCG-2021-0306 using the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document, 
call or email Lieutenant Carmine Faul, Coast Guard; telephone 202-475-
1357, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 27, 2021, the Coast Guard 
published an interim rule titled ``Fire Safety on Small Passenger 
Vessels'' that added several requirements for certain covered small 
passenger vessels. The requirements in the interim rule are based on 46 
U.S.C. 3306(n), which was codified by section 8441 of the Elijah E. 
Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 (Pub. L. 116-283, Jan. 
1, 2021). The statute directs the Secretary of the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS) to prescribe fire safety regulations for small 
passenger vessels with overnight accommodations for passengers or 
operating on Oceans or Coastwise routes, excluding fishing vessels and 
ferries.
    The interim rule contained four provisions that were delayed 
indefinitely, pending information collection approval from OMB under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. On February 
24, 2023, OMB, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, approved 
the additional information collection requirements in 46 CFR 
122.507(b), 122.515(b), 185.507(b), and 185.515(a) within the existing 
OMB Control Number 1625-0057. Accordingly, we announce that Sec. Sec.  
122.507(b), 122.515(b), 185.507(b), and 185.515(a) are effective April 
24, 2023.
    Sections 122.507(b) and 185.507(b) relate to logging the occurrence 
of the mandatory passenger egress drills. Under these paragraphs, 
passenger egress drills must be logged or otherwise documented, 
including the date and time of the drill and the number of drill 
participants. The log will be used by the Coast Guard to confirm that 
the vessel operators are conducting the passenger egress drills.
    Sections 122.515(b) and 185.515(a) contain the requirements for the 
vessel operator or owner to post the passenger safety bill in each 
passenger cabin and stateroom, and in passenger accommodation spaces.
    These requirements for recording passenger egress drills and 
posting a passenger safety bill are based on the authority in 46 U.S.C. 
3306(n)(3)(A)(vii) and (viii).
    As we stated in the interim rule, the passenger emergency egress 
drills log requirement and the posting of the passenger safety bill 
apply to vessels regulated under 46 CFR subchapter T and K that have 
overnight accommodations for passengers.

List of Subjects in 46 CFR Parts 122 and 185

46 CFR Part 122

    Marine safety, Passenger vessels, Penalties, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

46 CFR Part 185

    Marine safety, Passenger vessels, Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
46 CFR parts 122 and 185 as follows:

Title 46--Shipping

PART 122--OPERATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 122 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 6101; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 
3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 
01.2, paragraph (II)(92)(a).


0
2. Amend Sec.  122.507 by adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  122.507   Passenger egress drills.

* * * * *
    (b) Passenger egress drills must be logged or otherwise documented 
for review by the Coast Guard upon request. The drill entry must 
include the following information:
    (1) Date and time of the drill; and
    (2) Number of drill participants.

0
3. Amend Sec.  122.515 as follows:
0
a. Redesignate paragraph (b) as paragraph (c); and
0
b. Add new paragraph (b).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  122.515   Passenger safety bill.

* * * * *
    (b) For vessels described by 46 CFR 114.110(f), the master must 
post a passenger safety bill in each passenger cabin or stateroom and 
in passenger accommodation spaces.
* * * * *

PART 185--OPERATIONS

0
4. The authority citation for part 185 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 6101; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 
3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 
01.2, paragraph (II)(92)(a).


0
5. Amend Sec.  185.507 by adding paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  185.507   Passenger egress drills.

* * * * *
    (b) Passenger egress drills must be logged or otherwise documented 
for review by the Coast Guard upon request. The drill entry must 
include the following information:
    (1) Date and time of the drill; and
    (2) Number of drill participants.

0
6. Amend Sec.  185.515 by adding paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  185.515   Passenger safety bill.

    (a) On vessels described by 46 CFR 175.110(d) of this chapter, a 
passenger safety bill must be posted by the master in each cabin or 
stateroom, and in passenger accommodation spaces.
* * * * *

    Dated: March 17, 2023
W.R. Arguin,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-05947 Filed 3-23-23; 8:45 am]
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