[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55709-55710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17516]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2023-0583]


National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee; September 
2023 Virtual Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee virtual meeting.

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SUMMARY: The National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee 
(Committee) will conduct virtual meetings over a series of 2 days to 
discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for 
issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' 
documents, medical standards, and guidelines for the physical 
qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner 
education, and medical research. The Subcommittee on proposed Task 
Statement 23-X1--Directed Review of the Merchant Mariner Medical Manual 
will also meet on Day 1. These virtual meetings will be open to the 
public.

DATES: Meetings: The Committee and one of its Subcommittees will meet 
virtually on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. 
Eastern Daylight Time, (EDT), and Wednesday, September 13, 2023, from 
10 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. EDT. The virtual 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 virtual meetings, submit your 
written comments no later than September 5, 2023.

ADDRESSES: To join the virtual meetings or to request special 
accommodations, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section no later than 1 p.m. EDT on September 5, 
2023, to obtain the needed information. The number of virtual lines is 
limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
    The Committee is committed to ensuring all participants have equal 
access regardless of disability status. If you require reasonable 
accommodation due to a disability to fully participate, please email 
Ms. Pamela Moore at [email protected] as soon as possible.
    Instructions: You are free to submit comments at any time, 
including orally at the virtual meetings as time permits, but if you 
want Committee members to review your comments before the virtual 
meetings, please submit your comments no later than September 5, 2023. 
We are particularly interested in comments on the topics in the 
``Agenda'' section below. We encourage you to submit comments through 
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If your 
material cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, email 
the individual in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
document for alternate instructions. You must include the docket number 
USCG-2023-0583. Comments received will be posted without alteration at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. You may wish to review the Privacy and Security Notice found 
via link on the homepage of https://www.regulations.gov. For more about 
privacy and submissions in response to this document, see DHS's 
eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020). If 
you encounter technical difficulties with comment submission, contact 
the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this notice.
    Docket Search: Documents mentioned in this notice as being 
available in the docket, and all public comments, will be in our online 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following 
that website's instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online 
docket and sign-up for email alerts, you will be notified when comments 
are posted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Pamela Moore, Alternate Designated 
Federal Officer of the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory 
Committee, telephone 202-372-1361 or email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of these meetings is in compliance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 117-286, 5 U.S.C. ch. 
10). The National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee is 
authorized by section 601 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2018 (Pub. L. 115-282, 132 Stat. 4192) and is 
codified in 46 U.S.C. 15104. The Committee operates under the 
provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and 46 U.S.C section 
15109. The Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security through 
the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on matters relating to: 
(a) medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, 
certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' documents; (b) medical 
standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators 
of commercial vessels; (c) medical examiner education; and (d) medical 
research.
    Agenda: The National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee 
will meet on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, and Wednesday, September 13, 
2023, to review, discuss, deliberate, and formulate recommendations, as 
appropriate on the following topics. The Subcommittee on proposed Task 
Statement 23-X1--Directed Review of the Merchant Mariner Medical Manual 
will also meet on Day 1. Officer elections will be held on Day 2.

DAY 1

    The agenda for the September 12, 2023, virtual meeting is as 
follows:
    (1) The full Committee will meet briefly to discuss the 
Subcommittee Business and task statement, which is listed under 
paragraph (6) under Day 2 below.
    (2) The Subcommittee will then separately address and work on Task 
Statement 23-X1, Directed Review of the Merchant Mariner Medical 
Manual.
    (3) Report of the Subcommittee. At the end of the day, the Chair of 
the Subcommittee will report to the full Committee on what was 
accomplished. The full Committee will not take action on this date and 
the Subcommittee will present a full report to the Committee on Day 2 
of the meeting.
    (4) Adjournment of meeting.

DAY 2

    The agenda for the September 13, 2023, virtual meeting is as 
follows:
    (1) Introduction.
    (2) Designated Federal Officer Remarks.
    (3) Remarks from U.S. Coast Guard Leadership.
    (4) Roll call of Committee members and determination of a quorum.
    (5) Election of Chair and Vice Chair.
    (5) Acceptance of Minutes from NMEDMAC Meeting 4.

[[Page 55710]]

    (6) Presentation of Task: Task Statement 23-X1, Directed Review of 
the Merchant Mariner Medical Manual.
    (7) U.S. Coast Guard Presentations.
    (8) Presentations from Subcommittee Chairs.
    The Committee will review the information presented on the 
following issues and deliberate on recommendations presented by the 
Subcommittee Chairs, approve and formulate recommendations and close 
any completed tasks. Official action on these recommendations may be 
taken:
    (a) Task Statement 21-01, Recommendations on Mariner Mental Health;
    (b) Task Statement 21-02, Communication Between External
    Stakeholders and the Mariner Credentialing Program;
    (c) Task Statement 21-03, Medical Certifications for Military to 
Mariner Applicants;
    (d) Task Statement 21-04, Recommendations on Appropriate Diets and 
Wellness for Mariners While Onboard Merchant Vessels;
    (e) Task Statement 21-06, Review of Medical Regulations and Policy 
to Identify Potential Barriers to Women in the U.S. Maritime Workforce;
    (f) Task Statement 22-01, Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment 
Prevention and Culture Change in the Merchant Marine; and
    (g) Task Statement 23-X1, Directed Review of the Merchant Mariner 
Medical Manual.
    (9) Public comment period.
    (10) Closing remarks.
    (11) Adjournment of meeting.
    A copy of all meeting documentation will be available at https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/federal-advisory-committees/national-merchant-mariner-medical-advisory-committee-(nmedmac) no later than 
September 5, 2023. Alternatively, you may contact the individual noted 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section above.
    During the September 13, 2023, virtual meeting, a public comment 
period will be held immediately after the Presentation of Subcommittee 
Reports and Recommendations, at approximately 1:30 p.m. EDT. Public 
comments will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Please note that the 
public comments period will end following the last call for comments. 
Please contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section to register as a speaker.

    Dated: August 8, 2023.
Jeffrey G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2023-17516 Filed 8-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P