[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 108 (Tuesday, June 4, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47855-47863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12201]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 173 and 174

[Docket No. USCG-2023-0600]
RIN 1625-AC92


Digital Certificate of Number for State Numbered Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This final rule is intended to amend the Coast Guard's 
requirements for a Certificate of Number (CON) for vessels to allow any 
CON to be carried in hard copy or digital form. This aligns our current 
CON requirements with statutory changes made by the James M. Inhofe 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023.

DATES: This final rule is effective July 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2023-0600 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, in the Document 
Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''

[[Page 47856]]

    This final rule with its plain-language, 100-word-or-less summary 
will be available in this same docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email Thomas Guess, Coast Guard CG-BSX-2; telephone 206-815-
0221, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents for Preamble

I. Abbreviations
II. Basis, Purpose, and Regulatory History
III. Background
IV. Discussion of the Rule
V. Regulatory Analyses
    A. Regulatory Planning and Review
    B. Small Entities
    C. Assistance for Small Entities
    D. Collection of Information
    E. Federalism
    F. Unfunded Mandates
    G. Taking of Private Property
    H. Civil Justice Reform
    I. Protection of Children
    J. Indian Tribal Governments
    K. Energy Effects
    L. Technical Standards
    M. Environment

I. Abbreviations

NDAA 2023 James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2023
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CG-BSX Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety
CON Certificate of Number
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
OMB Office of Management and Budget
RA Regulatory analysis
Sec.  Section
SMEs Subject matter experts
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Basis, Purpose, and Regulatory History

    The statutory authority for this final rule can be found in 46 
U.S.C. 12301 and 12304. Section 12301 states that undocumented vessels 
equipped with propulsion machinery on waters subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction must have a number issued by the proper issuing authority 
in the State in which the vessel is principally operated. Section 12304 
describes a Certificate of Number (CON) and requires the CON to be 
available for inspection on the vessel when it is in operation, unless 
the vessel is under 26 feet and is leased or rented to another 
individual for noncommercial use for less than 7 days. Under 46 U.S.C. 
12302, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is 
charged with issuing regulations to create a standard numbering system 
for vessels to which 46 U.S.C. chapter 123 applies, including the 
regulations in 33 CFR part 174. The Secretary delegated the authority 
to issue rules for identification of vessels to the Coast Guard in DHS 
Delegation No. 00170.1(II)(92)(h), Revision No. 01.4.
    Section 11506 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Pub. L. 117-263, December 23, 2022) (NDAA 
2023) amended 46 U.S.C. 12304 to permit any CON ``in hard copy or 
digital form,'' while retaining the prior requirement that any 
certificates issued in hard copy under this section be ``pocketsized.'' 
This amendment is effective immediately and immediately allowed boaters 
to choose to carry digital CONs. We expect that this provision of the 
NDAA 2023 will represent potential cost savings to State and 
territorial governments that choose to issue digital CONs. This final 
rule harmonizes the current regulations with the amended statute and 
updates the regulations to reflect the use of digital versions of CONs.

Administrative Procedure Act

    The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requires generally that 
agencies provide advance public notice, seek public comment, and 
provide a 30-day delayed effective date.\1\ An agency may issue a rule 
without first providing the opportunity for notice and comment if the 
agency finds that notice and comment procedures are impracticable, 
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest. 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). 
Notice and comment procedures are unnecessary, for example, if Congress 
requires non-discretionary action of an agency, leaving it without 
discretion to vary its action in response to the views or suggestions 
of commenters. See, e.g., Metzenbaum v. Fed. Energy Regul. Comm'n., 675 
F.2d 1282, 1284 (DCCir. 1982) (``[W]e find that the FERC order was 
appropriately issued without notice and comment as a nondiscretionary 
ministerial action.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 5 U.S.C. 553.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Coast Guard finds that good cause exists under 5 U.S.C. 553 to 
issue this final rule without notice and comment procedures. Section 
11506 of the NDAA 2023 leaves the Coast Guard without discretion as it 
states that a CON ``may be in hard copy or digital form.'' Therefore, 
soliciting public comment on the decision to update the regulations to 
comport with the statutory mandate is unnecessary as acceptance of 
digital CONs has been taking place since 2022.

III. Background

    Under section 888(a) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 
107-296), the Coast Guard has 11 statutory missions, including marine 
safety. Accordingly, the Coast Guard is required to ensure safety on 
the nation's waters through complementary programs of mishap 
prevention, search and rescue, and accident investigation. One of the 
many ways the Coast Guard accomplishes this marine safety mission is 
through its role as the coordinator of the National Recreational 
Boating Safety Program.
    The mission of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program is 
to ensure that the public has a safe, secure, and enjoyable 
recreational boating experience by carrying out programs designed to 
minimize the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage, while 
cooperating with environmental and national security efforts. To 
achieve this mission, the Coast Guard's Office of Auxiliary and Boating 
Safety (CG-BSX) works with Federal agencies; State and local 
governments; boat, engine, and associated equipment manufacturers; and 
non-governmental boating safety organizations to ensure that 
recreational boats are safely built and operated in a responsible 
manner.
    The Coast Guard assigns boats CONs primarily for ownership 
verification. A CON contains the State registration information for the 
vessel, which allows a law enforcement officer to electronically access 
State-registered vessel databases and retrieve ownership and vessel 
information using the State-assigned number affixed to the vessel. 
Until 2017, all CONs issued by States to owners of recreational and 
State-numbered commercial vessels were issued as a paper or plastic 
card, measuring approximately 2\1/2\ inches by 3\1/2\ inches, per Coast 
Guard regulations in 33 CFR 174.25. In 2017, however, CG-BSX began 
allowing alternative sizing of CONs, so long as it could be folded to 
meet regulation size. Additionally, several States have moved to 
digital vehicle registration, and, in 2022, requested that the Coast 
Guard allow a digital, or electronically available, CON to meet the 
requirements of 33 CFR 173.25.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    The NDAA 2023 amended 46 U.S.C. 12304(a) to allow any CON for 
undocumented vessels to be in digital form, while retaining the 
requirement that any certificates issued in hard copy under this 
section be pocketsized. This final rule harmonizes the current 
regulations in 33 CFR parts 173 and 174 with the amendments made by the 
NDAA 2023.
    The Coast Guard is amending 33 CFR 173.21(a) to specify that any 
CON can be in hard copy or digital form. The Coast

[[Page 47857]]

Guard is also amending 33 CFR 174.25 to allow vessels to carry any CON 
in a digital format, while also requiring that a hard copy be 
pocketsized in place of the precise dimensions for a hard copy CON 
currently specified in the CFR.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this final rule after considering numerous statutes 
and Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on these statutes or Executive orders.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), as amended 
by Executive Order 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review), and 13563 
(Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) direct agencies to assess 
the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility.
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not designated this 
final rule a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094. A 
regulatory analysis (RA) follows.
Introduction
    With this final rule, the Coast Guard intends to amend subchapter S 
(Boating Safety) of title 33 of the CFR. Specifically, the Coast Guard 
intends to amend Sec. Sec.  173.21 and 174.25 to carry out the 
provision of NDAA 2023, codified at 46 U.S.C. 12304, allowing 
recreational vessel owners and operators to carry any CON in hard copy 
or digital form.
    The Coast Guard has included in this RA an assessment of the 
impacts of both this final rule and the NDAA 2023 provision allowing 
for CONs to be carried in digital format. Since the NDAA 2023 was 
effective immediately, all the quantifiable economic impacts are 
attributable to the NDAA 2023 rather than this final rule. The Coast 
Guard estimates that the provision of NDAA 2023 allowing for CONs to be 
carried in digital format will save the regulated public and the 
governments of the U.S. States and territories approximately $27 
million in 2023 dollars over an 11-year period of analysis from 2023 
through 2033, assuming a 2-percent discount rate. The 11-year period of 
analysis begins in 2023 to account for the NDAA 2023 and runs through 
2033, which is 10 years after a final rule publication in 2024.
    Table 1 presents an overview of both the NDAA 2023 and this final 
rule.

Table 1--Baseline and Change Matrix

BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

[[Page 47858]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR04JN24.036


[[Page 47859]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR04JN24.037

BILLING CODE 9110-04-C
    The rest of this RA is as follows: the next section discusses the 
affected population, cost, costs savings, and benefits of the relevant 
NDAA 2023 provision. The third section discusses the affected 
population, cost, costs savings, and benefits of this final rule. In 
the fourth and final section of this RA, we assess regulatory 
alternatives.
Economic Impact of the Relevant NDAA 2023 Provision

Affected Population of the Relevant NDAA 2023 Provision

    The affected population for the relevant NDAA 2023 provision 
includes all U.S. recreational boating vessel owners, as well as State 
and territorial governments.
    As of 2022, there were 11,770,383 registered recreational vessels 
in the U.S., according to the Coast Guard's most recent recreational 
boating statistics report.\2\ To estimate the total affected population 
over the 11-year period of analysis, the Coast Guard reviewed the 
registered recreational vessel count from 2017 to 2022. We found that 
the average year-to-year growth rate in recreational vessel 
registrations was approximately 0 percent (see table 2).\3\ Therefore, 
we assume that the population of registered recreational vessels will 
not change for the duration of the period of analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Data come from table 36 of U.S. Coast Guard, 2022 
Recreational Boating Statistics, obtained on June 26, 2023, https://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2022.pdf; accessed June 26, 2023. This version, 
published May 25, 2023, was the most recent version of the data 
available at the time of this writing.
    \3\ Data come from table 36 of U.S. Coast Guard, 2022 
Recreational Boating Statistics, obtained on June 26, 2023, https://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2022.pdf; accessed June 26, 2023.

[[Page 47860]]



  Table 2--U.S.-Registered Recreational Vessel Growth From 2017 to 2022
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Vessels             Growth rate
                                  registered    ------------------------
            Year             -------------------   (b) = [(a) / (a) of
                                     (a)         prior year-1] x 100 (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017........................         11,961,568  .......................
2018........................         11,852,969                    -0.91
2019........................         11,878,542                     0.22
2020........................         11,838,188                    -0.34
2021........................         11,957,886                     1.01
2022........................         11,770,383                    -1.57
Average.....................         11,876,589                    -0.32
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Costs of the Relevant NDAA 2023 Provision

    The Coast Guard does not anticipate any costs from the relevant 
NDAA 2023 provision because this provides greater regulatory 
flexibility and does not impose a new prescriptive requirement.

Cost Savings of the Relevant NDAA 2023 Provision

    The Coast Guard expects that the relevant amendment to 46 U.S.C. 
12304 in the NDAA 2023 will result in cost savings for the governments 
of both U.S. States and territories. These cost savings come from 
avoiding the printing and mailing costs for hard copy CONs.
    To estimate the cost savings, we first determine the expected 
number of CONs issued digitally \4\ for each year, either during 
initial registration of a recreational vessel or as a renewal of 
registration.\5\ This calculation requires the following components:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Coast Guard expects that State and territorial 
governments will issue digital CONs and make them accessible to 
smartphone or tablet users through a downloadable licensing 
application or a mobile-friendly web page. We do acknowledge that 
jurisdictions may choose to issue digital CONs through other 
methods. For the purposes of this RA, the particular method by which 
jurisdictions issue digital CONs does not impact the cost savings 
calculations. Any digitally issued CON, regardless of issuance 
method, will result in cost savings from avoided printing and 
mailing costs.
    \5\ Since the growth rate of the registered recreational vessel 
population is 0 percent, we assume that the number of new 
registrations is offset by the number of registered vessels that 
have not renewed certificates.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The weighted-average period of validity for recreational vessel 
certificates across all U.S. States and territories;
    (2) The rate of smartphone use among the U.S. recreational boating 
population; and
    (3) The rate of digital CON use among smartphone-owning 
recreational vessel owners.
    The Coast Guard expects that the period of validity will be the 
same regardless of whether a State or territory issues a hard copy CON 
or a digital CON. We assume that all governmental jurisdictions, which 
are responsible for issuing certificates and enforcing regulatory 
requirements relating to certificates, will allow for both forms of 
certification.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ ``All governmental jurisdictions'' refers to U.S. States and 
territories.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Based on a survey done by Coast Guard subject matter experts (SMEs) 
within CG-BSX, the Coast Guard determined that the average period of 
validity for certificates is 2.46 years, weighted by the share of the 
boating population in each jurisdiction.
    Next, we calculated the total number of certificates, which we 
expect will be renewed each year, by dividing the vessel population of 
11.77 million by the weighted average period of validity of 2.46 years. 
We obtained a value of 4.8 million vessels. This is shown in table 3.

            Table 3--Average Number of CONs Renewed Annually
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Average number of
  Current number of registered     Average period of     CONs renewed
      recreational vessels         validity (years)        annually
(a)                                             (b)     (c) = (a) / (b)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11,770,383......................               2.46           4,784,709
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    After obtaining the expected number of renewed certificates for 
each year, we multiplied that value by the recreational boating 
population's smartphone-use rate to determine the average number of 
certificates that could be renewed digitally each year because the 
vessel owner owns a smartphone. Using information from an online data 
platform on the use rate among the general U.S. population, we obtained 
an estimated smartphone use rate of 72.7 percent among the U.S. 
recreational boating population.7 8 We hold this smartphone-
use rate constant throughout the period of analysis, since the rate of 
change for smartphone adoption has diminished significantly and has 
trended towards a 0-percent change in recent years (see table 4).\9\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Petroc Taylor, ``Smartphone Penetration Rate as a Share of 
the Population in the United States from 2010 to 2021,'' n.d., 
Statista, obtained on June 15, 2023, accessed on June 15, 2023, 
https://www.statista.com/statistics/201183/forecast-of-smartphone-penetration-in-the-us/ (``Smartphone Penetration Data'').
    \8\ The Coast Guard does not have reason to believe that the 
U.S. recreational boating population is significantly different from 
the general U.S. population regarding smartphone use.
    \9\ Smartphone Penetration Data, supra note 7. The online data 
platform used survey data from a market research firm that examined 
smartphone penetration rates from 2010 to 2018. The smartphone 
penetration rate is defined as the share of the U.S. population who 
own at least one smartphone and use the smartphone(s) at least once 
a month. Penetration rates for 2018 to 2021 are projections from 
analysts with the data platform, and not the Coast Guard.

[[Page 47861]]



         Table 4--Smartphone Penetration Rate From 2016 to 2021
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                               Penetration rate        Growth rate
                             -------------------------------------------
            Year                                   (b) = [(a) / (a) of
                                   (a) (%)       prior year-1] x 100 (%)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2016........................               63.9  .......................
2017........................               67.3                      5.3
2018........................               69.6                      3.4
2019........................               71.4                      2.6
2020........................               72.2                      1.1
2021........................               72.7                      0.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimated that an average number of 3.5 million CONs could be 
renewed digitally each year. However, not all vessel owners with 
smartphones will use a digital CON. Coast Guard SMEs within CG-BSX 
estimated that the digital CON adoption rate will be around 50 percent. 
This means that 1.7 million CONs will likely be digitally renewed each 
year. This is shown in table 5, which uses data from table 3.

                          Table 5--Average Annual Number of Vessels Renewing Digitally
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Digital CON
                                                      Avg number of CONs     adoption rate    Avg number of CONs
 Average number of CONs renewed       Smartphone         eligible for      among smartphone-   renewed digitally
            annually               penetration rate    renewal digitally     owning vessel       (rounded up)
                                                                                owners
(c)                                             (d)     (e) = (c) x (d)                 (f)     (g) = (e) x (f)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4,784,709.......................              72.7%           3,478,483                 50%           1,739,242
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    State and territorial issuing authorities incur costs associated 
with printing and mailing hard copy CONs. According to Coast Guard SMEs 
within CG-BSX, the average printing and mailing cost to issuing 
authorities is approximately $1.50 per application.
    By avoiding printing and mailing replacement hard copy CONs, we 
expect that State and territorial governments will save approximately 
$2.6 million annually. This is shown in table 6, which uses data from 
table 5.

   Table 6--Annual Undiscounted Cost Savings to State and Territorial
                               Governments
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Hard copy CON
   Avg number of CONs renewed        printing and         Total saved
            digitally                mailing cost
(g)                                             (h)     (i) = (g) x (h)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,739,242.......................              $1.50          $2,608,863
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We present the cost savings to State and territorial governments in 
table 7, using discount rates of 2 percent.

       Table 7--Cost Savings to State and Territorial Governments
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Discounted
                     Year                          (2%)     Undiscounted
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 (2023).....................................   $2,661,040    $2,608,863
2 (2024).....................................    2,608,863     2,608,863
3 (2025).....................................    2,557,709     2,608,863
4 (2026).....................................    2,507,558     2,608,863
5 (2027).....................................    2,458,390     2,608,863
6 (2028).....................................    2,410,186     2,608,863
7 (2029).....................................    2,362,928     2,608,863
8 (2030).....................................    2,316,596     2,608,863
9 (2031).....................................    2,271,172     2,608,863
10 (2032)....................................     2,226,39     2,608,863
11 (2033)....................................    2,182,980     2,608,863
                                              --------------------------
  Total......................................   26,564,061    28,697,493
  Annualized.................................    2,608,863  ............
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Qualitative Benefits of the Relevant NDAA 2023 Provision

    The provision of the NDAA 2023 allowing for digital CONs provides a 
qualitative benefit by allowing recreational vessel owners the 
flexibility of complying with CON carriage requirements with a digital 
CON instead of a hard copy CON.
Economic Impact of the Final Rule

Affected Population of This Final Rule

    The affected population for this final rule includes all U.S. 
recreational boating vessel owners. As stated before, we assume that in 
2022, there were 11,770,383 registered recreational vessels, and that 
the population of registered recreational vessels will not change for 
the duration of the period of analysis.

Costs of This Final Rule

    The Coast Guard does not anticipate any costs from this final rule.

Cost Savings of This Final Rule

    The Coast Guard does not anticipate any cost savings from this 
final rule.

Qualitative Benefits of This Final Rule

    This final rule provides one qualitative benefit by harmonizing the 
Coast Guard's regulations with the relevant statutory authority.
Alternatives
    As stated earlier in this preamble and the regulatory text, the 
NDAA 2023 is a legislatively mandated law promulgated by Congress. 
Hence, the Coast Guard

[[Page 47862]]

does not have any discretionary action upon its enactment. The Coast 
Guard is promulgating this final rule to ensure that CFR regulations 
are harmonized with the NDAA 2023. Therefore, no alternatives were 
considered for this rulemaking.

B. Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, requires 
Federal agencies to consider the potential impact on small entities 
when they issue a rule after being required to first publish a general 
notice of proposed rulemaking. Under 5 U.S.C. 604(a), an agency must 
provide a regulatory flexibility analysis after being required to 
publish a general notice of proposed rulemaking under 5 U.S.C. 553. 
Because section 11506 of the NDAA 2023 provides the Coast Guard no 
discretion in accepting a digital CON, we are not required to publish a 
notice of a proposed rulemaking pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). 
Accordingly, no regulatory flexibility analysis is required under 5 
U.S.C. 604(a) and we did not conduct one for this rule.

C. Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104-121, we offer to assist small 
entities in understanding this final rule so that they can better 
evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If this 
final rule would affect your small business, organization, or 
governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its 
provisions or options for compliance, please call or email the person 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this final rule. The 
Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or 
complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.
    Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal 
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal 
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory 
Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory 
Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and 
rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to 
comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR 
(1-888-734-3247).

D. Collection of Information

    This rule calls for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.

E. Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132 
(Federalism) if it has a substantial direct effect on States, on the 
relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. We have analyzed this final rule under Executive Order 
13132 and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental 
federalism principles and preemption requirements described in 
Executive Order 13132. Our analysis follows.
    In accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12301 and 12304, an undocumented 
vessel, including a State-numbered commercial vessel, which is equipped 
with propulsion machinery and operating on waters subject to U.S. 
jurisdiction, must have on board a valid CON. Under 46 U.S.C. 12302, 
the Coast Guard is charged with issuing Federal regulations to create a 
standard numbering system for these vessels. As long as the States 
issue CONs that are consistent with the standard numbering system, the 
States are permitted to be the issuing authority. This final rule is 
consistent with this longstanding Federal-State vessel numbering 
mechanism established by Congress and, therefore, also with the 
fundamental federalism principles and preemption requirements described 
in Executive Order 13132.

F. Unfunded Mandates

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or Tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for 
inflation) or more in any one year. Although this final rule will not 
result in such expenditure and does not constitute a discretionary 
regulatory action, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in 
this preamble.

G. Taking of Private Property

    This final rule will not cause a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630 
(Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected 
Property Rights).

H. Civil Justice Reform

    This final rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform) to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

I. Protection of Children

    We have analyzed this final rule under Executive Order 13045 
(Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks). This final rule is not an economically significant rule under 
Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094, and will 
not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 
disproportionately affect children.

J. Indian Tribal Governments

    This final rule does not have Tribal implications under Executive 
Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments), because it will not have a substantial direct effect on 
one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

K. Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this final rule under Executive Order 13211 
(Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use). We have determined that it is not a 
``significant energy action'' under that order because it is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, as 
amended by Executive Order 14094, and is not likely to have a 
significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of 
energy.

L. Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act, codified as a 
note to 15 U.S.C. 272, directs agencies to use voluntary consensus 
standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides 
Congress, through OMB, with an explanation of why using these standards 
would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. 
Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (for example, 
specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test 
methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) 
that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.
    This final rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did 
not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

M. Environment

    We have analyzed this final rule under DHS Management Directive 
023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing instructions, and Environmental

[[Page 47863]]

Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 (series), which guide the Coast Guard in 
complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 
4321-4370f), and have determined that this action is one of a category 
of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant 
effect on the human environment.
    A Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this 
determination is available in the docket. For instructions on locating 
the docket, see the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. This final rule 
meets the criteria for categorical exclusions L57 in Appendix A, Table 
1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev 1. Categorical exclusion 
L57 pertains to regulations concerning manning, documentation, 
admeasurement, inspection, and equipping of vessels.
    This final rule involves conforming current regulations to the 
amended statute and updating the regulations to allow digital versions 
of any CON. We seek any comments or information that may lead to the 
discovery of a significant environmental impact from this final rule.

List of Subjects

33 CFR Part 173

    Marine safety, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

33 CFR Part 174

    Intergovernmental relations, Marine safety, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR parts 173 and 174 as follows:

PART 173--VESSEL NUMBERING AND CASUALTY AND ACCIDENT REPORTING

0
1. The authority citation for part 173 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. 2110, 6101, 12301, 12302; 
OMB Circular A-25; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.


0
2. Amend Sec.  173.21 by revising paragraph (a) introductory text to 
read as follows:


Sec.  173.21  Certificate of number required.

    (a) Except as provided in Sec. Sec.  173.13 and 173.17, no person 
may operate a vessel to which this part applies unless they have on 
board in hard copy or digital form:
* * * * *

PART 174--STATE NUMBERING AND CASUALTY REPORTING SYSTEMS

0
3. The authority citation for part 174 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 6101 and 12302; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, 
Revision No. 01.4.


0
4. Revise Sec.  174.25 to read as follows:


Sec.  174.25  Size of certificate of number.

    Each certificate of number must be in hard copy or digital form. 
Any certificate issued in hard copy under this section must be 
pocketsized.

    Dated: May 29, 2024.
W.R. Arguin,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024-12201 Filed 6-3-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P