[Federal Register: August 27, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 49013]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27au07-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2007-27813]
New MARPOL Annex I Pollution Prevention Regulations; Information
and Compliance Policy
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of policy.
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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public about new requirements of
revised Annex I of the International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78), their associated entry into force
dates, and compliance requirements for U.S. vessels that are subject to
the Convention.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this
notice, contact Lieutenant Commander Scott Muller, Project Manager,
Office of Vessel Activities, Domestic Vessel Division (CG-3PCV-1),
telephone 202-372-1220 or via e-mail at Scott.W.Muller@uscg.mil. If you
have questions on viewing material to the DOT Docket Management
Facility docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone 202-493-0402.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL 73/78) is the primary
international agreement aimed at reducing pollution of the marine
environment from a variety of vessel-generated sources. Annex I to
MARPOL 73/78, ``Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil,''
contains provisions intended to reduce both intentional and accidental
discharges of oil. Annex I was codified into U.S. law by the Act to
Prevent Pollution from Ships at Sea 33 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq. and
with implementing regulations of 33 CFR parts 151, 155 and 157.
The entire annex was revised by adoption of Resolution MEPC.117(52)
on October 15, 2004, and entered into force on January 1, 2007. In
addition to adding new regulations, MARPOL Annex I was revised to be
more user-friendly. It separates, by chapter, the requirements for:
Survey and certification, machinery spaces of all ships, cargo areas of
oil tankers, oil pollution emergency plans, reception facilities, and
fixed or floating platforms. Additionally, where applicable, chapters
are further divided by subpart concerning construction, equipment and
operational requirements. Two new regulations were included in the
revision:
Regulation 22 of revised Annex I, ``Pump-room bottom
protection,'' establishes design requirements for pump-room double
bottoms on oil tankers of 5,000 tons deadweight and above constructed
on or after January 1, 2007.
Regulation 23 of revised Annex I, ``Accidental oil outflow
performance,'' establishes design requirements to protect against oil
pollution in the event of grounding or collision for oil tankers with a
building contract on or after January 1, 2007 (or delivery on or after
January 1, 2010).
In addition, on March 24, 2006, IMO adopted Resolution MEPC.141(54)
which provided additional amendments that further revised MARPOL Annex
I, which will enter into force on August 1, 2007. These amendments
include a new regulation 12A:
Regulation 12A of revised Annex I, ``Oil fuel tank
protection,'' establishes design requirements for protectively located
fuel tanks for all ships with an aggregate oil fuel capacity of 600
cubic meters (m3) and above with a building contract on or after August
1, 2007 (or delivery on or after August 1, 2010).
Reason for Policy Notice
As a signatory to the MARPOL 73/78 the U.S. government has an
obligation to act in accordance with the convention. This obligation
includes implementing and enforcing the new amendments to the
convention for both U.S. vessels and foreign flagged vessels operating
in U.S. waters. Thus, vessels required to have an International Oil
Pollution Prevention (IOPP) certificate by the convention will need to
meet the new revised regulations. Because the new revisions affect
certain vessels subject to existing U.S. regulations, found at 33 CFR
parts 157 and 155, the Coast Guard is developing a proposed rulemaking
to harmonize existing U.S. regulations with the new revisions to the
convention. In the interim, as a party to MARPOL 73/78, the United
States will enforce the new MARPOL Annex I regulations as follows:
(a) U.S. flagged vessels that are required to hold an International
Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate in accordance with 33 CFR
151.19: All U.S. vessels required to hold an IOPP Certificate must meet
all requirements set out in MARPOL 73/78, including the new
requirements, as applicable, established in recent IMO resolutions
MEPC.117(52) and MEPC.141(54) discussed above that have come into
force.
(b) U.S. flagged vessels that are not required to hold an IOPP
Certificate: These vessels need not presently comply with the new
MARPOL Annex I regulations, adopted by IMO resolutions MEPC.117(52) and
MEPC.141(54) above. However, vessel operators are encouraged to comply
with these new regulations in light of the Coast Guard's intention to
revise domestic regulations (33 CFR 157 and 155) that will implement
IMO resolution MEPC.117(52) and MEPC.141(54).
(c) Foreign vessels calling to the U.S. ports or terminals: The
Coast Guard will enforce all applicable MARPOL Annex I regulations,
including the new regulations adopted by IMO resolutions MEPC.117(52)
and MEPC.141(54) discussed above.
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1903, 33 U.S.C. 1231, 33 U.S.C. 1321, E.O.
12777, Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
Dated: August 20, 2007.
J.G. Lantz,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Prevention, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. E7-16725 Filed 8-24-07; 8:45 am]
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