[Federal Register: December 8, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 236)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 74426]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08de08-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
46 CFR Parts 71, 114, 115, 122, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 178,
179, and 185
[Docket No. USCG-2007-0030]
RIN 1625-AB20
Passenger Weight and Inspected Vessel Stability Requirements
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is reopening the period for public comment on
its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on regulations governing the
stability of passenger vessels and the maximum number of passengers
that may safely be permitted on board a vessel.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published at 73 FR
49244, August 20, 2008, is reopened. Comments and related material will
be accepted on or before February 6, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2007-0030 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these methods. For
instructions on submitting comments, see the ``Public Participation and
Request for Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
call Mr. William Peters, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Design and
Engineering Standards, Naval Architecture Division (CG-5212), telephone
202-372-1371. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material
to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the
``Vessel Passenger Crowding Stability Criteria Study.'' All comments
received will be posted, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
and will include any personal information you have provided.
Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the
docket number for this notice (USCG-2007-0030) and provide a reason for
each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and
material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only
one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of
your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding
your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the
screen, insert ``USCG-2007-0030'' in the Docket ID box, press Enter,
and then click on the balloon shape in the Actions column. If you
submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped,
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period.
Viewing comments and the study: To view the comments and the study,
go to http://www.regulations.gov, select the Advanced Docket Search
option on the right side of the screen, insert USCG-2007-0030 in the
Docket ID box, press Enter, and then click on the item in the Docket ID
column. If you do not have access to the Internet, you may view the
docket online by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-
140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We
have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the
Docket Management Facility.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a
Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in
the January 17, 2008 issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background and Purpose
On August 20, 2008, The Coast Guard published an NPRM entitled
``Passenger Weight and Inspected Vessel Stability Requirements'' (73 FR
49244). During the NPRM's original comment period, which ended November
18, 2008, members of the public requested that the Coast Guard add to
the docket a study cited in support of certain stability findings that
resulted in proposed changes to 46 CFR part 171 in the NPRM.
The 12-page study, entitled the ``Pontoon Vessel Passenger Crowding
Stability Criteria Study,'' was added to the docket on October 30, 2008
(document number USCG-2007-0030-0139.1). Following the addition of the
study, members of the public stated that they did not have sufficient
time to review and comment on this study before the close of the
comment period.
The Coast Guard is reopening the comment period for 60 days. The
comment period will close on February 6, 2009. This reopening will
permit you additional time to review and comment on the study;
additionally, you are reminded that you may comment on any comments
placed in the docket. We may change the proposed rules in response to
the comments received.
Dated: December 2, 2008.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast
Guard.
[FR Doc. E8-28979 Filed 12-5-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P