[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 241 (Thursday, December 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78725-78726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31558]
[[Page 78725]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2010-1066]
Recreational Boating Safety Projects, Programs and Activities
Funded Under Provisions of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st
Century; Accounting of
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In 1999, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century
made $5 million available to the Secretary of Homeland Security for
payment per year of Coast Guard expenses for personnel and activities
directly related to coordinating and carrying out the national
recreational boating safety program. In 2005, the law was amended, and
the amount was increased to $5.5 million. The Coast Guard is publishing
this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Act that a detailed
accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded under the
national recreational boating safety program provision of the Act be
published annually in the Federal Register. In this notice, we have
specified the amount of monies the Coast Guard has committed,
obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2010, as of September 30,
2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice, call
Jeff Ludwig, Regulations Development Manager, telephone 202-372-1061.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century became law on
June 9, 1998 (Pub. L. 105-178; 112 Stat. 107). The Act required that of
the $5 million made available to carry out the national recreational
boating safety program each year, $2 million shall be available only to
ensure compliance with Chapter 43 of Title 46, U.S. Code--Recreational
Vessels. On September 29, 2005, the Sportfishing and Recreational
Boating Safety Amendments Act of 2005 was enacted (Pub. L. 109-74; 119
Stat. 2031). This Act increased the funds available to the national
recreational boating safety program from $5 million to $5.5 million
annually, and stated that ``not less than'' $2 million shall be
available only to ensure compliance with Chapter 43 of Title 46, U.S.
Code--Recreational Vessels.
These funds are available to the Secretary for payment of expenses
of the Coast Guard for personnel and activities directly related to
coordinating and carrying out the national recreational boating safety
program. Subsection (c) of section 7405 of the Transportation Equity
Act for the 21st Century directs that no funds available to the
Secretary under this subsection may be used to replace funding
traditionally provided through general appropriations, nor for any
purposes except those purposes authorized; namely, for personnel and
activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the
national recreational boating safety program. Amounts made available
each fiscal year from 1999 through 2010 shall remain available until
expended.
Use of these funds requires compliance with standard Federal
contracting rules with associated lead and processing times resulting
in a lag time between available funds and spending. The total amount of
funding transferred to the Coast Guard from the Sport Fish Restoration
and Boating Trust Fund and committed, obligated, and/or expended during
fiscal year 2010 for each activity is shown below.
Factory Visit Program/Boat Testing Program: Funding was provided to
continue the national recreational boat factory visit program,
initiated in January 2001. The factory visit program currently allows
contractor personnel, acting on behalf of the Coast Guard, to visit
2,000 recreational boat manufacturers each year to either inspect for
compliance with Federal regulations, communicate with the manufacturers
as to why they need to comply with Federal regulations, or educate
them, as necessary, on how to comply with Federal regulations. Funding
was also provided for testing of certain associated equipment and in-
water testing of atypical and used recreational boats for compliance
with capacity and flotation standards. This funding satisfies the legal
requirements that ``not less than'' $2 million be available to ensure
compliance with Chapter 43 of Title 46, U.S. Code--Recreational
Vessels. ($2,313,078).
New Recreational Boating Safety Associated Travel: Travel by
members of the Boating Safety Division's strategic planning panel was
undertaken to attend meetings to develop the next iteration of the
national recreational boating safety program strategic plan. ($18,882).
Boating Accident News Clipping Services: Funding was provided to
continue to gather daily news stories of recreational boating accidents
nationally for more real time accident information and to identify
accidents that may involve regulatory non-compliances or safety
defects. ($26,000).
Accident Investigation Tiger Team: Funding was provided to continue
to provide on-call expert accident investigative services for any
boating accident that appeared to involve a regulatory non-compliance
or safety defect. ($17,335).
Web-based Document Management System: Funding was provided to
continue to provide a web-based document management system to better
enable the handling of thousands of recreational boating recall case
and campaign reports. ($60,000).
Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Outreach Program: Funding was
provided for this program which provides full marketing, media, public
information, and program strategy support to the nation-wide RBS
effort. The goal is to coordinate the RBS outreach initiatives and
campaigns, some of which include: National Boating Under the Influence
Campaign (BUI), ``Boat Responsibly!'', Life Jacket Wear, Vessel Safety
Check Program (VSC), Boating Safety Education Courses, Propeller Strike
Avoidance, Carbon Monoxide Poisoning, and other recreational boating
safety issues on an as needed basis. ($597,621).
Web site Support: Funding for this initiative provides a full range
of public media and boating safety information at http://www.uscgboating.org for a worldwide audience. It covers a wide spectrum
of boating safety related topics and is dedicated to reducing loss of
life, injuries, and property damage that occur on U.S. waterways by
improving the knowledge, skills, and abilities of recreational boaters.
($104,723).
Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) Web System: BARD Web System
funding enables reporting authorities in the 50 States, five U.S.
Territories, and the District of Columbia to submit their accident
reports electronically over a secure Internet connection. The system
also enables the user community to generate statistical reports that
show the frequency, nature, and severity of boating accidents. Fiscal
year 2010 funds supported system maintenance, development, and
technical (hotline) support. ($128,305).
Personnel Support: Funding was provided for personnel to support
the development of new regulations and to conduct boating safety-
related research and analysis ($669,338).
Printing: Funding was provided for printing the brochure ``A GUIDE
TO THE FEDERAL REQIREMENTS FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS.'' This publication
is used to educate boaters on the safety equipment carriage
requirements for recreational boats, and proper and safe boating
practices. The Coast Guard, USCG Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, and
State agencies
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distribute this product to the public at local boating events, during
classroom instruction, and during Vessel Safety Checks. ($101,420).
Reimbursable Salaries: Funding was provided to carry out the work
as prescribed in 46 U.S.C. 13106(c) and as described herein. The first
position was that of a professional mathematician/statistician to
conduct necessary national surveys and studies on recreational boating
activities as well as to serve as a liaison to other Federal agencies
that are conducting boating surveys so that we can pool our resources
and reduce costs. The second position was that of Outreach coordinator
with responsibility of overseeing and managing RBS projects related to
carbon monoxide poisoning, propeller injury mitigation, manufacturer
compliance initiatives, etc. ($320,518).
Of the $5.5 million made available to the Coast Guard in fiscal
year 2010, $2,726,496 has been committed, obligated, or expended and an
additional $1,630,723 of prior fiscal year funds have been committed,
obligated, or expended, as of September 30, 2010. Approximately $10.6
million has not been committed, obligated, or expended from previous
years and is being reserved for a multi-year national boating survey.
This notice is issued under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 13106(c)(4).
Dated: December 10, 2010.
Kevin S. Cook,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-31558 Filed 12-15-10; 8:45 am]
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