[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16434-16435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-6885]
[[Page 16434]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2011-0171]
Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Committee Management; Notice of Committee Establishment.
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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that the
establishment of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee
(MERPAC) is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the
performance of duties of the U. S. Coast Guard.
Name of Committee: Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.
ADDRESSES: If you desire to submit comments on this action, they must
be submitted by April 22, 2011. Comments must be identified by (USCG-
2011-0171) and may be submitted by using one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
(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 four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on the
establishment of the MERPAC, call or e-mail Mark C. Gould, Commandant
(CG-5221), Attention MERPAC, U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second St., SW.,
STOP 7126, Washington, DC 20593-7126; e-mail: [email protected];
fax: (202) 372-1926. 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
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-2011-0171), indicate the specific section of this document
to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion
or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online
(via http://www.regulations.gov) or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online via
http://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered received by the Coast
Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax, hand
deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered as having been
received by the Coast Guard when it is received at the Docket
Management Facility. We recommend that you include your name and a
mailing address, an e-mail address, or a telephone 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,
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu select
``Notice'' and insert ``USCG-2011-0171'' in the ``Keyword'' box. Click
``Search'' 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 comments 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 Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
click on the ``read comments'' box, which will then become highlighted
in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0171'' and click
``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column.
You may also visit 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 notice
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Establishment of the Committee
For the reasons set forth below, the Secretary of Homeland Security
has determined that the establishment of the MERPAC is necessary and in
the public interest. This determination follows consultation with the
Committee Management Secretariat, General Services Administration.
The MERPAC is being established in accordance with the provisions
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-
463). The MERPAC will act in an advisory capacity to the Secretary of
the Department of Homeland Security through the Commandant of the Coast
Guard and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards on
matters relating to personnel in the U.S. merchant marine, including
but not limited to training, qualifications, certification,
documentation, and fitness standards. The MERPAC will provide focused
recommendations to relevant maritime personnel issues and we anticipate
that it will be very responsive to the Coast Guard's need for
recommendations on short turn-around issues. The Committee's unique
industry perspective will provide critical support to the Coast Guard's
efforts to ensure the safety of the U.S. merchant marine. This
information would otherwise have to be drawn from the broad population
involved in merchant vessel personnel matters. There is no other
current entity which can provide the level of technical expertise and
experience that is afforded by this advisory committee.
Balanced Membership Plans
The Committee membership is mandated by its charter and consists of
nineteen (19) members appointed by the Secretary of Homeland Security
as follows: a. Nine active U.S. Merchant
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Mariners including: (1) Three deck officers who represent the viewpoint
of merchant marine deck officers, two of whom shall be licensed for
oceans any gross tons, one of whom shall be licensed for inland or
river route with a limited or unlimited tonnage, two of whom must have
master's license or a master of towing vessels license, and one of whom
must have significant tanker experience; and, to the extent
practicable, one of these deck officers shall represent the point of
view of labor and another shall represent a management perspective; (2)
three engineering officers who represent the viewpoint of merchant
marine engineering officers, two of whom shall be licensed as chief
engineer any horsepower, one of whom shall be licensed as either a
limited chief engineer or a designated duty engineer; and, to the
extent practicable, one of these engineers shall represent a labor
point of view and another shall represent a management perspective; (3)
two unlicensed seamen, including one who represents the viewpoint of
Able-Bodied Seamen and one who represents the viewpoint of Qualified
Members of the Engine Department; and (4) one Pilot who represents the
viewpoint of merchant marine pilots. b. Six Marine Educators,
including: (1) Three who represent the viewpoint of Maritime Academies,
two of whom shall represent State Maritime Academies, and one of whom
may represent either the State Maritime Academies or the Federal
Maritime Academy; and (2) three who represent the viewpoint of other
maritime training institutions, one of whom shall represent the
viewpoint of the small vessel industry. c. Two individuals who
represent the viewpoint of shipping companies employed in ship
operation management. d. Two members who are drawn from the general
public.
Duration: Continuing.
Responsible DHS Officials: MERPAC will provide advice and
recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
through the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, United
States Coast Guard and the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
Dated: March 17, 2011.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2011-6885 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P