[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 32 (Friday, February 15, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11214-11215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03549]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2013-0073]
Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting.
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SUMMARY: The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will
meet on March 12, 2013 and March 13, 2013 in Houston, TX, to discuss
various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine
personnel. This meeting will be open to the public.
DATES: MERPAC working groups will meet on March 12, 2013, from 8 a.m.
until 4 p.m., and the full committee will meet on March 13, 2013, from
8 a.m. until 4 p.m. This meeting may adjourn early if all business is
finished.
ADDRESSES: The Committee will meet in the Red Room of the West Gulf
Maritime Association (WGMA), 1717 Turning Basin, Suite 200 Houston,
Texas 77029. For further information on the location of WGMA, please
contact Mr. Niels Lyngso at (713) 715-6443.
For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special assistance, contact Mr. Davis Breyer
at 202-372-1445 as soon as possible.
To facilitate public participation, we are inviting public comment
on the issues to be considered by the committee and working groups as
listed in the ``Agenda'' section below. Written comments for
distribution to committee members and inclusion on MERPAC's Web site
must be submitted by February 26, 2013.
Written comments must be identified by Docket No. USCG-2013-0073
and submitted by one of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments (preferred method to
avoid delays in processing).
Fax: 202-493-2251.
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.
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.
Instructions: All submissions received must include the words
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this
action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You
may review a Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the
January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Docket: For access to the docket to read documents or comments
related to this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
A public oral comment period will be held each day. Speakers are
requested to limit their comments to 3 minutes. Please note that the
public oral comment period may end before the
[[Page 11215]]
prescribed ending time indicated following the last call for comments.
Contact Davis Breyer at [email protected] or at at 202-372-1445
no later than February 26, 2013, to register as a speaker. This notice
may be viewed in our online docket, USCG-2013-0073, at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Alternate Designated
Federal Officer (ADFO), telephone 202-372-1445, or at
[email protected].
If you have any questions on viewing or submitting material to the
docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations,
telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463).
MERPAC is an advisory committee established under the Secretary's
authority in section 871 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Title 6,
United States Code, section 451, and chartered under the provisions of
the FACA. The Committee acts solely in an advisory capacity to the
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 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 Committee will
advise, consult with, and make recommendations reflecting its
independent judgment to the Secretary.
Agenda of Meeting
Day 1
The agenda for the March 12, 2013, meeting is as follows:
(1) The full committee will meet briefly to discuss the working
groups' business/task statements, which are listed under paragraph 2
(a)-(g) below.
(2) Working groups addressing the following task statements,
available for viewing at http://homeport.uscg.mil/merpac will meet to
deliberate:
(a) Task Statement 30, Utilizing Military Education, Training and
Assessment for STCW (the International Convention on Standards of
Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) (1978), as
amended) and U.S. Coast Guard Certifications;
(b) Task Statement 58, Stakeholder Communications during Merchant
Mariner Licensing and Documentation Program (MLD) Restructuring and
Centralization;
(c) Task Statement 71, Review of USCG Operational Level Examination
(3rd Mate/2nd Mate and 3rd/2nd Assistant Engineer) Topics and Questions
and Alignment with the STCW Code;
(d) Task Statement 73, Development of Training Guidance for
Engineers Serving on Near-Coastal Vessels;
(e) Task Statement 77, Development of Performance Measures
(Assessment Criteria);
(f) Task Statement 78, Consideration of the International Labor
Organization's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; and
(g) Task Statement 80, Crew Training Requirements Onboard Natural
Gas-Fueled Vessels Other Than Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers.
(3) Public comment period.
(4) Reports of working groups. At the end of the day, the working
groups will report to the full committee on what was accomplished in
their meetings. The full committee will not take action on these
reports on this date. Any official action taken as a result of this
working group meeting will be taken on day 2 of the meeting.
(5) Adjournment of meeting.
Day 2
The agenda for the March 13, 2013, Committee meeting is as follows:
(1) Introduction;
(2) Remarks from Coast Guard Leadership;
(3) Roll call of committee members and determination of a quorum;
(4) Designated Federal Officer (DFO) announcements;
(5) Reports from the following working groups;
(a) Task Statement 30, Utilizing Military Education, Training and
Assessment for STCW and U.S. Coast Guard Certifications;
(b) Task Statement 58, Stakeholder Communications during MLD
Program Restructuring and Centralization;
(c) Task Statement 71, Review of USCG Operational Level Examination
(3rd Mate/2nd Mate and 3rd/2nd Assistant Engineer) Topics and Questions
and Alignment with the STCW Code;
(d) Task Statement 73, Development of Training Guidance for
Engineers Serving on Near-Coastal Vessels;
(e) Task Statement 77, Development of Performance Measures
(Assessment Criteria);
(f) Task Statement 78, Consideration of the International Labor
Organization's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; and
(g) Task Statement 80, Crew Training Requirements Onboard Natural
Gas-Fueled Vessels Other Than Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers.
(6) Other items for discussion:
(a) Report on National Maritime Center (NMC) activities from NMC
Commanding Officer, such as the net processing time it takes for a
mariner to receive his or her credential after application submittal;
(b) Report on Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division
activities, such as its current initiatives and projects;
(c) Report on International Maritime Organization (IMO)/
International Labor Organization (ILO) issues related to the merchant
marine industry;
(d) Report on the implementation of the 2010 amendments to the STCW
Convention; and
(e) Briefings about on-going Coast Guard projects related to
personnel in the U.S. Merchant Marine, such as proposed Task Statements
concerning:
Training for officers and crewmembers aboard ships
operating in polar waters;
Review of CG-719K (Merchant Mariner Physical Examination
Report) & CG-719K/E (Merchant Marine Certification of Fitness for Entry
Level Ratings); and
Development of competency requirements for engineers
working on small vessels with high horsepower.
(7) Public comment period/presentations.
(8) Discussion of working group recommendations. The committee will
review the information presented on each issue, deliberate on any
recommendations presented by the working groups and approve/formulate
recommendations for the Department's consideration. Official action on
these recommendations may be taken on this date.
(9) Closing remarks/plans for next meeting.
(10) Adjournment of meeting.
Procedural
A copy of all meeting documentation, including the Task Statements,
is available at https://homeport.uscg.mil by using these key strokes:
Missions; Port and Waterways Safety; Advisory Committees; MERPAC; and
then use the event key. Alternatively, you may contact Mr. Breyer as
noted above.
Minutes will be available 90 days after this meeting.
Dated: February 11, 2013.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2013-03549 Filed 2-14-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P