[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58989-58990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23280]
[[Page 58989]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 143
46 CFR Parts 110 and 111
[Docket No. USCG-2012-0850]
RIN 1625-AC00
Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Locations; Extension of Comment
Period
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the notice
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Electrical Equipment in
Hazardous Locations,'' published on June 24, 2013, until November 30,
2013. We are extending the comment period at the request of industry to
ensure stakeholders have adequate time to submit complete responses.
DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published June 24, 2013
(78 FR 37760) is extended. Comments and related material must be
submitted and received on or before November 30, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to
our online docket via http://www.regulations.gov or reach the Docket
Management Facility by the date given above. You may submit comments
identified by docket number USCG-2012-0850 using any one of the
following methods:
(1) Online: 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 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 this proposed
rule, call or email Mr. Raymond Martin, Systems Engineering Division
(CG-ENG-3), Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1384, email
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or
submitting material to the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided.
A. Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG-2012-0850), 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 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 email 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 and
insert ``USCG-2012-0850'' in the ``Search'' box. Click on ``Submit a
Comment'' 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 and may change this proposed rule based on your
comments.
B. 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,
insert ``USCG-2012-0850'' and click ``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket
Folder'' in the ``Actions'' 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.
C. 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).
II. Regulatory History and Information
The Coast Guard published an NPRM entitled ``Electrical Equipment
in Hazardous Locations'' on June 24, 2013 (78 FR 37760) proposing to
amend its regulations. This proposed subpart would be applicable to
foreign Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs), floating facilities,
and vessels that engage in OCS activities for the first time after the
effective date of the regulations. The proposed subpart would also be
applicable to newly constructed U.S. MODUs, floating facilities, and
vessels, excluding offshore supply vessels (OSVs). The proposed
regulations would expand the list of national and international
explosion protection standards deemed acceptable, as well as add the
internationally accepted independent third-party certification system,
the IEC System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for
use in Explosive Atmospheres, as an accepted method of testing and
certifying electrical equipment intended for use in hazardous
locations. The proposed regulations would also provide owners and
operators of existing U.S. MODUs, floating OCS facilities, and vessels,
other than OSVs, that engage in OCS activities and U.S. tank vessels
that carry flammable or combustible cargoes the option of choosing
between the compliance regime contained in existing regulations or the
one contained in the proposed subpart 111.108. All comments on this
NPRM were originally due by September 23, 2013.
III. Background and Purpose
On September 6, 2013, we received a letter from the International
Association of Drilling Contractors requesting an extension of the
comment period until November 30, 2013. It noted additional
[[Page 58990]]
time was desired to review the proposal and its regulatory analysis.
The U.S. Coast Guard is extending the public comment period, as
requested, to ensure stakeholders have adequate time to submit complete
responses.
IV. Authority
This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: September 18, 2013.
F.J. Sturm,
Acting, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast
Guard.
[FR Doc. 2013-23280 Filed 9-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P