[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61336-61338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30056]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Fees for Sanitation Inspections of Cruise Ships and Consultation
Services for Ship Construction and Renovation
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS).
ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces fees for vessel sanitation inspections
effective January 1, 1998. The Public Health Service (PHS) proposes an
additional vessel size category for ships >90,000 gross register
tonnage. The purpose of the new ``Mega'' size category is to more
accurately recover costs of the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) for
conducting sanitary inspections of these super-large ships. The PHS
also proposes to begin charging fees for consultation services for ship
construction and renovation. The purpose of these charges would be to
recover costs of conducting the consultation services for ship
construction and renovation.
Public comment is requested on the proposed administrative policies
to add the new size category for inspections, and to charge for
consultation services for ship construction and renovation.
DATES: To ensure consideration, respondents must have their written
comments regarding the new size category and charges for services for
ship construction and renovation to the VSP by January 2, 1998. Fees
for vessel sanitation inspections are effective January 1, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by mail or facsimile to the
Vessel Sanitation Program, Special Programs Group, National Center for
Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
4770 Buford Highway, NE., (F16), Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, facsimile
(770) 488-4127.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel M. Harper, Program Manager,
Vessel Sanitation Program, National Center for Environmental Health,
telephone (770) 488-7093 or e-mail [email protected], or Dave Forney, Public
Health Advisor, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects,
National Center for Environmental Health, telephone (770) 488-7333 or
e-mail [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Background
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operates a
vessel sanitation inspection program for cruise ships with
international itineraries and calling at United States ports under
sections 361-369 (42 U.S.C. 264-272) of the Public Health Service Act,
as amended. Regulations for the inspection program appear at 42 CFR
part 71.
[[Page 61337]]
The Vessel Sanitation Program is a cooperative activity between the
cruise ship industry and CDC. The purpose and goals of the VSP are to
achieve and maintain a level of sanitation that will lower the risk for
gastrointestinal disease outbreaks and assist the passenger line
industry in its effort to provide a healthful environment for
passengers and crew.
The fee schedule for sanitation inspections of passenger cruise
ships currently inspected under the VSP was first published in the
Federal Register on November 24, 1987 (52 FR 45019), and revised in a
schedule published in the Federal Register on November 28, 1989 (54 FR
48942). Since then, CDC has published the fee schedule annually. The
purpose of this notice is to announce the revised fee schedule for the
period January 1, 1998, through September 31, 1998. Public comment is
also being requested on the proposal to create a new ``Mega'' category
and on the proposal to charge fees for consultation services for ship
construction and renovation.
Revised Inspection Fee Schedule
This notice announces fees effective January 1, 1998. The proposed
revised size/cost factor is presented in Appendix A. The formula used
to determine the fees is as follows:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN17NO97.039
The average cost per inspection is multiplied by a size/cost factor
to determine the fee for vessels in each size category. The fee
schedule for sanitation inspections is presented in Appendix A and will
be effective January 1, 1998, through September 30, 1998. Beginning
October 1, 1999, all VSP fiscal activities will be on a Federal fiscal
year basis (October 1-September 30). Should a substantial increase
occur in the cost of air transportation, it may be necessary to
readjust the fees before September 30, 1998, since travel constitutes a
sizable portion of the costs of this program. If such a readjustment in
the fee schedule is necessary, a notice will be published in the
Federal Register 30 days before the effective date.
Calender year 1997 opened with the delivery of the first cruise
ship exceeding 100,000 gross tonnage. Records for new ship construction
document that additional ships of equal or greater tonnage are coming
into the U.S. market in 1998 and beyond. As set out in Appendix A, the
PHS proposes an additional vessel size category for ships >90,000 gross
register tonnage. The purpose of the new ``Mega'' size category is to
more accurately recover the VSP's costs for conducting sanitary
inspections of these super-large ships.
Construction and Renovation Consultation Fees
As part of the program designed to assist cruise ship operators in
achieving and maintaining a healthy level of sanitation, the VSP offers
consultative services upon the request of a ship's owner or operator.
The VSP staff review ship construction or renovation plans before
construction begins and conduct on-site inspections of the cruise ship
during construction as needed. After each review or inspection, VSP
staff members issue a written advisory report summarizing any
recommended changes to conform to CDC inspection guidelines.
The proposed fees for consultation services by VSP for ship
construction and renovation will be three times the cost of a routine
sanitation inspection of a passenger cruise ship (based on tonnage)
inspected under the VSP, plus travel and per diem costs. The fee
schedule for sanitation inspections of passenger cruise ships is
published annually in the Federal Register and is determined by
dividing the full cost of the VSP by the estimated number of
inspections and multiplying by a size/cost factor based on the size of
the vessel and the number of vessels in each category.
The proposed fee structure for consultation services is based on
the following time commitment from two VSP inspectors:
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Number of
Number of Number of days for Total number
days for days for shipyard Initial of days
Gross tonnage plan office visit U.S. consultation
reviews consultations (including inspection provided
travel)
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<3,000...................................... 1 3 3 1 8
3,000-15,000................................ 2 3 3 1 9
15,000-30,000............................... 2 3 4 1 10
30,001-60,000............................... 2 4 4 1 11
60,001-90,000............................... 2 5 5 1 13
>90,000..................................... 2 5 6 1 14
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Procedure for Requesting Consultation Services
Requests for consultation services for ship construction and
renovation must be in writing and received at least 45 days prior to
the requested travel dates. (See Appendix B for a sample request.)
Applicability
The inspection fees will be applicable to all passenger cruise
vessels for which sanitation inspections are conducted as part of CDC's
VSP. The construction and renovation fees will be applicable to all
passenger cruise vessels for which CDC provides consultation on ship
construction and renovations.
Dated: November 7, 1997.
Joseph R. Carter,
Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Appendix A
Size/Cost Factor
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Average
Vessel size (GRT\1\) cost X
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Extra Small (< 3,001)...................................... 0.25
Small (3,001-15,000)....................................... 0.50
Medium (15,001-30,000)..................................... 1.00
Large (30,001-60,000)...................................... 1.50
Extra Large (60,001--90,000)............................... 2.00
Mega (>90,000)............................................. 2.50
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[[Page 61338]]
Fee Schedule January 1, 1998--September 30, 1998
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Vessel size (GRT\1\) Inspection \2\ Consultation
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Extra Small (< 3,001)................... $ 1,075 $ 3,225
Small (3,001-15,000).................... $ 2,150 $ 6,450
Medium (15,001-30,000).................. $ 4,300 $12,900
Large (30,001-60,000)................... $ 6,450 $19,350
Extra Large (60,001-90,000.............. $ 8,600 $25,800
Mega (>90,000).......................... $10,750 $32,250
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\1\ GRT-Gross Register Tonnage in cubic feet, as shown in Lloyd's
Register of Shipping.
\2\ Inspections and reinspections involve the same procedure, require
the same amount of time, and will, therefore, be charged at the same
rate.
Appendix B
Sample
Fax to: Henry Falk, M.D., Director, Division of Environmental
Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770
Buford Highway, NE., (F28), Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 Facsimile (770)
488-4127
Fax copy to: Program Manager, Vessel Sanitation Program, Special
Programs Group, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, NE.,
(F16), Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, Facsimile (770) 488-4127
We request the presence of a DHHS representative for
consultation on cruise liner (NAME). We tentatively expect to take
delivery of the cruise liner on (DATE). We would like to schedule
the consultation for (DATE). We expect the consultation to take
approximately (NUMBER OF DAYS).
We will pay CDC in accordance with the consultation fee
published in the Federal Register, and for all expenses in
connection with the shipyard inspection. We will make all necessary
arrangements for lodging and transportation, which includes airfare
and ground transportation in (CITY, STATE, COUNTRY). We will provide
in-kind for lodging and transportation expenses. All remaining
expenses, such as en route per diem and meals and miscellaneous
expenses, including ground transportation to and from the airport
nearest the representatives work site or residence, should be sent
to the following address:
Company
Attention:
Street Address
City, State, Country
Zip Code
Office Telephone Number
Facsimile Number
If you have questions regarding this confirmation, please
contact:
Signed:
[FR Doc. 97-30056 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P