[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 1998)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 13585-13586] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-7061] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Coast Guard 33 CFR Subchapter S [CGD 97-066] Federal Requirements for Education in Recreational Boating Safety AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT. [[Page 13586]] ACTION: Proposed rule; request for comments; reopening of comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In a document published on October 23, 1997, the Coast Guard requested comments from interested people, groups, and businesses about the need for, and alternatives to, Federal requirements or incentives for boaters to take courses in boating safety. The Coast Guard will consider all comments, and consult with the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC), in determining how best to reduce the number of deaths among boaters caused by a lack of boating safety training. This document reopens the comment period. DATE: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before May 29, 1998. ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-LRA, 3406) [CGD 97-066], U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001, or deliver them to room 3406 at the same address between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-267-1477. The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments, and documents as indicated in this preamble, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Moore, Project Manager, Office of Boating Safety, Program Development and Implementation Division, (202) 267-0577. You may obtain a copy of this Notice or of the original one by calling the U.S. Coast Guard Infoline at 1-800-368-5647, or read either on the Internet, at the Web Site for the office of Boating Safety, at URL address www.uscgboating.org. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose In a Notice published on October 23, 1997 (62 FR 55199), the Coast Guard set the original close of the comment period at February 2, 1998, to allow summarizing the comments received and providing the summaries to the members of NBSAC before the scheduled meeting on April 27, 1998. Because of reported delays in publication of that Notice in several recreational boating periodicals, the number of comments received just before and just after the close of the comment period, and a request by the Boat Owners Association of the United States, the Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to provide additional time for submission of public comment. All comments submitted in response to the original Notice are already in the docket. The Coast Guard will summarize all comments it receives during the comment period in response to this Notice and the original one, place a copy of the summary in the public docket, and provide copies to the members of NBSAC for them to consider at their meeting in October, 1998. (The Coast Guard will publish details of the exact time and place of the meeting in the Federal Register at a later date. The meeting will be open to the public.) It will itself consider all relevant comments in the formulation of any regulatory or nonregulatory measures that may follow from this notice. Request for Comments The Coast Guard encourages you to submit comments about the need for, and alternatives to, Federal requirements or incentives for boaters to participate in boating safety education. In particular, it encourages you to answer the specific questions about these requirements or incentives for taking courses in boating safety, which it developed in consultation with members of NBSAC at the meeting in April 1997. It also solicits comments from all segments of the boating community, State boating safety authorities, NBSAC, the national Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), and other interested people, groups, and businesses on the economic and other impacts of Federal requirements or incentives for boating safety education. Please include your name and address, identify this rulemaking [CGD 97-066] and the specific question or area of concern to which each comment applies, and give the reason(s) for each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, to help us with copying and electronic filing. If you want us to acknowledge receipt of your comments, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. Dated: March 12, 1998. James D. Hull, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Assistant Commandant for Operations. [FR Doc. 98-7061 Filed 3-19-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-14-M