81_FR_3349 81 FR 3336 - Offshore Supply Vessels, Towing Vessel, and Barge Engine Rating Watches

81 FR 3336 - Offshore Supply Vessels, Towing Vessel, and Barge Engine Rating Watches

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 13 (January 21, 2016)

Page Range3336-3336
FR Document2016-01101

On October 26, 2015, the Coast Guard published a direct final rule, which notified the public of our intent to amend merchant mariner manning regulations to align them with statutory changes made by the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. The Act allows oilers serving on certain offshore support vessels, towing vessels, and barges to be divided into at least two watches. The change would increase the sea service credit affected mariners are permitted to earn for each 12-hour period of work from one day to one and a half days. The rule will go into effect as scheduled.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 3336]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01101]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 15

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0758]
RIN 1625-AC25


Offshore Supply Vessels, Towing Vessel, and Barge Engine Rating 
Watches

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of effective date.

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SUMMARY: On October 26, 2015, the Coast Guard published a direct final 
rule, which notified the public of our intent to amend merchant mariner 
manning regulations to align them with statutory changes made by the 
Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. The 
Act allows oilers serving on certain offshore support vessels, towing 
vessels, and barges to be divided into at least two watches. The change 
would increase the sea service credit affected mariners are permitted 
to earn for each 12-hour period of work from one day to one and a half 
days. The rule will go into effect as scheduled.

DATES: The effective date of the direct final rule published at 80 FR 
65165 on October 26, 2015 is confirmed as January 25, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Davis Breyer, Marine Personnel 
Qualifications Division (CG-OES-1), Coast Guard; email 
[email protected], telephone (202) 372-1445.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We received two comments in response to the 
direct final rule (DFR). The two comments we received were either not 
adverse or separable from and not within the scope of the rulemaking.
    One commenter supported the rule and thanked the Coast Guard for 
its prompt action. Another commenter titled its comment as ``adverse'' 
and requested that the Coast Guard withdraw the DFR. The commenter 
agreed that ``the Coast Guard is obliged to align Coast Guard 
regulations with the statutes'' and did not oppose the changes to the 
regulation. The commenter argued, rather, that the Coast Guard should 
delay the rulemaking indefinitely and seek new legislation from 
Congress that limits every merchant mariner to serving a uniform 
maximum of 12 hours in a 24 hour period, except in an emergency.
    The DFR conforms Coast Guard regulations to existing law, under 
which affected mariners may earn one and a half days sea service credit 
for each 12-hour period of work. The commenter did not oppose granting 
such mariners such credit for time worked. Instead, the commenter took 
issue with the absence of statutory restrictions on the length of time 
certain mariners may be required to work. The commenter advocated that 
the Coast Guard delay updating the regulations and request that 
Congress amend the statute further.
    The DFR stated that ``we may adopt, as final, those parts of this 
rule on which no adverse comment was received.'' 80 FR 65166. The 
commenter's requests are separable from the rule and raises issues well 
outside the scope of the rule. The rule will therefore go into effect 
as scheduled.

    Dated: January 14, 2016.
J.G. Lantz,
Director, Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2016-01101 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P

3336 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 13 / Thursday, January 21, 2016 / Rules and Regulations Congress and to the Comptroller General is attached to section 15.05 to verify the October 26, 2015 is confirmed as of the United States. EPA will submit a enactment date.) January 25, 2016. report containing this action and other (B) Wisconsin Statutes, section required information to the U.S. Senate, 19.45(2), as revised by 1989 Wisconsin FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. the U.S. House of Representatives, and Act 338, enacted on April 27, 1990. (A Davis Breyer, Marine Personnel the Comptroller General of the United copy of 1989 Wisconsin Act 338 is Qualifications Division (CG–OES–1), States prior to publication of the rule in attached to section 19.45(2) to verify the Coast Guard; email Davis.J.Breyer@ the Federal Register. A major rule enactment date.) uscg.mil, telephone (202) 372–1445. cannot take effect until 60 days after it (C) Wisconsin Statutes, section 19.46 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We is published in the Federal Register. Conflict of interest prohibited; received two comments in response to This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’ as exception, as revised by 2007 Wisconsin the direct final rule (DFR). The two defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). Act 1, enacted on February 2, 2007. (A comments we received were either not Under section 307(b)(1) of the CAA, copy of 2007 Wisconsin Act 1 is adverse or separable from and not petitions for judicial review of this attached to section 19.46 to verify the within the scope of the rulemaking. action must be filed in the United States enactment date.) Court of Appeals for the appropriate ■ 3. Section 52.2591 is amended by One commenter supported the rule circuit by March 21, 2016. Filing a adding paragraph (j) to read as follows: and thanked the Coast Guard for its petition for reconsideration by the prompt action. Another commenter Administrator of this final rule does not § 52.2591 Section 110(a)(2) infrastructure titled its comment as ‘‘adverse’’ and requirements. requested that the Coast Guard affect the finality of this action for the purposes of judicial review nor does it * * * * * withdraw the DFR. The commenter extend the time within which a petition (j) Approval—In a July 2, 2015, agreed that ‘‘the Coast Guard is obliged for judicial review may be filed, and submission, Wisconsin certified that the to align Coast Guard regulations with shall not postpone the effectiveness of state has satisfied the infrastructure SIP the statutes’’ and did not oppose the such rule or action. This action may not requirements of section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) changes to the regulation. The be challenged later in proceedings to for the 1997 ozone, 1997 PM2.5, 2006 commenter argued, rather, that the Coast enforce its requirements. (See section PM2.5, 2008 Pb, 2008 ozone, 2010 NO2, Guard should delay the rulemaking 307(b)(2).) and 2010 SO2 NAAQS. indefinitely and seek new legislation [FR Doc. 2016–01015 Filed 1–20–16; 8:45 am] from Congress that limits every List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 52 BILLING CODE 6560–50–P merchant mariner to serving a uniform Environmental protection, Air maximum of 12 hours in a 24 hour pollution control, Incorporation by period, except in an emergency. reference, Intergovernmental relations, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND Lead, Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, SECURITY The DFR conforms Coast Guard Particulate matter, Reporting and regulations to existing law, under which recordkeeping requirements, Sulfur Coast Guard affected mariners may earn one and a oxides. half days sea service credit for each 12- Dated: November 23, 2015. 46 CFR Part 15 hour period of work. The commenter Susan Hedman, [Docket No. USCG–2015–0758] did not oppose granting such mariners such credit for time worked. Instead, the Regional Administrator, Region 5. RIN 1625–AC25 commenter took issue with the absence 40 CFR part 52 is amended as follows: of statutory restrictions on the length of Offshore Supply Vessels, Towing time certain mariners may be required PART 52—APPROVAL AND Vessel, and Barge Engine Rating to work. The commenter advocated that PROMULGATION OF Watches the Coast Guard delay updating the IMPLEMENTATION PLANS AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. regulations and request that Congress ■ 1. The authority citation for part 52 ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of amend the statute further. continues to read as follows: effective date. The DFR stated that ‘‘we may adopt, Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. SUMMARY: On October 26, 2015, the as final, those parts of this rule on Coast Guard published a direct final which no adverse comment was ■ 2. Section 52.2570 is amended by received.’’ 80 FR 65166. The adding paragraph (c)(134) to read as rule, which notified the public of our intent to amend merchant mariner commenter’s requests are separable from follows: manning regulations to align them with the rule and raises issues well outside § 52.2570 Identification of plan. statutory changes made by the Howard the scope of the rule. The rule will * * * * * Coble Coast Guard and Maritime therefore go into effect as scheduled. (c) * * * Transportation Act of 2014. The Act Dated: January 14, 2016. (134) On July 2, 2015, the Wisconsin allows oilers serving on certain offshore J.G. Lantz, Department of Natural Resources support vessels, towing vessels, and Director, Commercial Regulations and submitted a request to revise the State barges to be divided into at least two Standards, U.S. Coast Guard. Implementation Plan to satisfy the state watches. The change would increase the [FR Doc. 2016–01101 Filed 1–20–16; 8:45 am] jstallworth on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with RULES board requirements under section 128 of sea service credit affected mariners are the Clean Air Act. permitted to earn for each 12-hour BILLING CODE P (i) Incorporation by reference. period of work from one day to one and (A) Wisconsin Statutes, section 15.05 a half days. The rule will go into effect Secretaries, as revised by 2013 as scheduled. Wisconsin Act 20, enacted on June 30, DATES: The effective date of the direct 2013. (A copy of 2013 Wisconsin Act 20 final rule published at 80 FR 65165 on VerDate Sep<11>2014 15:08 Jan 20, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 9990 E:\FR\FM\21JAR1.SGM 21JAR1


Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:33:30
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:33:30
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionDirect final rule; confirmation of effective date.
DatesThe effective date of the direct final rule published at 80 FR 65165 on October 26, 2015 is confirmed as January 25, 2016.
ContactMr. Davis Breyer, Marine Personnel Qualifications Division (CG-OES-1), Coast Guard; email [email protected], telephone (202) 372-1445.
FR Citation81 FR 3336 
RIN Number1625-AC25
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