82_FR_44290 82 FR 44108 - Adding the Polar Ship Certificate to the List of SOLAS Certificates and Certificates Issued by Recognized Classification Societies

82 FR 44108 - Adding the Polar Ship Certificate to the List of SOLAS Certificates and Certificates Issued by Recognized Classification Societies

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 182 (September 21, 2017)

Page Range44108-44118
FR Document2017-20155

This final rule adds the Polar Ship Certificate to a list of certificates that certain U.S. and foreign-flag ships will need to carry on board if they engage in international voyages in polar waters. This rule also enables the Coast Guard to authorize recognized classification societies to issue the Polar Ship Certificate on the Coast Guard's behalf. We are taking this action because the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) has been amended to require certain ships operating in Arctic or Antarctic waters to have a Polar Ship Certificate. This rule will help ensure that U.S.-flagged ships that need this certificate--commercial cargo ships greater than 500 gross tonnage and passenger ships carrying more than 12 passengers, that operate in polar waters as defined by SOLAS chapter XIV while engaged in international voyages--will be able to obtain it in a timely manner.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 182 (Thursday, September 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44108-44118]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20155]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 2 and 8

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0880]
RIN 1625-AC35


Adding the Polar Ship Certificate to the List of SOLAS 
Certificates and Certificates Issued by Recognized Classification 
Societies

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule adds the Polar Ship Certificate to a list of 
certificates that certain U.S. and foreign-flag ships will need to 
carry on board if they engage in international voyages in polar waters. 
This rule also enables the Coast Guard to authorize recognized 
classification societies to issue the Polar Ship Certificate on the 
Coast Guard's behalf. We are taking this action because the 
International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) has been 
amended to require certain ships operating in Arctic or Antarctic 
waters to have a Polar Ship Certificate. This rule will help ensure 
that U.S.-flagged ships that need this certificate--commercial cargo 
ships greater than 500 gross tonnage and passenger ships carrying more 
than 12 passengers, that operate in polar waters as defined by SOLAS 
chapter XIV while engaged in international voyages--will be able to 
obtain it in a timely manner.

DATES: This final rule is effective October 23, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To view comments and material submitted in response to our 
proposed rule, as well as documents mentioned in this final rule 
preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2016-0880 in the ``SEARCH'' box and 
click ``SEARCH.'' Then click on Open Docket Folder on the line 
associated with this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email Lieutenant Chris Rabalais, Systems Engineering Division 
(CG-ENG-3), Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1485, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents for Preamble

I. Abbreviations
II. Regulatory History
III. Basis, Purpose, and Background
IV. Discussion of Comments and Changes
V. Regulatory Analyses

[[Page 44109]]

    A. Regulatory Planning and Review
    B. Small Entities
    C. Assistance for Small Entities
    D. Collection of Information
    E. Federalism
    F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
    G. Taking of Private Property
    H. Civil Justice Reform
    I. Protection of Children
    J. Indian Tribal Governments
    K. Energy Effects
    L. Technical Standards
    M. Environment

I. Abbreviations

BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
E.O. Executive order
FR Federal Register
GT ITC Gross Tonnage International Tonnage Convention
IMO International Maritime Organization
MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from 
Ships, 1974
MEPC Marine Environment Protection Committee
MOA Memorandum of Agreement
MSC Maritime Safety Committee
NAICS North American Industry Classification System
OCMI Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection
OMB Office of Management and Budget
Polar Code International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters
RA Regulatory Assessment
SBA Small Business Administration
SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Regulatory History

    Coast Guard regulations for inspecting and certificating vessels 
are located in subpart 2.01 of title 46 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations (46 CFR subpart 2.01). Section 2.01-6 in that subpart 
contains provisions for issuing certificates of compliance to foreign-
flagged vessels. Section 2.01-25 identifies certificates required by 
the International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) on 
certain vessels engaged in international voyages. This section also 
lists SOLAS certificates the Coast Guard issues to vessels that meet 
applicable SOLAS requirements.
    Part 8 of 46 CFR contains Coast Guard regulations for vessel 
inspection alternatives. Specifically, 46 CFR 8.320 identifies 
international certificates that the Coast Guard may authorize 
recognized classification societies to issue on the Coast Guard's 
behalf.
    On November 22, 2016, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) in the Federal Register (81 FR 83786) entitled, ``Adding the 
Polar Ship Certificate to the List of SOLAS Certificates and 
Certificates Issued by Recognized Classification Societies.'' That NPRM 
proposed to amend 46 CFR 2.01-6, 2.01-25, and 8.320. We received two 
written submissions in response to the NPRM.

III. Basis, Purpose, and Background

    In 2014 and 2015, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 
adopted the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters 
(Polar Code) and added its requirements to two existing IMO 
Conventions--SOLAS, and the International Convention for the Prevention 
of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)--in consideration of hazards and 
conditions unique to polar waters, and an expected increase in traffic 
in Arctic and Antarctic waters. These additional hazards include 
navigation in ice and low temperatures, high-latitude communications 
and navigation, remoteness from response resources, and limited 
hydrographic charting. Copies of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee and 
Marine Environment Protection Committee resolutions discussed in this 
paragraph are available in the docket.
    The Polar Code took effect on January 1, 2017, and applies to all 
vessels constructed on or after that date. Beginning on January 1, 
2018, the Polar Code will also start applying to existing vessels, 
based upon the date their SOLAS Certificates were issued.
    One of the requirements for ships subject to the Polar Code is to 
carry a Polar Ship Certificate pursuant to SOLAS. The Polar Ship 
Certificate attests that the vessel has met applicable requirements of 
SOLAS. As a signatory to this convention, under Article I of SOLAS, the 
United States has an obligation to ensure compliance with SOLAS 
requirements.
    This rule creates a certificate that newly constructed U.S.-flagged 
vessels, certified in accordance with SOLAS chapter I, will need in 
order to travel internationally within polar waters, beginning January 
1, 2017. Existing vessels will need the same certificate by their first 
intermediate or renewal survey after January 1, 2018. U.S.-flagged 
vessels that do not carry a Polar Ship Certificate risk detention, 
denial of entry, or expulsion from the polar waters of other States.
    This rulemaking is necessary to allow the Coast Guard to create the 
new Polar Ship Certificate and add it to the list of certificates 
required by SOLAS in 46 CFR part 2. Also, this rule allows the Coast 
Guard to authorize recognized classification societies to issue the 
Polar Ship Certificate on the Coast Guard's behalf under 46 CFR 8.320.
    Foreign-flagged vessels, certified in accordance with SOLAS chapter 
I and operating in polar waters, are also required to carry the Polar 
Ship Certificate. However, their certificates will be issued by the 
vessel's flag state, or a person or an organization authorized by that 
flag state to issue the certificate. The Coast Guard will examine 
foreign-flagged vessels during Port State Control boardings to ensure 
that they are properly certificated.
    The Coast Guard is authorized to regulate this subject matter under 
33 U.S.C. 1231; 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 3316, and 3703; Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, and Executive Order 12234, 
``Enforcement of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea'' (45 FR 
58801, Sept. 5, 1980).

IV. Discussion of Comments and Changes

    We received two written submissions commenting on the proposed rule 
published on November 22, 2016 (81 FR 83786). The comments raised 
concerns about four specific items, which we address in this section of 
the preamble.

Applicability of the SOLAS Polar Code Provisions to U.S.-Flagged 
Vessels on Domestic Voyages

    One of the comments noted concerns about wording in the proposed 
rule that limits requirements to vessels engaged in international 
voyages. On this point, the comment also cited a December 2016 Coast 
Guard Polar Code policy letter (CG-CVC Policy Letter Letter 16-06, 
available in the docket), which states that U.S.-flag vessels operating 
on domestic voyages to ports or places in the U.S. Arctic do not need 
to meet the provisions of SOLAS chapter XIV,\1\ but must instead comply 
with applicable domestic requirements. The commenter concluded that 
this Coast Guard interpretation, reflected in the proposed rule, does 
not meet the intent of the IMO in implementation of the Polar Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ SOLAS chapter XIV implements Part I-A, safety provisions, of 
the Polar Code.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We decline to expand the scope of the proposed rule. The proposed 
rule is consistent with our view that the SOLAS convention's authority 
is generally limited to vessels traveling internationally. Based on the 
intent of the SOLAS convention to ensure safe international shipping, 
and SOLAS certification as part of voluntary U.S. compliance programs, 
the United States will not require U.S.-flagged vessels operating on 
domestic routes through Arctic waters to obtain a Polar Ship 
Certificate.

[[Page 44110]]

Applicability of the SOLAS Polar Code Provisions in Antarctica

    A commenter raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the 
applicability of the Polar Code in Antarctica, given that these waters 
are not under the jurisdiction of the United States or any other 
nation. The Polar Code applies to ships engaged in international 
voyages that are also operating in polar waters. Polar waters include 
both the Arctic and Antarctic waters. Therefore, a U.S.-flagged vessel 
that is certified in accordance with SOLAS chapter I and is on an 
international voyage must have a Polar Ship Certificate if it enters 
Antarctic waters.

Time Estimates for Issuance of a Polar Ship Certificate

    The same commenter also questioned our burden hour estimate for the 
time required by classification societies to issue the Polar Ship 
Certificate. The commenter said that the estimate did not include time 
required for technical approvals or verification of compliance with 
provisions of the Polar Code.
    Cost estimates for verifications of compliance with the Polar Code 
were not included in the regulatory analysis because these hours are 
outside the scope of this rulemaking. This rulemaking addresses the 
issuance of a Polar Ship Certificate, not compliance with substantive 
safety and environmental provisions or surveys to evaluate compliance 
with those provisions.
    In our NPRM we used an estimate of 40 hours, which we obtained from 
a classification society and which includes administrative review, 
stamping the documents, and data input. The commenter, who also 
represents a classification society, gives a minimum time of 8 to 12 
hours for these tasks. We have retained the more conservative 40-hour 
estimate.
    The other hours the commenter discusses, 120 to 230 hours to 
complete approval work for new construction, risk assessments, and 
surveys, represent compliance aspects of the safety and environmental 
provisions of the Polar Code. Again, these compliance aspects are 
beyond the scope of this rulemaking.

Entry into Force of the SOLAS Polar Code Requirement for Certification

    One commenter stated that the language we used in the NPRM implied 
that all U.S.-flagged vessels subject to the Polar Code will be 
required to carry a Polar Ship Certificate by January 1, 2017.
    The January 1, 2017 date applies to vessels built on or after that 
date. Vessels built before that date need not comply until after 
January 1, 2018. Implementation for existing vessels is based on the 
first renewal or intermediate survey conducted after January 1, 2018. 
(See SOLAS chapter XIV, Reg. 2.2.) For the purposes of the Polar Code, 
the Cargo Ship Safety Construction or Passenger Ship Safety Certificate 
is typically the survey used to determine the implementation date for 
vessels built before January 1, 2017.
    We have made no changes from the proposed regulatory text. The 
regulatory text in this final rule is the same as we proposed in the 
NPRM.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on these statutes or Executive orders.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and 13563 
(Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) direct agencies to assess 
the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying costs and 
benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting flexibility. 
Executive Order 13771 (Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory 
Costs) directs agencies to reduce regulation and control regulatory 
costs and provides that ``for every one new regulation issued, at least 
two prior regulations be identified for elimination, and that the cost 
of planned regulations be prudently managed and controlled through a 
budgeting process.''
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not designated this 
final rule a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed it. Because 
this rule is not a significant regulatory action, this rule is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771. See the OMB Memorandum 
titled Guidance Implementing Executive Order 13771, Titled ``Reducing 
Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs'' (April 5, 2017).
    Our regulatory analysis (RA) follows.
    We only received one comment on our estimates in the regulatory 
analysis of the proposed rule. That comment related to the number of 
hours used for the creation and issuance of the certificate. However, 
the commenter also mentioned some hour burdens that are not associated 
with the creation, review, and issuance of the Polar Ship certificate, 
and are beyond the scope of this rulemaking.
    In preamble section IV, Discussion of Comments and Changes, we 
discuss this public comment regarding our estimate of the time it takes 
a recognized classification society to create a polar certificate--
which includes reviewing, printing, stamping of the documents, and data 
input--and explain why we retained a more conservative estimate used in 
the NPRM as our primary estimate based on industry input. And as 
reflected in that discussion, we adopt the costs and benefits in the 
regulatory analysis of the proposed rule for this final rule.
    This final rule adds a new Polar Ship Certificate to the list of 
existing SOLAS certificates that SOLAS requires to be carried on board 
all U.S. and foreign-flagged vessels above 500 GT ITC (the 
International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships 1969 or gross 
tonnage assigned under this system) \2\ or passenger ships carrying 
more than 12 passengers on international voyages operating in polar 
waters, generally above 60 degrees north latitude and below 60 degrees 
south latitude lines. The IMO adopted the Polar Code in 2014 and 2015 
to acknowledge that polar waters impose additional operating demands 
and risks.\3\ The United States is signatory to the SOLAS convention 
and has an obligation to ensure that all U.S.-flagged vessels certified 
in accordance with SOLAS chapter I that engage on international voyages 
carry a Polar Ship Certificate when operating in polar waters. Owners 
and operators of foreign-flagged vessels subject to SOLAS will have 
their Polar Ship Certificates issued by the ship's flag state or a 
person or an organization authorized by that flag state to issue the 
certificate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ This 500 GT ITC threshold comes from an exception in SOLAS 
Chapter 1 for ships that need to be certified in accordance with 
that chapter. Regulation 3 of Chapter I has an exception for cargo 
ships of less than 500 GT ITC.
    \3\ See Resolution MSC.385(94) and paragraph 7 of the Polar Code 
preamble in MSC.385(94)'s appendix. This resolution is available in 
the docket.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This rule amends 46 CFR part 2, ``Vessel Inspections,'' subpart 
2.01, ``Inspecting and Certificating of Vessels.'' Specifically, we are 
adding the Polar Ship Certificate to Sec.  2.01-6, ``Certificates 
issued to foreign vessels,'' and Sec.  2.01-25, ``International 
Convention for Safety of Life at Sea.''

[[Page 44111]]

This rule also amends 46 CFR part 8, ``Vessel Inspection 
Alternatives,'' subpart C, ``International Convention Certificate 
Issuance,'' Sec.  8.320, ``Classification Society Authorization to 
Issue International Certificates,'' at paragraph (b) to include the 
Polar Ship Certificate as one of the certificates that the Coast Guard 
may authorize a recognized classification society to issue on behalf of 
the Coast Guard.
Affected Population
    Since the Coast Guard published the NPRM, two vessels in our 
original population of 41 have been re-flagged and are no longer U.S.-
flagged vessels, and one vessel is no longer in service. In addition, 
this rule does not apply to domestic vessels that operate in polar 
waters if these vessels do not engage in international voyages. This 
was not distinguished in the analysis for the NPRM. Based on this 
factor and further analysis, the population of affected vessels is now 
estimated to be 23. This is the number of U.S.-flagged vessels that 
make international voyages in polar waters, which are generally above 
and below the 60 degree north and 60 degree south latitudes lines, 
respectively, over the past 5 years. This estimate is based on Coast 
Guard field data and Coast Guard databases such as the Marine 
Information for Safety and Law Enforcement, the Ship Arrival 
Notification System, and data from the Navigation Data Center.
    Of the 23 U.S.-flagged vessels that have transited polar waters 
during the 5-year period, some entered polar waters in the first year 
and not the following year, but returned in subsequent years. The 
opposite is also true; some vessels that did not transit polar waters 
in the first year of the data period did so in the following years of 
the data period.
    Recognized classification societies granted authority from the 
Coast Guard under provisions of 46 CFR 8.320(a) will issue the Polar 
Ship Certificate on behalf of the Coast Guard for U.S.-flagged vessels 
that are classed. Although multiple classification societies could 
request authorization to issue the Polar Ship Certificate on behalf of 
the Coast Guard, for the purpose of this analysis, the Coast Guard 
assumes that only one classification society will do so for the small 
number of classed U.S.-flagged vessels.
Cost Analysis
Classification Societies Cost
    This rule amends 46 CFR 8.320(b) to enable recognized 
classification societies to request authorization under Sec.  8.240(b), 
to issue the Polar Ship Certificate on behalf of the Coast Guard. As 
reflected in 46 CFR 2.01-25, vessels that are not classed can apply to 
the local Coast Guard Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) to 
request the Coast Guard to issue the Polar Ship Certificate.
    There are two cost elements associated with a classification 
society issuing a Polar Ship Certificate: The cost to review and return 
a signed copy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the 
recognized classification society and the Coast Guard, and the cost to 
create the certificate once the MOA is approved by each party. As 
stated in 46 CFR 8.320(c), the Coast Guard will enter into an agreement 
with the classification society to issue international convention 
certificates such as the Polar Ship Certificate. In this situation, the 
MOA represents a delegation letter and is a standard document that 
allows a recognized classification society to issue the Polar Ship 
Certificate on behalf of the Coast Guard.
    Based on Coast Guard data from the Office of Design and Engineering 
Standards, we estimate it will take a recognized classification 
society's classification and documentation specialist 1 hour to review 
the MOA. There is no equivalent labor category in the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics' (BLS) Occupational Employment Statistics National Industry-
Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for May 2016, so we 
used the ``Business Operations Specialist, All Other'' (Occupation Code 
13-1199) category for Water Transportation with a North American 
Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code of 483000 as a 
representative occupation. The mean hourly wage rate for this 
occupation is $37.55. Because this is an unloaded hourly wage rate, we 
added a load factor to obtain a loaded hourly wage rate. We used BLS' 
May 2016 Employer Cost for Employee Compensation databases to calculate 
and apply a load factor of 1.52 to obtain a loaded hourly labor rate of 
about $57.08 for this occupation.\4\ We also estimate it will take a 
recognized classification society attorney 1 hour to review the MOA for 
legal sufficiency. Using the BLS' Occupational Employment Statistics 
National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates for May 2016, we 
used the category ``Lawyers'' (Occupation Code 23-1011). The mean 
hourly wage for this occupation is $67.25. Because this is an unloaded 
hourly wage rate, we apply the same load factor of 1.52 as derived 
above to obtain a loaded hourly wage rate of about $102.22.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Information can be viewed at https://www.bls.gov/oes/2016/may/naics3_483000.htm. Once on this page scroll down to review the 
wage rate for 13-1199 Business Operations Specialists, All Other, 
with a mean hourly wage of $37.55. Please see https://www.bls.gov/oes/2016/may/oes231011.htm, for the mean hourly wage rate for a 
lawyer. A loaded labor rate is what a company pays per hour to 
employ a person, not the hourly wage. The loaded labor rate includes 
the cost of benefits (health insurance, vacation, etc.). The load 
factor for wages is calculated by dividing total compensation by 
wages and salaries. For this analysis, we used BLS' Employer Cost 
for Employee Compensation/Transportation and Materials Moving 
Occupations, Private Industry Report (Series IDs, CMU2010000520000D 
and CMU2020000520000D for all workers using the multi-screen data 
search). Using 2016 Q4 data for the cost of compensation and cost 
per hour worked, we divide the total compensation amount of $28.15 
by the wage and salary amount of $18.53 to obtain the load factor of 
about 1.52, rounded. See the following Web sites, https://beta.bls.gov/dataQuery/find?fq=survey:[oe]&s=popularity:D and 
https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/dsrv?cm Multiplying 1.52 by $37.55, we 
obtain a loaded hourly wage rate of about $57.08.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the one-time cost for the classification society to 
review the MOA to be about $162.30, undiscounted. This cost includes a 
$3 postage cost to mail the signed MOA to the Coast Guard for approval 
and signature [($57.08 x 1 hour) + ($102.22 x 1 hour) + $3 for 
postage].
    Based on a recognized classification society estimate, it will take 
approximately 40 hours to create and review the Polar Ship Certificate 
once the MOA is approved. We received a lower estimate of 8-to-12 hours 
from a commenter for work related to this task, but we are maintaining 
our more conservative 40-hour estimate we obtained from an industry 
source to specifically address hours needed to create and review the 
Polar Ship Certificate once the MOA is approved. As with the MOA, a 
classification and documentation specialist would create the 
certificate. We again used the ``Business Operations Specialist, All 
Other'' as a representative occupation. We estimate the one-time labor 
cost for a documentation specialist to create the certificate to be 
about $2,283.20 (40 hours \5\ x $57.08/hour), undiscounted. Because the 
certificate is presented to a vessel owner or operator during the 
normal course of a vessel survey, we did not estimate a cost for this 
action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Based on an estimate provided by a recognized classification 
society to the U.S. Coast Guard.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the total undiscounted cost of the rule to a recognized 
classification society to be about $2,445.50 ($2,283.20 document 
development cost + $162.30 MOA review cost). See Table 1.

[[Page 44112]]

Vessel Cost
    There are two cost elements associated with vessel owners and 
operators: The fee a recognized classification society will charge a 
vessel owner or operator for issuing the certificate for U.S.-classed 
vessels only, and the cost associated with a crewmember posting the 
certificate onboard a vessel. Based on Coast Guard vessel data, 
approximately 22 percent, or about 5 out of the 23 U.S.-flagged 
vessels, are not classed by a recognized classification society.
    The requirement for the 23 existing ships is to have the 
certificate by their first renewal or intermediate exam after January 
1, 2018. This is a phased-in approach that will likely phase in the 
issuing of the certificates over a period of about 3 years. Therefore, 
the Coast Guard would issue the Polar Ship Certificate to vessel owners 
and operators of those 5 unclassed vessels as part of its routine 
inspection regime. A recognized classification society will issue the 
Polar Ship Certificate to the remaining 18 vessel owners and operators 
in the first, second, third, sixth, seventh, and eighth year of the 
analysis period.
    The Polar Ship Certificate is valid for a 5-year period and, after 
this time, the recognized classification society and the Coast Guard 
will issue a new Polar Ship Certificate to vessel owners and operators, 
depending upon whether a vessel is classed or not classed. Based on 
information from a recognized classification society, the cost to issue 
a Polar Ship Certificate is $100 if a recognized classification society 
issues the certificate (for 18 classed, U.S.-flagged vessels). The cost 
of the reissued Polar Ship Certificate is also $100; therefore, it will 
cost each U.S.-classed vessel owner and operator $100 after 5 years to 
renew the certificate, or in the sixth, seventh, and eighth year of the 
analysis period. We assume a 3-year phase-in period for owners and 
operators to obtain the certificates. For the purpose of this analysis, 
we assume 7 U.S.-flagged vessels owners and operators (6 classed and 1 
unclassed) will obtain a certificate in the first year and 8 (6 classed 
and 2 unclassed) U.S.-flagged vessel owners and operators will obtain 
one in the second and third years. For reissuance, again, we assume the 
same 7 vessel owners and operators will obtain a certificate in the 
sixth year and the same 8 vessel owners and operators will obtain one 
in the seventh and eighth years each; we divided the population 
accordingly to obtain even values.
    Vessel owners and operators will be required to post the 
certificate in a conspicuous area onboard the vessel with other 
applicable operating certificates. Based on the Office of Management 
and Budget's (OMB) approved collection of information entitled 
``Various International Agreement Safety Certificates,'' (OMB control 
number 1625-0017), a crewmember equivalent to a U.S. Coast Guard cadet 
will post the Polar Ship Certificate on board a vessel. Using the Coast 
Guard's Commandant Instruction 7310.1R for loaded hourly wages outside 
of the Government, the hourly wage rate of a person outside of the 
Government equivalent to a cadet is $29.00. We estimate it takes a 
crewmember about 6 minutes, or 0.1 hours, to post the Polar Ship 
Certificate at a labor cost of about $2.90 per vessel ($29.00 x 0.1 
hours). To post the Polar Ship Certificate, we estimate the total 
initial cost of the final rule to 7 U.S.-flagged vessel owners and 
operators to be about $20.30 (6 U.S. classed and 1 unclassed vessel x 
0.1 hours x $29.00), regardless of whether a recognized classification 
society or the Coast Guard issues the Polar Ship Certificate. Owners 
and operators of U.S.-flagged vessels will incur this cost again in the 
sixth year because a crewmember will review and post the reissued 
certificate for the same seven vessels.
    We estimate the initial cost of the rule to vessel owners and 
operators to be about $620.30 in the first year [(6 classed vessels x 
$100) + (6 classed vessels x $2.90 to post the certificate) + 1 
unclassed vessel x $2.90 to post the certificate)].\6\ The cost for the 
renewed certificate in the sixth year (or 5 years after the initial 
year) will also be $620.30 for these seven vessels. In the second, 
third, seventh, and eighth years, we estimate the cost for eight U.S.-
flagged vessel owners and operators to obtain and post a Polar Ship 
Certificate to be about $623.20 [(6 classed vessels x $100) + (6 
classed vessels x $2.90 to post the certificate) + (2 unclassed vessels 
in each of these years x $2.90 each year to post the certificate)]. See 
Table 1.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Vessel owners and operators for ships built on or after 
January 1, 2017, have been required to carry the Polar Ship 
Certificate before engaging in international voyages in polar 
waters. We have not identified any vessels that would be affected by 
this rule that were built after this date and we do not have data to 
project how many newly built vessels will be affected or required to 
carry a Polar Ship Certificate in the future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the total 10-year undiscounted cost to be $3,733.40 for 
all 23 U.S.-flagged vessel owners and operators ($620.30 in the first 
and sixth year + $623.20 in the second, third, seventh, and eighth 
years of the analysis period). Table 1 shows the cost to both class 
society and vessel owners and operators for this rule.

                Table 1--Summary of Classification Society and Vessel Owners and Operators Costs
                                                 [Undiscounted]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Cost item                 Unit cost          Labor rate            Hours            Total cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Classification Society Certificate  ..............  $57.08...............              40  $2,283.20 (incurred
 Creation.                                                                                  in year 1).
Classification Society Review of    ..............  $102.22 (Attorney)...               1  $162.30 (incurred in
 MOA.                                                                                       year 1 and includes
                                                                                            $3 postage).
                                    ..............  $57.08 (Business                    1
                                                     Operations
                                                     Specialist).
Certificate Fee Charged to Vessel             $100  .....................  ..............  $600 (incurred in
 Owners and Operators.                                                                      years 1 through 3
                                                                                            and 6 through 8);
                                                                                            $1,800 for 18
                                                                                            classed vessels in
                                                                                            years 1 through 3
                                                                                            and 6 through 8.
Vessel Crewmember Reviews and       ..............  $27..................             0.1  $2.90 (incurred in
 Posts Certificate.                                                                         years 1 through 3
                                                                                            and 6 through 8);
                                                                                            $20.30 in years 1
                                                                                            and 6 and $23.20 in
                                                                                            years 2, 3, 7, and
                                                                                            8.
                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 44113]]

 
    Total Undiscounted Cost         ..............  .....................  ..............  $3,065.80
     (Initial year).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We estimate the initial undiscounted cost of the final rule to a 
recognized classification society and to 7 (6 classed and 1 unclassed 
vessels) U.S.-flagged vessel owners and operators to be about $3,065.80 
($2,283.20 for the classification society to create the certificate + 
$162.30 for the classification society to review the MOA + $600 fee 
charged by a classification society to issue the certificate to the 6 
classed vessel owners and operators + $20.30 for crewmembers of the 
seven classed and unclassed vessels to post the certificate). We 
estimate the total 10-year undiscounted cost of the rule to industry to 
be about $6,178.90 ($3,065.80 in the first year + $623.20 in the 
second, third, seventh, and, eighth years + $620.30 in the sixth year). 
See Table 2.
    We estimate the 10-year present value--or discounted cost--of the 
rule to industry to be between $5,082.42 and $5,652.42 at 7- and 3-
percent discount rates, respectively. We estimate the annualized cost 
to be between $723.62 and $662.64 at 7- and 3- percent discount rates, 
respectively. See Table 2.

                                  Table 2--Total Costs of the Rule to Industry
                   [10-Year period of analysis, 7 and 3 percent discount rates, 2017 dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Cost
                             Period                               (undiscounted)        7%              3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................       $3,065.80       $2,865.23       $2,976.50
2...............................................................          623.20          544.33          587.43
3...............................................................          623.20          508.72          570.32
4...............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
5...............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
6...............................................................          620.30          413.33          519.49
7...............................................................          623.20          388.10          506.72
8...............................................................          623.20          362.71          491.96
9...............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
10..............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................         6178.90        5,082.42        5,652.42
        Annualized..............................................  ..............          723.62          662.64
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Totals may not sum due to independent rounding.

Government Costs
    There are three cost elements associated with this rule for the 
Coast Guard: (1) A one-time cost of creating the Polar Ship Certificate 
and issuing it (in the initial year, second, third, sixth, seventh, and 
eighth years) to a vessel owner or operator if a vessel is not classed 
by a class society; (2) reviewing the certificate onboard a vessel as 
part of the Coast Guard's routine inspection regime; and (3) a one-time 
cost of creating and sending the delegation letter or MOA to a 
classification society for signature.
    For the 5 U.S.-flagged vessels that are not classed by a recognized 
classification society, the Coast Guard will issue the Polar Ship 
Certificate in the first through the third years and the sixth through 
the eighth years. Because of the phase-in period, we divided the 5 
vessels evenly over 3 years. We determined that 1 vessel will receive 
its certificate in the first and sixth years, and 2 vessels will 
receive it in the second, third, seventh, and eighth year, with 
certificate reissuance occurring during the sixth, seventh, and eighth 
years. The two vessels in the second and third years are the same two 
vessels in the seventh and eighth years.
    Based on information from the Coast Guard's Office of Vessel 
Compliance, we estimate it takes Coast Guard personnel with the average 
equivalence of a GS-15 about 40 hours to create and review a Polar Ship 
Certificate. Using the Commandant Instruction 7310.1R, we used an 
average loaded hourly wage rate of $116.00. We estimate the one-time 
cost for the Coast Guard to create the Polar Ship Certificate to be 
about $4,640.00 (40 hours x $116.00 hour).
    Based on an OMB-approved collection of information (Control Number 
1625-0017), we estimate it takes a Coast Guard Officer the Officer in 
Charge Marine Inspection (OCMI), or more specifically, a Lieutenant 
with the rank of an O-3, about 30 minutes, or 0.5 hours per vessel, to 
review the Polar Ship Certificate for validity and correctness (the 
Coast Guard issues and reviews the certificate at the same time during 
its normal inspection regime). Using the Coast Guard's Commandant 
Instruction 7310.1R for loaded hourly wages, an O-3 has a loaded hourly 
wage rate of $79.00. Therefore, we estimate the total undiscounted cost 
to the Government to review the Polar Ship Certificate for all 23 
affected vessels to be about $908.50 ($79.00x 23 vessels x 0.5 hours), 
or about $39.50 per vessel.
    We use the same methodology noted earlier in this preamble with 
owners and operators obtaining certificates over a 3-year period (7 in 
the first and sixth year and 8 in the second, third, seventh and eighth 
year), with the sixth, seventh and eighth years being the renewal 
years. Again, 7 inspections (6 classed and 1 unclassed) will take place 
in the first and sixth year, and 8 (6 classed and 2 unclassed) in the 
second, third, seventh, and eighth year. We estimate the first year 
cost to the Government to review the certificate will be about $276.50 
(6 classed and 1 unclassed vessels x $39.50). The Government will incur 
this cost again in the sixth year when the certificate is reissued. In 
years

[[Page 44114]]

two, three, seven, and eight, the Government will incur a certificate 
review cost of about $316.00 (6 classed and 2 unclassed vessels x 
$39.50) in each of these years.
    The Coast Guard will also examine the certificates of foreign-
flagged vessels that enter U.S. ports in polar waters as part of its 
routine Port State Control vessel boardings. This will take place 
during routine Coast Guard examinations and for issuing certificates of 
compliance and is a part of the inspection process. Therefore, we do 
not estimate a cost to the Government.
    This final rule will also enable a recognized classification 
society to issue the Polar Ship Certificate on behalf of the Coast 
Guard. As a result, the Coast Guard and a recognized classification 
society will enter into an MOA that delegates authority to the 
classification society. This sets forth guidelines for cooperation 
between the Coast Guard and a classification society with respect to 
initial and subsequent inspections for certifications and periodic re-
inspections or examinations of vessels of the United States, as defined 
by 46 U.S.C. 116.
    Based on information from the Coast Guard's Office of Design and 
Engineering Standards, Coast Guard personnel with the average 
equivalence of a GS-15 will prepare the MOA for delivery to a 
classification society. Again, we used an average loaded hourly labor 
rate of $116.00 for a GS-15. We estimate it will take Government 
personnel about 6.25 hours to prepare and review the MOA. We estimate 
it will cost about $3 in postage for the Government to send the MOA to 
the classification society.
    We estimate the total cost incurred by the Government for the MOA 
to be about $725.00 plus $3 for postage, or a total cost of $728.00, 
undiscounted (6.25 hours x $116.00 for the loaded labor rate).
    We estimate the total initial cost to the Government to be about 
$5,644.50 ($4,640 to create and review the certificate, $276.50 to 
review the certificates for 6 classed and 1 unclassed U.S.-flagged 
vessels, and $728.00 for the MOA). We estimate the total 10-year 
undiscounted cost to the Government to be about $7,185.00 ($5,644.50 in 
the initial year + $316.00 in the second, third, seventh and eighth 
years + $276.50 in the sixth year). We estimate the 10-year present 
value, or discounted cost of the rule to the Government, to be between 
$6374.14 and $6,805.10, using 7- and 3- percent discount rates, 
respectively. We estimate the annualized cost to be between $907.53 and 
$797.76, using 7- and 3-percent discount rates, respectively. See Table 
3.

                               Table 3--Total Costs of the Rule to the Government
                   [10-Year period of analysis, 7 and 3 percent discount rates, 2017 dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Cost
                             Period                               (undiscounted)        7%              3%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................................        $5644.50       $5,275.23       $5,480.10
2...............................................................          316.00          276.01          297.86
3...............................................................          316.00          257.95          289.18
4...............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
5...............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
6...............................................................          276.50          184.24          231.56
7...............................................................          316.00          196.79          256.94
8...............................................................          316.00          183.91          249.45
9...............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
10..............................................................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................        7,185.00        6,374.14        6,805.10
        Annualized..............................................  ..............          907.53          797.76
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Totals may not sum due to independent rounding.

Total Cost of the Rule to Industry and Government
    We estimate the total 10-year combined undiscounted cost of the 
rule to industry and the Government to be about $13,364. We estimate 
the 10-year present value, or discounted cost of the rule to industry 
and the Government, to be between $11,457 and $12,458 at 7- and 3-
percent discount rates, respectively. We estimate the annualized cost 
to be between $1,631 and $1,460 using the same discount rates. See 
Table 4.

                        Table 4--Summary of Costs of the Rule to Industry and Government
                                   [10-Year period of analysis, 2017 dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Type of cost                       Industry       Government      Total cost      Annualized
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Undiscounted....................................       $6,178.90       $7,185.00      $13,363.90  ..............
7%..............................................        5,082.42        6,374.14       11,456.55        1,631.16
3%..............................................        5,652.42        6,805.10       12,457.51        1,460.40
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Benefits
    The primary benefit of this rule is to ensure that vessel owners 
and operators have a valid Polar Ship Certificate on board the vessel. 
Without a Polar Ship Certificate, a vessel will be subject to 
deficiencies, detention, denial of entry, or expulsion from the polar 
waters of other port States. Adherence to SOLAS will ensure vessels are 
capable of operating in the hazards and adverse weather conditions 
unique to polar waters.
Alternatives
    When creating this rule, the Coast Guard considered several 
alternatives. The previous analysis represents the preferred 
alternative, which will help ensure that the United States fulfills its 
treaty obligations under SOLAS

[[Page 44115]]

regarding the Polar Ship Certificate, and that U.S.-flagged vessel 
owners and operators that operate vessels in polar waters will be able 
to obtain Polar Ship Certificates and thus operate more efficiently by 
avoiding the risk of potential negative actions against their vessel by 
foreign countries (such as, detentions, deficiencies, denial of entry, 
or expulsions) if their vessel does not have a Polar Ship Certificate 
on board.
Alternative 1: Preferred Alternative
    The analysis for this alternative appears in this, ``Regulatory 
Analysis,'' section of this preamble.
Alternative 2: No Action Alternative
    In this alternative, the United States would take no action to 
issue a Polar Ship Certificate. None of the costs itemized in the 
preferred alternative would be incurred, as a result. However, with 
this alternative, the United States would not be compliant with its 
international legal obligations as a signatory Government to the SOLAS 
Convention. Additionally, the lack of appropriate certifications would 
likely negatively impact U.S.-flagged vessels on international voyages 
in polar waters of other port States. U.S.-flagged vessels could 
potentially be subject to deficiencies, detentions, denial of entry, or 
expulsion from the polar waters of other port states due to the lack of 
proper certificates.
    Because the United States would not meet its international treaty 
obligations in this alternative, the Coast Guard rejects this 
alternative.
Alternative 3: Large Scale Regulatory Implementation of the Polar Code
    In this alternative, the Coast Guard would implement the entire 
Polar Code in one regulatory effort. This would create or modify 
regulations throughout 46 and 33 CFR. The affected vessels, operators, 
and the Government will also incur the costs and impacts of the 
implementation of the entire Polar Code from a single regulatory 
effort.
    The Coast Guard rejected this alternative because it would 
considerably delay the issuance of the certificate beyond the January 
1, 2017 effective date of the Polar Code. As stated previously, U.S.-
flagged vessels could potentially be subject to deficiencies, 
detentions, denial of entry, or expulsion from the polar waters of 
other port states due to the lack of proper certificates.
    By moving forward with Alternative 1, U.S.-flagged vessel owners 
and operators will be able to obtain a Polar Ship Certificate much 
sooner and thus operate more efficiently in polar waters of foreign 
nations by avoiding adverse consequences from not having the 
certificate on board.

B. Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, we 
have considered whether this rule will have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term ``small 
entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations 
that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their 
fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000. In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 
U.S.C. 601-612), the Coast Guard prepared this threshold analysis that 
examines the impacts of the rule on small entities.
    Based on our analysis of the entities affected by this rule, all of 
the 23 affected U.S.-flagged vessels are owned by U.S. entities. To 
determine which entities are small, we compiled the data used in this 
analysis from publicly available and proprietary sources such as Manta, 
ReferenceUSAGov, and Cortera, and from the affected entities' Web 
sites. We used available owner's business information to identify the 
entities' primary line of business as coded by the NAICS to find 
employee and revenue size information. We used this information to 
determine whether we should consider a business ``small'' by comparing 
it to the Small Business Administration's (SBA) ``Table of Small 
Business Size Standards Matched to North American Industry 
Classification System Codes.'' In some cases, SBA classifies businesses 
on a standard either based on the number of employees or annual 
revenues.\7\ We found that no small government jurisdictions or non-
profits own any of the U.S.-flagged vessels affected by this rule.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ Readers can access small entity information online at http://www.sba.gov/size/indextableofsize.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We found that 12 companies own the 23 vessels that will be affected 
by this final rule. Of the 12 different companies, we found only one to 
be a small entity, or about 8 percent, based on SBA's table of small 
business size standards. The one small entity that we found has a 
primary NAICS code of 483111, or ``Deep Sea Freight Transportation.''
    We estimate the initial cost to each classed vessel owner and 
operator (small and not small) to be about $102.90 [$600/6 classed 
U.S.-flagged vessel owners and operators that have their vessels 
classed by a class society + $17.40 (6 classed vessels x $2.90)/6 (cost 
for crewmembers of 6 classed U.S.-flagged vessel owners and operators 
to post the certificate divided by the number of U.S.-classed vessel 
owners and operators. Again, in the sixth year, these 6 classed U.S.-
flagged vessel owners and operators will incur this cost)]. In the 
second and third years, the remaining 12 (6 each year) classed U.S.-
flagged vessel owners and operators will incur this same cost, and 
again in the renewal years of seven and eight. The 5 U.S.-flagged 
vessel owners who own unclassed vessels will only incur a cost of $2.90 
per vessel in the each of the years described above. These vessel 
owners and operators will incur the same cost in the first (one vessel) 
through third years (two vessels in the second and third year each) and 
sixth (the same vessel as in the first year) through eighth years (the 
same two vessels as in the second and third year in the seventh and 
eighth year each) of the analysis period. See Table 5.

  Table 5--Summary of Costs per Vessel Throughout the 10-Year Period of
                                Analysis
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Classed U.S.-      Unclassed U.S.-
             Period                 flagged Vessels     flagged Vessels
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Initial and Sixth Year..........  6.................  1.
Years 2, 3, 7, and 8............  6 (each year).....  2 (each year).
Cost............................  $102.90 (each year  $2.90 (each year
                                   per vessel).        per vessel).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: As described in the text, years six, seven, and eight are renewal
  years. The one unclassed U.S.-flagged vessel that received a
  certificate in the first year is the same vessel in the sixth year.
  The two unclassed U.S.- flagged vessels that receive a certificate in
  years two and three are the same ones in years seven and eight. The
  same rationale applies to classed U.S.-flagged vessels.


[[Page 44116]]

    Based on the databases that we searched, the only small entity that 
we found in our analysis did not have revenue information, but had 
employee information. This vessel owned by the small entity is a 
classed vessel, which means the owner of this vessel will incur a cost 
of $102.90 in the initial year and again in the sixth year of the 
analysis period when the reissuance of the certificate takes place. We 
believe the estimated impact on the affected entity is not a 
significant economic impact.
    Based on the preceding analysis and noting that the NPRM received 
no public comments suggesting this rule would be a significant economic 
impact on small entities, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 
605(b) that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

C. Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104-121, we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate 
its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule will 
affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction 
and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for 
compliance, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this rule. The Coast Guard will not 
retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this 
rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.
    Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal 
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal 
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory 
Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory 
Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and 
rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to 
comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR 
(1-888-734-3247).

D. Collection of Information

    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) requires 
that the Coast Guard consider the impact of paperwork and other 
information collection burdens imposed on the public. According to the 
1995 amendments to the Paperwork Reduction Act, an agency may not 
collect or sponsor the collection of information, nor may it impose an 
information collection requirement unless it displays a currently valid 
OMB control number.
    This action amends the existing information collection requirements 
that were previously approved under OMB Control Number 1625-0017.
    As defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(c), ``collection of information'' 
comprises reporting, recordkeeping, monitoring, posting, labeling, and 
other similar actions. The title and description of the information 
collections, a description of those who must collect the information, 
and an estimate of the total annual burden follow. The estimate covers 
the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing sources of 
data, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and 
reviewing the collection.
    The summary of revised 1625-0017 collection follows:
    Title: Various International Agreement Safety Certificates.
    OMB Control Number: 1625-0017.
    Summary of the Collection of Information: These Coast Guard-issued 
certificates are used as evidence of compliance with SOLAS by certain 
U.S.-flagged vessels on international voyages. Without the proper 
certificates or documents, a U.S. vessel could be detained in a foreign 
port. SOLAS applies to all mechanically propelled cargo and tank 
vessels of 500 or more GT ITC, and to all mechanically propelled 
passenger vessels carrying more than 12 passengers that engage in 
international voyages. By IMO's definition, an ``international voyage'' 
means a voyage from a country to which the Convention applies to a port 
outside the country, or vice versa.
    SOLAS currently requires one or more of the following certificates 
to be carried on onboard certain passenger and cargo ships engaged in 
international voyages (46 CFR 2.01-25):
    (1) Passenger Ship Safety Certificate and Record.
    (2) Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate.
    (3) Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate and Record.
    (4) Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate (issued by Federal 
Communications Commission (FCC)).
    (5) Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.
    (6) Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety Certificate.
    (7) Safety Management Certificate.
    (8) International Ship Security Certificate.
    (9) High-Speed Craft Safety Certificate.
    The Coast Guard is adding the Polar Ship Certificate to the list of 
certificates that it can issue.
    Need for Information: In 2014 and 2015, in resolutions MSC.385(94) 
and MEPC.264(68), IMO adopted the Polar Code. The Polar Code raises the 
safety standards for commercial ships operating in or transiting 
through polar waters, both Arctic and Antarctic, and enhances 
environmental protection for polar waters that include coastal 
communities in the U.S. Arctic. As a signatory to SOLAS, the United 
States has a treaty obligation to ensure compliance with SOLAS 
requirements.
    All mechanically propelled passenger vessels carrying more than 12 
passengers that engage in international voyages and all mechanically 
propelled cargo vessels of more than 500 GT ITC that engage in 
international voyages and operate within polar waters as defined by the 
Polar Code will be required to have the Polar Ship Certificate. The 
Polar Ship Certificate is valid for 5 years.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure that U.S. marine 
inspectors can issue certificates required by SOLAS Polar Code 
provisions and that these certificates are being carried on all covered 
vessels. Additionally, this rulemaking will add the Polar Ship 
Certificate to the list of certificates that classification societies 
can issue on behalf of the Coast Guard in consideration of hazards and 
conditions unique to polar waters and a potential increase in traffic 
in Arctic and Antarctic waters. These additional hazards include 
navigation in ice and low temperatures, high latitude communications 
and navigation, remoteness from response resources, and limited 
hydrographic charting.
    We calculate the hour burden on an annual basis to review and post 
the Polar Ship Certificate, which takes into account the reissuance of 
the certificate every fifth year. The estimated burden is 1/10 of an 
hour or 6 minutes. About 5 vessels (23 total vessels/5 years) annually 
equates to 30 minutes or 0.5 hours for the hour burden. Equivalently, 7 
classed and unclassed U.S.-flagged vessels (6 classed and 1 unclassed) 
x 6 minutes in the first and sixth years + 8 classed and unclassed 
U.S.-flagged vessels (6 classed and 2 unclassed) x 6 minutes in the 
second, third, seventh and eighth year for a total of 276 minutes 
divided by 46 vessels (7 in the first and sixth years and 8 in the 
second, third, seventh, and eighth year of the analysis period). 
Because vessel owners and operators will have 3 years to obtain a 
certificate, we divided the population essentially into thirds, with 7 
in the first and sixth years and 8 in the second, third, and seventh 
and eighth years.

[[Page 44117]]

    Proposed Use of Information: The Polar Ship Certificate attests 
that the vessel has met applicable requirements of SOLAS to the 
satisfaction of the U.S. Government. Without the certificate, U.S.-
flagged vessels could be detained in foreign ports as being unsafe.
    Description of the Respondents: Respondents are the owner, agent, 
Master, operator, or person in charge of a U.S.-flagged vessel that 
transits in polar waters while engaged in an international voyage.
    Number of Respondents: The existing OMB-approved number of 
respondents is 413. This rule will not change the number of respondents 
because the vessel population that will be affected is a subset of the 
existing number of respondents; this rule is not adding new respondents 
to this collection.
    Frequency of Response: The existing OMB-approved number of 
responses is 912. This rule will increase the number of responses by 
about 8 annually (23 vessels/3-year renewal period) to 920.
    Burden of Response: The existing OMB-approved burden of response is 
6 minutes, or 0.1 hours, or the time it takes for a crewmember of a 
vessel to post the Polar Ship Certificate onboard the vessel.
    Estimate of Total Annual Burden: The existing OMB-approved total 
annual burden is 94.4 hours. Due to rounding, this rule will increase 
the burden hours annually by one hour. The estimated total annual 
burden will be 95 hours annually.
    As required by 44 U.S.C. 3507(d), we will submit a copy of this 
rule to OMB for its review of the collection of information.
    You need not respond to a collection of information unless it 
displays a currently valid control number from OMB. Before the Coast 
Guard can enforce the collection of information requirements in this 
rule, OMB will have to approve the Coast Guard's request to collect 
this information.

E. Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132 
(``Federalism'') if it has a substantial direct effect on States, on 
the relationship between the national government and the States, or on 
the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels 
of government. We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 
and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental 
federalism principles and preemption requirements as described in 
Executive Order 13132. Our analysis follows.
    It is well settled that States may not regulate in categories 
reserved for regulation by the Coast Guard. It is also well settled 
that Coast Guard regulations regarding vessel design, construction, 
alteration, repair, maintenance, operation, equipping, personnel 
qualification, and manning issued under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 
3306, 3703, 7101, and 8101 are within fields foreclosed from regulation 
by the States. See United States v. Locke, 529 U.S. 89, 90 (2000) 
(stating ``Congress has left no room for state regulation of these 
matters.''). This rule adds the Polar Ship Certificate to the list of 
certificates required, if applicable, by SOLAS. Also, this rule adds 
this certificate to the list of SOLAS certificates that the Coast Guard 
may authorize recognized classification societies to issue on behalf of 
the Coast Guard. The issuance of international certificates is within 
the sole purview of the Coast Guard to regulate pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 
3306, 3703, 7101, and 8101; 33 U.S.C. 1230 and 1231, Executive Order 
12234; and the principles discussed in Locke. Thus, the regulations are 
consistent with the principles for federalism and preemption 
requirements in Executive Order 13132.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for 
inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in 
such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere 
in this preamble.

G. Taking of Private Property

    This rule will not cause a taking of private property or otherwise 
have taking implications under Executive Order 12630 (``Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights'').

H. Civil Justice Reform

    This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 
of Executive Order 12988, (``Civil Justice Reform''), to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

I. Protection of Children

    We analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045 (``Protection of 
Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks''). This rule 
is not an economically significant rule and will not create an 
environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 
disproportionately affect children.

J. Indian Tribal Governments

    This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 
13175 (``Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments''), because it will not have a substantial direct effect on 
one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

K. Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211 (``Actions 
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use''). We have determined that it is not a 
``significant energy action'' under that order because it is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866 and is 
not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, 
distribution, or use of energy.

L. Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act, codified as a 
note to 15 U.S.C. 272, directs agencies to use voluntary consensus 
standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides 
Congress, through OMB, with an explanation of why using these standards 
will be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. 
Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (for example, 
specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test 
methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) 
that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.
    This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not 
consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

M. Environment

    We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security 
Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD 
(COMDTINST M16475.1D), which guide the Coast Guard in complying with 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), 
and concluded that this action is one of a category of actions which do 
not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. A Record of Environmental Consideration

[[Page 44118]]

supporting this determination is available in the docket where 
indicated under the ADDRESSES section of this preamble.
    This rule involves: (1) Adding a Polar Ship Certificate to the list 
of certificates required, if applicable, by SOLAS; and (2) adding the 
Polar Ship Certificate to the list of SOLAS certificates that the Coast 
Guard is allowed to authorize recognized classification societies to 
issue on behalf of the Coast Guard. This action constitutes editorial 
or procedural changes concerning vessel documentation requirements 
(that is, issuance of Polar Ship Certificates) and the delegation of 
authority for issuing such certificates. Thus, as reflected in the 
Record of Environmental Consideration, this rule is categorically 
excluded under chapter 2, Section B, Paragraph 2 Categorical Exclusions 
(CEs) and Figure 2-1 (Coast Guard Categorical Exclusions), paragraphs 
(34)(a), (b), and (d) of COMDTINST M16475.1D. This rule promotes the 
Coast Guard's maritime safety and environmental protection missions.

List of Subjects

46 CFR Part 2

    Marine Safety, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.

46 CFR Part 8

    Administrative practice and procedure, Organization and functions 
(Government agencies), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Vessels.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
46 CFR parts 2 and 8 as follows:

Title 46--Shipping

PART 2--VESSEL INSPECTIONS

0
1. The authority citation for 46 CFR part 2 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  Sec. 622, Pub. L. 111-281; 33 U.S.C. 1231, 1903; 43 
U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C. 2103, 2110, 3306, 3703; Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1(II)(77), (90), (92)(a), 
(92)(b); E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277, sec. 1-
105.


Sec.  2.01-6  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec.  2.01-6(a)(1), after the words ``passengers in U.S. ports'' 
and before the words ``holds a valid'', remove the word ``and''; and 
after the text ``Passenger Ship Safety Certificate'', add the text ``, 
and, if applicable, holds a valid Polar Ship Certificate''.

0
3. Amend Sec.  2.01-25 by adding paragraphs (a)(1)(x) and (a)(2)(x) to 
read as follows:


Sec.  2.01-25   International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 
1974.

    (a) * * *
    (1) * * *
    (x) Polar Ship Certificate.
    (2) * * *
    (x) Polar Ship Certificate.
* * * * *

PART 8--VESSEL INSPECTION ALTERNATIVES

0
4. The authority citation for 46 CFR part 8 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231, 1903, 1904, 3803 and 3821; 46 U.S.C. 
3103, 3306, 3316, and 3703; Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1 and Aug. 8, 2011 Delegation of Authority, 
Anti-Fouling Systems.


0
5. Amend Sec.  8.320 as follows:
0
a. In paragraph (b)(13), remove the word ``and'';
0
b. In paragraph (b)(14), remove the period at the end of the paragraph 
and add, in its place, ``; and''; and
0
c. Add paragraph (b)(15).
    The addition reads as follows:


Sec.  8.320   Classification society authorization to issue 
international certificates.

* * * * *
    (b) * * *
    (15) Polar Ship Certificate.
* * * * *

    Dated: September 18, 2017.
J.G. Lantz,
Director, Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2017-20155 Filed 9-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P



                                                  44108            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  responsibilities among the various                       States. This action is not a ‘‘major rule’’           DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
                                                  levels of government.                                    as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).                        SECURITY
                                                  F. Executive Order 13175: Consultation                   List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 60                    Coast Guard
                                                  and Coordination With Indian Tribal
                                                  Governments                                                Environmental protection,
                                                                                                                                                                 46 CFR Parts 2 and 8
                                                                                                           Administrative practice and procedure,
                                                    This action does not have tribal                       Air pollution control, Continuous                     [Docket No. USCG–2016–0880]
                                                  implications as specified in Executive                   emission monitoring systems, Hydrogen
                                                  Order 13175. This action provides                                                                              RIN 1625–AC35
                                                                                                           chloride, Performance specifications,
                                                  performance criteria and QA test
                                                                                                           Test methods and procedures.                          Adding the Polar Ship Certificate to the
                                                  procedures for assessing the
                                                                                                             Dated: September 13, 2017.                          List of SOLAS Certificates and
                                                  acceptability of HCl CEMS performance
                                                                                                                                                                 Certificates Issued by Recognized
                                                  and data quality. Thus, Executive Order                  E. Scott Pruitt,
                                                                                                                                                                 Classification Societies
                                                  13175 does not apply to this action.                     Administrator.
                                                  G. Executive Order 13045: Protection of                                                                        AGENCY:    Coast Guard, DHS.
                                                                                                             For the reasons stated in the                       ACTION:   Final rule.
                                                  Children From Environmental Health
                                                                                                           preamble, title 40, chapter I of the Code
                                                  Risks and Safety Risks
                                                                                                           of Federal Regulations is amended as                  SUMMARY:    This final rule adds the Polar
                                                    The EPA interprets Executive Order                     follows:                                              Ship Certificate to a list of certificates
                                                  13045 as applying only to those                                                                                that certain U.S. and foreign-flag ships
                                                  regulatory actions that concern                          PART 60—STANDARDS OF                                  will need to carry on board if they
                                                  environmental health or safety risks that                PERFORMANCE FOR NEW                                   engage in international voyages in polar
                                                  the EPA has reason to believe may                        STATIONARY SOURCES                                    waters. This rule also enables the Coast
                                                  disproportionately affect children, per                                                                        Guard to authorize recognized
                                                  the definition of ‘‘covered regulatory                   ■ 1. The authority citation for part 60               classification societies to issue the Polar
                                                  action’’ in section 2–202 of the                         continues to read as follows:                         Ship Certificate on the Coast Guard’s
                                                  Executive Order. This action is not                                                                            behalf. We are taking this action because
                                                                                                               Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.
                                                  subject to Executive Order 13045                                                                               the International Convention for Safety
                                                  because it does not concern an                           ■  2. Amend appendix F to part 60 under               of Life at Sea (SOLAS) has been
                                                  environmental health risk or safety risk.                ‘‘Procedure 6’’ by revising sections                  amended to require certain ships
                                                                                                           ‘‘4.1.5’’, ‘‘4.1.5.1’’ and ‘‘5.2.4.2’’ to read        operating in Arctic or Antarctic waters
                                                  H. Executive Order 13211: Actions                                                                              to have a Polar Ship Certificate. This
                                                  Concerning Regulations That                              as follows:
                                                                                                                                                                 rule will help ensure that U.S.-flagged
                                                  Significantly Affect Energy Supply,                      Appendix F to Part 60—Quality                         ships that need this certificate—
                                                  Distribution, or Use                                     Assurance Procedures                                  commercial cargo ships greater than 500
                                                    This action is not subject to Executive                                                                      gross tonnage and passenger ships
                                                                                                           *       *     *      *       *
                                                  Order 13211, because it is not a                                                                               carrying more than 12 passengers, that
                                                  significant regulatory action under                      Procedure 6. Quality Assurance                        operate in polar waters as defined by
                                                  Executive Order 12866.                                   Requirements for Gaseous Hydrogen                     SOLAS chapter XIV while engaged in
                                                                                                           Chloride (HCl) Continuous Emission                    international voyages—will be able to
                                                  I. National Technology Transfer and                      Monitoring Systems Used for Compliance                obtain it in a timely manner.
                                                  Advancement Act (NTTAA)                                  Determination at Stationary Sources
                                                                                                                                                                 DATES: This final rule is effective
                                                    This rulemaking does not involve                       *       *     *      *       *                        October 23, 2017.
                                                  technical standards.                                       4.1.5 Additional Quality Assurance for              ADDRESSES: To view comments and
                                                                                                           Data above Span. This procedure must be
                                                  J. Executive Order 12898: Federal                                                                              material submitted in response to our
                                                                                                           used when required by an applicable
                                                  Actions To Address Environmental                                                                               proposed rule, as well as documents
                                                                                                           regulation and may be used when significant
                                                  Justice in Minority Populations and                                                                            mentioned in this final rule preamble as
                                                                                                           data above span are being collected.
                                                  Low-Income Populations                                                                                         being available in the docket, go to
                                                                                                           Furthermore, the terms of this procedure do
                                                                                                                                                                 http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG–
                                                    The EPA believes that this action is                   not apply to the extent that alternate terms
                                                                                                                                                                 2016–0880 in the ‘‘SEARCH’’ box and
                                                  not subject to Executive Order 12898 (59                 are otherwise specified in an applicable rule
                                                                                                           or permit.
                                                                                                                                                                 click ‘‘SEARCH.’’ Then click on Open
                                                  FR 7629, February 16, 1994) because it                                                                         Docket Folder on the line associated
                                                  does not establish an environmental                        4.1.5.1 Any time the average measured
                                                                                                           concentration of HCl exceeds 150 percent of
                                                                                                                                                                 with this rule.
                                                  health or safety standard. This                                                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                                                                                           the span value for two consecutive one-hour
                                                  regulatory action is a technical                                                                               information about this document call or
                                                                                                           averages, conduct the following ‘above span’
                                                  correction to a previously promulgated                                                                         email Lieutenant Chris Rabalais,
                                                                                                           CEMS response check.
                                                  regulatory action and does not have any                                                                        Systems Engineering Division (CG–
                                                  impact on human health or the                            *       *     *      *       *
                                                                                                              5.2.4.2 Calculate results as described in
                                                                                                                                                                 ENG–3), Coast Guard; telephone 202–
                                                  environment. Documentation for this                                                                            372–1485, email
                                                  decision is provided in the Summary of                   section 6.4. To determine CEMS accuracy,
                                                                                                                                                                 Christopher.P.Rabalais@uscg.mil.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  Major Comments and Responses section                     you must calculate the dynamic spiking error
                                                                                                           (DSE) for each of the two upscale audit gases         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                  of this preamble.
                                                                                                           using Equation A5 in appendix A to PS–18              Table of Contents for Preamble
                                                  K. Congressional Review Act (CRA)                        and Equation 6–3 in section 6.4 of Procedure
                                                                                                           6 in appendix B to this part.                         I. Abbreviations
                                                    This action is subject to the CRA, and                                                                       II. Regulatory History
                                                  the EPA will submit a rule report to                     *       *     *      *       *                        III. Basis, Purpose, and Background
                                                  each House of the Congress and to the                    [FR Doc. 2017–20172 Filed 9–20–17; 8:45 am]           IV. Discussion of Comments and Changes
                                                  Comptroller General of the United                        BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                V. Regulatory Analyses



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00056   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM   21SER1


                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                            44109

                                                     A. Regulatory Planning and Review                     2.01–6, 2.01–25, and 8.320. We received               required to carry the Polar Ship
                                                     B. Small Entities                                     two written submissions in response to                Certificate. However, their certificates
                                                     C. Assistance for Small Entities                      the NPRM.                                             will be issued by the vessel’s flag state,
                                                     D. Collection of Information
                                                     E. Federalism                                         III. Basis, Purpose, and Background                   or a person or an organization
                                                     F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                                                                             authorized by that flag state to issue the
                                                     G. Taking of Private Property
                                                                                                              In 2014 and 2015, the International                certificate. The Coast Guard will
                                                     H. Civil Justice Reform                               Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted                   examine foreign-flagged vessels during
                                                     I. Protection of Children                             the International Code for Ships                      Port State Control boardings to ensure
                                                     J. Indian Tribal Governments                          Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code)                that they are properly certificated.
                                                     K. Energy Effects                                     and added its requirements to two
                                                     L. Technical Standards                                existing IMO Conventions—SOLAS, and                     The Coast Guard is authorized to
                                                     M. Environment                                        the International Convention for the                  regulate this subject matter under 33
                                                  I. Abbreviations                                         Prevention of Pollution from Ships                    U.S.C. 1231; 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 3316,
                                                                                                           (MARPOL)—in consideration of hazards                  and 3703; Department of Homeland
                                                  BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics                           and conditions unique to polar waters,                Security Delegation No. 0170.1, and
                                                  CFR Code of Federal Regulations                                                                                Executive Order 12234, ‘‘Enforcement of
                                                  DHS Department of Homeland Security
                                                                                                           and an expected increase in traffic in
                                                  E.O. Executive order                                     Arctic and Antarctic waters. These                    the Convention for the Safety of Life at
                                                  FR Federal Register                                      additional hazards include navigation in              Sea’’ (45 FR 58801, Sept. 5, 1980).
                                                  GT ITC Gross Tonnage International                       ice and low temperatures, high-latitude
                                                                                                           communications and navigation,                        IV. Discussion of Comments and
                                                    Tonnage Convention
                                                  IMO International Maritime Organization                  remoteness from response resources,                   Changes
                                                  MARPOL International Convention for the                  and limited hydrographic charting.
                                                    Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1974                                                                       We received two written submissions
                                                                                                           Copies of the IMO Maritime Safety                     commenting on the proposed rule
                                                  MEPC Marine Environment Protection                       Committee and Marine Environment
                                                    Committee                                                                                                    published on November 22, 2016 (81 FR
                                                  MOA Memorandum of Agreement                              Protection Committee resolutions                      83786). The comments raised concerns
                                                  MSC Maritime Safety Committee                            discussed in this paragraph are available             about four specific items, which we
                                                  NAICS North American Industry                            in the docket.                                        address in this section of the preamble.
                                                    Classification System                                     The Polar Code took effect on January
                                                  OCMI Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection                1, 2017, and applies to all vessels                   Applicability of the SOLAS Polar Code
                                                  OMB Office of Management and Budget                      constructed on or after that date.                    Provisions to U.S.-Flagged Vessels on
                                                  Polar Code International Code for Ships                  Beginning on January 1, 2018, the Polar               Domestic Voyages
                                                    Operating in Polar Waters                              Code will also start applying to existing
                                                  RA Regulatory Assessment                                                                                          One of the comments noted concerns
                                                                                                           vessels, based upon the date their
                                                  SBA Small Business Administration
                                                                                                           SOLAS Certificates were issued.                       about wording in the proposed rule that
                                                  SOLAS International Convention for the
                                                    Safety of Life at Sea                                     One of the requirements for ships                  limits requirements to vessels engaged
                                                  § Section                                                subject to the Polar Code is to carry a               in international voyages. On this point,
                                                  U.S.C. United States Code                                Polar Ship Certificate pursuant to                    the comment also cited a December
                                                                                                           SOLAS. The Polar Ship Certificate                     2016 Coast Guard Polar Code policy
                                                  II. Regulatory History                                   attests that the vessel has met applicable            letter (CG–CVC Policy Letter Letter 16–
                                                     Coast Guard regulations for inspecting                requirements of SOLAS. As a signatory                 06, available in the docket), which states
                                                  and certificating vessels are located in                 to this convention, under Article I of                that U.S.-flag vessels operating on
                                                  subpart 2.01 of title 46 of the Code of                  SOLAS, the United States has an                       domestic voyages to ports or places in
                                                  Federal Regulations (46 CFR subpart                      obligation to ensure compliance with                  the U.S. Arctic do not need to meet the
                                                  2.01). Section 2.01–6 in that subpart                    SOLAS requirements.                                   provisions of SOLAS chapter XIV,1 but
                                                  contains provisions for issuing                             This rule creates a certificate that               must instead comply with applicable
                                                  certificates of compliance to foreign-                   newly constructed U.S.-flagged vessels,               domestic requirements. The commenter
                                                  flagged vessels. Section 2.01–25                         certified in accordance with SOLAS                    concluded that this Coast Guard
                                                  identifies certificates required by the                  chapter I, will need in order to travel               interpretation, reflected in the proposed
                                                  International Convention for Safety of                   internationally within polar waters,                  rule, does not meet the intent of the
                                                  Life at Sea (SOLAS) on certain vessels                   beginning January 1, 2017. Existing                   IMO in implementation of the Polar
                                                  engaged in international voyages. This                   vessels will need the same certificate by             Code.
                                                  section also lists SOLAS certificates the                their first intermediate or renewal
                                                  Coast Guard issues to vessels that meet                  survey after January 1, 2018. U.S.-                      We decline to expand the scope of the
                                                  applicable SOLAS requirements.                           flagged vessels that do not carry a Polar             proposed rule. The proposed rule is
                                                     Part 8 of 46 CFR contains Coast Guard                 Ship Certificate risk detention, denial of            consistent with our view that the
                                                  regulations for vessel inspection                        entry, or expulsion from the polar                    SOLAS convention’s authority is
                                                  alternatives. Specifically, 46 CFR 8.320                 waters of other States.                               generally limited to vessels traveling
                                                  identifies international certificates that                  This rulemaking is necessary to allow              internationally. Based on the intent of
                                                  the Coast Guard may authorize                            the Coast Guard to create the new Polar               the SOLAS convention to ensure safe
                                                  recognized classification societies to                   Ship Certificate and add it to the list of            international shipping, and SOLAS
                                                  issue on the Coast Guard’s behalf.                       certificates required by SOLAS in 46                  certification as part of voluntary U.S.
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                     On November 22, 2016, we published                    CFR part 2. Also, this rule allows the                compliance programs, the United States
                                                  a notice of proposed rulemaking                          Coast Guard to authorize recognized                   will not require U.S.-flagged vessels
                                                  (NPRM) in the Federal Register (81 FR                    classification societies to issue the Polar           operating on domestic routes through
                                                  83786) entitled, ‘‘Adding the Polar Ship                 Ship Certificate on the Coast Guard’s                 Arctic waters to obtain a Polar Ship
                                                  Certificate to the List of SOLAS                         behalf under 46 CFR 8.320.                            Certificate.
                                                  Certificates and Certificates Issued by                     Foreign-flagged vessels, certified in
                                                  Recognized Classification Societies.’’                   accordance with SOLAS chapter I and                     1 SOLAS chapter XIV implements Part I–A, safety

                                                  That NPRM proposed to amend 46 CFR                       operating in polar waters, are also                   provisions, of the Polar Code.



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00057   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM   21SER1


                                                  44110            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  Applicability of the SOLAS Polar Code                    Vessels built before that date need not               related to the number of hours used for
                                                  Provisions in Antarctica                                 comply until after January 1, 2018.                   the creation and issuance of the
                                                    A commenter raised concerns about                      Implementation for existing vessels is                certificate. However, the commenter
                                                  the lack of clarity regarding the                        based on the first renewal or                         also mentioned some hour burdens that
                                                  applicability of the Polar Code in                       intermediate survey conducted after                   are not associated with the creation,
                                                  Antarctica, given that these waters are                  January 1, 2018. (See SOLAS chapter                   review, and issuance of the Polar Ship
                                                  not under the jurisdiction of the United                 XIV, Reg. 2.2.) For the purposes of the               certificate, and are beyond the scope of
                                                  States or any other nation. The Polar                    Polar Code, the Cargo Ship Safety                     this rulemaking.
                                                  Code applies to ships engaged in                         Construction or Passenger Ship Safety                    In preamble section IV, Discussion of
                                                  international voyages that are also                      Certificate is typically the survey used              Comments and Changes, we discuss this
                                                  operating in polar waters. Polar waters                  to determine the implementation date                  public comment regarding our estimate
                                                  include both the Arctic and Antarctic                    for vessels built before January 1, 2017.             of the time it takes a recognized
                                                  waters. Therefore, a U.S.-flagged vessel                   We have made no changes from the                    classification society to create a polar
                                                  that is certified in accordance with                     proposed regulatory text. The regulatory              certificate—which includes reviewing,
                                                  SOLAS chapter I and is on an                             text in this final rule is the same as we             printing, stamping of the documents,
                                                  international voyage must have a Polar                   proposed in the NPRM.                                 and data input—and explain why we
                                                  Ship Certificate if it enters Antarctic                                                                        retained a more conservative estimate
                                                                                                           V. Regulatory Analyses                                used in the NPRM as our primary
                                                  waters.
                                                                                                             We developed this rule after                        estimate based on industry input. And
                                                  Time Estimates for Issuance of a Polar                   considering numerous statutes and                     as reflected in that discussion, we adopt
                                                  Ship Certificate                                         Executive orders related to rulemaking.               the costs and benefits in the regulatory
                                                     The same commenter also questioned                    Below we summarize our analyses                       analysis of the proposed rule for this
                                                  our burden hour estimate for the time                    based on these statutes or Executive                  final rule.
                                                  required by classification societies to                  orders.                                                  This final rule adds a new Polar Ship
                                                  issue the Polar Ship Certificate. The                                                                          Certificate to the list of existing SOLAS
                                                                                                           A. Regulatory Planning and Review
                                                  commenter said that the estimate did                                                                           certificates that SOLAS requires to be
                                                                                                              Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory                 carried on board all U.S. and foreign-
                                                  not include time required for technical
                                                                                                           Planning and Review) and 13563                        flagged vessels above 500 GT ITC (the
                                                  approvals or verification of compliance
                                                  with provisions of the Polar Code.                       (Improving Regulation and Regulatory                  International Convention on Tonnage
                                                     Cost estimates for verifications of                   Review) direct agencies to assess the                 Measurement of Ships 1969 or gross
                                                  compliance with the Polar Code were                      costs and benefits of available regulatory            tonnage assigned under this system) 2 or
                                                  not included in the regulatory analysis                  alternatives and, if regulation is                    passenger ships carrying more than 12
                                                  because these hours are outside the                      necessary, to select regulatory                       passengers on international voyages
                                                  scope of this rulemaking. This                           approaches that maximize net benefits                 operating in polar waters, generally
                                                  rulemaking addresses the issuance of a                   (including potential economic,                        above 60 degrees north latitude and
                                                  Polar Ship Certificate, not compliance                   environmental, public health and safety               below 60 degrees south latitude lines.
                                                  with substantive safety and                              effects, distributive impacts, and                    The IMO adopted the Polar Code in
                                                  environmental provisions or surveys to                   equity). Executive Order 13563                        2014 and 2015 to acknowledge that
                                                  evaluate compliance with those                           emphasizes the importance of                          polar waters impose additional
                                                  provisions.                                              quantifying costs and benefits, reducing              operating demands and risks.3 The
                                                     In our NPRM we used an estimate of                    costs, harmonizing rules, and promoting               United States is signatory to the SOLAS
                                                  40 hours, which we obtained from a                       flexibility. Executive Order 13771                    convention and has an obligation to
                                                  classification society and which                         (Reducing Regulation and Controlling                  ensure that all U.S.-flagged vessels
                                                  includes administrative review,                          Regulatory Costs) directs agencies to                 certified in accordance with SOLAS
                                                  stamping the documents, and data                         reduce regulation and control regulatory              chapter I that engage on international
                                                  input. The commenter, who also                           costs and provides that ‘‘for every one               voyages carry a Polar Ship Certificate
                                                  represents a classification society, gives               new regulation issued, at least two prior             when operating in polar waters. Owners
                                                  a minimum time of 8 to 12 hours for                      regulations be identified for elimination,            and operators of foreign-flagged vessels
                                                  these tasks. We have retained the more                   and that the cost of planned regulations              subject to SOLAS will have their Polar
                                                  conservative 40-hour estimate.                           be prudently managed and controlled                   Ship Certificates issued by the ship’s
                                                     The other hours the commenter                         through a budgeting process.’’                        flag state or a person or an organization
                                                  discusses, 120 to 230 hours to complete                     The Office of Management and Budget                authorized by that flag state to issue the
                                                  approval work for new construction,                      (OMB) has not designated this final rule              certificate.
                                                  risk assessments, and surveys, represent                 a significant regulatory action under                    This rule amends 46 CFR part 2,
                                                  compliance aspects of the safety and                     section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866.                ‘‘Vessel Inspections,’’ subpart 2.01,
                                                  environmental provisions of the Polar                    Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed it.                 ‘‘Inspecting and Certificating of
                                                  Code. Again, these compliance aspects                    Because this rule is not a significant                Vessels.’’ Specifically, we are adding the
                                                  are beyond the scope of this rulemaking.                 regulatory action, this rule is exempt                Polar Ship Certificate to § 2.01–6,
                                                                                                           from the requirements of Executive                    ‘‘Certificates issued to foreign vessels,’’
                                                  Entry into Force of the SOLAS Polar                      Order 13771. See the OMB
                                                  Code Requirement for Certification                                                                             and § 2.01–25, ‘‘International
                                                                                                           Memorandum titled Guidance                            Convention for Safety of Life at Sea.’’
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                    One commenter stated that the                          Implementing Executive Order 13771,
                                                  language we used in the NPRM implied                     Titled ‘‘Reducing Regulation and                        2 This 500 GT ITC threshold comes from an

                                                  that all U.S.-flagged vessels subject to                 Controlling Regulatory Costs’’ (April 5,              exception in SOLAS Chapter 1 for ships that need
                                                  the Polar Code will be required to carry                 2017).                                                to be certified in accordance with that chapter.
                                                                                                                                                                 Regulation 3 of Chapter I has an exception for cargo
                                                  a Polar Ship Certificate by January 1,                      Our regulatory analysis (RA) follows.              ships of less than 500 GT ITC.
                                                  2017.                                                       We only received one comment on                      3 See Resolution MSC.385(94) and paragraph 7 of
                                                    The January 1, 2017 date applies to                    our estimates in the regulatory analysis              the Polar Code preamble in MSC.385(94)’s
                                                  vessels built on or after that date.                     of the proposed rule. That comment                    appendix. This resolution is available in the docket.



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00058   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM   21SER1


                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                44111

                                                  This rule also amends 46 CFR part 8,                     § 8.240(b), to issue the Polar Ship                     also estimate it will take a recognized
                                                  ‘‘Vessel Inspection Alternatives,’’                      Certificate on behalf of the Coast Guard.               classification society attorney 1 hour to
                                                  subpart C, ‘‘International Convention                    As reflected in 46 CFR 2.01–25, vessels                 review the MOA for legal sufficiency.
                                                  Certificate Issuance,’’ § 8.320,                         that are not classed can apply to the                   Using the BLS’ Occupational
                                                  ‘‘Classification Society Authorization to                local Coast Guard Officer in Charge,                    Employment Statistics National
                                                  Issue International Certificates,’’ at                   Marine Inspection (OCMI) to request the                 Occupational Employment and Wage
                                                  paragraph (b) to include the Polar Ship                  Coast Guard to issue the Polar Ship                     Estimates for May 2016, we used the
                                                  Certificate as one of the certificates that              Certificate.                                            category ‘‘Lawyers’’ (Occupation Code
                                                  the Coast Guard may authorize a                             There are two cost elements                          23–1011). The mean hourly wage for
                                                  recognized classification society to issue               associated with a classification society                this occupation is $67.25. Because this
                                                  on behalf of the Coast Guard.                            issuing a Polar Ship Certificate: The cost              is an unloaded hourly wage rate, we
                                                                                                           to review and return a signed copy of                   apply the same load factor of 1.52 as
                                                  Affected Population                                      the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)                       derived above to obtain a loaded hourly
                                                     Since the Coast Guard published the                   between the recognized classification
                                                                                                                                                                   wage rate of about $102.22.
                                                  NPRM, two vessels in our original                        society and the Coast Guard, and the
                                                  population of 41 have been re-flagged                    cost to create the certificate once the                    We estimate the one-time cost for the
                                                  and are no longer U.S.-flagged vessels,                  MOA is approved by each party. As                       classification society to review the MOA
                                                  and one vessel is no longer in service.                  stated in 46 CFR 8.320(c), the Coast                    to be about $162.30, undiscounted. This
                                                  In addition, this rule does not apply to                 Guard will enter into an agreement with                 cost includes a $3 postage cost to mail
                                                  domestic vessels that operate in polar                   the classification society to issue                     the signed MOA to the Coast Guard for
                                                  waters if these vessels do not engage in                 international convention certificates                   approval and signature [($57.08 × 1
                                                  international voyages. This was not                      such as the Polar Ship Certificate. In                  hour) + ($102.22 × 1 hour) + $3 for
                                                  distinguished in the analysis for the                    this situation, the MOA represents a                    postage].
                                                  NPRM. Based on this factor and further                   delegation letter and is a standard                        Based on a recognized classification
                                                  analysis, the population of affected                     document that allows a recognized                       society estimate, it will take
                                                  vessels is now estimated to be 23. This                  classification society to issue the Polar               approximately 40 hours to create and
                                                  is the number of U.S.-flagged vessels                    Ship Certificate on behalf of the Coast                 review the Polar Ship Certificate once
                                                  that make international voyages in polar                 Guard.                                                  the MOA is approved. We received a
                                                  waters, which are generally above and                       Based on Coast Guard data from the                   lower estimate of 8-to-12 hours from a
                                                  below the 60 degree north and 60 degree                  Office of Design and Engineering
                                                                                                                                                                   commenter for work related to this task,
                                                  south latitudes lines, respectively, over                Standards, we estimate it will take a
                                                                                                                                                                   but we are maintaining our more
                                                  the past 5 years. This estimate is based                 recognized classification society’s
                                                                                                                                                                   conservative 40-hour estimate we
                                                  on Coast Guard field data and Coast                      classification and documentation
                                                                                                                                                                   obtained from an industry source to
                                                  Guard databases such as the Marine                       specialist 1 hour to review the MOA.
                                                                                                           There is no equivalent labor category in                specifically address hours needed to
                                                  Information for Safety and Law                                                                                   create and review the Polar Ship
                                                  Enforcement, the Ship Arrival                            the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS)
                                                                                                           Occupational Employment Statistics                      Certificate once the MOA is approved.
                                                  Notification System, and data from the                                                                           As with the MOA, a classification and
                                                  Navigation Data Center.                                  National Industry-Specific Occupational
                                                                                                           Employment and Wage Estimates for                       documentation specialist would create
                                                     Of the 23 U.S.-flagged vessels that                                                                           the certificate. We again used the
                                                  have transited polar waters during the 5-                May 2016, so we used the ‘‘Business
                                                                                                           Operations Specialist, All Other’’                      ‘‘Business Operations Specialist, All
                                                  year period, some entered polar waters                                                                           Other’’ as a representative occupation.
                                                                                                           (Occupation Code 13–1199) category for
                                                  in the first year and not the following                                                                          We estimate the one-time labor cost for
                                                                                                           Water Transportation with a North
                                                  year, but returned in subsequent years.                                                                          a documentation specialist to create the
                                                                                                           American Industry Classification
                                                  The opposite is also true; some vessels                                                                          certificate to be about $2,283.20 (40
                                                                                                           System (NAICS) Code of 483000 as a
                                                  that did not transit polar waters in the                                                                         hours 5 × $57.08/hour), undiscounted.
                                                                                                           representative occupation. The mean
                                                  first year of the data period did so in the                                                                      Because the certificate is presented to a
                                                                                                           hourly wage rate for this occupation is
                                                  following years of the data period.                                                                              vessel owner or operator during the
                                                                                                           $37.55. Because this is an unloaded
                                                     Recognized classification societies                                                                           normal course of a vessel survey, we did
                                                                                                           hourly wage rate, we added a load factor
                                                  granted authority from the Coast Guard                                                                           not estimate a cost for this action.
                                                                                                           to obtain a loaded hourly wage rate. We
                                                  under provisions of 46 CFR 8.320(a) will
                                                                                                           used BLS’ May 2016 Employer Cost for                       We estimate the total undiscounted
                                                  issue the Polar Ship Certificate on                      Employee Compensation databases to
                                                  behalf of the Coast Guard for U.S.-                                                                              cost of the rule to a recognized
                                                                                                           calculate and apply a load factor of 1.52               classification society to be about
                                                  flagged vessels that are classed.                        to obtain a loaded hourly labor rate of
                                                  Although multiple classification                                                                                 $2,445.50 ($2,283.20 document
                                                                                                           about $57.08 for this occupation.4 We                   development cost + $162.30 MOA
                                                  societies could request authorization to
                                                  issue the Polar Ship Certificate on                                                                              review cost). See Table 1.
                                                                                                              4 Information can be viewed at https://
                                                  behalf of the Coast Guard, for the                       www.bls.gov/oes/2016/may/naics3_483000.htm.
                                                  purpose of this analysis, the Coast                      Once on this page scroll down to review the wage        (Series IDs, CMU2010000520000D and
                                                                                                           rate for 13–1199 Business Operations Specialists,       CMU2020000520000D for all workers using the
                                                  Guard assumes that only one                                                                                      multi-screen data search). Using 2016 Q4 data for
                                                                                                           All Other, with a mean hourly wage of $37.55.
                                                  classification society will do so for the                Please see https://www.bls.gov/oes/2016/may/            the cost of compensation and cost per hour worked,
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  small number of classed U.S.-flagged                     oes231011.htm, for the mean hourly wage rate for        we divide the total compensation amount of $28.15
                                                  vessels.                                                 a lawyer. A loaded labor rate is what a company         by the wage and salary amount of $18.53 to obtain
                                                                                                           pays per hour to employ a person, not the hourly        the load factor of about 1.52, rounded. See the
                                                  Cost Analysis                                            wage. The loaded labor rate includes the cost of        following Web sites, https://beta.bls.gov/
                                                                                                           benefits (health insurance, vacation, etc.). The load   dataQuery/find?fq=survey:[oe]&s=popularity:D and
                                                  Classification Societies Cost                            factor for wages is calculated by dividing total        https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/dsrv?cm Multiplying
                                                                                                           compensation by wages and salaries. For this            1.52 by $37.55, we obtain a loaded hourly wage rate
                                                    This rule amends 46 CFR 8.320(b) to                    analysis, we used BLS’ Employer Cost for Employee       of about $57.08.
                                                  enable recognized classification                         Compensation/Transportation and Materials                 5 Based on an estimate provided by a recognized

                                                  societies to request authorization under                 Moving Occupations, Private Industry Report             classification society to the U.S. Coast Guard.



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00059   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM    21SER1


                                                  44112            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  Vessel Cost                                                    Polar Ship Certificate is also $100;                                          at a labor cost of about $2.90 per vessel
                                                     There are two cost elements                                 therefore, it will cost each U.S.-classed                                     ($29.00 × 0.1 hours). To post the Polar
                                                  associated with vessel owners and                              vessel owner and operator $100 after 5                                        Ship Certificate, we estimate the total
                                                  operators: The fee a recognized                                years to renew the certificate, or in the                                     initial cost of the final rule to 7 U.S.-
                                                  classification society will charge a                           sixth, seventh, and eighth year of the                                        flagged vessel owners and operators to
                                                  vessel owner or operator for issuing the                       analysis period. We assume a 3-year                                           be about $20.30 (6 U.S. classed and 1
                                                  certificate for U.S.-classed vessels only,                     phase-in period for owners and                                                unclassed vessel × 0.1 hours × $29.00),
                                                  and the cost associated with a                                 operators to obtain the certificates. For                                     regardless of whether a recognized
                                                  crewmember posting the certificate                             the purpose of this analysis, we assume                                       classification society or the Coast Guard
                                                  onboard a vessel. Based on Coast Guard                         7 U.S.-flagged vessels owners and                                             issues the Polar Ship Certificate.
                                                  vessel data, approximately 22 percent,                         operators (6 classed and 1 unclassed)                                         Owners and operators of U.S.-flagged
                                                  or about 5 out of the 23 U.S.-flagged                          will obtain a certificate in the first year                                   vessels will incur this cost again in the
                                                  vessels, are not classed by a recognized                       and 8 (6 classed and 2 unclassed) U.S.-                                       sixth year because a crewmember will
                                                  classification society.                                        flagged vessel owners and operators will                                      review and post the reissued certificate
                                                     The requirement for the 23 existing                         obtain one in the second and third                                            for the same seven vessels.
                                                  ships is to have the certificate by their                      years. For reissuance, again, we assume                                          We estimate the initial cost of the rule
                                                  first renewal or intermediate exam after                       the same 7 vessel owners and operators                                        to vessel owners and operators to be
                                                  January 1, 2018. This is a phased-in                           will obtain a certificate in the sixth year                                   about $620.30 in the first year [(6
                                                  approach that will likely phase in the                         and the same 8 vessel owners and                                              classed vessels × $100) + (6 classed
                                                  issuing of the certificates over a period                      operators will obtain one in the seventh                                      vessels × $2.90 to post the certificate) +
                                                  of about 3 years. Therefore, the Coast                         and eighth years each; we divided the                                         1 unclassed vessel × $2.90 to post the
                                                  Guard would issue the Polar Ship                               population accordingly to obtain even                                         certificate)].6 The cost for the renewed
                                                  Certificate to vessel owners and                               values.                                                                       certificate in the sixth year (or 5 years
                                                  operators of those 5 unclassed vessels as                         Vessel owners and operators will be                                        after the initial year) will also be
                                                  part of its routine inspection regime. A                       required to post the certificate in a                                         $620.30 for these seven vessels. In the
                                                  recognized classification society will                         conspicuous area onboard the vessel                                           second, third, seventh, and eighth years,
                                                  issue the Polar Ship Certificate to the                        with other applicable operating                                               we estimate the cost for eight U.S.-
                                                  remaining 18 vessel owners and                                 certificates. Based on the Office of                                          flagged vessel owners and operators to
                                                  operators in the first, second, third,                         Management and Budget’s (OMB)                                                 obtain and post a Polar Ship Certificate
                                                  sixth, seventh, and eighth year of the                         approved collection of information                                            to be about $623.20 [(6 classed vessels
                                                  analysis period.                                               entitled ‘‘Various International                                              × $100) + (6 classed vessels × $2.90 to
                                                     The Polar Ship Certificate is valid for                     Agreement Safety Certificates,’’ (OMB                                         post the certificate) + (2 unclassed
                                                  a 5-year period and, after this time, the                      control number 1625–0017), a                                                  vessels in each of these years × $2.90
                                                  recognized classification society and the                      crewmember equivalent to a U.S. Coast                                         each year to post the certificate)]. See
                                                  Coast Guard will issue a new Polar Ship                        Guard cadet will post the Polar Ship                                          Table 1.
                                                  Certificate to vessel owners and                               Certificate on board a vessel. Using the                                         We estimate the total 10-year
                                                  operators, depending upon whether a                            Coast Guard’s Commandant Instruction                                          undiscounted cost to be $3,733.40 for all
                                                  vessel is classed or not classed. Based                        7310.1R for loaded hourly wages                                               23 U.S.-flagged vessel owners and
                                                  on information from a recognized                               outside of the Government, the hourly                                         operators ($620.30 in the first and sixth
                                                  classification society, the cost to issue a                    wage rate of a person outside of the                                          year + $623.20 in the second, third,
                                                  Polar Ship Certificate is $100 if a                            Government equivalent to a cadet is                                           seventh, and eighth years of the analysis
                                                  recognized classification society issues                       $29.00. We estimate it takes a                                                period). Table 1 shows the cost to both
                                                  the certificate (for 18 classed, U.S.-                         crewmember about 6 minutes, or 0.1                                            class society and vessel owners and
                                                  flagged vessels). The cost of the reissued                     hours, to post the Polar Ship Certificate                                     operators for this rule.

                                                                    TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY AND VESSEL OWNERS AND OPERATORS COSTS
                                                                                                                                          [Undiscounted]

                                                                   Cost item                       Unit cost                                  Labor rate                                     Hours                            Total cost

                                                  Classification Society Certificate           ........................    $57.08 ............................................                            40     $2,283.20 (incurred in year 1).
                                                    Creation.
                                                  Classification Society Review of             ........................    $102.22 (Attorney) .........................                                     1    $162.30 (incurred in year 1 and in-
                                                    MOA.                                                                                                                                                           cludes $3 postage).
                                                                                                                           $57.08 (Business Operations Spe-                                                1
                                                                                                                              cialist).
                                                  Certificate Fee Charged to Vessel                           $100         ........................................................   ........................   $600 (incurred in years 1 through
                                                    Owners and Operators.                                                                                                                                          3 and 6 through 8); $1,800 for
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   18 classed vessels in years 1
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   through 3 and 6 through 8.
                                                  Vessel Crewmember Reviews and                ........................    $27 .................................................                         0.1     $2.90 (incurred in years 1 through
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                    Posts Certificate.                                                                                                                                             3 and 6 through 8); $20.30 in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   years 1 and 6 and $23.20 in
                                                                                                                                                                                                                   years 2, 3, 7, and 8.



                                                    6 Vessel owners and operators for ships built on             international voyages in polar waters. We have not                            have data to project how many newly built vessels
                                                  or after January 1, 2017, have been required to carry          identified any vessels that would be affected by this                         will be affected or required to carry a Polar Ship
                                                  the Polar Ship Certificate before engaging in                  rule that were built after this date and we do not                            Certificate in the future.



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014     16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001    PO 00000          Frm 00060       Fmt 4700       Sfmt 4700       E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM               21SER1


                                                                       Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                                                                         44113

                                                            TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF CLASSIFICATION SOCIETY AND VESSEL OWNERS AND OPERATORS COSTS—Continued
                                                                                                                                                          [Undiscounted]

                                                                      Cost item                                    Unit cost                                  Labor rate                                     Hours                                  Total cost

                                                         Total Undiscounted Cost (Ini-                        ........................    ........................................................    ........................   $3,065.80
                                                           tial year).



                                                    We estimate the initial undiscounted                                        society to issue the certificate to the 6                                      years + $620.30 in the sixth year). See
                                                  cost of the final rule to a recognized                                        classed vessel owners and operators +                                          Table 2.
                                                  classification society and to 7 (6 classed                                    $20.30 for crewmembers of the seven                                              We estimate the 10-year present
                                                  and 1 unclassed vessels) U.S.-flagged                                         classed and unclassed vessels to post                                          value—or discounted cost—of the rule
                                                  vessel owners and operators to be about                                       the certificate). We estimate the total 10-                                    to industry to be between $5,082.42 and
                                                  $3,065.80 ($2,283.20 for the                                                  year undiscounted cost of the rule to                                          $5,652.42 at 7- and 3-percent discount
                                                  classification society to create the                                          industry to be about $6,178.90                                                 rates, respectively. We estimate the
                                                  certificate + $162.30 for the                                                 ($3,065.80 in the first year + $623.20 in                                      annualized cost to be between $723.62
                                                  classification society to review the MOA                                      the second, third, seventh, and, eighth                                        and $662.64 at 7- and 3- percent
                                                  + $600 fee charged by a classification                                                                                                                       discount rates, respectively. See Table 2.
                                                                                                                TABLE 2—TOTAL COSTS OF THE RULE TO INDUSTRY
                                                                                                           [10-Year period of analysis, 7 and 3 percent discount rates, 2017 dollars]

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Cost
                                                                                                                       Period                                                                                                                 7%                         3%
                                                                                                                                                                                                          (undiscounted)

                                                  1 ...................................................................................................................................................           $3,065.80                  $2,865.23                  $2,976.50
                                                  2 ...................................................................................................................................................                623.20                     544.33                     587.43
                                                  3 ...................................................................................................................................................                623.20                     508.72                     570.32
                                                  4 ...................................................................................................................................................   ........................   ........................   ........................
                                                  5 ...................................................................................................................................................   ........................   ........................   ........................
                                                  6 ...................................................................................................................................................                620.30                     413.33                     519.49
                                                  7 ...................................................................................................................................................                623.20                     388.10                     506.72
                                                  8 ...................................................................................................................................................                623.20                     362.71                     491.96
                                                  9 ...................................................................................................................................................   ........................   ........................   ........................
                                                  10 .................................................................................................................................................    ........................   ........................   ........................

                                                         Total ......................................................................................................................................                6178.90                   5,082.42                   5,652.42
                                                             Annualized .....................................................................................................................             ........................               723.62                     662.64
                                                     Note: Totals may not sum due to independent rounding.


                                                  Government Costs                                                              with certificate reissuance occurring                                          during its normal inspection regime).
                                                                                                                                during the sixth, seventh, and eighth                                          Using the Coast Guard’s Commandant
                                                     There are three cost elements                                              years. The two vessels in the second and                                       Instruction 7310.1R for loaded hourly
                                                  associated with this rule for the Coast                                       third years are the same two vessels in                                        wages, an O–3 has a loaded hourly wage
                                                  Guard: (1) A one-time cost of creating                                        the seventh and eighth years.                                                  rate of $79.00. Therefore, we estimate
                                                  the Polar Ship Certificate and issuing it                                       Based on information from the Coast                                          the total undiscounted cost to the
                                                  (in the initial year, second, third, sixth,                                   Guard’s Office of Vessel Compliance, we                                        Government to review the Polar Ship
                                                  seventh, and eighth years) to a vessel                                        estimate it takes Coast Guard personnel                                        Certificate for all 23 affected vessels to
                                                  owner or operator if a vessel is not                                          with the average equivalence of a GS–                                          be about $908.50 ($79.00× 23 vessels ×
                                                  classed by a class society; (2) reviewing                                     15 about 40 hours to create and review                                         0.5 hours), or about $39.50 per vessel.
                                                  the certificate onboard a vessel as part                                      a Polar Ship Certificate. Using the                                               We use the same methodology noted
                                                  of the Coast Guard’s routine inspection                                       Commandant Instruction 7310.1R, we                                             earlier in this preamble with owners
                                                  regime; and (3) a one-time cost of                                            used an average loaded hourly wage rate                                        and operators obtaining certificates over
                                                  creating and sending the delegation                                           of $116.00. We estimate the one-time                                           a 3-year period (7 in the first and sixth
                                                  letter or MOA to a classification society                                     cost for the Coast Guard to create the                                         year and 8 in the second, third, seventh
                                                  for signature.                                                                Polar Ship Certificate to be about                                             and eighth year), with the sixth, seventh
                                                     For the 5 U.S.-flagged vessels that are                                    $4,640.00 (40 hours × $116.00 hour).                                           and eighth years being the renewal
                                                  not classed by a recognized                                                     Based on an OMB-approved                                                     years. Again, 7 inspections (6 classed
                                                  classification society, the Coast Guard                                       collection of information (Control                                             and 1 unclassed) will take place in the
                                                  will issue the Polar Ship Certificate in                                      Number 1625–0017), we estimate it                                              first and sixth year, and 8 (6 classed and
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  the first through the third years and the                                     takes a Coast Guard Officer the Officer                                        2 unclassed) in the second, third,
                                                  sixth through the eighth years. Because                                       in Charge Marine Inspection (OCMI), or                                         seventh, and eighth year. We estimate
                                                  of the phase-in period, we divided the                                        more specifically, a Lieutenant with the                                       the first year cost to the Government to
                                                  5 vessels evenly over 3 years. We                                             rank of an O–3, about 30 minutes, or 0.5                                       review the certificate will be about
                                                  determined that 1 vessel will receive its                                     hours per vessel, to review the Polar                                          $276.50 (6 classed and 1 unclassed
                                                  certificate in the first and sixth years,                                     Ship Certificate for validity and                                              vessels × $39.50). The Government will
                                                  and 2 vessels will receive it in the                                          correctness (the Coast Guard issues and                                        incur this cost again in the sixth year
                                                  second, third, seventh, and eighth year,                                      reviews the certificate at the same time                                       when the certificate is reissued. In years


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014          16:39 Sep 20, 2017          Jkt 241001        PO 00000         Frm 00061       Fmt 4700       Sfmt 4700       E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM                21SER1


                                                  44114                Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  two, three, seven, and eight, the                                             and a classification society with respect                                     hours × $116.00 for the loaded labor
                                                  Government will incur a certificate                                           to initial and subsequent inspections for                                     rate).
                                                  review cost of about $316.00 (6 classed                                       certifications and periodic re-                                                 We estimate the total initial cost to
                                                  and 2 unclassed vessels × $39.50) in                                          inspections or examinations of vessels                                        the Government to be about $5,644.50
                                                  each of these years.                                                          of the United States, as defined by 46
                                                    The Coast Guard will also examine                                                                                                                         ($4,640 to create and review the
                                                                                                                                U.S.C. 116.
                                                  the certificates of foreign-flagged vessels                                     Based on information from the Coast                                         certificate, $276.50 to review the
                                                  that enter U.S. ports in polar waters as                                      Guard’s Office of Design and                                                  certificates for 6 classed and 1 unclassed
                                                  part of its routine Port State Control                                        Engineering Standards, Coast Guard                                            U.S.-flagged vessels, and $728.00 for the
                                                  vessel boardings. This will take place                                        personnel with the average equivalence                                        MOA). We estimate the total 10-year
                                                  during routine Coast Guard                                                    of a GS–15 will prepare the MOA for                                           undiscounted cost to the Government to
                                                  examinations and for issuing certificates                                     delivery to a classification society.                                         be about $7,185.00 ($5,644.50 in the
                                                  of compliance and is a part of the                                            Again, we used an average loaded                                              initial year + $316.00 in the second,
                                                  inspection process. Therefore, we do not                                      hourly labor rate of $116.00 for a GS–                                        third, seventh and eighth years +
                                                  estimate a cost to the Government.                                            15. We estimate it will take Government                                       $276.50 in the sixth year). We estimate
                                                    This final rule will also enable a                                          personnel about 6.25 hours to prepare                                         the 10-year present value, or discounted
                                                  recognized classification society to issue                                    and review the MOA. We estimate it                                            cost of the rule to the Government, to be
                                                  the Polar Ship Certificate on behalf of                                       will cost about $3 in postage for the                                         between $6374.14 and $6,805.10, using
                                                  the Coast Guard. As a result, the Coast                                       Government to send the MOA to the                                             7- and 3- percent discount rates,
                                                  Guard and a recognized classification                                         classification society.                                                       respectively. We estimate the
                                                  society will enter into an MOA that                                             We estimate the total cost incurred by                                      annualized cost to be between $907.53
                                                  delegates authority to the classification                                     the Government for the MOA to be                                              and $797.76, using 7- and 3-percent
                                                  society. This sets forth guidelines for                                       about $725.00 plus $3 for postage, or a                                       discount rates, respectively. See Table 3.
                                                  cooperation between the Coast Guard                                           total cost of $728.00, undiscounted (6.25

                                                                                                           TABLE 3—TOTAL COSTS OF THE RULE TO THE GOVERNMENT
                                                                                                           [10-Year period of analysis, 7 and 3 percent discount rates, 2017 dollars]

                                                                                                                                                                                                               Cost
                                                                                                                       Period                                                                                                                 7%                         3%
                                                                                                                                                                                                          (undiscounted)

                                                  1 ...................................................................................................................................................            $5644.50                  $5,275.23                  $5,480.10
                                                  2 ...................................................................................................................................................                316.00                     276.01                     297.86
                                                  3 ...................................................................................................................................................                316.00                     257.95                     289.18
                                                  4 ...................................................................................................................................................   ........................   ........................   ........................
                                                  5 ...................................................................................................................................................   ........................   ........................   ........................
                                                  6 ...................................................................................................................................................                276.50                     184.24                     231.56
                                                  7 ...................................................................................................................................................                316.00                     196.79                     256.94
                                                  8 ...................................................................................................................................................                316.00                     183.91                     249.45
                                                  9 ...................................................................................................................................................   ........................   ........................   ........................
                                                  10 .................................................................................................................................................    ........................   ........................   ........................

                                                         Total ......................................................................................................................................               7,185.00                   6,374.14                   6,805.10
                                                             Annualized .....................................................................................................................             ........................               907.53                     797.76
                                                     Note: Totals may not sum due to independent rounding.


                                                  Total Cost of the Rule to Industry and                                        to industry and the Government to be                                          and 3-percent discount rates,
                                                  Government                                                                    about $13,364. We estimate the 10-year                                        respectively. We estimate the
                                                                                                                                present value, or discounted cost of the                                      annualized cost to be between $1,631
                                                    We estimate the total 10-year                                               rule to industry and the Government, to                                       and $1,460 using the same discount
                                                  combined undiscounted cost of the rule                                        be between $11,457 and $12,458 at 7-                                          rates. See Table 4.
                                                                                           TABLE 4—SUMMARY OF COSTS OF THE RULE TO INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT
                                                                                                                                     [10-Year period of analysis, 2017 dollars]

                                                                                                    Type of cost                                                                    Industry                Government                   Total cost                Annualized

                                                  Undiscounted ...................................................................................................                     $6,178.90                 $7,185.00                 $13,363.90           ........................
                                                  7% ....................................................................................................................               5,082.42                  6,374.14                  11,456.55                     1,631.16
                                                  3% ....................................................................................................................               5,652.42                  6,805.10                  12,457.51                     1,460.40
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  Benefits                                                                      or expulsion from the polar waters of                                         Alternatives
                                                    The primary benefit of this rule is to                                      other port States. Adherence to SOLAS                                            When creating this rule, the Coast
                                                  ensure that vessel owners and operators                                       will ensure vessels are capable of                                            Guard considered several alternatives.
                                                  have a valid Polar Ship Certificate on                                        operating in the hazards and adverse                                          The previous analysis represents the
                                                  board the vessel. Without a Polar Ship                                        weather conditions unique to polar                                            preferred alternative, which will help
                                                  Certificate, a vessel will be subject to                                      waters.                                                                       ensure that the United States fulfills its
                                                  deficiencies, detention, denial of entry,                                                                                                                   treaty obligations under SOLAS


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014          16:39 Sep 20, 2017          Jkt 241001        PO 00000        Frm 00062        Fmt 4700       Sfmt 4700       E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM               21SER1


                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                                             44115

                                                  regarding the Polar Ship Certificate, and                                  considerably delay the issuance of the                                       Business Size Standards Matched to
                                                  that U.S.-flagged vessel owners and                                        certificate beyond the January 1, 2017                                       North American Industry Classification
                                                  operators that operate vessels in polar                                    effective date of the Polar Code. As                                         System Codes.’’ In some cases, SBA
                                                  waters will be able to obtain Polar Ship                                   stated previously, U.S.-flagged vessels                                      classifies businesses on a standard
                                                  Certificates and thus operate more                                         could potentially be subject to                                              either based on the number of
                                                  efficiently by avoiding the risk of                                        deficiencies, detentions, denial of entry,                                   employees or annual revenues.7 We
                                                  potential negative actions against their                                   or expulsion from the polar waters of                                        found that no small government
                                                  vessel by foreign countries (such as,                                      other port states due to the lack of                                         jurisdictions or non-profits own any of
                                                  detentions, deficiencies, denial of entry,                                 proper certificates.                                                         the U.S.-flagged vessels affected by this
                                                  or expulsions) if their vessel does not                                       By moving forward with Alternative                                        rule.
                                                  have a Polar Ship Certificate on board.                                    1, U.S.-flagged vessel owners and
                                                                                                                             operators will be able to obtain a Polar                                        We found that 12 companies own the
                                                  Alternative 1: Preferred Alternative                                                                                                                    23 vessels that will be affected by this
                                                                                                                             Ship Certificate much sooner and thus
                                                    The analysis for this alternative                                        operate more efficiently in polar waters                                     final rule. Of the 12 different
                                                  appears in this, ‘‘Regulatory Analysis,’’                                  of foreign nations by avoiding adverse                                       companies, we found only one to be a
                                                  section of this preamble.                                                  consequences from not having the                                             small entity, or about 8 percent, based
                                                  Alternative 2: No Action Alternative                                       certificate on board.                                                        on SBA’s table of small business size
                                                                                                                                                                                                          standards. The one small entity that we
                                                     In this alternative, the United States                                  B. Small Entities                                                            found has a primary NAICS code of
                                                  would take no action to issue a Polar                                         Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act                                      483111, or ‘‘Deep Sea Freight
                                                  Ship Certificate. None of the costs                                        (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601–612, we have                                             Transportation.’’
                                                  itemized in the preferred alternative                                      considered whether this rule will have
                                                  would be incurred, as a result. However,                                                                                                                   We estimate the initial cost to each
                                                                                                                             a significant economic impact on a                                           classed vessel owner and operator
                                                  with this alternative, the United States                                   substantial number of small entities.
                                                  would not be compliant with its                                                                                                                         (small and not small) to be about
                                                                                                                             The term ‘‘small entities’’ comprises                                        $102.90 [$600/6 classed U.S.-flagged
                                                  international legal obligations as a                                       small businesses, not-for-profit
                                                  signatory Government to the SOLAS                                                                                                                       vessel owners and operators that have
                                                                                                                             organizations that are independently
                                                  Convention. Additionally, the lack of                                                                                                                   their vessels classed by a class society
                                                                                                                             owned and operated and are not
                                                  appropriate certifications would likely                                                                                                                 + $17.40 (6 classed vessels × $2.90)/6
                                                                                                                             dominant in their fields, and
                                                  negatively impact U.S.-flagged vessels                                                                                                                  (cost for crewmembers of 6 classed U.S.-
                                                                                                                             governmental jurisdictions with
                                                  on international voyages in polar waters                                                                                                                flagged vessel owners and operators to
                                                                                                                             populations of less than 50,000. In
                                                  of other port States. U.S.-flagged vessels                                                                                                              post the certificate divided by the
                                                                                                                             accordance with the Regulatory
                                                  could potentially be subject to                                                                                                                         number of U.S.-classed vessel owners
                                                                                                                             Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601–
                                                  deficiencies, detentions, denial of entry,                                                                                                              and operators. Again, in the sixth year,
                                                                                                                             612), the Coast Guard prepared this
                                                  or expulsion from the polar waters of                                                                                                                   these 6 classed U.S.-flagged vessel
                                                                                                                             threshold analysis that examines the
                                                  other port states due to the lack of                                                                                                                    owners and operators will incur this
                                                                                                                             impacts of the rule on small entities.
                                                  proper certificates.                                                                                                                                    cost)]. In the second and third years, the
                                                     Because the United States would not                                        Based on our analysis of the entities
                                                                                                                             affected by this rule, all of the 23                                         remaining 12 (6 each year) classed U.S.-
                                                  meet its international treaty obligations                                                                                                               flagged vessel owners and operators will
                                                  in this alternative, the Coast Guard                                       affected U.S.-flagged vessels are owned
                                                                                                                             by U.S. entities. To determine which                                         incur this same cost, and again in the
                                                  rejects this alternative.                                                                                                                               renewal years of seven and eight. The 5
                                                                                                                             entities are small, we compiled the data
                                                  Alternative 3: Large Scale Regulatory                                      used in this analysis from publicly                                          U.S.-flagged vessel owners who own
                                                  Implementation of the Polar Code                                           available and proprietary sources such                                       unclassed vessels will only incur a cost
                                                     In this alternative, the Coast Guard                                    as Manta, ReferenceUSAGov, and                                               of $2.90 per vessel in the each of the
                                                  would implement the entire Polar Code                                      Cortera, and from the affected entities’                                     years described above. These vessel
                                                  in one regulatory effort. This would                                       Web sites. We used available owner’s                                         owners and operators will incur the
                                                  create or modify regulations throughout                                    business information to identify the                                         same cost in the first (one vessel)
                                                  46 and 33 CFR. The affected vessels,                                       entities’ primary line of business as                                        through third years (two vessels in the
                                                  operators, and the Government will also                                    coded by the NAICS to find employee                                          second and third year each) and sixth
                                                  incur the costs and impacts of the                                         and revenue size information. We used                                        (the same vessel as in the first year)
                                                  implementation of the entire Polar Code                                    this information to determine whether                                        through eighth years (the same two
                                                  from a single regulatory effort.                                           we should consider a business ‘‘small’’                                      vessels as in the second and third year
                                                     The Coast Guard rejected this                                           by comparing it to the Small Business                                        in the seventh and eighth year each) of
                                                  alternative because it would                                               Administration’s (SBA) ‘‘Table of Small                                      the analysis period. See Table 5.

                                                                          TABLE 5—SUMMARY OF COSTS PER VESSEL THROUGHOUT THE 10-YEAR PERIOD OF ANALYSIS
                                                                                 Period                                                   Classed U.S.-flagged Vessels                                           Unclassed U.S.-flagged Vessels

                                                  Initial and Sixth Year .........................................           6 ........................................................................   1.
                                                  Years 2, 3, 7, and 8 ..........................................            6 (each year) ....................................................           2 (each year).
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  Cost ...................................................................   $102.90 (each year per vessel) .......................                       $2.90 (each year per vessel).
                                                    Note: As described in the text, years six, seven, and eight are renewal years. The one unclassed U.S.-flagged vessel that received a certifi-
                                                  cate in the first year is the same vessel in the sixth year. The two unclassed U.S.- flagged vessels that receive a certificate in years two and
                                                  three are the same ones in years seven and eight. The same rationale applies to classed U.S.-flagged vessels.



                                                    7 Readers can access small entity information

                                                  online at http://www.sba.gov/size/
                                                  indextableofsize.html.

                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014         16:39 Sep 20, 2017         Jkt 241001      PO 00000       Frm 00063        Fmt 4700        Sfmt 4700       E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM          21SER1


                                                  44116            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                    Based on the databases that we                         information collection requirement                       Need for Information: In 2014 and
                                                  searched, the only small entity that we                  unless it displays a currently valid OMB              2015, in resolutions MSC.385(94) and
                                                  found in our analysis did not have                       control number.                                       MEPC.264(68), IMO adopted the Polar
                                                  revenue information, but had employee                       This action amends the existing                    Code. The Polar Code raises the safety
                                                  information. This vessel owned by the                    information collection requirements that              standards for commercial ships
                                                  small entity is a classed vessel, which                  were previously approved under OMB                    operating in or transiting through polar
                                                  means the owner of this vessel will                      Control Number 1625–0017.                             waters, both Arctic and Antarctic, and
                                                  incur a cost of $102.90 in the initial year                 As defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(c),                     enhances environmental protection for
                                                  and again in the sixth year of the                       ‘‘collection of information’’ comprises               polar waters that include coastal
                                                  analysis period when the reissuance of                   reporting, recordkeeping, monitoring,                 communities in the U.S. Arctic. As a
                                                  the certificate takes place. We believe                  posting, labeling, and other similar                  signatory to SOLAS, the United States
                                                  the estimated impact on the affected                     actions. The title and description of the             has a treaty obligation to ensure
                                                  entity is not a significant economic                     information collections, a description of             compliance with SOLAS requirements.
                                                  impact.                                                  those who must collect the information,                  All mechanically propelled passenger
                                                    Based on the preceding analysis and                    and an estimate of the total annual                   vessels carrying more than 12
                                                  noting that the NPRM received no                         burden follow. The estimate covers the                passengers that engage in international
                                                  public comments suggesting this rule                     time for reviewing instructions,                      voyages and all mechanically propelled
                                                  would be a significant economic impact                   searching existing sources of data,                   cargo vessels of more than 500 GT ITC
                                                  on small entities, the Coast Guard                       gathering and maintaining the data                    that engage in international voyages and
                                                  certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this                needed, and completing and reviewing                  operate within polar waters as defined
                                                  rule will not have a significant                         the collection.                                       by the Polar Code will be required to
                                                  economic impact on a substantial                            The summary of revised 1625–0017
                                                                                                                                                                 have the Polar Ship Certificate. The
                                                  number of small entities.                                collection follows:
                                                                                                              Title: Various International                       Polar Ship Certificate is valid for 5
                                                  C. Assistance for Small Entities                         Agreement Safety Certificates.                        years.
                                                     Under section 213(a) of the Small                        OMB Control Number: 1625–0017.                        The purpose of this rulemaking is to
                                                  Business Regulatory Enforcement                             Summary of the Collection of                       ensure that U.S. marine inspectors can
                                                  Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104–                    Information: These Coast Guard-issued                 issue certificates required by SOLAS
                                                  121, we want to assist small entities in                 certificates are used as evidence of                  Polar Code provisions and that these
                                                  understanding this rule so that they can                 compliance with SOLAS by certain                      certificates are being carried on all
                                                  better evaluate its effects on them and                  U.S.-flagged vessels on international                 covered vessels. Additionally, this
                                                  participate in the rulemaking. If the rule               voyages. Without the proper certificates              rulemaking will add the Polar Ship
                                                  will affect your small business,                         or documents, a U.S. vessel could be                  Certificate to the list of certificates that
                                                  organization, or governmental                            detained in a foreign port. SOLAS                     classification societies can issue on
                                                  jurisdiction and you have questions                      applies to all mechanically propelled                 behalf of the Coast Guard in
                                                  concerning its provisions or options for                 cargo and tank vessels of 500 or more                 consideration of hazards and conditions
                                                  compliance, please contact the person                    GT ITC, and to all mechanically                       unique to polar waters and a potential
                                                  listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION                    propelled passenger vessels carrying                  increase in traffic in Arctic and
                                                  CONTACT section of this rule. The Coast                  more than 12 passengers that engage in                Antarctic waters. These additional
                                                  Guard will not retaliate against small                   international voyages. By IMO’s                       hazards include navigation in ice and
                                                  entities that question or complain about                 definition, an ‘‘international voyage’’               low temperatures, high latitude
                                                  this rule or any policy or action of the                 means a voyage from a country to which                communications and navigation,
                                                  Coast Guard.                                             the Convention applies to a port outside              remoteness from response resources,
                                                     Small businesses may send comments                    the country, or vice versa.                           and limited hydrographic charting.
                                                  on the actions of Federal employees                         SOLAS currently requires one or more                  We calculate the hour burden on an
                                                  who enforce, or otherwise determine                      of the following certificates to be carried           annual basis to review and post the
                                                  compliance with, Federal regulations to                  on onboard certain passenger and cargo                Polar Ship Certificate, which takes into
                                                  the Small Business and Agriculture                       ships engaged in international voyages                account the reissuance of the certificate
                                                  Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman                         (46 CFR 2.01–25):                                     every fifth year. The estimated burden is
                                                                                                              (1) Passenger Ship Safety Certificate              1/10 of an hour or 6 minutes. About 5
                                                  and the Regional Small Business
                                                                                                           and Record.                                           vessels (23 total vessels/5 years)
                                                  Regulatory Fairness Boards. The
                                                                                                              (2) Cargo Ship Safety Construction                 annually equates to 30 minutes or 0.5
                                                  Ombudsman evaluates these actions                        Certificate.
                                                  annually and rates each agency’s                                                                               hours for the hour burden. Equivalently,
                                                                                                              (3) Cargo Ship Safety Equipment                    7 classed and unclassed U.S.-flagged
                                                  responsiveness to small business. If you                 Certificate and Record.
                                                  wish to comment on actions by                                                                                  vessels (6 classed and 1 unclassed) × 6
                                                                                                              (4) Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
                                                  employees of the Coast Guard, call 1–                                                                          minutes in the first and sixth years + 8
                                                                                                           (issued by Federal Communications
                                                  888–REG–FAIR (1–888–734–3247).                                                                                 classed and unclassed U.S.-flagged
                                                                                                           Commission (FCC)).
                                                                                                              (5) Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety                  vessels (6 classed and 2 unclassed) × 6
                                                  D. Collection of Information                                                                                   minutes in the second, third, seventh
                                                                                                           Certificate.
                                                    The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                       (6) Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety                      and eighth year for a total of 276
                                                  (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520) requires that the                  Certificate.                                          minutes divided by 46 vessels (7 in the
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  Coast Guard consider the impact of                          (7) Safety Management Certificate.                 first and sixth years and 8 in the second,
                                                  paperwork and other information                             (8) International Ship Security                    third, seventh, and eighth year of the
                                                  collection burdens imposed on the                        Certificate.                                          analysis period). Because vessel owners
                                                  public. According to the 1995                               (9) High-Speed Craft Safety                        and operators will have 3 years to obtain
                                                  amendments to the Paperwork                              Certificate.                                          a certificate, we divided the population
                                                  Reduction Act, an agency may not                            The Coast Guard is adding the Polar                essentially into thirds, with 7 in the first
                                                  collect or sponsor the collection of                     Ship Certificate to the list of certificates          and sixth years and 8 in the second,
                                                  information, nor may it impose an                        that it can issue.                                    third, and seventh and eighth years.


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00064   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM   21SER1


                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                        44117

                                                     Proposed Use of Information: The                         It is well settled that States may not             will not create an environmental risk to
                                                  Polar Ship Certificate attests that the                  regulate in categories reserved for                   health or risk to safety that might
                                                  vessel has met applicable requirements                   regulation by the Coast Guard. It is also             disproportionately affect children.
                                                  of SOLAS to the satisfaction of the U.S.                 well settled that Coast Guard regulations
                                                                                                                                                                 J. Indian Tribal Governments
                                                  Government. Without the certificate,                     regarding vessel design, construction,
                                                  U.S.-flagged vessels could be detained                   alteration, repair, maintenance,                         This rule does not have tribal
                                                  in foreign ports as being unsafe.                        operation, equipping, personnel                       implications under Executive Order
                                                     Description of the Respondents:                       qualification, and manning issued under               13175 (‘‘Consultation and Coordination
                                                  Respondents are the owner, agent,                        the authority of 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703,                with Indian Tribal Governments’’),
                                                  Master, operator, or person in charge of                 7101, and 8101 are within fields                      because it will not have a substantial
                                                  a U.S.-flagged vessel that transits in                   foreclosed from regulation by the States.             direct effect on one or more Indian
                                                  polar waters while engaged in an                         See United States v. Locke, 529 U.S. 89,              tribes, on the relationship between the
                                                  international voyage.                                    90 (2000) (stating ‘‘Congress has left no             Federal Government and Indian tribes,
                                                     Number of Respondents: The existing                   room for state regulation of these                    or on the distribution of power and
                                                  OMB-approved number of respondents                       matters.’’). This rule adds the Polar Ship            responsibilities between the Federal
                                                  is 413. This rule will not change the                    Certificate to the list of certificates               Government and Indian tribes.
                                                  number of respondents because the                        required, if applicable, by SOLAS. Also,              K. Energy Effects
                                                  vessel population that will be affected is               this rule adds this certificate to the list
                                                  a subset of the existing number of                       of SOLAS certificates that the Coast                     We have analyzed this rule under
                                                  respondents; this rule is not adding new                 Guard may authorize recognized                        Executive Order 13211 (‘‘Actions
                                                  respondents to this collection.                          classification societies to issue on behalf           Concerning Regulations That
                                                                                                           of the Coast Guard. The issuance of                   Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
                                                     Frequency of Response: The existing
                                                                                                           international certificates is within the              Distribution, or Use’’). We have
                                                  OMB-approved number of responses is
                                                                                                           sole purview of the Coast Guard to                    determined that it is not a ‘‘significant
                                                  912. This rule will increase the number
                                                                                                           regulate pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 3306,                  energy action’’ under that order because
                                                  of responses by about 8 annually (23
                                                                                                           3703, 7101, and 8101; 33 U.S.C. 1230                  it is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’
                                                  vessels/3-year renewal period) to 920.
                                                                                                           and 1231, Executive Order 12234; and                  under Executive Order 12866 and is not
                                                     Burden of Response: The existing
                                                                                                           the principles discussed in Locke. Thus,              likely to have a significant adverse effect
                                                  OMB-approved burden of response is 6
                                                                                                           the regulations are consistent with the               on the supply, distribution, or use of
                                                  minutes, or 0.1 hours, or the time it
                                                                                                           principles for federalism and                         energy.
                                                  takes for a crewmember of a vessel to
                                                  post the Polar Ship Certificate onboard                  preemption requirements in Executive                  L. Technical Standards
                                                  the vessel.                                              Order 13132.
                                                                                                                                                                    The National Technology Transfer
                                                     Estimate of Total Annual Burden: The                  F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act                       and Advancement Act, codified as a
                                                  existing OMB-approved total annual                                                                             note to 15 U.S.C. 272, directs agencies
                                                  burden is 94.4 hours. Due to rounding,                     The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
                                                                                                           of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531–1538, requires                 to use voluntary consensus standards in
                                                  this rule will increase the burden hours                                                                       their regulatory activities unless the
                                                  annually by one hour. The estimated                      Federal agencies to assess the effects of
                                                                                                           their discretionary regulatory actions. In            agency provides Congress, through
                                                  total annual burden will be 95 hours                                                                           OMB, with an explanation of why using
                                                  annually.                                                particular, the Act addresses actions
                                                                                                           that may result in the expenditure by a               these standards will be inconsistent
                                                     As required by 44 U.S.C. 3507(d), we                                                                        with applicable law or otherwise
                                                  will submit a copy of this rule to OMB                   State, local, or tribal government, in the
                                                                                                           aggregate, or by the private sector of                impractical. Voluntary consensus
                                                  for its review of the collection of                                                                            standards are technical standards (for
                                                  information.                                             $100,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) or
                                                                                                           more in any one year. Though this rule                example, specifications of materials,
                                                     You need not respond to a collection                                                                        performance, design, or operation; test
                                                                                                           will not result in such an expenditure,
                                                  of information unless it displays a                                                                            methods; sampling procedures; and
                                                                                                           we do discuss the effects of this rule
                                                  currently valid control number from                                                                            related management systems practices)
                                                                                                           elsewhere in this preamble.
                                                  OMB. Before the Coast Guard can                                                                                that are developed or adopted by
                                                  enforce the collection of information                    G. Taking of Private Property                         voluntary consensus standards bodies.
                                                  requirements in this rule, OMB will                        This rule will not cause a taking of                   This rule does not use technical
                                                  have to approve the Coast Guard’s                        private property or otherwise have                    standards. Therefore, we did not
                                                  request to collect this information.                     taking implications under Executive                   consider the use of voluntary consensus
                                                  E. Federalism                                            Order 12630 (‘‘Governmental Actions                   standards.
                                                                                                           and Interference with Constitutionally                M. Environment
                                                     A rule has implications for federalism                Protected Property Rights’’).
                                                  under Executive Order 13132                                                                                      We have analyzed this rule under
                                                  (‘‘Federalism’’) if it has a substantial                 H. Civil Justice Reform                               Department of Homeland Security
                                                  direct effect on States, on the                            This rule meets applicable standards                Management Directive 023–01 and
                                                  relationship between the national                        in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive             Commandant Instruction M16475.lD
                                                  government and the States, or on the                     Order 12988, (‘‘Civil Justice Reform’’), to           (COMDTINST M16475.1D), which guide
                                                  distribution of power and                                minimize litigation, eliminate                        the Coast Guard in complying with the
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  responsibilities among the various                       ambiguity, and reduce burden.                         National Environmental Policy Act of
                                                  levels of government. We have analyzed                                                                         1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370f), and
                                                  this rule under Executive Order 13132                    I. Protection of Children                             concluded that this action is one of a
                                                  and have determined that it is                              We analyzed this rule under                        category of actions which do not
                                                  consistent with the fundamental                          Executive Order 13045 (‘‘Protection of                individually or cumulatively have a
                                                  federalism principles and preemption                     Children from Environmental Health                    significant effect on the human
                                                  requirements as described in Executive                   Risks and Safety Risks’’). This rule is               environment. A Record of
                                                  Order 13132. Our analysis follows.                       not an economically significant rule and              Environmental Consideration


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00065   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM   21SER1


                                                  44118            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 182 / Thursday, September 21, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  supporting this determination is                         § 2.01–25 International Convention for                Act, the rule submitted by the FCC shall
                                                  available in the docket where indicated                  Safety of Life at Sea, 1974.                          be treated as if it had never taken effect.
                                                  under the ADDRESSES section of this                        (a) * * *                                           However, because the Congressional
                                                  preamble.                                                  (1) * * *                                           Review Act does not direct the Office of
                                                     This rule involves: (1) Adding a Polar                  (x) Polar Ship Certificate.                         the Federal Register to remove the
                                                  Ship Certificate to the list of certificates               (2) * * *                                           voided regulatory text and reissue the
                                                  required, if applicable, by SOLAS; and                     (x) Polar Ship Certificate.                         pre-existing regulatory text, the FCC
                                                  (2) adding the Polar Ship Certificate to                 *     *     *    *     *                              issues this document to effect the
                                                  the list of SOLAS certificates that the                                                                        removal of any amendments, deletions,
                                                  Coast Guard is allowed to authorize                      PART 8—VESSEL INSPECTION                              or other modifications made by the
                                                  recognized classification societies to                   ALTERNATIVES                                          nullified rule, and the reversion to the
                                                  issue on behalf of the Coast Guard. This                                                                       text of the regulations in effect
                                                  action constitutes editorial or                          ■ 4. The authority citation for 46 CFR                immediately prior to the effect date of
                                                  procedural changes concerning vessel                     part 8 is revised to read as follows:                 the Report and Order relating to
                                                  documentation requirements (that is,                       Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231, 1903, 1904,              ‘‘Protecting the Privacy of Customers of
                                                  issuance of Polar Ship Certificates) and                 3803 and 3821; 46 U.S.C. 3103, 3306, 3316,            Broadband and Other
                                                  the delegation of authority for issuing                  and 3703; Department of Homeland Security             Telecommunications Services.’’
                                                  such certificates. Thus, as reflected in                 Delegation No. 0170.1 and Aug. 8, 2011                DATES: This action is effective
                                                  the Record of Environmental                              Delegation of Authority, Anti-Fouling
                                                                                                                                                                 September 21, 2017.
                                                                                                           Systems.
                                                  Consideration, this rule is categorically                                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
                                                  excluded under chapter 2, Section B,                     ■ 5. Amend § 8.320 as follows:                        further information about this
                                                  Paragraph 2 Categorical Exclusions                       ■ a. In paragraph (b)(13), remove the                 proceeding, please contact Melissa
                                                  (CEs) and Figure 2–1 (Coast Guard                        word ‘‘and’’;                                         Kirkel, FCC Wireline Competition
                                                  Categorical Exclusions), paragraphs                      ■ b. In paragraph (b)(14), remove the                 Bureau, Competition Policy Division,
                                                  (34)(a), (b), and (d) of COMDTINST                       period at the end of the paragraph and                445 12th St. SW., Washington, DC
                                                  M16475.1D. This rule promotes the                        add, in its place, ‘‘; and’’; and                     20554, (202) 418–1580.
                                                  Coast Guard’s maritime safety and                        ■ c. Add paragraph (b)(15).
                                                                                                                                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a
                                                  environmental protection missions.                         The addition reads as follows:                      summary of the Commission’s Report
                                                  List of Subjects                                         § 8.320 Classification society authorization          and Order, adopted on October 27, 2016
                                                                                                           to issue international certificates.                  in WC Docket No. 16–106, FCC 16–148,
                                                  46 CFR Part 2                                                                                                  which amended the rules under 47 CFR
                                                                                                           *     *    *     *    *
                                                    Marine Safety, Reporting and                             (b) * * *                                           part 64, subpart U. It published a
                                                  recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.                       (15) Polar Ship Certificate.                        summary of the Report and Order on
                                                                                                                                                                 December 2, 2016 (81 FR 87274), and
                                                  46 CFR Part 8                                            *     *    *     *    *
                                                                                                                                                                 thereafter submitted it to Congress
                                                    Administrative practice and                              Dated: September 18, 2017.                          pursuant to the Congressional Review
                                                  procedure, Organization and functions                    J.G. Lantz,                                           Act, 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A). On March 23,
                                                  (Government agencies), Reporting and                     Director, Commercial Regulations and                  2017, the Senate passed a resolution of
                                                  recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.                     Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.                          disapproval (S.J. Res. 34) of the Report
                                                                                                           [FR Doc. 2017–20155 Filed 9–20–17; 8:45 am]           and Order under the Congressional
                                                    For the reasons discussed in the
                                                                                                           BILLING CODE 9110–04–P                                Review Act. The House of
                                                  preamble, the Coast Guard amends 46
                                                                                                                                                                 Representatives then passed S.J. Res. 34
                                                  CFR parts 2 and 8 as follows:
                                                                                                                                                                 on March 28, 2017. President Trump
                                                  Title 46—Shipping                                        FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS                                signed the resolution into law as Public
                                                                                                           COMMISSION                                            Law 115–22 on April 3, 2017. Therefore,
                                                  PART 2—VESSEL INSPECTIONS                                                                                      under the terms of the Congressional
                                                                                                           47 CFR Part 64                                        Review Act, the Report and Order shall
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for 46 CFR                                                                         be ‘‘treated as though such a rule had
                                                  part 2 is revised to read as follows:                    [WC Docket No. 16–106; FCC 16–148]
                                                                                                                                                                 never taken effect.’’ 5 U.S.C. 801(f).
                                                    Authority: Sec. 622, Pub. L. 111–281; 33               Protecting the Privacy of Customers of                   However, because the CRA does not
                                                  U.S.C. 1231, 1903; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 46 U.S.C.             Broadband and Other                                   include direction regarding the removal,
                                                  2103, 2110, 3306, 3703; Department of                                                                          by the Office of the Federal Register or
                                                  Homeland Security Delegation No.
                                                                                                           Telecommunications Services
                                                                                                                                                                 otherwise, of the voided language from
                                                  0170.1(II)(77), (90), (92)(a), (92)(b); E.O.             AGENCY:  Federal Communications                       the Code of Federal Regulations, the
                                                  12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p.                Commission.                                           FCC must publish this document to
                                                  277, sec. 1–105.
                                                                                                           ACTION: Final rule.                                   effect the removal of the voided text.
                                                  § 2.01–6   [Amended]                                                                                           This document will enable the Office of
                                                                                                           SUMMARY:   Under the Congressional                    the Federal Register to effectuate
                                                  ■  2. In § 2.01–6(a)(1), after the words                 Review Act, Congress has passed, and                  congressional intent to remove the
                                                  ‘‘passengers in U.S. ports’’ and before                  the President has signed, Public Law                  voided text of the rules adopted in the
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with RULES




                                                  the words ‘‘holds a valid’’, remove the                  115–22, a resolution of disapproval of                Report and Order as if it had never
                                                  word ‘‘and’’; and after the text                         the rule that the Federal                             taken effect, and to restore the previous
                                                  ‘‘Passenger Ship Safety Certificate’’, add               Communications Commission (FCC)                       language in 47 CFR part 64, subpart U
                                                  the text ‘‘, and, if applicable, holds a                 submitted pursuant to such Act relating               and prior state of the Code of Federal
                                                  valid Polar Ship Certificate’’.                          to ‘‘Protecting the Privacy of Customers              Regulations.
                                                  ■ 3. Amend § 2.01–25 by adding                           of Broadband and Other                                   This action is not an exercise of the
                                                  paragraphs (a)(1)(x) and (a)(2)(x) to read               Telecommunications Services.’’ By                     FCC’s rulemaking authority under the
                                                  as follows:                                              operation of the Congressional Review                 Administrative Procedure Act, because


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014    16:39 Sep 20, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00066   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\21SER1.SGM   21SER1



Document Created: 2018-10-24 14:35:24
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 14:35:24
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
ActionFinal rule.
DatesThis final rule is effective October 23, 2017.
ContactFor information about this document call or email Lieutenant Chris Rabalais, Systems Engineering Division (CG-ENG-3), Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1485, email [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 44108 
RIN Number1625-AC35
CFR Citation46 CFR 2
46 CFR 8
CFR AssociatedMarine Safety; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements; Vessels; Administrative Practice and Procedure and Organization and Functions (Government Agencies)

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR