83 FR 47324 - Outer Continental Shelf Activities

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 182 (September 19, 2018)

The Coast Guard is withdrawing the proposed rule entitled ``Outer Continental Shelf Activities'' that we published on December 7, 1999. The Coast Guard is withdrawing this proposed rule due to the passage of time, advances in technology, and changes in industry practices that have rendered the proposed rule obsolete.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 47324]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-20378]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, and 147

[Docket Number USCG-1998-3868]
RIN 1625-AA18


Outer Continental Shelf Activities

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is withdrawing the proposed rule entitled 
``Outer Continental Shelf Activities'' that we published on December 7, 
1999. The Coast Guard is withdrawing this proposed rule due to the 
passage of time, advances in technology, and changes in industry 
practices that have rendered the proposed rule obsolete.

DATES: The proposed rule published December 7, 1999 (64 FR 68416) is 
withdrawn as of September 19, 2018.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this withdrawal, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type ``USCG-1998-3868'' in the search box and 
click ``Search'' then click on ``Open Docket Folder.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document, 
call or email Mr. Charles Rawson, Commandant (CG-ENG), U.S. Coast 
Guard; telephone 202-372-1390, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
OCS Outer continental shelf

II. Background

    The Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in 
the Federal Register on December 7, 1999, (64 FR 68416), entitled 
``Outer Continental Shelf Activities.'' In our NPRM, we proposed 
revisions of our Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) regulations that pertain 
to workplace safety and health on vessels and facilities engaged in the 
exploration for, or development or production of, minerals on the OCS. 
The Coast Guard initiated this rulemaking in response to the various 
advances that had changed the nature of the offshore industry since the 
last major revision of our OCS regulations in 1982. As detailed in the 
proposed regulatory text, this rulemaking would have reassessed all of 
our current OCS regulations in light of past experiences and new 
improvements in order to help make the OCS a safer work environment. 
The Coast Guard received comments from the public regarding the 
proposed rulemaking. These comments are available in the docket.

III. Withdrawal

    In the nearly 20 years since the Coast Guard published the NPRM and 
the comment period closed, the offshore industry has continued to grow 
and evolve. Due to the passage of time, advances in technology, and 
changes in industry practice, we found that much of what we proposed in 
the NPRM is now obsolete and no longer applicable to the modern OCS 
work environment. Consequently, the NPRM is no longer suitable as a 
basis for further rulemaking action. Accordingly, the Coast Guard is 
withdrawing the ``Outer Continental Shelf Activities'' proposed rule 
announced in an NPRM published December 7, 1999 (64 FR 68416).
    This document is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a), and 
43 U.S.C. 1333(d) and 1348(c).

    Dated: September 14, 2018.
J.P. Nadeau,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2018-20378 Filed 9-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P