2023-25025. Recreational Boating Safety Projects, Programs, and Activities Funded Under Provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; Fiscal Year 2023

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that requires a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the Act be published annually in the Federal Register . This notice specifies the funding amounts the Coast Guard has committed, obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2023, as of September 30, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For questions on this notice please contact Mr. Jeff Decker, U.S. Coast Guard, Regulations Development Manager, (202) 372–1507 or mailto: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

Since 1998, Congress has passed a series of laws providing funding for projects, programs, and activities funded under the national recreational boating safety program, which is administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117–58, Sec. 28001) set aside funding for Coast Guard administration, which for fiscal year 2023 was $13.835 million. Of that, not less than $2.1 million shall be made available to ensure compliance with chapter 43 of title 46, U.S. Code, and not more than $1.5 million is available to conduct by grant or contract a survey of levels of recreational boating participation and related matters in the United States.

These funds are available to the Secretary from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (Trust Fund) established under 26 U.S.C. 9504(a) for payment of Coast Guard expenses for personnel and activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the national recreational boating safety program. Amounts made available under this subsection remain available during the two succeeding fiscal years. Any amount that is unexpended or unobligated at the end of the three-year period during which it is available shall be withdrawn by the Secretary and allocated to the States in addition to any other amounts available for allocation in the fiscal year in which they are withdrawn or the following fiscal year.

Use of these funds requires compliance with standard Federal contracting rules with associated lead and processing times resulting in a lag time between available funds and spending. The total amount of funding transferred to the Coast Guard from the Trust Fund, and committed, obligated, and/or expended during fiscal year 2023 for each project is shown below.

Specific Accounting of Funds

The total amount of funding transferred to the Coast Guard from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and committed, obligated, and/or expended during fiscal year 2023 for each project is shown in the chart below.

Project	Description	Cost
46 U.S.C. 43 Compliance: Inspection Program/Boat Testing Program	Provided for continuance of the national recreational boat compliance inspection program, which began in January 2001	$2,484,350
46 U.S.C. 43 Compliance: Staff Salaries	Provided for 3 personnel to oversee manufacturer compliance with 46 U.S.C. 43 requirements	558,743
46 U.S.C. 43 Compliance: Staff Travel	Provided for travel by employees of the Boating Safety Division to oversee manufacturer compliance with 46 U.S.C. 43 requirements	66,009
Administrative Overhead	Provide for supplies and materials to support the RBS Program	58,485
Boating Accident Report Database (BARD) Web System	Provided for maintaining the BARD Web System, which enables reporting authorities in the 50 States, five U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia to submit their accident reports electronically over a secure Internet connection	456,128
National Boating Safety Advisory Committee	Provided for travel performed by NBSAC members, meeting room costs and administrative costs to support the NBSAC	17,751
Contract Personnel Support	Provided contract personnel to conduct boating safety-related research and analysis	1,285,012
Grant Management Training	Provided to facilitate staff training on new grant management requirements	53,726
Recreational Boating Safety Program Travel	Provided for travel by employees of the Boating Safety Division to gather background and planning information for new recreational boating safety initiatives	168,419
Reimbursable Salaries	Provided for 18 personnel directly related to coordinating and carrying out the national recreational boating safety program	3,776,451
National Recreational Boating Survey	Provided for collecting data to support the National Recreational Boating Survey	1,500,000

Of the $13.835 million made available to the Coast Guard in fiscal year 2023, $0 has been committed, obligated, or expended and an additional $10.425 million of prior fiscal year funds have been committed, obligated, or expended, as of September 30, 2023. The remainder of the FY22 and FY23 funds made available to the Coast Guard (approximately $20.345 million) may be retained for the allowable period for the National Recreational Boating Survey, the expected reengineering of the Boating Accident and Reporting Database, and other projects, or it may be transferred into the pool of money available for allocation through the state grant program.

Authority

This notice is issued pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 and 46 U.S.C. 13107(c)(4).

Amy M. Beach,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance.