E6-12334. Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY:

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and its working groups will meet to discuss various issues relating to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. MERPAC advises the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters relating to the training, qualifications, licensing, and certification of seamen serving in the U.S. merchant marine. All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES:

A MERPAC working group will meet on Tuesday, September 12, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The full MERPAC committee will meet on Wednesday, September 13, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Thursday, September 14, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. These meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished. Requests to make oral presentations should reach the Coast Guard on or before August 30, 2006. Written material and requests to have a copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee or subcommittee should reach the Coast Guard on or before August 30, 2006.

ADDRESSES:

The MERPAC working group will meet on September 12, 2006, in Room 6 South of Building 2 of the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS), 692 Maritime Boulevard, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1952. The full MERPAC committee will meet on September 13 and 14, 2006, in the main auditorium in Building 3 at the same location. Further directions regarding the location of MITAGS may be obtained at the following link: http://www.mitags.org/​text_​directions?​SESS=​c7447c7629f9bae5605ea186e6e1b178. Send written material and requests to make oral presentations to Mr. Mark Gould, Commandant (G-PSO-1), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. This notice is available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For questions on this notice, contact Mr. Gould, Assistant to the Executive Director, telephone [phone], fax [phone], or e-mail [e-mail]. For questions about hotel room availability at MITAGS, please call 866-900-3517.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of these meetings is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770, as amended).

Agenda of Meeting on September 12, 2006

The working group for Task Statement 57, concerning a national training program for operational and management level officers including integration of the STCW Code into the USCG license examination process, will meet to conduct deliberations in preparation for delivering proposed MERPAC recommendations to the full committee.

Agenda of Meeting on September 13, 2006

The full committee will meet to discuss the objectives for the meeting. The working groups addressing the following task statements may meet to deliberate: Task Statement 30, concerning utilizing military sea service for STCW certifications; Task Statement 51, concerning minimum standard of competence on tanker safety; Task Statement 55, concerning recommendations to develop a voluntary training program for deck and engine department entry level mariners on domestic and seagoing vessels; and Task Statement 57, concerning a national training program for operational and management level officers including integration of the STCW Code into the USCG license examination process. In addition, new working groups may be formed to address issues proposed by the Coast Guard, MERPAC members, or the public. All task statements may be viewed at the MERPAC Web site at http://www.uscg.mil/​hq/​g-m/​advisory/​merpac/​merpac.htm.

At the end of the day, the working groups will make a report to the full committee on what has been accomplished in their meetings. No action will be taken on these reports on this date.

Agenda of Meeting on September 14, 2006

The agenda comprises the following:

(1) Introduction.

(2) Working Groups' Reports

(a) Task Statement 30, concerning utilizing military sea service for STCW certifications;

(b) Task Statement 51, concerning minimum standard of competence on tanker safety;

(c) Task Statement 55, concerning recommendations to develop a voluntary training program for deck and engine department entry level mariners on domestic and seagoing vessels;

(d) Task Statement 57, concerning a national training program for operational and management level officers including integration of the STCW Code into the USCG license examination process; and

(e) Other task statements which may have been adopted for discussion and action.

(3) Other items to be discussed:

(a) Standing Committee—Prevention Through People.

(b) Briefings concerning on-going projects of interest to MERPAC.

(c) Other items brought up for discussion by the committee or the public.

Procedural

All meetings are open to the public. Please note that the meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished. At the Chair's discretion, members of the public may make oral presentations during the meetings. If you would like to make an oral presentation at a meeting, please notify Mr. Gould no later than August 30, 2006. Written material for distribution at a meeting should reach the Coast Guard no later than August 30, 2006. If you would like a copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee or subcommittee in advance of the meeting, please submit 25 copies to Mr. Gould no later than August 30, 2006.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact Mr. Gould as soon as possible.

Dated: July 27, 2006.

J.G. Lantz,

Director of National and International Standards, Assistant Commandant for Prevention.