[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 148 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39268]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19007]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
46 CFR Part 160
[CGD 94-110]
RIN 2115-AE96
Recreational Inflatable Personal Flotation Device Standards
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard published an interim rule (IR) on Recreational
Inflatable Personal Flotation Device (PFD) Standards on June 23, 1995,
which introduced a new concept for approval of PFDs, the ``Life-Saving
Index'' (LSI). Comments on the IR indicate that there is some confusion
and uncertainty about use of the LSI. The Coast Guard will conduct a
public meeting to discuss the use of the LSI in the approval of
inflatable PFDs. This meeting is intended for PFD and inflation system
manufacturers and technical experts knowledgeable in the field as well
as other interested parties.
DATES: The meeting will be held August 28, 1995, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Notice of interest in participation should be made by August 23, 1995
to ensure adequate space is available. Written material must be
received not later than October 23, 1995.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
Room 2415, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001. Persons
having an interest in participating in the meeting, should notify the
Coast Guard by contacting Mr. Samuel Wehr, Office of Marine Safety,
Security and Environmental Protection, Attn: G-MVI-3/14, 2100 Second
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-1444 between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal
holidays, or facsimile (202) 267-1069.
Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine
Safety Council (G-LRA) (CGD 94-110), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered
to room 3406 at the same address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202)
267-1477. Comments will become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Samuel E. Wehr, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental
Protection, Attn: G-MVI-3/14, 2100 Second Street, SW, Washington, DC
20593-0001, telephone (202) 267-1444 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4
p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal holidays, or facsimile (202)
267-1069.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard has received comments
indicating that the ``Life-Saving Index'' (LSI) provisions of the
Recreation Inflatable Personal Flotation Device Standards IR published
in the Federal Register on June 23, 1995 (60 FR 32836) are confusing
and have caused uncertainty for manufacturers. Appendix A to the Draft
Regulatory Evaluation, which is on file as part of the docket where
indicated under ADDRESSES and was sent to manufacturers, provides a
great deal of guidance on how to apply the LSI provisions in the
approval process. However, to facilitate the use of this method for
approval so that as wide a variety as possible of inflatable PFDs can
be approved, the Coast Guard is holding this meeting.
The agenda for the August 28, 1995 meeting will include the
following topics:
(1) Overview of Appendix A to the Draft Regulatory Evaluation.
(2) Response to questions on the information in Appendix A to the
Draft Regulatory Evaluation.
(3) Sample calculations of LSIs for representative PFD designs.
(4) Discussion of methods to standardize the LSI model.
(5) Discussion of potential methods to demonstrate increased
wearability values for inflatable PFDs.
(6) Coast Guard policy on annual review and revision of the minimum
LSI value required for approval and impact on existing approvals issued
under the LSI.
(7) Discussion of PFD information pamphlet requirements and
standardization.
Attendance is open to the public, but notice of intent to attend
the meeting is requested in order that adequate space and audio/visual
aids can be provided. In order to determine what accommodations need to
be arranged, persons wishing to attend the meeting should notify Mr.
Samuel Wehr at the number listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
by August 23, 1995.
Participants are reminded that discussion of issues outside the
above agenda may be limited by the Coast Guard.
With advance notice and as time permits, members of the public may
make oral presentations during the meeting. Persons wishing to make
oral presentations should make notification no later than 4 p.m.
Thursday, August 24, 1995. Individuals making oral presentations at the
meeting are encouraged to submit a written copy of their remarks for
the rulemaking docket.
Interested persons are also invited to participate by providing
written comments as requested in response to the IR cited above.
If as an outgrowth of this meeting, a standard is developed for the
LSI Model, which provides a suitable basis for the evaluation of
inflatable PFDs under 46 CFR 160.076-27, notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM) or supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) in which the Coast Guard discusses
and proposes adoption of all or part of it, will be published in the
Federal Register.
Dated: July 27, 1995.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Marine Safety,
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-19007 Filed 8-1-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
