[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 184 (Wednesday, September 23, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50848-50849]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-25464]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
46 CFR Part 197
[USCG-1998-3786]
RIN 2115-AF64
Commercial Diving Operations
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking; extension of comment
period.
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SUMMARY: In response to public requests, the Coast Guard is extending
the period for public comment on its Advance Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (ANPRM), Commercial Diving Operations, published in the
Federal Register on June 26, 1998. The comment period will be extended
for 45 days.
DATES: Comments must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before
November 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Docket Management Facility
(USCG-1998-3786), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to room
PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same
address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at room PL-401
[[Page 50849]]
on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the above address between
10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You
may also access this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information concerning the advance notice of proposed rulemaking
(ANPRM) provisions, contact LT Diane Kalina, Project Manager, Vessel
and Facility Operating Standards Division, Coast Guard, telephone 202-
267-1181. For questions on viewing, or submitting material to the
docket, contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department of
Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments.
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses,
identify this rulemaking (USCG-1998-3786) and the specific section of
the ANPRM to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each
comment. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound
format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and
electronic filing to the Docket Management Facility at the address
under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments
should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the
comment period. It may change the proposed rule in view of the
comments.
The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a
public hearing by writing to the Docket Management Facility at the
address under ADDRESSES. The request must identify this docket [USCG-
1998-3786] and should include the reasons why a public meeting would be
helpful to this rulemaking. If it determines that the opportunity for
oral presentation will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a
public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the
Federal Register.
Background and Purpose
The existing commercial diving operations regulations are over 20
years old and do not include current safety and technology standards
and industry practices. The Coast Guard needs current information on
these subject areas to help us identify necessary regulatory revisions.
In response to several public requests, the Coast Guard is
extending the period for public comment on its Advance Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM), Commercial Diving Operations, published in
the Federal Register on June 26, 1998 (63 FR 34840). The comments
stated that more time was needed to collect data, and the diving
industry is typically very busy during the summer months and divers
need more time to develop comments to the ANPRM. Based on these
requests and on the small number of comments received so far, the Coast
Guard has decided to extend the comment period for an additional 45
days.
Dated: September 17, 1998.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting, Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental
Protection.
[FR Doc. 98-25464 Filed 9-22-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M
