REGULATORY CALENDAR
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Proposed Rulemakings
None
Final Rulemakings
*June 28, 2019 The final rule makes non-substantive technical, organizational, and conforming amendments to existing Coast Guard regulations. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public. 84 FR 30870, (June 28, 2019), (USCG-2018-0874).
July 22, 2019 The Coast Guard is revising its merchant mariner credentialing regulations to remove obsolete portions of the radar observer requirements and harmonize the radar observer endorsement with the merchant mariner credential. These revisions will reduce an unnecessary financial burden on mariners required to hold a radar observer endorsement. This rule will affect mariners who have served on radar-equipped vessels, in a position that routinely user radar for 1 year in the previous 5 years for navigation and collision avoidance purposes, and mariners who have taught a Coast Guard-approved or accepted radar course a least twice within the past 5 years. These mariners will no longer be required to complete a Coast Guard approved or accepted radar refresher or recertification course in order to renew their radar observer endorsements. The Coast Guard is retaining the existing requirements for mariners seeking an original radar observer endorsement and for mariners who do not have 1 year of routine relevant sea service on board radar-equipped vessels in the previous 5 years or have not taught a Coast Guard-approved or accepted radar course at least twice within the past 5 years. This final rule adopts, with modification, the notice of proposed rulemaking published on June 11, 2018. 84 FR 26580, (June 7, 2019), (USCG-2018-0100).
Agency Notices
*July 24, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding the Information Collection Request entitled “Vessel Documentation” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of their approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 29531, (June 24, 2019), (USCG-2019-0248).
*July 24, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding the Information Collection Request entitled “Oil Record Book for Ships” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting approval for reinstatement, without change to the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 29532, (June 24, 2019), (USCG-2019-0252).
*July 24, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding the Information Collection Request entitled “Various International Agreement Pollution Prevention Certificates and Documents, and Equivalency Certificates” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of their approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 29533, (June 24, 2019), (USCG-2019-0247).
July 29, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the Information Collection Request entitled “Claims under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of their approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 24531, (May 28, 2019), (USCG-2019-0261).
*August 12, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Regulated Navigation Area’ Reporting Requirements for Barges Loaded with Certain Dangerous Cargoes, Inland Rivers, Eighth Coast Guard District and the Illinois Waterway, Ninth Coast Guard District” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs requesting an extension of their approval. Comments accepted. 84 FR 33273, (July 12, 2019), (USCG-2019-0264).
*August 12, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Barges Carrying Bulk Hazardous Materials” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs requesting an extension of their approval. Comments accepted. 84 FR 33274, (July 12, 2019), (USCG-2019-0257).
*August 12, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Certificates of Financial Responsibility under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs requesting approval for reinstatement, without change to the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 33275, (July 12, 2019), (USCG-2019-0259).
*August 12, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Offshore Supply Vessels—Title 46 CFR subchapter L” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs requesting an extension of their approval. Comments accepted. 84 FR 33276, (July 12, 2019), (USCG-2019-0256).
*August 15, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Vessel Reporting Requirements” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs requesting an extension of their approval for reinstatement, without change to the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 33957, (July 16, 2019), (USCG-2019-0258).
September 1, 2019 In order to provide safe access routes for the movement of vessel traffic along the Arctic Coast of the United States for vessels proceeding to or from ports or places of the United States and transiting within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Coast Guard is conducting an Alaskan Arctic Coast Port Access Route Study (AACPARS) to evaluate the need for establishing vessel routing measures. The information gathered during this AACPARS may result in the establishment of one or more vessel routing measures. The goal of the AACPARS is to enhance navigation safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses, and, to the extent practicable, reconciling the paramount right of navigation with other reasonable waterway uses. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate international agreements. Comments accepted. 83 FR 65701, (December 21, 2018), (USCG-2018-
Meetings
*July 26, 2019 The Coast Guard will hold two public meetings to receive comments regarding the safe navigation and mooring of liquefied natural gas carriers through the San Juan Harbor, San Juan PR. The public meetings will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to provide an opportunity for verbal comments. The meetings will be held at the Sheraton Puerto Rico Hotel and Casino, 200 Convention Boulevard, San Juan, PR. 84 FR 34323, (July 18, 2019), (USCG-2019-0460).
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Proposed Rulemakings
None
Final Rulemakings
None
Agency Notices
*July 25, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the notice announces that the Information Collection Request entitled “Request for Transfer of Ownership, Registry, and Flag, or Charter, Lease, or Mortgage of U.S.-Citizen Owned Documented Vessels” is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for review and comment. Comments accepted. 84 FR 29930, (June 25, 2019), (MARAD-2019-0106).
*August 8, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the notice announces that the Information Collection Request entitled “Determination of Fair and Reasonable Rates for the Carriage of Agricultural Cargoes on U.S. Commercial Vessels—46 CFR” is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for review and comment. Comments accepted. 84 32827, (July 9, 2019), (MARAD-2019-0113).
August 12, 2019 The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comment about their intention to request the Office of Management and Budget approval for an Information Collection entitled “Report of Ocean Shipments Moving Under the Cargo Preference Act of 1954—Bill of Lading—46 CFR part 381.” The collection involves ocean carrier bill of lading information that will be used to ensure proper and timely shipment of government impelled cargoes, and to ensure compliance with cargo preference statutes. Aggregate data will be used for statistical purposes. Comments accepted. 84 FR 27391, (June 12, 2019), (DOT-MARAD-2019-0087).
August 15, 2019 The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019, appropriated $7,000,000 to the Short Sea Transportation Program, commonly referred to as the America’s Marine Highway Program (AMHP). The purpose of the appropriation is to make grants available to previously designated Marine Highway Projects that support the development and expansion of documented vessels, or port and landside infrastructure. This Notice announces the availability of funding for grants and establishes selection criteria and application requirements. The U.S. Department of Transportation will award Marine Highway Grants to implement projects or components of projects previously designated by the Secretary of Transportation under AMHP. Only Marine Highway Projects the Secretary designated before the Notice of Funding Opportunity closing date are eligible for funding as described within the Notice. Applications accepted. 84 FR 27838, (June 14, 2019).
*September 9, 2019 The Maritime Administration invites public comments on their intention to request the Office of Management and Budget approval of an Information Collection Request entitled “Exercise Breakout 2019 Survey.” Comments accepted. 84 FR 32829, (July 9, 2019), (MARAD-2019-0112).
*September 17, 2019 The notice provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on the Maritime Administration’s new program designating eligible and qualified training entities as Centers of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education (CoE). The National Defense Authorization Act of 2018, provided the Secretary of Transportation with the discretionary authority to designate eligible and qualified entities as CoEs. CoE designations will serve to assist the maritime industry in obtaining and maintaining the highest quality workforce. On May 31, 2018, MARAD published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comment regarding the development of a guide for applicants seeking CoE designation. MARAD received a total of eighteen comments which have been considered and are examined in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section contained within the notice. Now, MARAD is proposing to implement a voluntary program to identify and recommend qualified training providers for CoE designation. Comments accepted. 84 FR 34994, (July 19, 2019), (MARAD-2018-0088).
Meetings
None
OTHER AGENCY MATTERS
Agency for International Development
August 13, 2019 Agency Notice (Proposed Rulemaking) – The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) proposes to amend the Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulation to allow for the designation of U.S. Personal Services Contractors and Cooperating Country National Personal Services Contractors as contracting officers and agreement officers. The proposed revisions will address a shortage of U.S. direct-hire staff by delegating the proposed authorities to qualified US and CCN PSCs. The delegation of limited contracting/agreement officer authorities to a select number of CCN PSCs will also bolster the Agency to succeed in terms of building long-term, host country technical capacity to materially assist the Missions with procurement responsibility. Comments accepted. 84 FR 27745, (June 14, 2019).
Corps of Engineers
August 27, 2019 Agency Notice – Section 7001 of Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) 2014, as amended, requires that the Secretary of the Army annually submit to the Congress a report (Annual Report) that identifies feasibility reports, proposed feasibility studies submitted by non-Federal interests, proposed modifications to authorized water resources development projects or feasibility studies, and proposed modifications to environmental infrastructure program authorities that meet certain criteria. The Annual Report is to be based, in part, upon requests for proposals submitted by non-Federal interests. Proposals accepted. 84 FR 18009, (April 29, 2019).
Defense Department
*September 10, 2019 Agency Notice (Proposed Rule) – The Department of Defense (DoD), General Services Administration (GSA), and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require electronic submission of the DD Form 254, Contract Security Classification Specification. Comments accepted. 84 FR 33201, (July 12, 2019), (FAR Case 2015-002; Docket No. 2015-0002, Sequence No. 1).
Labor Department
July 29, 2019 Agency Notice – The Department of Labor is submitting the Occupational Safety and Health Administration sponsored information collection request titled, “Personal Protective Equipment for Shipyard Employment” to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments accepted. 84 FR 31117, (June 28, 2019).
* — DENOTES NEW LISTING