Proposed Rulemakings
None
Final Rulemakings
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 2, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the 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 its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 19092, (May 3, 2019), (USCG-2019-0257).
July 2, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the 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 19093, (May 3, 2019), (USCG-2019-0259).
July 2, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the 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 its approval to the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 19094, (May 3, 2019), (USCG-2019-0256).
July 2, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the Information Collection Request entitled “Declaration of Inspection Before Transfer of Liquid Cargo in Bulk” 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 19095, (May 3, 2019), (USCG-2019-0038).
July 2, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the Information Collection Request entitled “Vessel Reporting Requirements” 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 19096, (May 3, 2019), (USCG-2019-0258).
July 9, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the 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 its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 20645, (May 10, 2019), (USCG-2019-0264).
July 12, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit the Information Collection Request entitled “Security Plans for Ports, Vessels, Facilities, and Other Continental Shelf Facilities and Other Security-Related Requirements” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 20902, (May 13, 2019), (USCG-2019-0263).
*July 19, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Nondestructive Testing of Certain Cargo Tanks on Unmanned Barges” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 28566, (June 19, 2019), (USCG-2019-0249).
*July 19, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Requirements for Lightering of Oil and Hazardous Material Cargoes, and Advance Notice of Transfer” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 28567, (June 19, 2019), (USCG-2019-0253).
*July 19, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Cargo Securing Manuals” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 28569, (June 19, 2019), (USCG-2019-0246).
*July 19, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Display of Fire Control Plans for Vessels” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting approval for reinstatement for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 28570, (June 19, 2019), (USCG-2019-0042).
*July 19, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request entitled “Towing Vessels—Title 46 CFR Subchapter M” to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, requesting an extension of its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 28571, (June 19, 2019), (USCG-2019-0245).
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 its approval for the ICR. Comments accepted. 84 FR 24531, (May 28, 2019), (USCG-2019-0261).
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-2018-1058).
Meetings
*July 11, 2019 The United States Coast Guard will conduct an open meeting in Washington, DC to prepare for the upcoming one hundred twenty second session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council to be held at the IMO Headquarters, United Kingdom, July 15-19, 2019. The meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be held in Room 5L18-01 of the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building at St. Elizabeth’s, 2703 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC. 84 FR 28067, (June 17, 2019), (USCG-2019-0476).
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Proposed Rulemakings
July 1, 2019 The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is publishing a notice to solicit public comment on steps MARAD could take to simplify and/or modernize the process for evidencing United States citizenship of corporations and other entities participating in MARAD programs. To be eligible to participate in various MARAD programs and activities, applicants and interested parties must demonstrate at least a majority of ownership and control by United States citizens at each tier of ownership. MARAD is not considering any changes to that standard, but to the types of documents or evidence applicants provide to MARAD. Comments accepted. 84 FR 18468, (May 1, 2019), (MARAD-2019-0069).
Final Rulemakings
None
Agency Notices
June 28, 2019 The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments on their intention to request the Office of Management and Budget approval to renew the information collection entitled “Determination of Fair and Reasonable Rates for Carriage of Agriculture Cargoes on U.S.-Commercial Vessels—46 CFR”. The information to be collected will be used by the Maritime Administration in determining fair and reasonable guideline rates for the carriage of preference cargoes on U.S.-flag vessels. In addition, U.S.-flag vessel operators are required to submit Post Voyage Reports to the Maritime Administration after completion of a cargo preference voyage. Comments accepted. 84 FR 18111, (April 29, 2019), (MARAD-2019-0062).
July 8, 2019 In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the notice announces that the Information Collection Request entitled “Requirements for Establishing U.S. Citizenship—46 CFR 355” is being forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget for review and comment. Comments accepted. 84 FR 26504, (June 6, 2019), (MARAD-2019-0096).
*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).
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).
Interior Department
*July 11, 2019 Agency Notice – In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is proposing to renew an information collection entitled “30 CFR 585, Renewable Energy and Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf” with revisions. Comments accepted. 84 FR 27356, (June 12, 2019), (OMB Control Number 1010-0176; Docket ID: BOEM-2017-0016).
Presidential Documents
*June 13, 2019 Agency Notice – Presidential Determination No. 2019-13 of June 10, 2019, By the President of the United States states “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended (the “Act”) (50 U.S.C. 4533), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 303(a)(5) of the Act, that the domestic production capability for small unmanned aerial systems is essential to the national defense. Without Presidential action under section 303 of the Act, United States industry cannot reasonably be expected to provide the production capability for small unmanned aerial systems adequately and in a timely manner. Further, purchases, purchase commitments, or other action pursuant to section 303 of the Act are the most cost-effective, expedient, and practical alternative method for meeting the need for this critical capability.”84 FR 27701, (June 13, 2019).
Transportation Department
July 15, 2019 Agency Notice – The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (FY 2019 Appropriations Act) appropriated $900 million to be awarded by the Department of Transportation (DOT) for National Infrastructure Investments. This appropriation stems from the program funded and implemented pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) and is known as the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development or (BUILD Transportation grants) program. Funds for the FY 2019 BUILD Transportation grants program are to be awarded on a competitive basis for surface transportation infrastructure projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. The purpose of this notice is to solicit applications for BUILD Transportation grants. Applications accepted. 84 FR 16933, (April 23, 2019).
* — DENOTES NEW LISTING