# AGENCY:

 Coast Guard, DOT. 

# ACTION:

 Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

# SUMMARY:

 The Coast Guard proposes to clarify our regulations for determining phase-out dates for single hull tank vessels under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90). This proposed rule would codify our policy published on April 21, 1999, that states that conversion of a single hull tank vessel to add only double sides or only a double bottom after August 18, 1990, will not change the vessel's scheduled phase-out date under OPA 90. 

# DATES:

 Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before April 17, 2000. 

# ADDRESSES:

 To make sure your comments and related material are not entered more than once in the docket, please submit them by only one of the following means:

(1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility (USCG-1999-6164), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001. 

(2) By hand delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329. 

(3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251. 

(4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management System at http://dms.dot.gov.

The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street SW, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

 For questions on this proposed rule, please contact Mr. Bob Gauvin, Project Manager, Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, Commandant (G-MSO-2), U.S. Coast Guard, telephone 202-267-1053. For questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Request for Comments 

                        We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-1999-6164), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. You may submit your comments and material by mail, hand delivery, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the address under                         **ADDRESSES**                        ; but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8                        1/2                         by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.                    

## Public Meeting 

                        We do not now plan to hold a public meeting, but you may submit a request for one to the Docket Management Facility at the address under                         **ADDRESSES**                         explaining why one would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the                         **Federal Register**                        .                     

## Background and Purpose 

Section 4115 of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), (Pub. L. 101-380, August 18, 1990) amended Title 46, United States Code (U.S.C.), by adding a new section 3703a. This section contains the double hull requirements and phase-out schedule for single hull tank vessels operating in U.S. waters. It requires an owner to remove a single hull tank vessel from bulk oil service on a specific date, depending on the vessel's gross tonnage, build date, and hull configuration. The phase-out schedule allows more years of service for single hull tank vessels that have been configured to include double sides or a double bottom than for ones without these hull configurations. 

The OPA 90 timetable for double hull requirements for single hull tank vessels is set out in 33 CFR part 157, Appendix G. Neither OPA 90 nor our regulations address if, or when, a vessel owner can convert a single hull tank vessel to include only double sides or only a double bottom to change its phase-out date. As a result, some vessel owners asked the Coast Guard to clarify the types of vessel conversions permitted and their associated effect on phase-out dates. 

                        The Coast Guard published a request for comments on this issue in the                         **Federal Register**                         (63 FR 63768) on November 16, 1998. The notice encouraged interested persons to provide written comments, information, opinions and arguments on whether single hull tank vessels that were converted to add double sides or a double bottom should use the newer hull configuration for determining their OPA 90 phase-out date. The comment period ended on January 15, 1999, and there were 32 submissions to the docket.                     

                        After reviewing the comments received, the Coast Guard published a notice of policy in the                         **Federal Register**                         (64 FR 19575) on April 21, 1999. The notice stated that changing the hull configuration of a single hull tank vessel to a single hull tank vessel with only double sides or only a double bottom after August 18, 1990, would not result in a change to the tank vessel's original phase-out date required by 46 U.S.C. 3703a. The notice also stated that a rulemaking would be initiated to make appropriate changes to the double hull regulations in 33 CFR part 157 and that we would revise Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 10-94, consistent with this policy.                     

On October 9, 1999, the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriation Act of 2000 (Pub. L. 106-69 (113 Stat. 986) was enacted. Section 344 of the Act prohibits the Coast Guard from obligating or expending funds to grant extensions of existing single hull tank vessels' phase-out dates under 46 U.S.C. 3703a. This legislation is consistent with our April 21, 1999, policy statement and requires no change to that policy. 

## Discussion of Proposed Rule 

                        The Coast Guard proposes to revise two notes to the regulations presently in 33 CFR part 157. The first note follows § 157.10d(a)(4). The second note is at the end of the phase-out schedule in 33 CFR part 157, Appendix G. Both notes would state that an existing single hull tank vessel's configuration (                        *i.e.,*                        single hull; single hull with double sides; or single hull with a double bottom) on                         Start Printed Page 2813                        August 18, 1990, is the configuration to be used to determine the vessel's phase-out date under the statute. Conversion of a single hull vessel with no double hull attributes, by adding only double sides or only a double bottom after that date cannot be used to calculate a different single hull tank vessel phase-out date.                     

If a single hull tank vessel was originally constructed with only double sides or only a double bottom and you converted that tank vessel by adding a full double hull that met the requirements of 33 CFR 157.10d, the converted vessel would then be considered a double hull tank vessel. The new double hull tank vessel would no longer be subject to the phase-out requirements of 33 CFR part 157, Appendix G. A conversion to a double hull tank vessel which meets the requirements of § 157.10d, is not considered an exemption, exception, or waiver of the phase-out requirements of OPA 90 for single hull tank vessels. 

                        The proposed notes do not change the affect of the definition of                         *major conversion*                         in 33 CFR 157.03. The alteration of a single hull tank vessel with only double sides or only a double bottom is not a major conversion. Nor do these types of conversions affect the original phase-out date of a single hull tank vessel in 33 CFR part 157, Appendix G. The alteration of a single hull tank vessel to be completely double hulled is not a major conversion. After conversion to a double hull meeting the requirements of 33 CFR part 157, the tank vessel would no longer be subject to the single hull tank vessel phase-out schedule of 33 CFR part 157, Appendix G.                     

The Coast Guard requests your comments on these proposed notes and your recommendations for other amendments to 33 CFR part 157 necessary to ensure clarity of this issue.  

## Regulatory Evaluation 

This proposed rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order. It is not “significant” under the regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26, 1979). 

Since this action clarifies the Coast Guard's existing regulatory requirements and does not alter our previous policy on OPA 90 phase-out requirements, we expect no economic impact from this proposed rule and a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 

## Small Entities 

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we considered whether this proposed rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term “small entities” comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000. 

                        The Coast Guard reviewed the effects of this enforcement policy when publishing its notice in the                         **Federal Register**                         (64 FR 19575) on April 21, 1999. It is expected that this policy will not alter the impact to small entities or any other entity affected by the original OPA 90 phase-out requirements in 33 CFR part 157, Appendix G. No single hull tank vessel owned by a small entity or any other entity has been given an extension of its phase-out period by the Coast Guard after August 18, 1990, due to adding a double bottom or double sides to an existing single hull configuration.                     

                        Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment to the Docket Management Facility at the address under                         **ADDRESSES.**                         In your comment, explain why you think it qualifies and how and to what degree this rule would economically affect it.                     

## Assistance for Small Entities 

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small entities in understanding this proposed rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please consult with: Mr. Bob Gauvin, Project Manager, Office of Operating and Environmental Standards, Commandant (G-MSO-2), U.S. Coast Guard, at 202-267-1053, by facsimile 202-267-4570, or by email at rgauvin@comdt.uscg.mil. 

Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247). 

## Collection of Information 

This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). 

## Federalism 

                        We have analyzed this proposed rule under E.O. 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order. This proposed rule does not change the statutory phase-out dates prescribed by OPA 90 for single hull tank vessels. It clarifies the Coast Guard's policy on whether a vessel can change its category on the schedule for double-hull compliance under OPA 90, but does not change the substantive effect of the existing regulations. This proposed rule would effect no change in the current requirements on State or local governments, which are preempted by operation of law from regulating the design and construction of tank vessels. See                         *Ray*                         v.                         *ARCO*, 435 U.S. 151 (1978). This rule does not impose any direct cost of compliance on State or local governments.                     

## Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those costs. This proposed rule would not impose an unfunded mandate. 

## Taking of Private Property 

                        This proposed rule would not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under E.O. 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.                         Start Printed Page 2814

## Civil Justice Reform 

This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. 

## Protection of Children 

We have analyzed this proposed rule under E.O. 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children. 

## Environment 

                        We considered the environmental impact of this proposed rule and concluded that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not necessary. The regulatory clarifications proposed by this rule do not change the original assessment to the environment completed when the OPA 90 phase-out regulations in 33 CFR 157 were published. The policy implemented by this proposal is consistent with the Coast Guard's actions of the OPA 90 phase-out schedule since its enactment on August 18, 1990. We are, therefore, relying upon that Environmental Assessment (EA) which together with a new draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are available in the docket where indicated under                         **ADDRESSES.**                         We request comments on our EA and draft FONSI.                     

# List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 157

- Cargo vessels
- Oil pollution
- Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR part 157 as follows: 

# PART 157—RULES FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT RELATING TO TANK VESSELS CARRYING OIL IN BULK 

1. The authority citation for part 157 continues to read as follows: 

Authority:33 U.S.C. 1903; 46 U.S.C. 3703, 3703a (note); 49 CFR 1.46. Subparts G, H, and I are also issued under section 4115(b), Pub. L. 101-380, 104 Stat. 520; Pub. L. 104-55, 109 Stat. 546. 

2. Revise the note to § 157.10d(a)(4) to read as follows: 

§ 157.10d 

(a) *** 

(4) *** 

# Note:

                                     The double hull compliance dates of 46 U.S.C. 3703a(c) are set out in appendix G to this part. To determine a tank vessel's double hull compliance date under OPA 90, use the vessel's hull configuration (                                    *i.e.,*                                     single hull; single hull with double sides; or single hull with double bottom) on August 18, 1990.                                

* * * * *

3. Revise the note at the end of Appendix G to read as follows: 

## APPENDIX G—TIMETABLES FOR APPLICATION OF DOUBLE HULL REQUIREMENTS 

* * * * *

# Note:

                                     Double sides and double bottoms must meet the requirements in § 157.10d(c) or (d), as appropriate. A vessel will be considered to have a single hull if it does not have double sides and a double bottom that meet the requirements in § 157.10d(c) and § 157.10d(d). To determine a tank vessel's double hull compliance date under OPA 90, use the vessel's hull configuration (                                    *i.e.,*                                    single hull; single hull with double sides; or single hull with double bottom) on August 18, 1990. The conversion of a single hull tank vessel to include only double sides or only a double bottom after August 18, 1990, will not result in a change of the vessel's originally scheduled phase-out date.                                

The conversion of a single hull tank vessel to a double hull tank vessel meeting the requirements of § 157.10d complies with OPA 90. 

Dated: January 10, 2000. 

R. C. North, 

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection. 

[FR Doc. 00-1028 Filed 1-14-00; 8:45 am] 

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