[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 14, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78056-78057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25025]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2010-1066]


Recreational Boating Safety Projects, Programs, and Activities 
Funded Under Provisions of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act; 
Fiscal Year 2023

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to satisfy a 
requirement of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that requires 
a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded 
under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the 
Act be published annually in the Federal Register. This notice 
specifies the funding amounts the Coast Guard has committed, obligated, 
or expended during fiscal year 2023, as of September 30, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this notice please 
contact Mr. Jeff Decker, U.S. Coast Guard, Regulations Development 
Manager, (202) 372-1507 or mailto: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9dcfdfced4f3fbf2dde8eefefab3f0f4f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="277565746e4941486752544440094a4e4b">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background and Purpose

    Since 1998, Congress has passed a series of laws providing funding 
for projects, programs, and activities funded under the national 
recreational boating safety program, which is administered by the U.S. 
Coast Guard. On November 15, 2021, the Infrastructure Investment and 
Jobs Act (Pub. L. 117-58, Sec. 28001) set aside funding for Coast Guard 
administration, which for fiscal year 2023 was $13.835 million. Of 
that, not less than $2.1 million shall be made available to ensure 
compliance with chapter 43 of title 46, U.S. Code, and not more than 
$1.5 million is available to conduct by grant or contract a survey of 
levels of recreational boating participation and related matters in the 
United States.
    These funds are available to the Secretary from the Sport Fish 
Restoration and Boating Trust Fund (Trust Fund) established under 26 
U.S.C. 9504(a) for payment of Coast Guard expenses for personnel and 
activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the 
national recreational boating safety program. Amounts made available 
under this subsection remain available during the two succeeding fiscal 
years. Any amount that is unexpended or unobligated at the end of the 
three-year period during which it is available shall be withdrawn by 
the Secretary and allocated to the States in addition to any other 
amounts available for allocation in the fiscal year in which they are 
withdrawn or the following fiscal year.
    Use of these funds requires compliance with standard Federal 
contracting rules with associated lead and processing times resulting 
in a lag time between available funds and spending. The total amount of 
funding transferred to the Coast Guard from the Trust Fund, and 
committed, obligated, and/or expended during fiscal year 2023 for each 
project is shown below.

Specific Accounting of Funds

    The total amount of funding transferred to the Coast Guard from the 
Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and committed, obligated, 
and/or expended during fiscal year 2023 for each project is shown in 
the chart below.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Project                    Description             Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
46 U.S.C. 43 Compliance:         Provided for                 $2,484,350
 Inspection Program/Boat          continuance of the
 Testing Program.                 national recreational
                                  boat compliance
                                  inspection program,
                                  which began in January
                                  2001.
46 U.S.C. 43 Compliance: Staff   Provided for 3                  558,743
 Salaries.                        personnel to oversee
                                  manufacturer
                                  compliance with 46
                                  U.S.C. 43 requirements.
46 U.S.C. 43 Compliance: Staff   Provided for travel by           66,009
 Travel.                          employees of the
                                  Boating Safety
                                  Division to oversee
                                  manufacturer
                                  compliance with 46
                                  U.S.C. 43 requirements.

[[Page 78057]]

 
Administrative Overhead........  Provide for supplies             58,485
                                  and materials to
                                  support the RBS
                                  Program.
Boating Accident Report          Provided for                    456,128
 Database (BARD) Web System.      maintaining the BARD
                                  Web System, which
                                  enables reporting
                                  authorities in the 50
                                  States, five U.S.
                                  Territories, and the
                                  District of Columbia
                                  to submit their
                                  accident reports
                                  electronically over a
                                  secure Internet
                                  connection.
National Boating Safety          Provided for travel              17,751
 Advisory Committee.              performed by NBSAC
                                  members, meeting room
                                  costs and
                                  administrative costs
                                  to support the NBSAC.
Contract Personnel Support.....  Provided contract             1,285,012
                                  personnel to conduct
                                  boating safety-related
                                  research and analysis.
Grant Management Training......  Provided to facilitate           53,726
                                  staff training on new
                                  grant management
                                  requirements.
Recreational Boating Safety      Provided for travel by          168,419
 Program Travel.                  employees of the
                                  Boating Safety
                                  Division to gather
                                  background and
                                  planning information
                                  for new recreational
                                  boating safety
                                  initiatives.
Reimbursable Salaries..........  Provided for 18               3,776,451
                                  personnel directly
                                  related to
                                  coordinating and
                                  carrying out the
                                  national recreational
                                  boating safety program.
National Recreational Boating    Provided for collecting       1,500,000
 Survey.                          data to support the
                                  National Recreational
                                  Boating Survey.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Of the $13.835 million made available to the Coast Guard in fiscal 
year 2023, $0 has been committed, obligated, or expended and an 
additional $10.425 million of prior fiscal year funds have been 
committed, obligated, or expended, as of September 30, 2023. The 
remainder of the FY22 and FY23 funds made available to the Coast Guard 
(approximately $20.345 million) may be retained for the allowable 
period for the National Recreational Boating Survey, the expected 
reengineering of the Boating Accident and Reporting Database, and other 
projects, or it may be transferred into the pool of money available for 
allocation through the state grant program.

Authority

    This notice is issued pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552 and 46 U.S.C. 
13107(c)(4).

Amy M. Beach,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-25025 Filed 11-13-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


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