Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 20 / Thursday, January 30, 1997 / Notices 4567

[CGD 95–003]

Prevention Through People

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings with request

for comments.

SUMMARY: On January 13, 1995, the

Coast Guard published a notice (60 FR

3288) concerning the formation of a

Quality Action Team (QAT) to address

the human element in marine accidents.

From the report issued by this QAT, the

docket, [additional comments through

public contacts], workshops, and the

Coast Guard advisory committees, a

strategic plan for Prevention Through

People (PTP) has been developed. The

Coast Guard will hold four public

meetings to discuss the PTP Strategic

Plan. The Coast Guard would also like

to solicit comments on specific topics as

listed below. The meetings will be held

on the dates and at the locations listed

below.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

section for details on the meeting dates

and comment deadlines.

ADDRESSES: See SUPPLEMENTARY

INFORMATION section for meeting

addresses and the address for mailing

public comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

CDR Mark G. VanHaverbeke, Human

Element and Ship Design Division (G–

MSE–1), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,

2100 Second Street SW., Washington,

DC 20593–0001, telephone 202–267–

2997, fax 202–267–4816, email fldrhe@comdt.uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

Over the years several studies have

determined that the human element

contributes to between 60 and 95

percent of marine casualties. The QAT

issued its report in July 1995. They

recommended the Coast Guard develop

a long-term strategy to refocus accident

prevention efforts from technical

measures to the human element. PTP

recognizes the critical role the human

element plays in maritime safety. The

PTP concept asserts that safe and

profitable operations require a

systematic approach toward the

constant and balanced interaction

between the elements of management,

the work environment, individual

behavior, and appropriate technology. A

systematic approach compels us to

consider the interaction between these

elements based on a solid foundation of

rules, regulations, and standards. PTP

strives to bring together government and

industry in making this cultural change.

It relies upon cooperation, innovation,

and most importantly—people.

The Coast Guard developed the PTP

Strategic Plan based on input from the

marine industry and the findings of the

PTP QAT. Supporting the PTP Strategic

Plan is a Coast Guard focused

implementing plan. Both plans are

available by contracting the person

listed above under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT. The PTP Strategic

Plan outlines the framework that an

organization can use to build its own

PTP program and develop its own

implementation plan. The three major

elements of the PTP Strategic Plan are

the PTP vision, principles, and goals.

First, the vision is an idealized view

of the future state of where the entire

maritime industry would like to be in

the future. It reads, ‘‘We will achieve the

world’s safest, most environmentally

sound and cost-effective marine

operations by emphasizing the role of

people in preventing casualties and

pollution.’’ The vision is ambitious, yet

achievable if we work together. It also

inspires action by the Coast Guard,

other government agencies, maritime

unions, and industry.

Second, the principles establish the

values and philosophy that will guide

the actions of us all as we each

implement PTP. The principles are:

1. Honor the Mariner—Seek and

respect the opinion of those who ‘‘do

the work,’’ afloat and ashore.

2. Take a Quality Approach—Engage

all elements of the marine

transportation system to drive

continuous improvements.

3. Seek Non-Regulatory Solutions—

Emphasize incentives and innovation.

4. Share Commitment—Recognize and

act upon the responsibility of

government, management and workers

to foster a safe and environmentally

sound marine transportation system.

5. Manage Risk—Apply cost-effective

solutions to marine safety and

environmental issues, consistent with

our shared public stewardship

responsibilities.

Third, the goals describe the changes

required to achieve the PTP vision. The

goals are to:

1. Know More—Significantly expand

our knowledge and understanding of the

human element and its role in maritime

operations and accidents.

2. Train More—Give members of the

marine community the necessary skills

and knowledge to improve safety and

prevent pollution.

3. Do More—Improve professional

performance through a practical

application and open communication of

human element knowledge within the

marine community including Coast

Guard and maritime personnel.

4. Offer More—Provide incentives for

improvement in safety management

systems.

5. Cooperate More—Work together to

address the human element in

transportation safety and pollution

prevention.

Our PTP Implementation Plan is an

internal, working document that

contains the objectives and activities

required to meet the PTP goals. Other

organizations, such as marine

companies and maritime unions, can

use the Coast Guard’s Implementation

Plan as a guide to create their own.

A synopsis of the ongoing projects

include:

1. Demonstrating the financial

benefits of implementing PTP.

2. Redirecting Coast Guard education,

training, and job recruitment to focus on

understanding human error.

3. Creating avenues to share analyses,

best practices, and lessons-learned.

4. Establishing a Streamlined

Inspection Program.

5. Executing partnerships with

maritime organizations including the

American Waterways Operators (AWO),

the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA),

the United States Chamber of Shipping

(USCS), and the American Petroleum

Institute (API).

6. Developing ways to identify and

test practical solutions to fatigue related

issues.

7. Implementing the International

Safety Management (ISM) Code and

changes to the Standards for Training,

Certification, and Watchkeeping

Convention (STCW).

8. Providing guidance on the use of

risk assessment and risk reduction

procedures.

These and other projects will bring us

closer to the vision of PTP.

Comments

The Coast Guard is soliciting feedback

on the following areas. Please provide

specific examples whenever possible.

Please submit two copies of all

comments and attachments in an

unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 × 11

inches, suitable for copying and

electronic filing. Please identify the

docket by the docket number at the top

of this notice. Comments should be sent

to Public Docket, Room 3406, U.S. Coast

Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street

SW., Washington, DC 20593–0001. The

deadline for comments is May 30, 1997.

Comments will not be taken over the

phone.

1. Lessons Learned and NearAccidents. How do companies and

mariners gather information on near-
4568 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 20 / Thursday, January 30, 1997 / Notices

accidents and the resulting lessons

learned? What methods have proven

successful? What methods have failed?

Why? How is this information

disseminated either aboard ship or

throughout the company? How have the

issues of liability and fear of retribution

been addressed?

2. Partnerships. Please share company

experiences with intra-industry, interindustry, and industry/government

partnerships. What has been your

company’s experience working with a

shared VTS system and/or a port safety

committee?

3. Management. Recognizing that the

International Safety Management Code

is voluntary for the domestic fleet, are

you aware of any specific managementdriven initiatives designed to foster

focus on human element issues? What

have been the results of these

initiatives?

4. Cost of Safety. How is safety costeffective in your company? What is the

value of safety? What factors were used

to measure the value of safety? How do

these costs compare with the benefits

you are realizing?

5. Fatigue. Please share company

experience with fatigue. What

countermeasures have proven

successful against fatigue?

6. Information sharing. How is

information shared between industries

(i.e. between tankers and cargo ships)?

How is it shared between companies

within an industry?

7. Waterway Management. Please

identify low cost/no cost safety

solutions that can be applied to increase

overall confidence in America’s ports

and waterways.

Public Meeting

Attendance is open to the public.

With advance notice, and as time

permits, members of the public may

make oral presentations during the

meetings. Persons wishing to make oral

presentations should notify the person

listed above under FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT no later than the

day before the meetings. Written

material may be submitted prior to,

during, or after the meetings. The Coast

Guard is not required to address the

comments at the public meetings.

The meetings will be held:

1. New Orleans—February 25, 1997,

3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at the Hyatt

Regency Hotel, Loyola Ave. & Poydras

Plaza, New Orleans, LA 70140–1012.

2. Oakland—February 28, 1997, 9:00

a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Oakland Federal

Building, Third Floor Conference

Center, 1301 Clay Street, Oakland, CA

94612.

3. St. Louis—March 26, 1997, 1:00

p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Robert A.

Young Federal Building, Second Floor

Auditorium, 1222 Spruce St., St. Louis,

MO 63103.

4. Providence, RI—April 18, 1997,

12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Because the

meeting site is not yet determined,

persons wishing to attend this meeting

should contact the person listed above

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT for information about the

meeting location.

Information on Services for the

Handicapped

Contact CDR VanHaverbeke for

information on facilities or services for

the handicapped or to request special

assistance at the meetings as soon as

possible.

Dated: January 24, 1997.

J.C. Card,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant

Commandant for Marine Safety and

Environmental Protection.

[FR Doc. 97–2342 Filed 1–29–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–14–M

Federal Railroad Administration

[FRA Emergency Order No. 14, Notice No.

4]

Eureka Southern Railroad Company

(a.k.a. Northwestern Pacific Railroad);

Notice of Limited Relief From

Emergency Order No. 14

AGENCY: Federal Railroad

Administration, Department of

Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of partial relief.

SUMMARY: This notice provides partial

relief for the Northwestern Pacific

Railroad (formerly the Eureka Southern

Railroad) from the limitations of Federal

Railroad Administration Emergency

Order No. 14. The relief allows the

railroad, using specified procedures, to

transport hazardous materials when the

transportation is necessary for the

railroad to effect repairs on the railroad.

Transportation of hazardous materials

for other purposes, as well as passenger

transportation, remain prohibited.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

James T. Schultz, Regional

Administrator, Region 7, Federal

Railroad Administration, 801 I Street,

Suite 466, Sacramento, California

95814, (916) 498–6540; or Nancy

Lummen Lewis, Trial Attorney, Office

of Chief Counsel, Federal Railroad

Administration, 400 Seventh Street,

S.W., Washington, D.C., (202) 632–3162.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)

gives notice of limited relief granted to

the Eureka Southern Railroad Company,

now known as the Northwestern Pacific

Railroad (NWP), from certain conditions

of this emergency order. This relief will

permit the NWP to transport hazardous

materials, under circumstances

specified in this notice, over its line of

track between Willits and Fort Seward,

California (milepost 145.5 to milepost

216.6).

Background

As issued June 7, 1990, this

emergency order prohibited Eureka

Southern Railroad Company from

operating passenger service and from

transporting hazardous materials on its

line between Willits and Eureka,

California (milepost 142.5 to milepost

284.1). On October 1, 1990, FRA

published notice that the emergency

conditions no longer existed between

mileposts 142.5 and 145.5, and between

mileposts 216.6 and 284.1. The

restrictions of the emergency order were

lifted on those areas of track. In a third

notice, published November 27, 1992,

FRA stated that the prohibitions of the

emergency order for the remaining track

continued in effect for the new owner of

the Eureka Southern Railroad, the North

Coast Railroad Authority. The North

Coast Railroad Authority operates the

NWP.

In July, 1996, the NWP requested that

FRA allow the railroad to transport fuel

oil to contractors performing work on

the NWP right-of-way within the

restricted area. The fuel oil is needed for

railroad internal use to service heavy

earth moving equipment. There exists

no other means of access to these work

areas.

Following investigations conducted

by FRA, I conclude that the relief

requested by NWP is necessary to

facilitate the railroad’s efforts to

maintain and improve its trackage. The

relief requested is in the interest of

railroad safety.

Relief

NWP may transport over its rail line

between Willits and Fort Seward,

California materials required by 49 CFR

parts 171–179 to be placarded as

hazardous under the following terms

and conditions:

(1) The material(s) must be for the

internal use only by NWP for

construction, maintenance and

operation of the railroad.

(2) Any movement of the material(s)

shall be transported by special train,

operated solely for that purpose.

(3) Maximum speed of train

movements of the material(s) shall be 10