74366 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 177 / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Notices 

grants/rural-transportation-assistanceprogram-5311b3. 

Veronica Vanterpool, 

Acting Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20655 Filed 9–11–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–57–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Maritime Administration 

[Docket Number MARAD–2018–0088] 

Centers of Excellence for Domestic 

Maritime Workforce Training and 

Education; Notice of Opportunity To 

Apply for Designation 

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, 

Department of Transportation. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The National Defense 

Authorization Act of 2018 (the Act) 

provided the Secretary of 

Transportation with the discretionary 

authority to designate qualified entities 

as Centers of Excellence (CoEs). CoE 

designations serve to assist the maritime 

industry in obtaining and maintaining 

the highest quality workforce. Upon the 

Secretary’s approval, twenty-seven 

institutions were designated on May 19, 

2021; thirty-two applicants were 

designated on February 22, 2024. The 

purpose of this notice is to solicit 

applications from qualified training 

entities for the next round of CoE 

designations. A Center of Excellence 

designation is valid for five years. 

DATES: Applications, including all 

supporting information and documents, 

must be submitted by 8:00 p.m. E.T. on 

November 12, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: A training entity seeking 

designation as a CoE may submit 

applications, including all supporting 

information and documents, by email to 

CoEDMWTE@dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Gerard Wall, Centers of Excellence for 

Domestic Maritime Workforce Training 

and Education (CoE) Program Manager, 

via electronic mail at gerard.wall@

dot.gov or call 202–366–7273. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 

3507 of the FY 2018 NDAA provided 

authority to the Secretary to designate 

qualified entities as CoEs. This authority 

is codified at 46 U.S.C. 51706. 

Following the enactment of the FY 2018 

NDAA, MARAD developed a procedure 

to recommend to the Secretary the 

designation of eligible institutions as 

CoEs. Section 3532 of the FY 2023 

NDAA, enacted on December 23, 2022, 

revised the criteria for CoE designations 

by amending the definition of ‘‘covered 

training entity.’’ MARAD revised its CoE 

designation procedure to conform to the 

amended CoE criteria in the FY 2023 

NDAA. 

46 U.S.C. 51706(c)(1)(B), provides that 

a ‘‘covered training entity’’ includes (i) 

a postsecondary educational institution; 

(ii) a postsecondary vocational 

institution; (iii) a public or private 

nonprofit entity that offers one or more 

other structured experiential learning 

training programs for United States 

maritime industry, including a program 

that is offered by a labor organization or 

conducted in partnership with a 

nonprofit organization or one or more 

employers in the United States maritime 

industry; (iv) an entity sponsoring a 

registered apprenticeship program; or 

(v) a maritime training center designated 

prior to the date of enactment of the FY 

2023 NDAA. As reflected in the 

definition of ‘‘covered training entity’’ 

in the Key Terms section of this notice, 

to be eligible for CoE designation, an 

entity must meet one of the criteria 

under clauses (i) through (v) of 46 

U.S.C.51706(C)(1)(B). 

Qualified training entities seeking to 

be designated as CoEs should apply to 

MARAD. MARAD developed policy to 

provide interested parties with 

comprehensive agency guidance on how 

to apply for CoE designation and how 

the CoE program will be administered. 

Applications should include 

information to demonstrate that the 

applicant institution meets certain 

requirements, selection criteria, and 

qualitative attributes consistent with 

section 3532 of the FY 2023 NDAA. 

The MARAD application procedure 

and program details are listed below 

and are also available to the public on 

its website at https://

www.maritime.dot.gov/education/ 

maritime-centers-excellence. 

Prior Federal Action 

Multiple Federal Register Notices 

were published between May 2018 and 

March 2020 seeking and responding to 

public comment on the proposed CoE 

designation policy. All unabridged 

comments are available for review 

electronically at www.regulations.gov by 

searching DOT Docket ‘‘MARAD–2018– 

0088’’ or by visiting the DOT Docket, 

Room PL–401, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 

SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

for Federal Holidays. 

On March 06, 2020, MARAD 

published its final CoE designation 

policy in the Federal Register (85 FR 

13231). Subsequently, MARAD issued a 

notice in the Federal Register (85 FR 

67599) on October 23, 2020, entitled 

Center of Excellence for Domestic 

Maritime Workforce: Notice of 

Opportunity to Apply for Training and 

Education Designation, and on the 

MARAD website at 

www.MARAD.dot.gov, requesting 

applications from qualified training 

entities seeking to be designated as a 

CoE. The application period closed on 

December 22, 2020. Thirty applications 

for designation were received. Upon the 

Secretary’s approval, twenty-seven 

institutions were designated on May 19, 

2021, as 2021 CoEs. 

On July 19, 2022, MARAD issued a 

notice in the Federal Register (87 FR 

43103), entitled Center of Excellence for 

Domestic Maritime Workforce: Notice of 

Opportunity to Apply for Training and 

Education Designation, and on the 

MARAD website at 

www.MARAD.dot.gov, to solicit 

applications from qualified training 

entities for CoE designation. The 

application period closed on September 

19, 2022. Thirty-six applications for 

designation were received. However, 

before MARAD could complete final 

agency action on these applications, 

Congress enacted the FY 2023 NDAA, 

which amended the CoE designation 

criteria and required MARAD to 

terminate action on the 2022 

applications. 

On July 20, 2023, MARAD issued a 

notice in the Federal Register (88 FR 

46829), entitled Center of Excellence for 

Domestic Maritime Workforce: 

Designation Policy Update and Notice of 

Opportunity to Apply for Designation 

for 2023, and on the MARAD website at 

www.MARAD.dot.gov, to announce 

termination of agency action on the 

2022 applications, issue an updated CoE 

designation policy conforming to the FY 

2023 NDAA, and to solicit applications 

from qualified training entities for the 

next round of CoE designations. The 

application period closed on September 

18, 2023. Thirty-two of the thirty-four 

entities that submitted applications 

were designated as CoEs on February 

22, 2024. 

The purpose of this notice is to solicit 

applications from qualified training 

entities under the FY 2023 NDAA for 

the next round of CoE designation. A 

Center of Excellence designation is valid 

for five years. 

Applicant Assistance 

To assist applicants to be designated 

as a CoE please find below MARAD’s 

policy to include recommendations on 

how best to apply. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 177 / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Notices 74367 

MARAD Center of Excellence for 

Domestic Maritime Workforce Training 

and Education Designation Policy 

This policy describes the process 

through which MARAD will exercise its 

discretionary authority to designate 

CoEs in accordance with the FY 2023 

NDAA. 

How To Be Designated a Center of 

Excellence for Domestic Maritime 

Workforce Training and Education 

Introduction 

The Secretary of Transportation, 

acting through the Maritime 

Administrator, may designate certain 

eligible and qualified training entities as 

CoEs. MARAD has developed the CoE 

Program to provide interested parties 

with comprehensive agency guidance 

on how best to apply for CoE 

designation. However, conformity with 

this CoE applicant guidance, except 

where explicit in the statute, is 

voluntary only. MARAD will review 

and consider all applications it receives 

and may contact applicants with 

questions to assist in reviewing their 

applications. The CoE Program is a 

voluntary program. Each training entity 

is free to decide whether it wishes to 

participate in the program and apply for 

a CoE designation. Applications should 

include information to demonstrate that 

the applicant institution meets certain 

criteria, designation requirements, and 

attributes consistent with 46 U.S.C. 

51706. 

Key Terms 

The following list of key terms are 

either directly taken from the statute or 

have been developed by MARAD or 

from comments received from the 

public during our earlier notice and 

comment period. The list is intended to 

assist applicants by providing context 

and insight into the approval process. If 

you believe that your institution 

qualifies for CoE designee status under 

an alternate interpretation or by 

qualifications not otherwise clearly 

articulated in the statute, your 

application should include a cogent 

justification for any such alternative and 

it will be given due consideration 

during our review. 

1. ‘‘Afloat career’’ is a term developed 

by MARAD to mean a career as a 

merchant mariner compensated for 

service aboard a vessel in the U.S. 

Maritime Industry. 

2. ‘‘Ashore career’’ is a term 

developed by MARAD to mean a shorebased compensated occupation in the 

United States Maritime Industry. 

3. ‘‘Covered training entity’’ means an 

entity that— 

(A) is located in a State that borders 

on the— 

(i) Gulf of Mexico, 

(ii) Atlantic Ocean, 

(iii) Long Island Sound, 

(iv) Pacific Ocean, 

(v) Great Lakes, or 

(vi) Mississippi River System. 

(B) is— 

i. a postsecondary educational 

institution (as such term is defined in 

section 3(39) of the Carl D. Perkins 

Career and Technical Education Act of 

2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302) with an 

established maritime training program 

as part of its curriculum. 

ii. a postsecondary vocational 

institution (as such term is defined in 

section 102(c) of the Higher Education 

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(c) with an 

established maritime training program 

as part of its curriculum. 

iii. a public or private nonprofit entity 

that offers one or more other structured 

experiential learning training programs 

for United States workers in the United 

States maritime industry, including a 

program that is offered by a labor 

organization or conducted in 

partnership with a nonprofit 

organization or one or more employers 

in the United States maritime industry. 

iv. an entity sponsoring an 

apprenticeship program registered with 

the Office of Apprenticeship of the 

Employment and Training 

Administration of the Department of 

Labor or a State apprenticeship agency 

recognized by the Office of 

Apprenticeship pursuant to the Act of 

August 16, 1937 (commonly known as 

the ‘National Apprenticeship Act’; 50 

Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50; or 

v. A maritime training center 

designated prior to the date of 

enactment of the FY 2023 NDAA. 

(C) has a demonstrated record of 

success in maritime workforce training 

and education and 

(D) has— 

(i) not been subject to a disciplinary 

or adverse administrative action by 

Federal, State, or other regulatory 

bodies; 

(ii) no unresolved nonconformities 

from administrative audits by regulatory 

bodies; and 

(iii) not been subject to any adverse 

criminal action by a Federal, State, or 

local law enforcement authority. 

4. ‘‘Mississippi River System’’ is 

interpreted by MARAD to mean the 

mostly riverine network of the United 

States which includes the Mississippi 

River, and all connecting waterways, 

natural tributaries and distributaries. 

The system includes the Arkansas, 

Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Red, Allegheny, 

Tennessee, Wabash and Atchafalaya 

rivers. Important connecting waterways 

include the Illinois Waterway, the 

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, and 

the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. 

5. ‘‘Postsecondary educational 

institution’’ means— 

(A) an institution of higher education, 

as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001, that 

provides not less than a 2-year program 

of instruction that is acceptable for 

credit toward a bachelor’s degree. 

(B) a tribally controlled college or 

university; or 

(C) a nonprofit educational institution 

offering certificate or other skilled 

training programs at the postsecondary 

level. 

6. ‘‘Postsecondary vocational 

institution’’ means a postsecondary 

vocational institution as defined in 20 

U.S.C. 1002(c). 

7. ‘‘State’’ is interpreted by MARAD to 

mean a State of the United States, the 

District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto 

Rico, the Virgin Islands, American 

Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, 

and any other territory or possession of 

the United States. 

8. ‘‘Training program means a 

program that provides training services, 

as described in section 134(c)(3)(D) of 

the Workforce Innovation and 

Opportunity Act (Pub. L. 113–128; 29 

U.S.C. 3174). 

9. ‘‘United States maritime industry’’ 

(as such term is defined in 46 U.S.C 

51706(c)(6) means the design, 

construction, repair, operation, 

manning, and supply of vessels in all 

segments of the maritime transportation 

system of the United States, including: 

(A) the domestic and foreign trade; 

(B) the coastal, offshore, and inland 

trade; 

(C) non-commercial maritime 

activities, including— 

(i) recreational boating; and 

(ii) oceanographic and limnological 

research as described in 46 U.S.C 

2101(24). 

Applicant Information 

1. Who is eligible to apply for 

designation as a center of excellence for 

domestic maritime workforce training 

and education (CoE)? 

Participation in the CoE program is 

entirely voluntary for a covered training 

entity. A covered training entity is not 

required to seek a CoE designation. 

Under the statute, a covered training 

entity that provides training and 

education for the domestic maritime 

workforce may apply so long as it meets 

the following criteria: 

a. The entity is located in a State that 

borders on at least one of the following 

bodies of water: 


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1. Gulf of Mexico, 

2. Atlantic Ocean, 

3. Long Island Sound, 

4. Pacific Ocean, 

5. Great Lakes, or 

6. Mississippi River System. 

b. The entity has a demonstrated 

record of success in maritime workforce 

training and education; and 

c. The entity is: 

1. A postsecondary educational 

institution; or 

2. A postsecondary vocational 

institution; or 

3. A public or private nonprofit entity 

that offers one or more other structured 

experiential learning training programs 

for United States workers in the United 

States maritime industry, including a 

program that is offered by a labor 

organization or conducted in 

partnership with a nonprofit 

organization or one or more employers 

in the United States maritime industry; 

or 

4. An entity sponsoring an 

apprenticeship program registered with 

the Office of Apprenticeship of the 

Employment and Training 

Administration of the Department of 

Labor or a State apprenticeship agency 

recognized by the Office of 

Apprenticeship pursuant to the Act of 

August 16, 1937 (commonly known as 

the ‘National Apprenticeship Act’; 50 

Stat. 664, chapter 663; 29 U.S.C. 50); or 

5. A maritime training center 

designated prior to the date of 

enactment of the FY 2023 NDAA; or 

6. A group of covered training entities 

that: 

i. Consists only of members that meet 

the eligibility criteria at (1)(a), 1(b) and 

one of the eligibility criteria listed 

at(1)(c)(1) through (1)(c)(4), and the 

selection criteria under (2); 

ii. Names a member of such group as 

a lead entity. The lead entity will serve 

as the primary point of contact with 

MARAD and will be responsible for all 

duties, including administrative, legal 

and financial, as related to the CoE 

designation. For example, the lead 

entity is responsible for submitting the 

CoE application, responding to any 

inquiries from MARAD, and 

coordinating and executing any 

cooperative agreements with MARAD; 

and 

iii. Has a legally binding agreement 

signed by all members. That agreement 

must include the name of the group, 

which will receive the CoE designation 

if one is granted and list the lead entity 

and its responsibilities consistent with 

(ii) of this section. 

2. How does MARAD interpret the 

selection criteria for CoE designation? 

I. Assuming no alternative 

qualifications are provided, MARAD 

will consider applicants eligible for 

designation if they can demonstrate 

compliance with all the following 

criteria: 

a. The academic programs offered by 

the entity include: 

1. One or more afloat career 

preparation tracks in the United States 

Maritime Industry, and/or 

2. One or more ashore career 

preparation tracks in the United States 

Maritime Industry. 

b. Applicant institutions offering 

afloat career and/or ashore career tracks 

have been accredited as follows: 

1. A postsecondary educational 

institution must hold current 

accreditation of the institution from a 

Regional Accreditation Agency or a 

Nationally Recognized Agency on the 

list of Accrediting Agencies approved 

by the U.S. Department of Education. 

2. A postsecondary vocational 

institution must hold current 

accreditation of the institution from a 

Regional Accreditation Agency or a 

Nationally Recognized Agency on the 

list of Accrediting Agencies approved 

by the U.S. Department of Education. 

3. A public or private non-profit 

entity that offers one or more other 

structured experiential learning training 

programs for United States workers in 

the United States maritime industry, 

including a program that is offered by a 

labor organization or conducted in 

partnership with a nonprofit 

organization or one or more employers 

in the United States maritime 

industry— 

ii. must have United States Coast 

Guard (USCG) approval of the mariner 

training program and mariner training 

courses offered by the institution, if 

applicable; or 

iii. must hold current accreditation of 

the maritime training program offered 

by the institution from one or more of 

the following: 

A. the State’s Department of 

Education or equivalent State agency; or 

B. employers in the United States 

maritime industry; or 

C. other appropriate external review 

body which is specifically authorized to 

review and validate post-secondary 

education programs and is acceptable to 

MARAD. 

4. An entity sponsoring a registered 

apprenticeship program must hold 

current accreditation from a State 

Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) in 

accordance with 29 CFR part 29. 

5. A maritime training center 

designated prior to the date of 

enactment of the FY 2023 NDAA must 

hold current accreditation— 

i. either of the institution, from a 

Regional Accreditation Agency or a 

Nationally Recognized Agency on the 

list of Accrediting Agencies approved 

by the U.S. Department of Education; or 

ii. of the maritime training program 

offered by the institution from either: 

A. the State Apprenticeship Agency 

(SAA) in accordance with 29 CFR part 

29, 

B. the State’s Department of 

Education or equivalent State agency, 

C. the United States Coast Guard 

(USCG), or 

D. other appropriate external review 

body which is specifically authorized to 

review and validate post-secondary 

education programs and is acceptable to 

MARAD. 

6. Each member of a Group must hold 

current accreditation according to each 

member’s corresponding eligibility 

category and the accreditation 

requirements outlined above in (I)(b)(1– 

5). 

c. As applicable, the applicant 

maintains USCG approval for the 

merchant mariner training program and/ 

or merchant mariner training course(s) 

offered by the institution. 

d. The applicant provides data and 

statistics to demonstrate record of 

success in maritime workforce training 

and education and institutional and/or 

program effectiveness. This should 

include, but is not limited to, 

recruitment data, past/current 

enrollment (trends), attrition rates, 

student program completion data, postprogram job and placement statistics (to 

the extent available to the institution), 

and program effectiveness feedback 

from students, faculty, alumni, and 

other stakeholders. 

e. As applicable, the applicant 

maintains authorization and/or 

endorsement of the program and/or 

course(s) by an applicable professional 

society or industry body (including, but 

not limited to Welding, Electrician, 

Electronics, Maritime Construction, 

Maritime Logistics, Maritime Systems, 

etc.) to issue industry accepted 

certifications that reflect professional 

recognition of the level of educational or 

technical skill achievement. 

II. Additional factors to be considered 

include the following qualitative 

attributes fostered by the institution: 

a. Supporting workforce needs of the 

local, state, or regional economy. 

b. Building Science, Technology, 

Engineering, and Math (STEM) 

competencies of local/future workforce 

through maritime programs to meet 

emerging local, regional, and national 

economic interests. 


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c. Promoting diversity, equity, 

inclusion, and accessibility within the 

institution, including among the student 

body, faculty, and staff. 

d. Offering a broad-based curriculum 

and stackable credentials where 

applicable. 

e. Engaging and/or collaborating with 

the maritime industry including, but not 

limited to employers, associations, and 

other industry organizations or partners. 

f. Engaging and/or collaborating with 

employer-led maritime training 

practices and programs through Sector 

Partnerships as authorized in the 2014 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 

Act Section 3 (26). 

g. Engaging and/or collaborating with 

local and regional maritime high 

schools or other high schools with 

maritime, maritime related, Career 

Technical Education (CTE) or STEM 

programs. 

h. Engaging and/or collaborating with 

maritime academies as appropriate and 

other applicable institutions or 

organizations for advanced proficiency 

and higher education; and 

i. Conducting other significant 

domestic maritime workforce 

development related activities. 

Implementation and Administration 

MARAD will evaluate the applicant’s 

supporting documentation and either 

approve or disapprove the request for 

designation. During the evaluation of 

the application and the supporting 

documentation, MARAD may request 

clarifications or additional information 

from the applicant. Upon approval, the 

Maritime Administrator or his/her 

designee will make a designation. 

MARAD will thereafter publish the 

CoE’s name and contact information on 

its website. 

3. When and where should I submit my 

application for designation? 

a. MARAD will publish notifications 

in the Federal Register and on its 

website indicating the application 

period for the next designation cycle. 

Applicants will be provided 60 days to 

prepare and submit their applications. 

b. A qualified training entity seeking 

designation as a CoE may submit 

applications, including all supporting 

information and documents, by email to 

CoEDMWTE@dot.gov. 

4. How will I know the outcome of my 

designation request application? 

MARAD will notify each applicant of 

the status of their designation request. 

During the evaluation period, MARAD 

may request clarification or additional 

information from the applicant. 

5. Does my CoE designation expire? 

Yes. CoE designation is valid for five 

years from the year in which the 

designation is made and is identified by 

designation year (e.g., X has been 

designated a Center of Excellence for 

Domestic Maritime Workforce Training 

and Education for 2024). Successful 

applicants from one designation cycle 

are encouraged-to reapply during the 

designation cycle corresponding with 

the expiration of their current five-year 

designation. 

How To Apply for a CoE Designation 

6. What should be included in my 

CoE Designation Application? 

Special Instructions: To assist 

MARAD in its review of your 

application and to ensure that your 

application is identified as complete, 

your institution should provide only 

concise and relevant information and 

supporting documentation to adequately 

demonstrate your qualifications and 

compliance with the statutory 

designation criteria. To that end, 

MARAD encourages applicants to 

ensure that each responsive section and 

each page of any document or enclosure 

in their application clearly references 

the question number(s) and section(s) 

listed in this guidance and/or the 

statute. See the below examples: 

Example 1. ‘‘Mar Ex’’ is eligible for the 

CoE program as a Postsecondary 

Educational Institution. (Q3i). Please 

find enclosed our Articles of 

Incorporation, Certificate of Status, and 

State authorization validation 

document. (Q3, a, b, c) 

Example 2. ‘‘Mar Ex’’ is enclosing the 

following supporting documents to 

demonstrate that our entity is 

accredited: U.S. Department of 

Education Accrediting Agency XYZ 

accreditation (Q5, Section a,i); and our 

Afloat Track program and courses are 

approved by the USCG (Q5, Section 

a,ii). 

Note: MARAD will host two (2) ‘‘Center of 

Excellence Application’’ sessions to provide 

guidance to prospective applicants on the 

content of this Federal Register notice. The 

dates, times, and locations of those sessions 

will be announced on the MARAD CoE 

homepage within forty-eight hours of the 

publication of the Notice of Opportunity to 

Apply. Attendance at either of those 

information sessions is entirely voluntary 

and not a requirement of the application 

process. 

Information To Include in Your 

Application 

All submitted documents should 

clearly reference the question number(s) 

and section(s) listed in this guidance 

and/or the statute. 

1. Letter applying for CoE designation 

from the Chief Executive of the 

applicant institution. 

2. Applicant contact information: 

a. Legal name of applicant institution 

and address. 

b. Chief executive’s name, position 

title, address, phone number(s) and 

email. 

c. Points of contact (POC) name(s), 

position titles, phone number(s), emails. 

3. Indicate the category under which 

the applicant entity is claiming 

qualified for the CoE program: 

i. 1(c)(1) Postsecondary Educational 

Institution; or 

ii. 1(c)(2) Postsecondary Vocational 

Institution; or 

iii. 1(c)(3) Public or private nonprofit 

entity that offers one or more other 

structured experiential learning training 

programs for United States workers in 

the United States maritime industry, 

including a program that is offered by a 

labor organization or conducted in 

partnership with a nonprofit 

organization or one or more employers 

in the United States maritime industry; 

or 

iv. 1(c)(4) Entity sponsoring a 

registered apprenticeship program; 

v. 1(c)(5) A maritime training center 

designated prior to the date of 

enactment of the FY 2023 NDAA; or 

vi. 1(c)(6) A Group of covered training 

entities. 

4. Submit the following supporting 

information and documents: 

a. Charter, Articles of Incorporation, 

Certificate of Incorporation, or 

equivalent. 

b. Certificate of Status (also known as 

Certificate of Existence or Certificate of 

Good Standing), a document issued by 

a state official (usually the Secretary of 

State), if applicable. 

c. State authorization validation 

documents, if applicable. 

d. Public or Non-Profit status 

certification. 

e. Accreditation approval letter(s) 

from an accrediting agency(ies) 

f. Approval letter from a State 

Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) in 

accordance with 29 CFR part 29, if 

applicable. 

g. Approval letter from the State’s 

Department of Education or equivalent 

State agency, if applicable. 

h. Approval letter from the United 

States Coast Guard (USCG), if 

applicable. 

i. ISO 9001 or other quality 

management certification, if applicable. 

j. Data and statistics to demonstrate 

record of success in maritime workforce 

training and education and institutional 

effectiveness. This should include, but 

not be limited to, recruitment data, past/ 


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current enrollment (trends), attrition 

rates, student program completion data, 

post-program job and placement 

statistics (to the extent available to the 

institution), and program effectiveness 

feedback from students, faculty, alumni, 

and other stakeholders. 

Note: This information corresponds to 

the types of data commonly collected 

annually as part of a higher education 

institution’s Performance 

Accountability Report (PAR). 

5. Indicate the total number of afloat 

career preparation tracks and/or the 

total number of ashore career 

preparation tracks your institution offers 

in the United States Maritime Industry 

and submit the following supporting 

information: 

a. Program summary; 

b. A description of applicable courses 

offered (only relevant maritime related 

program-specific pages from the 

catalogue); 

c. If applicable, letters of 

authorization and/or endorsement of the 

course/program and/or course(s) by an 

applicable professional society or 

industry body (including, but not 

limited to Welding, Electrician, 

Electronics, Maritime Construction, 

Maritime Logistics, Maritime Systems, 

etc.) to issue industry accepted 

certifications that reflect a 

professionally recognized level of 

educational or technical skill 

achievement; and 

d. Any other relevant supporting 

documentation. 

Note: Applicant institutions offering 

both ashore and afloat career tracks 

should submit supporting information 

for both tracks. 

6. Applicant institutions offering 

afloat career and/or ashore career tracks 

should demonstrate that they have 

satisfied accreditation requirements, as 

set forth below: 

a. Postsecondary educational 

institutions and postsecondary 

vocational institutions— 

i. are accredited by a Regional 

Accreditation Agency or a Nationally 

Recognized Agency on the list of 

Accrediting Agencies approved by the 

U.S. Department of Education; and 

ii. if applicable, the mariner training 

program and mariner training courses 

offered by the institution have USCG 

approval. 

b. A public or private nonprofit entity 

that offers one or more other structured 

experiential learning training programs 

for United States workers in the United 

States maritime industry, including a 

program that is offered by a labor 

organization or conducted in 

partnership with a nonprofit 

organization or one or more employers 

in the United States maritime 

industry— 

i. has United States Coast Guard 

(USCG) approval of the mariner training 

program and mariner training courses 

offered by the institution, if applicable; 

or 

ii. hold current accreditation of the 

maritime training program offered by 

the institution from one or more of the 

following: 

A. the State’s Department of 

Education or equivalent State agency; or 

B. employers in the United States 

maritime industry; or 

C. other appropriate external review 

body which is specifically authorized to 

review and validate post-secondary 

education programs and is acceptable to 

MARAD. 

c. An entity sponsoring a registered 

apprenticeship program holds current 

accreditation from a State 

Apprenticeship Agency (SAA) in 

accordance with 29 CFR part 29. 

d. A maritime training center 

designated prior to the date of 

enactment of the FY 2023 NDAA must 

hold current accreditation— 

i. either of the institution, from a 

Regional Accreditation Agency or a 

Nationally Recognized Agency on the 

list of Accrediting Agencies approved 

by the U.S. Department of Education; or 

ii. of the maritime training program 

offered by the institution from either: 

A. the State Apprenticeship Agency 

(SAA) in accordance with 29 CFR part 

29, 

B. the State’s Department of 

Education or equivalent State agency, 

C. the United States Coast Guard 

(USCG), or 

D. other appropriate external review 

body which is specifically authorized to 

review and validate post-secondary 

education programs and is acceptable to 

MARAD. 

e. Each member of a Group must hold 

current accreditation according to each 

member’s corresponding eligibility 

category and the accreditation 

requirements outlined above in (6)(a-d). 

7. All applicant institutions should 

submit a brief narrative statement for 

one or more qualitative attributes 

fostered by the institution to accomplish 

the following: 

a. Support the workforce needs of the 

local, state, or regional economy; 

b. Build the STEM (Science, 

Technology, Engineering, and Math) 

competencies of local/future workforce 

to meet emerging local, regional, and 

national economic interests; 

c. Promote diversity, equity, 

inclusion, and accessibility within the 

institution, including among the student 

body, faculty, and staff; 

d. Offer a broad-based curriculum and 

stackable credentials, where applicable; 

e. Engage and/or collaborate with the 

maritime industry, including, but not 

limited to employers, associations, and 

other industry organizations or partners; 

f. Engage and/or collaborate with 

employer-led maritime training 

practices and programs through Sector 

Partnerships as authorized in the 2014 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity 

Act Section 3(26); 

g. Engage and/or collaborate with 

local and regional maritime high 

schools with maritime, maritime 

related, Career Technical Education 

(CTE) or STEM programs; 

h. Engage and/or collaborate with 

maritime academies and other 

institutions or organizations for 

advanced proficiency and higher 

education; and 

i. Conduct other significant domestic 

maritime workforce development 

related activities. 

8. All applicant institutions may 

provide any relevant endorsements, 

awards, recognition, and significant 

accomplishments in support of their 

application. 

Note: As part of designation, CoE 

designee institutions are geolocated on 

MARAD’s CoE Interactive Map located 

on the MARAD website. In addition to 

identifying geographic location, this 

map also provides a link to a landing 

page for each institution and a brief 

narrative statement, an Institution 

Overview, about each institution’s 

maritime program. Applicants are 

encouraged to take into consideration 

that the information they submit for 6a6i may serve dual purpose: application 

support and content for a one-page 

institutional overview that highlights 

your institution’s achievements and 

aspirations. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

The information collection 

requirements in the final CoE 

designation policy have been approved 

under information collection number 

2133–0549 by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501, 

et seq. In accordance with 5 CFR 

1320.5(b)(2)(i), persons are not required 

to provide information to the 

Government unless the information 

collection displays a current and valid 

OMB control number. This application 

process is operating under the following 

current and valid OMB control number: 

2133–0549. 

(Authority: The National Defense 

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, Pub. 

L. 117–263 (December 23, 2022), 46 U.S.C. 

51706. The Paperwork Reduction Act of 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 177 / Thursday, September 12, 2024 / Notices 74371 

1995, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended, 49 

CFR 1.49). 

By Order of the Maritime Administrator. 

T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr. 

Secretary, Maritime Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20677 Filed 9–11–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–81–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Maritime Administration 

[Docket No. MARAD–2024–0121] 

Request for Comments on the Renewal 

of a Previously Approved Information 

Collection: Automated MutualAssistance Vessel Rescue (AMVER) 

System 

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, 

Department of Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration 

(MARAD) invites public comments on 

our intention to request the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) 

approval to renew an information 

collection in accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The 

proposed collection OMB 2133–0025 

(Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel 

Rescue (AMVER) System) is used to 

maintain a current plot of U.S.-Flag and 

U.S.-owned vessels. Since the last 

renewal, there was an increase in the 

total respondents to this collection, 

which has resulted in more responses 

and higher burden hours. There are no 

other changes to this collection. We are 

required to publish this notice in the 

Federal Register to obtain comments 

from the public and affected agencies. 

DATES: Comments must be submitted on 

or before November 12, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by Docket No. MARAD– 

2024–0121 through one of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: 

www.regulations.gov. Search using the 

above DOT docket number and follow 

the online instructions for submitting 

comments. 

• Mail or Hand Delivery: Docket 

Management Facility, U.S. Department 

of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, West Building, Room W12– 

140, Washington, DC 20590, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except on Federal holidays. 

Instructions: All submissions must 

include the agency name and docket 

number for this rulemaking. 

Note: All comments received will be 

posted without change to 

www.regulations.gov including any 

personal information provided. 

Comments are invited on: (a) whether 

the proposed collection of information 

is necessary for the Department’s 

performance; (b) the accuracy of the 

estimated burden; (c) ways for the 

Department to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information 

collection; and (d) ways that the burden 

could be minimized without reducing 

the quality of the collected information. 

The agency will summarize and/or 

include your comments in the request 

for OMB’s clearance of this information 

collection. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alex 

Sedlacek, 202–366–1031, Division of 

Sealift Operations and Emergency 

Response, Maritime Administration, 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 

New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 

20590, Email: alexander.sedlacek@

dot.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Title: Automated Mutual-Assistance 

Vessel Rescue (AMVER) System. 

OMB Control Number: 2133–0025. 

Type of Request: Extension with 

Change of a Previously Approved 

Collection. 

Abstract: The collection of 

information will be used to gather 

information regarding the location of 

U.S.-flag vessels and certain other U.S. 

citizen-owned vessels for the purpose of 

search and rescue in the saving of lives 

at sea and for the marshalling of ships 

for national defense and safety 

purposes. 

Respondents: U.S.-flag and U.S. 

citizen-owned vessels. 

Affected Public: Business or other forprofit. 

Estimated Number of Respondents: 

185. 

Estimated Number of Responses: 

33,855. 

Estimated Hours per Response: .07. 

Annual Estimated Total Annual 

Burden Hours: 2,370. 

Frequency of Response: Annually. 

(Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 

1995; 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended; and 

49 CFR 1.49.) 

By Order of the Maritime Administrator. 

T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr., 

Secretary, Maritime Administration. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20679 Filed 9–11–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–81–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 

Safety Administration 

Hazardous Materials: Notice of 

Applications for Modification To 

Special Permits 

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous 

Materials Safety Administration 

(PHMSA), DOT. 

ACTION: List of applications for 

modification of special permits. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

procedures governing the application 

for, and the processing of, special 

permits from the Department of 

Transportation’s Hazardous Material 

Regulations, notice is hereby given that 

the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety 

has received the application described 

herein. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before September 27, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Record Center, Pipeline and 

Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration U.S. Department of 

Transportation Washington, DC 20590. 

Comments should refer to the 

application number and be submitted in 

triplicate. If confirmation of receipt of 

comments is desired, include a selfaddressed stamped postcard showing 

the special permit number. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Donald Burger, Chief, Office of 

Hazardous Materials Safety General 

Approvals and Permits Branch, Pipeline 

and Hazardous Materials Safety 

Administration, U.S. Department of 

Transportation, East Building, PHH–13, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue Southeast, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001, (202) 366– 

4535. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Each 

mode of transportation for which a 

particular special permit is requested is 

indicated by a number in the ‘‘Nature of 

Application’’ portion of the table below 

as follows: 1—Motor vehicle, 2—Rail 

freight, 3—Cargo vessel, 4—Cargo 

aircraft only, 5—Passenger-carrying 

aircraft. 

Copies of the applications are 

available for inspection in the Records 

Center, East Building, PHH–13, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue Southeast, 

Washington DC or at http://

regulations.gov. 

This notice of receipt of applications 

for special permit is published in 

accordance with part 107 of the Federal 

hazardous materials transportation law 

(49 U.S.C. 5117(b); 49 CFR 1.53(b)). 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1