17748 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 70 / Friday, April 11, 1997 / Rules and Regulations

PART 186—[AMENDED]

3. In part 186:

a. The authority citation for part 186

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 342, 348 and 701.

§ 186.4450 [Removed]

b. Section 186.4450 is removed.

[FR Doc. 97–9375 Filed 4–10–97; 8:45 am]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 2

[CGD 97–001]

RIN 2115–AF41

Delegation of Authority to Officer in

Charge, Marine Inspection.

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is

authorizing Officers in Charge, Marine

Inspection (OCMIs) to redelegate

signature authority for certain vessel

inspection documents. Currently, the

OCMI signs all vessel inspection

documents. This rule will authorize

redelegation of that function to reduce

the number of documents OCMIs must

sign.

DATES: This rule is effective on April 11,

1997.

ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated,

documents referred to in this preamble

are available for inspection or copying

at the office of the Executive Secretary,

Marine Safety Council (G-LRA/3406),

U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100

Second Street, SW., Washington, DC

20593–0001 between 9:30 a.m. and 2

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. The telephone number

is (202) 267–1477.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT

Eric Christensen, Project Manager,

Vessel and Facility Operating Standards

Division (G–MSO–2), (202)267–1055.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

The delegation of authority from the

Commandant of the Coast Guard to

Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection

gives signature authority to the OCMI

for various inspection documents.

During a recent reorganization, the

Coast Guard established Activity

Commands which combine OCMI,

Captain of the Port (COTP), and Group

functions. Activities are large units that

perform a large number of tasks

including many requiring the OCMI’s

signature. This rule will authorize

redelegation of that signatory function

to reduce the number of vessel

inspection documents OCMIs must sign

personally.

Discussion and Change

The rationale for this change is that

many routine documents don’t require

the personal attention of the OCMI, and

increasing responsibilities of the OCMI

will mean that the official’s attention is

needed more urgently elsewhere.

Regulations currently require the OCMI

to personally sign hundreds of

inspection documents issued by each

Marine Safety Office each year. In many

cases, a new computer-generated

Certificate of Inspection is based on an

administrative change such as

ownership or address and not on any

substantive change in the vessel

particulars. Authority to redelegate

signatory authority would relieve the

OCMI of a substantial paperwork

burden.

The Coast Guard is proceeding

directly to a final rule under section

553(b)(3)(A) of the Administrative

Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.)

which excludes rulemakings relating to

agency organization, procedure, or

practice from the requirements of public

notice and comment. These changes are

administrative and will not impact the

type or quality of Coast Guard services

performed.

Regulatory Evaluation

This 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. It has not been reviewed by the

Office of Management and Budget 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). The

Coast Guard expects the economic

impact of this rule to be so minimal that

a full Regulatory Evaluation under

paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies

and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

As this rule involves internal Agency

practices and procedures, it will not

impose any costs on the public.

Collection of Information

This rule contains no new collectionof-information requirements under the

Paperwork Reduction Act [44 U.S.C.

3501 et seq.].

Federalism

The Coast Guard has analyzed this

rule under the principles and criteria

contained in Executive Order 12612 and

has determined that this rule does not

have sufficient federalism implications

to warrant the preparation of a

Federalism Assessment.

Environment

The Coast Guard considered the

environmental impact of this interim

rule and concluded that, under § 2.B.2

of Commandant Instruction M16475.1B,

this rule is categorically excluded from

further environmental documentation.

This exclusion is in accordance with

paragraphs 2.B.2.e.(34) (a) and (b),

concerning regulations that are editorial

or procedural and concerning internal

agency functions or organization. A

Categorical Exclusion Determination is

available in the docket for inspection or

copying where indicated under

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 46 CFR Part 2

Marine safety, Reporting and

recordkeeping requirements, Vessels.

For the reasons set forth in the

preamble, the Coast Guard amends 46

CFR part 2 as follows:

PART 2—VESSEL INSPECTIONS

1. The authority citation for part 2

continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1903; 43 U.S.C. 1333;

46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703; E.O. 12334, 3 CFR,

1980 Comp., p. 277; 49 CFR 1.46; subpart

2.45 also issued under the authority of Act

Dec. 27, 1950, Ch. 1155, secs. 1, 2, 64 Stat.

1120 (see 46 U.S.C. App. note prec. 1).

2. Section 2.01–30 is added to read as

follows:

§ 2.01–30 Delegation of OCMI signature

authority.

The OCMI may redelegate to one

individual on his or her staff authority

to sign documents issued under this

subpart.

Dated: March 31, 1997.

J. C. Card,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant

Commandant for Marine Safety and

Environmental Protection.

[FR Doc. 97–9409 Filed 4–10–97; 8:45 am]

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