[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 68 (Wednesday, April 9, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 17100]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-9155]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 1

[OST Docket No. 1; Amdt. 1-286]


Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties Delegated to the 
Commandant, United States Coast Guard

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Transportation is delegated to the 
Commandant, United States Coast Guard, the authority contained in the 
Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996, to issue such 
regulations as are necessary and appropriate to implement the Protocol 
on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty relating to the 
prevention of marine pollution and emergency response action for 
vessels. In order that the Code of Federal Regulations reflect this 
delegation, a change is necessary.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 9, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LCDR Ray Perry, Environmental 
Standards Division (G-MSO-4), (202) 267-2714, U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 
Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593; or Ms. Gwyneth Radloff, 
Office of the General Counsel, C-50, (202) 366-9305, Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Public Law 104-227 is the Antarctic Science, 
Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996 (hereafter referred to as the 
Act). Section 106 of this Act amends section 6 of the Antarctic 
Conservation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2405) by requiring the Secretary to 
issue such regulations as are necessary and appropriate, in addition to 
regulations issued under the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 
U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), to implement Annex IV of the Protocol on 
Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. It also requires the 
Secretary to issue such regulations as are necessary and appropriate, 
with the concurrence of the Director of the National Science 
Foundation, to implement Article 15 of the Protocol with respect to 
vessels. The Secretary of Transportation is delegating his authority 
under the Act to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
    This rule adds a specific delegation of authority to 49 CFR 1.46, 
thus amending the codification to reflect the Secretarial delegation of 
authority to the Commandant of the Coast Guard.
    Since this amendment relates to departmental management, 
organization, procedure, and practice, notice and comment on it are 
unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Further, since the amendment 
expedites the Coast Guard's ability to implement international treaty 
obligations, the Secretary finds good cause under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3) 
for the final rule to be effective on the date of publication in the 
Federal Register.

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 1

    Authority delegations (Government agencies), Organization and 
functions (Government agencies).

    In consideration of the foregoing, Part 1 of Title 49, Code of 
Federal Regulations, is amended to read as follows:

PART 1--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322; Pub. L. 101-552, 28 U.S.C. 2672, 31 
U.S.C. 3711(a)(2).


1.46  [Amended]

    2. Section 1.46 is amended by adding a new paragraph (hhh) to read 
as follows:


1.46  Delegations to Commandant of the Coast Guard.

* * * * *
    (hhh) Carry out the functions and exercise the authority vested in 
the Secretary by 16 U.S.C. 2405 to issue such regulations as are 
necessary and appropriate to implement the Antarctic Science, Tourism, 
and Conservation Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-227, 110 Stat. 3034.
* * * * *
    Issued at Washington, DC this 28th day of March, 1997.
Rodney E. Slater,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 97-9155 Filed 4-8-97; 8:45 am]
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