[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 97 (Wednesday, May 20, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27700-27701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13400]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 20

46 CFR Part 5

[USCG-1998-3472]
RIN 2115-AF59


Rules of Practice, Procedure, and Evidence for Administrative 
Proceedings of the Coast Guard

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period on notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is reopening the period for public comment on 
its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), Rules of Practice, 
Procedures, and Evidence for Administrative Proceedings of the Coast 
Guard. Because of several requests for extension, the Coast Guard is 
reopening the period for 30 days.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before June 19, 1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Docket Management Facility 
[USCG-1998-3472], U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Room PL-401, 
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to 
room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the 
same address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments, and documents as indicated in this preamble, will 
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or 
copying at room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif 
Building at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also electronically 
access the public docket for this rulemaking on the Internet at <a href="http://
dms.dot.gov">http://
dms.dot.gov</a>.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information on the public docket, contact Carol Kelley, Coast Guard 
Dockets Team Leader, or Paulette Twine, Chief, Documentary Services 
Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329; 
for information concerning the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
provisions, contact George J. Jordan, Attorney-Advisor, Office of the 
Chief Administrative Law Judge, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. His telephone number is 202-
267-0006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), published on April 6, 
1998 (63 FR 16731), encouraged interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments by May 
6, 1998. This request does the same, except that it asks them by June 
19, 1998.
    Persons submitting comments should include their names and 
addresses, identifying this rulemaking (USCG-1998-3472) and the 
specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and 
give the reason for each comment. Please submit one copy of all 
comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 
1 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing to the DOT Docket 
Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. If you want 
acknowledgment of receipt of your comment, enclose a stamped, self-
addressed postcard or envelope.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period. It may change this proposed rule in view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public meeting. Persons may request a 
public meeting by writing to the Docket Management Facility at the 
address under ADDRESSES. The request must identify this docket (USCG-
1998-3472) and should include the reasons why a public meeting would be 
helpful to this rulemaking. If an opportunity for oral presentations 
will help the rulemaking procedures, the Coast Guard will hold a public 
meeting at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal 
Register.

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard seeks to improve its adjudication process. This 
improvement would also affect certain actions involving merchant 
mariners. First, the proposed rule would consolidate all Coast Guard 
adjudicative procedures to include the following: the suspension and 
revocation (S&R) of merchant mariners' licenses, certificates of 
registry, and documents and the procedures involving class II civil 
penalties. Second, the proposed rule would eliminate unnecessary 
procedures from S&R proceedings. The Coast Guard expects the proposed 
rule to facilitate the efficient use of administrative resources 
relating to Coast Guard adjudication. It would save time, effort, and 
money for all parties

[[Page 27701]]

who are or may become involved in Coast Guard actions.

    Signed: 14 May 1998.
Robert S. Horowitz,
Chief Counsel (Acting).
[FR Doc. 98-13400 Filed 5-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-15-M