[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 89 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23180-23181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-11424]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

49 CFR Part 1

[OST-1999-6189]


Organization and Delegation of Powers and Duties; Delegation 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 delegating to the 
Commandant, United States Coast Guard, his authority to regulate the 
discharge of sewage and graywater by cruise vessels into certain 
Alaskan waters.

DATES: This final rule is effective on May 8, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call Kathryn Sinniger, Office of Regulations and Administrative Law, US 
Coast Guard, 202-267-0128. If you have questions on viewing the docket, 
call Dorothy Beard, Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, 
telephone 202-366-5149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December, 2000, Congress passed Title 
XIV--Certain Alaskan Cruise Ship Operations, Public Law 106-554, 
limiting the discharges of treated and untreated sewage and graywater 
by cruise vessels visiting Alaskan ports and operating in the waters of 
the Alexander Archipelago and the navigable waters of the United States 
within the State of Alaska and within Kachemak Bay National Estuarine 
Research Reserve. Title XIV directs the Secretary to promulgate 
regulations, including requirements for logbooks and reports, 
incorporating into the vessel examination and inspection regime the 
sampling of cruise vessel discharges sufficient to verify that those 
vessels comply with all applicable environmental laws and international 
treaty requirements.
    The Secretary is delegating to the Commandant, United States Coast 
Guard, his authority under Title XIV--Certain Alaskan Cruise Ship 
Operations, Public Law 106-554, to promulgate regulations that will 
ensure compliance with this statute by the owners, operators, masters, 
or other person in charge of cruise vessels operating in waters covered 
by this statute.
    This delegation is being published as a final rule effective on the 
date of publication. Since this amendment relates to the Departmental 
management, organization, procedure, and practice, notice and comment 
are unnecessary under 5 U.S.C. 553(b). Furthermore, since this 
amendment expedites the Coast Guard's ability to promulgate regulations 
to meet the environmental goals and enforcement obligations of the 
statute, the Secretary finds good cause, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), that 
this rule should be made effective on the date of publication.

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; 46 U.S.C. 2104(a); 28 U.S.C. 2672; 31 
U.S.C 3711(a)(2); Pub. L. 101-552, 104 Stat. 2736; Pub. L. 106-159, 
113 Stat. 1748.

[[Page 23181]]


    2. In Sec. 1.46, add new paragraph (ttt) to read as follows:


Sec. 1.46  Delegations to Commandant of the Coast Guard.

* * * * *
    (ttt) Carry out the functions and exercise the authority vested in 
the Secretary by Title XIV--Certain Alaskan Cruise Ship Operations, 
Public Law 106-554 to regulate the discharge of sewage and graywater by 
cruise vessels into the waters of the Alexander Archipelago, as defined 
in that law, and the navigable waters of the United States within the 
State of Alaska and within Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research 
Reserve.

    Issued on: April 27, 2001.
Norman Y. Mineta,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 01-11424 Filed 5-4-01; 8:45 am]
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