Document ID: USCG-2014-0515-0004
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Notice
Title: Meetings: International Maritime Organization's Development of a Mandatory Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters; Public Workshop (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2014-07-01T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37339-37340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15457]

[[Page 37339]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0515]

Public Workshop Related to the International Maritime 
Organization's Development of a Mandatory Code for Ships Operating in 
Polar Waters.

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will hold a public workshop in Seattle, WA on 
topics related to the development of a mandatory code for ships 
operating in polar waters (Polar Code) by the International Maritime 
Organization (IMO). Various topics will be discussed including 
application and certification under the Polar Code; and regulations for 
hull design, equipment, operations, and environmental protection. This 
workshop is intended to be an interactive exchange of information 
between policymakers, industry experts, and interested members of the 
public.

DATES: The public workshop will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2014 
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Pacific Time. This workshop is open to the 
public. Please note that the workshop has a limited number of seats and 
may close early if all business is finished.
    The comment period for the docket closes September 1, 2014. All 
comments and related material submitted after the meeting must either 
be submitted to our online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or 
before September 1, 2014, or reach the Docket Management Facility by 
that date.

ADDRESSES: The public workshop will be held at the Henry M. Jackson 
Federal Building, 915 2nd Avenue, North Auditorium, 4th floor, Seattle, 
WA 98174-1076. Due to building security requirements, each visitor must 
present a valid government-issued photo identification (for example, a 
driver's license) in order to gain entrance to the building. To 
facilitate the security process related to building access, or to 
request reasonable accommodation, those who plan to attend should 
contact the meeting coordinator, Lieutenant Andrew Gibbons (see FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) not later than August 1, 2014. The Coast 
Guard may not be able to accommodate requests made after August 1, 
2014.
    Submit comments using one of the listed methods, and see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more information on public comments.
     Online--http://www.regulations.gov following Web site 
instructions.
     Fax--202-493-2251.
     Mail or hand deliver--Docket Management Facility (M-30), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Hours 
for hand delivery are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays (telephone 202-366-9329).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions concerning the 
workshop, please call or email Lieutenant Andrew Gibbons, U.S. Coast 
Guard; telephone 202-372-1485, email Andrew.T.Gibbons@uscg.mil. If you 
have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call 
Cheryl Collins, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-
9826, toll free 1-800-647-5527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    This workshop is intended to be an interactive exchange of 
information between policymakers, industry experts, and interested 
members of the public. The primary topics that will be considered at 
the public meeting include:
     General overview of the draft Polar Code;
     Overview of draft amendments to the International 
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS);
     Overview of draft amendments to the International 
Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL);
     Application, certification, and documentation.
    This workshop is scheduled following progress at IMO during recent 
meetings of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC); Marine Environment 
Protection Committee (MEPC); and subcommittees on the Human Element, 
Training, and Watchkeeping; Navigation, Communication, and Search and 
Rescue; and Ship Design and Construction. The public workshop will also 
provide the opportunity for comment as the Coast Guard prepares for 
upcoming meetings in October 2014 and November 2014 of MEPC and MSC at 
IMO.
    You may view the draft Polar Code, draft SOLAS amendments, draft 
MARPOL amendments, and public comments submitted thus far in our online 
docket. Please see below for more information on viewing comments and 
documents. Comments submitted to the docket and informal public 
comments during the workshop are encouraged.
    Please note that the workshop has a limited number of seats and may 
close early if all business is finished.
    Members of the public may attend this workshop up to the seating 
capacity of the room. To facilitate the security process related to 
building access, or to request reasonable accommodation, those who plan 
to attend should contact the meeting coordinator, Lieutenant Andrew 
Gibbons (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) not later than Friday 
August 1, 2014. We may not be able to accommodate requests made after 
August 1, 2014.
    Members of the public are encouraged to participate and join in 
discussions, subject to the discretion of the moderator. If you bring 
written comments to the meeting, you may submit them to Coast Guard 
personnel specified at the meeting to receive written comments. These 
comments will be submitted to our online public docket.
    Comments should be marked with docket number USCG-2014-0515 and 
should provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You 
should provide personal contact information so that we can contact you 
if we have questions regarding your comments; but please note that all 
comments will be posted to the online docket without change and that 
any personal information you include can be searchable online (see the 
Federal Register Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets, 73 FR 
3316, Jan. 17, 2008).
    Mailed or hand-delivered comments should be in an unbound 8\1/2\ x 
11 inch format suitable for reproduction. The Docket Management 
Facility will acknowledge receipt of mailed comments if you enclose a 
stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope with your submission.
    Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public comments, are in 
our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by 
following the Web site's instructions. You can also view the docket at 
the Docket Management Facility (see the mailing address under 
ADDRESSES) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Lieutenant Andrew Gibbons (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

[[Page 37340]]

    Dated: June 25, 2014.
J. G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2014-15457 Filed 6-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P