Document ID: USCG-2017-1025-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Crediting Recent Sea Service of Personnel Serving on Vessels of the Uniformed Services
Posted Date: 2019-09-17T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48842-48850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-19754]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 11

[Docket No. USCG-2017-1025]
RIN 1625-AC42

Crediting Recent Sea Service of Personnel Serving on Vessels of 
the Uniformed Services

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to increase from 3 years to 7 years 
the period within which qualifying sea service aboard vessels of the 
uniformed services can be used to satisfy the requirement for recent 
sea service to qualify for a Merchant Mariner Credential with a 
national officer endorsement. This notice of proposed rulemaking would 
implement into Coast Guard regulations legislation that has been 
codified in statute, and may potentially increase the number of 
merchant mariners available for employment on commercial vessels.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before November 18, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-1025 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://

[[Page 48843]]

www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.
    Collection of Information Comments. Submit comments on the 
collection of information discussed in Section VI.D of this preamble 
both to the Coast Guard's online docket and to the Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the White House Office of 
Management and Budget using one of the following two methods:
     Email: dhsdeskofficer@omb.eop.gov.
     Mail: OIRA, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503, 
attention Desk Officer for the Coast Guard.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document, 
call or email Ms. Cathleen Mauro, Maritime Personnel Qualifications 
Division (CG-MMC-1), Coast Guard; telephone: 202-372-1449, email 
Cathleen.B.Mauro@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents for Preamble

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments
II. Abbreviations
III. Basis and Purpose
IV. Background
V. Discussion of Proposed Rule
VI. Request for Public Input
VII. Regulatory Analyses
    A. Regulatory Planning and Review
    B. Small Entities
    C. Assistance for Small Entities
    D. Collection of Information
    E. Federalism
    F. Unfunded Mandates
    G. Taking of Private Property
    H. Civil Justice Reform
    I. Protection of Children
    J. Indian Tribal Governments
    K. Energy Effects
    L. Technical Standards
    M. Environment

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard views public participation as essential to 
effective rulemaking, and will consider all comments and material 
received during the comment period. Your comment can help shape the 
outcome of this rulemaking. If you submit a comment, please include the 
docket number for this rulemaking, indicate the specific section of 
this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for 
each suggestion or recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If you cannot submit your 
material by using https://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in 
the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section for alternate instructions. 
Documents mentioned in this notice of proposed rulemaking, and all 
public comments, will be available in our online docket at https://www.regulations.gov, and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you visit the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or if a 
final rule is published.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    We do not plan to hold a public meeting, but we will consider doing 
so if public comments indicate that a meeting would be helpful. We 
would issue a separate Federal Register notice to announce the date, 
time, and location of such a meeting.

II. Abbreviations

BLS Bureau of Labor Statistics
CATEX Categorical exclusion
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
MMC Merchant Mariner Credential
MMLD Merchant Mariner Licensing Documentation
NMC National Maritime Center
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
PHS Public Health Service
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

III. Basis and Purpose

    Under 46 CFR 11.201(c)(2), an applicant for a national officer 
endorsement on a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) ``must have at least 
3 months of required service on vessels of appropriate tonnage or 
horsepower within the 3 years immediately preceding the date of 
application.'' Section 305 of the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2014 \1\ amended 46 U.S.C. 7101 to authorize the 
Coast Guard to extend the period from 3 years to 7 years for 
individuals whose 3 months of qualifying sea service was aboard vessels 
of the uniformed services. Such individuals must also satisfy all other 
requirements for a national officer endorsement on an MMC. In this 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), we propose to establish a 7-year 
period within which the attainment of 3 months of qualifying sea 
service aboard vessels of the uniformed services can be used to satisfy 
the requirement for recent sea service to qualify for an MMC with a 
national officer endorsement. This NPRM would affect only 46 CFR part 
11, ``Requirements for officer endorsements,'' and, specifically, only 
46 CFR 11.201(c)(2).
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    \1\ Public Law 113-281, 128 Stat. 3022 (2014).
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IV. Background

    Individuals serving on vessels of the uniformed services represent 
a population who may be qualified for an MMC. When these individuals 
spend the final years of their careers assigned to shoreside units, the 
requirement in 46 CFR 11.201(c)(2) to have at least 3 months of 
qualifying sea service within 3 years of application for an officer 
endorsement poses an obstacle to meeting the requirement for recent sea 
service. This rule will improve the pathway for individuals with sea 
service aboard vessels of the uniformed services to meet the 
requirement for recent sea service to qualify for a national officer 
endorsement.
    On December 18, 2014, Congress amended 46 U.S.C. 7101 by adding 
paragraph (j), which authorized the Coast Guard to extend the period 
from 3 years to 7 years for individuals whose 3 months of qualifying 
sea service was aboard vessels of the uniformed services. Subsequent to 
enactment of 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1), the Coast Guard issued CG-CVC Policy 
Letter 15-03, ``Crediting Recent Service of Uniformed Service 
Personnel,'' \2\ on October 16, 2015 to implement 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1) 
until a rulemaking could be completed.
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    \2\ CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03 can be accessed here: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/CG-5PC/CG-CVC/Policy%20Letters/2015/CG-CVC_pol15-03.pdf.
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V. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    In accordance with 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1), we propose to amend 46 CFR 
11.201(c)(2) to allow individuals who have attained qualifying sea 
service aboard vessels of the uniformed services within 7 years 
preceding the date of application for a national officer endorsement to 
use this service to satisfy the requirement for recent sea service. 
Because the existing regulatory language in 46 CFR 11.201(c)(2) 
requires qualifying sea service to be attained within a 3-year period 
preceding the date of application, a regulatory change is needed to 
align our regulations with the authority granted in 46 U.S.C. 
7101(j)(1).

[[Page 48844]]

VI. Request for Public Input

    In addition to seeking public comment on the proposed change 
described above, the Coast Guard also seeks comment from the public on 
the following questions:
    (1) Should the period for ``recent'' service be extended to 7 years 
for all national officer endorsements?
    (2) Is it necessary to have a requirement for recent sea service 
for an original, renewal, or raise of grade of an MMC with a national 
officer endorsement?
    The Coast Guard asks the second question because the Coast Guard 
has not solicited public comment on the requirement for recent sea 
service to qualify for an MMC with a national officer endorsement since 
the 1980s.\3\ The Coast Guard is interested in hearing public opinion 
on whether recent sea service is necessary in addition to the existing 
sea service requirement for deck officer endorsements under 46 CFR part 
11, subpart D, for engineer officer endorsements under subpart E, and 
for first-class pilot endorsements under subpart G to demonstrate that 
an applicant has the appropriate experience for the endorsement being 
sought.
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    \3\ 46 FR 53624 (ANPRM) and 48 FR 35920 (NPRM).
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    When evaluating whether there is a need for recent sea service for 
the renewal of an MMC with a national officer endorsement, 
consideration should be given to the professional requirements an 
applicant must meet for the renewal of any MMC that are provided under 
46 CFR 10.227(e). Under this section, applicants must meet one of the 
following professional requirements for renewal of an MMC:
    (1) Present evidence of 1 year of sea service within the previous 5 
years;
    (2) Pass a comprehensive open book exercise;
    (3) Complete an approved refresher training course;
    (4) Provide evidence of closely related service for at least 3 
years in the previous 5 years; or
    (5) Provide evidence of employment as a qualified instructor having 
taught two classes in the last 5 years in course work that is relevant 
to the credential sought.
    The comments we receive in response to the questions above may form 
the basis for a separate rulemaking in the future.

VII. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this NPRM after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive orders related to rulemaking. A summary of our analyses based 
on these statutes or Executive orders follows.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and 13563 
(Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) direct agencies to assess 
the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, reducing costs, harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. Executive Order 13771 (Reducing Regulation and Controlling 
Regulatory Costs) directs agencies to reduce regulation and control 
regulatory costs and provides that ``for every one new regulation 
issued, at least two prior regulations be identified for elimination, 
and that the cost of planned regulations be prudently managed and 
controlled through a budgeting process.''
    The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not designated this 
rule a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of Executive 
Order 12866. Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed it. Because this 
proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action, this rule is 
exempt from the requirements of Executive Order 13771. See the OMB 
Memorandum titled ``Guidance Implementing Executive Order 13771, Titled 
`Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs''' (April 5, 
2017).
    A combined preliminary regulatory analysis and threshold regulatory 
flexibility analysis follows and provides an evaluation of the economic 
impacts associated with this NPRM.
    This NPRM would revise existing regulations related to the 
requirement for recent sea service to qualify for an MMC with a 
national officer endorsement. Specifically, this NPRM proposes to amend 
46 CFR 11.201(c)(2) by establishing a 7-year period within which the 
attainment of 3 months of qualifying sea service aboard vessels of the 
uniformed services would satisfy the requirement for recent sea 
service. This proposed change would apply to original and raise of 
grade national officer endorsement applicants who have served on 
vessels of the uniformed services.\4\ Under 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(5), 
``uniformed services'' means the armed forces, the commissioned corps 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the 
commissioned corps of the Public Health Service (PHS). To estimate the 
impacts that the proposed increase in timeframe for which the 
attainment of 3 months of qualifying sea service can be used to satisfy 
the requirement for recent sea service, we examined data on officer 
endorsement applications provided by the National Maritime Center 
(NMC).
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    \4\ As stated in 46 CFR 10.225, ``original'' is the first 
credential issued to an applicant; the first credential issued to 
applicants after their previous credential has expired beyond the 
grace period and they do not hold a Document of Continuity under 46 
CFR 10.227(g) or an equivalent unexpired continuity endorsement on 
their license or MMD; or the first credential issued to applicants 
after their previous credential was revoked pursuant to 46 CFR 
10.235. As stated in 46 CFR part 10.107, ``raise of grade'' means an 
increase in the level of authority and responsibility associated 
with an officer or rating endorsement, such as from mate to master 
or second assistant engineer to first assistant engineer.
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    This proposed rule intends to increase the number of qualified 
applicants for a national officer endorsement, which would subsequently 
increase the pool of credentialed mariners supporting U.S. commerce and 
the growth of the marine transportation system. However, after 
examining the existing data it was not possible to estimate the extent 
of any increases. Information provided by the NMC from the Merchant 
Mariner Licensing Documentation (MMLD) system was used to estimate the 
number of mariners that may be affected by this proposed rule. The data 
available from 2016 to 2018 indicates that applicants for an original 
endorsement or raise of grade to an existing endorsement may be able to 
utilize previous sea service on vessels of the uniformed services to 
meet the professional requirements for a national officer endorsement. 
Meeting the requirements for an original officer endorsement may allow 
a mariner to be employed at a higher initial wage rate. We present an 
analysis of the potential positive distributional impacts (qualitative) 
on mariners in the benefits section.
    This NPRM proposes to increase the period from 3 years to 7 years, 
within which qualifying sea service aboard vessels of the uniformed 
services can be used to satisfy the requirement for recent sea service 
to qualify for an MMC with a national officer endorsement. The Coast 
Guard cannot conclusively estimate the impact of increasing the period 
from 3 years to 7 years on the number of total qualified merchant 
mariners. Although the annual average number of original and raise of 
grade national officer endorsements is decreasing, the number of 
individuals

[[Page 48845]]

using prior service on vessels of the uniformed services is increasing, 
based on data from between 2016 and 2018. We are also unable to 
determine the source of the increase in national officer endorsements 
issued with sea service on vessels of the uniformed services; 
therefore, we did not estimate costs (see table 1).

               Table 1--Summary of the Impacts of the NPRM
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             Category                              Summary
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Applicability.....................  Amend requirement in 46 CFR
                                     11.201(c)(2) to 3 months of
                                     qualifying sea service within 7
                                     years of application for a national
                                     officer endorsement for individuals
                                     who have service on vessels of the
                                     uniformed services.
Potentially Affected Population...  Based on a historical estimate of
                                     the proportion of individuals who
                                     used prior service on vessels of
                                     the uniformed services to the
                                     number of original and raise of
                                     grade national officer endorsements
                                     issued between 2016 and 2018, we
                                     estimate that about 516 prospective
                                     mariners may apply annually for an
                                     MMC with a national officer
                                     endorsement utilizing service on
                                     vessels of the uniformed services.
                                     However, the data did not allow us
                                     to conclusively estimate the
                                     increase in mariners due to annual
                                     fluctuations in the applications as
                                     a result of factors external to
                                     this rule.
Costs.............................  No costs estimated because this
                                     proposed rule would only provide
                                     increasing flexibility for
                                     qualified merchant mariners. Unit
                                     costs for individuals would be the
                                     evaluation, examination, and
                                     issuance fees for an MMC that range
                                     from $45-$110 for a total unit cost
                                     of $255 for each individual, and
                                     the labor time it takes to fill out
                                     the forms at the respective loaded
                                     mean hourly wage rates and
                                     submission to the NMC, which range
                                     from 5 to 18 minutes. The loaded
                                     mean hourly wage rates for
                                     individuals range from $26.99 to
                                     $57.95.
Unquantified Benefits.............   Potential for an increased
                                     pool of qualified mariners
                                     supporting U.S. commerce and the
                                     growth of the marine transportation
                                     system.
                                     Potential for an increase
                                     in the number of job opportunities
                                     for individuals who have served on
                                     vessels of the uniformed services.
                                     Potential for an increase
                                     in the starting wage rate for
                                     Mariners who would now qualify for
                                     a national officer endorsement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: Please see the benefit section of this analysis for the wage rates
  in this table.

Affected Population
    46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1) applies to applicants that have three months 
of qualifying service on vessels of the uniformed services within the 
seven years immediately preceding the date of application. The pool of 
applicants consists of, and this NPRM would affect, current and former 
members of the U.S. armed forces,\5\ the commissioned corps of NOAA and 
PHS, and civilians who attained qualifying sea service aboard vessels 
of the uniformed services within 7 years preceding the date of 
application for a national officer endorsement. There are approximately 
1.33 million military personnel serving in the U.S. armed forces, 
681,000 personnel serving in the Reserve \6\ and approximately 727,000 
civilians employed by the armed and uniformed services.7 8 9 
To estimate the number of people potentially affected by this NPRM, we 
examined data provided by the NMC. The NMC evaluates MMC applications 
and issues credentials to qualified mariners. As noted in section IV, 
on December 18, 2014, Congress amended 46 U.S.C. 7101 to authorize the 
Coast Guard to extend the period by which a mariner can obtain 3 months 
of qualifying sea service aboard vessels of the uniformed services from 
3 years to 7 years to satisfy the requirement for recent sea service. 
Following that, in October 2015, CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03 was 
published to implement 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1) on an interim basis until 
the Coast Guard could complete a rulemaking. This analysis utilized 
Coast Guard data from the MMLD database on all original and raise of 
grade national officer endorsements issued beginning in 2010, and 
original and raise of grade national officer endorsements issued 
utilizing prior sea service on vessels of the uniformed services 
beginning in 2016. In 2016, the NMC began identifying applications 
utilizing prior service aboard vessels of the uniformed services to 
meet the requirement for recent sea service under 46 CFR 11.201(c)(2). 
The data spans from January 2016 through December 2018 to include 36 
months (unless otherwise noted). Therefore, given the data 
availability, we use the statistical baseline of 2016 for this 
analysis. The observations are as follows:
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    \5\ Under 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(4), the U.S. armed forces includes 
the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, and Marines Corps.
    \6\ The Reserve consists of the Army National Guard, the Army 
Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air 
National Guard, the Coast Guard Reserve, and the Air Force Reserve.
    \7\ Armed forces civilian personnel data from https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2011/compendia/statab/131ed/national-security-veterans-affairs.html, accessed March 26, 2019.
    Armed forces and Reserves population data from https://www.cna.org/pop-rep/2016/summary/summary.pdf, accessed March 26, 
2019.
    U.S. PHS public data, accessed 20 August 2018, https://usphs.gov/aboutus/leadership.aspx.
    NOAA public data, accessed July 14, 2018, https://www.fedscope.opm.gov/ibmcognos/cgi-bin/cognosisapi.dll. To access, 
use the following path: FSe--Employment Generic, Employment--March 
2018 Generic, Agency--All Agencies, CM54--National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration. This link is only accessible by a 
government computer.
    \8\ As stated in CG-CVC Policy Letter No. 15-03, section 
(4)(a)(3), this would also apply to civilian mariners working aboard 
vessels of the uniformed services. For example, the more-than-5,000 
civil servant mariners who work aboard Military Sealift Command 
vessels, the union contract mariners who sail aboard NOAA vessels, 
and the Navy-owned prepositioning vessels.
    \9\ There are approximately 709,265 DoD civilian personnel, 
6,500 PHS personnel, and 11,268 NOAA personnel. 709,265 + 6,500 + 
11,268 = 727,033, which is rounded to 727,000.
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    (1) The annual average number of original and raise of grade 
national officer endorsements issued is 7,203 (as observed from 2010-
2018). In Figure 1, we show the results of our observation of 
historical data indicating that the number of annual officer 
endorsements issued from 2010-2018 is on a downward trend.
    (2) In 2016, there were 7,165 original and raise of grade national 
officer endorsements issued,\10\ of which 356 used prior service on 
vessels of the uniformed services to meet the requirements for the 
endorsement.\11\ This is equivalent to approximately five percent (356 
/ 7,165). In 2017, there were 6,330 original and raise of grade 
national officer endorsements issued, of which 495 used prior service 
on vessels

[[Page 48846]]

of the uniformed services to meet the requirements for the endorsement. 
This is equivalent to approximately 7.8 percent (495 / 6,330). In 2018, 
there were 5,748 original and raise of grade national officer 
endorsements issued, of which 501 used prior service on vessels of the 
uniformed services to meet the requirements for the endorsement. This 
is equivalent to approximately 8.7 percent (501 / 5,748).
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    \10\ Both original and raise of grade.
    \11\ Qualification meaning prior service on vessels of the 
uniformed services to meet the requirement for recent sea service to 
qualify for a national officer endorsement.
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    (3) The average percentage of original and raise of grade national 
officer endorsements issued using prior sea service aboard vessels of 
the uniformed services is about 7.2 percent ([0.05 + 0.078 + 0.087] / 3 
= 0.072 or 7.2 percent).
    (4) Using the figure derived in (1) and the figure derived in (3), 
the Coast Guard found the average number of (estimated) national 
officer endorsements using prior sea service aboard vessels of the 
uniformed services to be 516 per year (7,203 average annual number of 
national officer endorsements issued x 0.072 percentage of national 
officer endorsements issued using prior sea service on vessels of the 
uniformed services).\12\
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    \12\ Slight errors may be due to rounding.
    [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP17SE19.001
    
Costs Analysis
    This NPRM would amend 46 CFR 11.201(c)(2) and establish a 7-year 
period within which the attainment of 3 months of qualifying sea 
service aboard vessels of the uniformed services could be used to 
satisfy the requirement for recent sea service to qualify for a 
national officer endorsement. Following the publication of CG-CVC 
Policy Letter 15-03, the Coast Guard anticipated an increase in the 
total number of MMCs issued with original or raise of grade national 
officer endorsements. In 2016, the NMC began collecting data on the 
number of applicants using prior sea service aboard vessels of the 
uniformed service.\13\ As shown in table 2, the total number of 
national officer endorsements issued, either original or raise of 
grade, decreased approximately 20 percent from 2016 to 2018. However, 
the number of national officer endorsements issued, either original or 
raise of grade, that utilized sea service on vessels of the uniformed 
services increased approximately 29 percent.
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    \13\ The data is available for years 2016-2018, which leads to a 
baseline year of 2016.

[[Page 48847]]

                            Table 2--National Officer Endorsements Issued (2016-2018)
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                              Year                                     2016            2017            2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        National Officer Endorsements Issued--Original and Raise of Grade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications....................................................           7,165           6,330           5,748
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  National Officer Endorsements Issued With Service on Vessels of the Uniformed Services--Original and Raise of
                                                      Grade
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Applications....................................................             356             495             501
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    As stated previously, this proposed rule expects to increase the 
number of qualified applicants for a national officer endorsements that 
would ultimately lead to an increase in the number of credentialed 
mariners. However, even with the increase in the national officer 
endorsements issued utilizing sea service on vessels of the uniformed 
services, the decrease in national officer endorsements issued from 
2010-2018 is significant enough to conclude that the population of 
credentialed mariners is decreasing.
    In addition, due to data limitations described above, we cannot 
ascertain if the increase in national officer endorsements issued with 
sea service on vessels of the uniformed services from 2016-2018 was due 
to applicants utilizing sea service on vessels of the uniformed 
services resulting from CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03 or if it was just 
part of the annual fluctuations in applications.
    As a result, we cannot estimate the impact of CG-CVC Policy Letter 
15-03 on the number of original or raise of grade national officer 
endorsements issued, and we cannot conclusively estimate the impact of 
this proposed rulemaking on the number of total qualified merchant 
mariners. Without being able to estimate the increase in the number of 
original or raise of grade national officer endorsements issued 
utilizing prior service on vessels of the uniformed services as 
directly related to CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03, we cannot assign costs 
to this proposed rule. The fees associated with an application for an 
MMC are established in 46 CFR 10.219. The fees for an original or raise 
of grade national officer endorsement include evaluation, examination, 
and issuance fees ranging from $45-$110. We also estimate it takes a 
mariner between 5 and 18 minutes (based on NMC's OMB-approved 
Information Collection Request (ICR), with a control number of 1625-
0040) at a respective mariner's loaded hourly wage rate (see Table 1) 
to fill out the MMC application for submission to the NMC. However, 
because we would extend the period of time a mariner has to attain 3 
months of qualifying sea service aboard vessels of the uniformed 
services, which is current industry practice, there is no cost 
associated with this proposed change.
    Because we cannot estimate the impact on the number of national 
officer endorsements issued related to CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03, we 
also cannot estimate the government costs associated with this 
rulemaking. It normally takes a Coast Guard evaluator at the GS-8 level 
with a loaded mean hourly wage of $49 approximately 45 minutes to 
review the MMC application and associated documentation for a unit cost 
of about $36.75.\14\ Government costs would result if there were an 
increase in applications for MMCs or if the time to evaluate the 
application changed from the estimated time in the ICR with a control 
number of 1625-0040. This would be realized at the NMC where 
applications for MMCs are evaluated and credentials are issued.
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    \14\ Information provided by the National Maritime Center. The 
mean hourly wage rate for a GS-8 employee is $49, ``Outside 
Government Rate'', per Commandant Instruction 7310.1T, November 
2018.
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Benefits
    This NPRM would align the regulations in 46 CFR 11.201(c) with the 
authority granted in 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1) with no negative economic 
impact on the affected population. As mentioned earlier in this 
document, the Coast Guard issued CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03 to 
implement 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1) on an interim basis until a rulemaking 
could be completed. Without the regulatory change proposed by this 
NPRM, our regulations would not reflect the most up-to-date sea service 
standard specifically authorized under 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1). 
Accordingly, this NPRM helps avoid confusion by ensuring the most up-
to-date applicable standard is incorporated in the regulation.
    The Coast Guard has identified several qualitative benefits for 
this proposed rule. The proposed regulation would improve the pathways 
to qualify for an MMC with a national officer endorsement and increase 
the number of job opportunities for individuals with experience aboard 
vessels of the uniformed services. This also provides the ability for a 
larger pool of mariners to enter the workforce at a higher pay rate 
than they would have realized prior to CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03. 
Although there is also a potential for an increase in the pool of 
applicants, at this time, the data does not allow us to estimate this 
impact. While there was a 29 percent increase in the number of original 
and raise of grade national officer endorsements issued utilizing prior 
sea service on vessels of the uniformed services, there was a 
corresponding 20 percent decrease in the number of original and raise 
of grade national officer endorsements issued that did not utilize 
prior sea service from 2016-2018. The 20 percent decrease is a more 
significant indication of the annual credentialing trend as compared to 
the 29 percent increase to the population that did use prior sea 
service as part of their application. At this time, the data is not 
robust enough to allow us to estimate the impact of CG-CVC Policy 
Letter 15-03 on the number of original and raise of grade national 
officer endorsements issued. The Coast Guard requests data, input, and 
comments from the general public and interested stakeholders regarding 
the potential of an increase in applicants due to this proposed rule.
    Providing a method for individuals to use recent sea service on 
vessels of the uniformed services to qualify for an MMC with a national 
officer endorsement could result in the opportunity for them to be 
initially employed at a higher pay rate, which leads to the possibility 
of favorable wage impacts to the mariner. Below we describe the 
potential increase in wages to the mariner resulting from having 
previous service on vessels of the uniformed services.
    To estimate the potential wage impacts to the mariner, we compared 
the shipboard wage rates for an individual with an MMC with an officer 
endorsement to that of an individual with an MMC with a rating 
endorsement. The job categories for individuals with an officer 
endorsement as defined by the Bureau of Labor

[[Page 48848]]

Statistics (BLS) are as follows: (1) Deck Officers, to include 
captains, mates, and pilots for water vessels; and (2) Engine Officers, 
to include ship engineers. The job categories for ratings are as 
follows: (1) Deck including sailors, and (2) Engine including marine 
oilers. If an applicant was unable to meet the existing 3-year 
requirement for recent sea service to qualify for an MMC with a 
national officer endorsement, they may seek employment as a rating to 
obtain recent sea service.15 16 Ratings are employed at a 
lower rage rate than officers. Tables 3 and 4 show the calculation for 
the loaded wage factor and the loaded wage rate for each personnel 
category. As described in table 4, individuals who do not hold an 
officer endorsement are classified as a rating paid at a lower wage 
than those that have an officer endorsement aboard a vessel. To meet 
the requirement for 3 months of recent sea service for an MMC with a 
national officer endorsement, an individual would have to spend that 
time employed as a rating aboard a vessel.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \15\ For officers: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes535021.htm and https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes535031.htm; 
for ratings: https://www.bls.gov/oes/2017/may/oes535011.htm. The 
mean hourly wage figured is what is used in the calculation.
    \16\ Currently, there are 45 types of officer endorsements and 
12 types of rating endorsements available for an MMC. Because the 
BLS does not have wage information on all of these endorsement 
types, these categories were chosen as the best categories to 
encompass the endorsement types.

                                     Table 3--Loaded Wage Factor Calculation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       Total          Wage &        Loaded wage
      Personnel category                   Data source             compensation      salaries         factor
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All Workers Private Industry..  BLS Employer Costs for Employee           $26.99          $18.13           1.489
                                 Compensation, all workers
                                 private industry, service
                                 providing, production,
                                 transportation and materials
                                 moving.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        Table 4--Loaded Wage Calculation
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Mean hourly     Loaded wage     Loaded wage
      Personnel category                   Data source                 wage           factor          ($2017)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deck Officers.................  Wage Rate: 2017 mean hourly wage          $38.93           1.489          $57.95
                                 for Captains, Mates, and Pilots
                                 of Water Vessels.
Engine Officers...............  Wage Rate: 2017 mean hourly wage           37.48           1.489           55.80
                                 for Ship Engineers.
Deck and Engine Ratings.......  Wage Rate: 2017 mean hourly wage           22.38           1.489           33.32
                                 for Sailors and Marine Oilers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Numbers may not sum due to independent rounding.

    We estimate the loaded \17\ hourly wage rate of Deck Officers to be 
$57.95 and $55.80 for Engine Officers. This equates to an average 
loaded mean hourly wage rate for officers of $56.88.\18\ We estimate 
the loaded mean hourly wage rate of Deck and Engine ratings to be 
$33.32.19 20
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \17\ Employer Costs for Employee Compensation provides 
information on the employer compensation and can be found at https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/dsrv?cm. To calculate the load factor, we used 
the series ID CMU201S000500000D and CMU202S000500000D using the 
multi-screen database and 2017 quarter 4. The loaded wage factor is 
equal to the total compensation of $26.99 divided by the wages and 
salary of $18.13 ($26.99 / $18.13) = 1.49. Values for the total 
compensation, wages, and salary are for all private industry workers 
in the transportation and material moving occupations, 2017 4th 
quarter. We use 2017 data to keep estimated benefits in 2017 
dollars.
    \18\ To get the average loaded hourly labor rate for ratings, 
the calculation is ($57.95 + $55.80) / 2 = $56.88.
    \19\ All wage rates are in 2017 dollars.
    \20\ Slight calculation adjustments may occur due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To obtain the wage difference for the period a person would need to 
work as a rating on board a vessel to obtain recent sea service to 
qualify for a national officer endorsement, we must first calculate the 
3-month wage for a rating, then calculate the 3-month wage for an 
officer, and then calculate the difference. We estimated the working 
hours in a 3-month, or 90-day period, to be 720 hours (90 working days, 
including weekends, multiplied by 8-hour working days).\21\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \21\ Per the subject matter expert, the working hours would be 7 
days a week, 8 hours per day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Using the calculated loaded mean hourly wage rate for Deck and 
Engine ratings, the Coast Guard calculated the total wages for a 3-
month time period to be $23,988.20 ($33.32 x 720). Using the calculated 
average loaded mean hourly wage rate for officers, we calculated the 
total wages for a 3-month time period to be $40,950.37 ($56.88 x 
720).\22\ We can then calculate the loss in wages from being unable to 
qualify for an MMC with a national officer endorsement for a 3-month 
period. The difference in wages totals $16,962.17 ($40,950.37 - 
$23,988.20) per mariner. See table 5 below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \22\ Slight calculation adjustments may occur due to rounding.

                                         Table 5--90-Day Wage Difference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Loaded mean     90 days in      90 days in
                       Personnel category                           hourly wage        hours        wages \23\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deck and Engine Officers........................................          $56.88             720      $40,950.37
Deck and Engine Ratings.........................................           33.32             720       23,988.20
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Individual Difference (Impact)..............................  ..............  ..............     (16,962.17)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 48849]]

    In summary, we were unable to estimate the impact of this rule on 
the number of merchant mariners available for employment on commercial 
vessels. By increasing the period to meet the requirement for recent 
sea service to qualify for an MMC with a national officer endorsement, 
an individual forgoes having to work at a lower pay rate to obtain the 
prerequisite service for an officer endorsement. The result is a 
potential increase in the entry wage rate for the applicant, which 
could lead to an improved quality of life for the mariners who would 
now qualify for an MMC with a national officer endorsement.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \23\ Figures may not add due to rounding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Regulatory Alternative Considered
    In developing this NPRM, the Coast Guard considered the following 
alternative to the proposed rule: Continuing to allow the extended 
period for recent sea service as provided in CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-
03. We rejected this alternative. In enacting Section 305 of the Howard 
Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014, Congress 
expressly authorized the Secretary to extend the period for recent sea 
service from 3 years to 7 years for individuals whose sea service was 
aboard vessels of the uniformed services. Accordingly, the Coast Guard 
is taking action, through rulemaking, to make the regulatory language 
consistent with the legislative authority. Absent a regulatory change, 
46 CFR 11.201 would not align with 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1).
    There are no other feasible alternatives. Because the existing 
regulatory language in 46 CFR 11.201(c)(2) requires qualifying sea 
service to be attained within a 3-year period preceding the date of 
application for all applicants, a regulatory change is needed to 
implement 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1).

B. Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, we have 
considered whether this proposed rule would have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term ``small 
entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations 
that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their 
fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000. The Coast Guard has not identified any small entities that 
would be directly regulated by the proposed rule. Therefore, the Coast 
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed rule 
would have a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment 
to the docket at the address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this 
proposed rule. In your comment, explain why you think it qualifies and 
how and to what degree this proposed rule would economically affect it.

C. Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104-121, we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this proposed rule so that they can better 
evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the 
proposed rule would affect your small business, organization, or 
governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its 
provisions or options for compliance, please contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this proposed rule. The 
Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or 
complain about this proposed rule or any policy or action of the Coast 
Guard.

D. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information 
tasks under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 
Because the data indicates that this proposed rule would not result in 
an increase in the number of applicants, it would not add respondents 
for recording and recordkeeping to the existing collection (OMB Control 
Number 1625-0040), ``Application for Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), 
Application for Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate, Application for 
Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate for Entry Level Ratings, Small 
Vessel Sea Service Form, DOT/USCG Periodic Drug Testing Form, 
Disclosure Statement for Narcotics, DWI/DUI, and/or Other Convictions, 
Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate, Recognition of Foreign 
Certificate.''

E. Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132 
(Federalism) if it has a substantial direct effect on States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 
13132 and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental 
federalism principles and preemption requirements as described in 
Executive Order 13132. Our analysis follows.
    It is well settled that States may not regulate in categories 
reserved for regulation by the Coast Guard. It is also well settled 
that all of the categories covered in 46 U.S.C. 3306, 3703, 7101, and 
8101 (design, construction, alteration, repair, maintenance, operation, 
equipping, personnel qualification, and manning of vessels), as well as 
the reporting of casualties and any other category in which Congress 
intended the Coast Guard to be the sole source of a vessel's 
obligations, are within the field foreclosed from regulation by the 
States. See the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Locke and 
Intertanko v. Locke, 529 U.S. 89, 120 S.Ct. 1135 (2000). Because this 
proposed rule involves the credentialing of mariners under 46 U.S.C. 
7101, it relates to personnel qualifications and is therefore 
foreclosed from regulation by the States. Therefore, because the States 
may not regulate within this category, this proposed rule is consistent 
with the fundamental federalism principles and preemption requirements 
in Executive Order 13132.
    While it is well settled that States may not regulate in categories 
in which Congress intended the Coast Guard to be the sole source of a 
vessel's obligations, the Coast Guard recognizes the key role that 
State and local governments may have in making regulatory 
determinations. Additionally, for rules with federalism implications 
and preemptive effect, Executive Order 13132 specifically directs 
agencies to consult with State and local governments during the 
rulemaking process. If you believe this proposed rule would have 
implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, please contact 
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of 
this NPRM.

F. Unfunded Mandates

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100 million (adjusted for 
inflation) or more in any one year. Although this proposed rule would 
not result in such an expenditure, the Coast Guard does

[[Page 48850]]

discuss the effects of this proposed rule elsewhere in this preamble.

G. Taking of Private Property

    This proposed rule would not cause a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630 
(Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected 
Property Rights).

H. Civil Justice Reform

    This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, (Civil Justice Reform), to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

I. Protection of Children

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposed rule under Executive 
Order 13045 (Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and 
Safety Risks). This proposed rule is not an economically significant 
rule and would not create an environmental risk to health or risk to 
safety that might disproportionately affect children.

J. Indian Tribal Governments

    This proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments), because it would not have a substantial direct effect on 
one or more Indian tribes, or on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

K. Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13211 
(Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy 
Supply, Distribution, or Use). We have determined that it is not a 
``significant energy action'' under that order because it is not a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866 and is 
not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, 
distribution, or use of energy.

L. Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act, codified as a 
note to 15 U.S.C. 272, directs agencies to use voluntary consensus 
standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides 
Congress, through OMB, with an explanation of why using these standards 
would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. 
Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., 
specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test 
methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) 
that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.
    This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, the 
Coast Guard did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

M. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Management Directive 023-01 and Environmental Planning 
COMDTINST 5090.1 (series), which guide the Coast Guard in complying 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-
4370f). We have made a preliminary determination that this action is 
one of a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively 
have a significant effect on the human environment. This proposed rule 
appears to meet the criteria for categorical exclusion (CATEX) under 
paragraphs A3(d) and L54 in Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Directive 023-01 
(series). CATEX A3 pertains to the promulgation of rules and procedures 
that are: (d) ``those that interpret or amend an existing regulation 
without changing its environmental effect'' and CATEX A3 also pertains 
to regulations concerning the training, qualifying, licensing, and 
disciplining of maritime personnel. This rule proposes to revise 
mariner credentialing requirements to implement 46 U.S.C. 7101(j)(1) 
without substantive change. A preliminary Record of Environmental 
Consideration supporting this determination is available in the docket 
where indicated under the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. We seek 
any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a 
significant environmental impact from this proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 46 CFR Part 11

    Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Schools, 
Seamen.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 46 CFR part 11 as follows:

PART 11--REQUIREMENTS FOR OFFICER ENDORSEMENTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 11 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 14 U.S.C. 633; 31 U.S.C. 9701; 46 U.S.C. 2101, 2103, 
and 2110; 46 U.S.C. chapter 71; 46 U.S.C. 7502, 7505, 7701, 8906, 
and 70105; Executive Order 10173; Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1. Section 11.107 is also issued under the 
authority of 44 U.S.C. 3507.

0
2. Amend Sec.  11.201 as follows:
0
a. Redesignate paragraph (c)(1) as paragraph (c) introductory text and 
revise the newly redesignated paragraph (c) introductory text;
0
b. Redesignate paragraphs (c)(2) through (c)(6) as (c)(1) to (c)(5); 
and
0
c. Revise newly redesignated (c)(1).
    The revisions to read as follows.

Sec.  11.201   General requirements for national and STCW officer 
endorsements.

* * * * *
    (c) Experience and service. Applicants for officer endorsements 
should refer to Sec.  10.232 of this subchapter for information 
regarding requirements for documentation and proof of sea service.
    (1) An applicant for a national officer endorsement must meet one 
of the following:
    (i) Have at least 3 months of required service on vessels of 
appropriate tonnage or horsepower within the 3 years immediately 
preceding the date of application; or
    (ii) Have at least 3 months of required service on vessels of the 
uniformed services as defined in 10 U.S.C. 101(a)(5) of appropriate 
tonnage or horsepower within the 7 years immediately preceding the date 
of application; or
    (iii) Have at least 3 months of required service attained through a 
combination of service established under paragraphs (c)(1)(i) or (ii) 
of this section.
* * * * *

    Dated: September 6, 2019.
R.V. Timme,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Prevention 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2019-19754 Filed 9-16-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P