Ballast Water Reporting by Foreign-flag Vessels Bound for the Great Lakes., 19742 [E6-5652]

Download as PDF 19742 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 73 / Monday, April 17, 2006 / Notices dsatterwhite on PROD1PC76 with NOTICES (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 2732, to foster a long-term partnership among industry, government, and local communities in overseeing compliance with environmental concerns in the operation of crude oil terminals and oil tankers. On October 18, 1991, the President delegated his authority under 33 U.S.C 2732(o) to the Secretary of Transportation in Executive Order 12777, section 8(g) (see 56 FR 54757; October 22, 1991) for purposes of certifying advisory councils, or groups, subject to the Act. On March 3, 1992, the Secretary redelegated that authority to the Commandant of the USCG (see 57 FR 8582; March 11, 1992). The Commandant redelegated that authority to the Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection (G-M) on March 19, 1992 (letter #5402). On July 7, 1993, the USCG published a policy statement, 58 FR 36504, to clarify the factors that shall be considered in making the determination as to whether advisory councils, or groups, should be certified in accordance with the Act. The Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection (G-M), redelegated recertification authority for advisory councils, or groups, to the Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard District on February 26, 1999 (letter #16450). On September 16, 2002, the USCG published a policy statement, 67 FR 58440, that changed the recertification procedures such that applicants are required to provide the USCG with comprehensive information every three years (triennially). For each of the two years between the triennial application procedure, applicants submit a letter requesting recertification that includes a description of any substantive changes to the information provided at the previous triennial recertification. Further, public comment is not solicited prior to recertification during streamlined years, only during the triennial comprehensive review. Recertification By letter dated March 2, 2006, the Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard certified that the PWSRCAC qualifies as an alternative voluntary advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification terminates on February 28, 2007. Dated: March 24, 2006. James C. Olson, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard District. [FR Doc. E6–5604 Filed 4–14–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–15–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:16 Apr 14, 2006 Jkt 208001 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [USCG–2006–24443] Ballast Water Reporting by Foreignflag Vessels Bound for the Great Lakes. Coast Guard, DHS. Notice. AGENCY: ACTION: SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces this notice as clarification of the ballast water reporting requirements for foreign-flag vessels bound for the Great Lakes from outside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). DATES: This notice is effective on April 17, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this notice, contact LT Keith Donohue, Environmental Standards Division, Coast Guard, telephone 202–267–0500, e-mail: kdonohue@comdt.uscg.mil. If you have questions about viewing material on the docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–493–0402. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose The reporting requirements of 33 CFR 151.2041 apply to all foreign-flag vessels with ballast water tanks that are bound for the Great Lakes, unless exempted by 33 CFR 151.2010 and 151.2015. Foreignflag vessels do not include U.S. and Canadian-flag vessels. These requirements were amended by the final rule entitled ‘‘Penalties for NonSubmission of Ballast Water Management Reports,’’ published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2004. See 69 FR 32864. That final rule mandated that all foreign-flag vessels must provide the complete information required in 33 CFR 151.2045 when bound for the Great Lakes from beyond the EEZ, and gave these vessels two options for doing so. The first option allows reports to be sent to the appropriate authority established in 33 CFR 151.2041(b)(1)(i) using the Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form, OMB form Control No. 1625–0069. As an alternative, 33 CFR 151.2041(b)(1)(ii) allows foreign-flag vessels to complete the ballast water information section of the St. Lawrence Seaway ‘‘Pre-entry Information from Foreign Flagged Vessels Form’’ and submit it in accordance with the applicable Seaway Notice. However, the Coast Guard highlights through this notice that, if this second option is used, PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the owners and operators of these vessels must still ensure they provide all the information required by 33 CFR 151.2045 to be in compliance with the ballast water reporting requirements. If the Pre-entry form used to make the applicable Seaway Notice does not provide ample space for all the information required by 33 CFR 151.2045, the information must still be provided. This can be accomplished either with an annotated version of the Pre-entry form or an accompanying Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form. Also, if the information required by 33 CFR 151.2041 is submitted within the Seaway Notice 96 hours prior to arrival and the vessel’s ballast information subsequently changes, an amended form must be submitted before the vessel departs the waters of the United States. In addition, the Coast Guard published a Notice of Policy entitled ‘‘Ballast Water Management for Vessels Entering the Great Lakes that Declare No Ballast Onboard’’ in the Federal Register on August 31, 2005. See 70 FR 51831. The Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form, with sections 4 and 5 properly completed, is the only means of documenting a vessel’s implementation of the voluntary best management practices described in the August 31, 2005 Notice of Policy. See 70 FR 51831. Finally, to further avoid confusion and reporting submission issues, the Coast Guard recommends each foreignflag vessel that enters the Great Lakes from outside the EEZ should submit the required information using the Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form to either the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Buffalo, Massena Detachment or the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, at least 24 hours before the vessel arrives in Montreal, Quebec, in addition to the Pre-entry form required by the applicable Seaway Notice. The fax number for the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Buffalo, Massena Detachment is 315–769–5032, and the fax number for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation is 315–764– 3250. Dated: April 5, 2006. H.L. Hime, Acting Director of Standards, Assistant Commandant for Prevention, U.S. Coast Guard. [FR Doc. E6–5652 Filed 4–14–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–15–P E:\FR\FM\17APN1.SGM 17APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 73 (Monday, April 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 19742]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5652]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2006-24443]


Ballast Water Reporting by Foreign-flag Vessels Bound for the 
Great Lakes.

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces this notice as clarification of the 
ballast water reporting requirements for foreign-flag vessels bound for 
the Great Lakes from outside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

DATES: This notice is effective on April 17, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice, contact LT Keith Donohue, Environmental Standards Division, 
Coast Guard, telephone 202-267-0500, e-mail: kdonohue@comdt.uscg.mil. 
If you have questions about viewing material on the docket, call Ms. 
Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-493-
0402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    The reporting requirements of 33 CFR 151.2041 apply to all foreign-
flag vessels with ballast water tanks that are bound for the Great 
Lakes, unless exempted by 33 CFR 151.2010 and 151.2015. Foreign-flag 
vessels do not include U.S. and Canadian-flag vessels. These 
requirements were amended by the final rule entitled ``Penalties for 
Non-Submission of Ballast Water Management Reports,'' published in the 
Federal Register on June 14, 2004. See 69 FR 32864. That final rule 
mandated that all foreign-flag vessels must provide the complete 
information required in 33 CFR 151.2045 when bound for the Great Lakes 
from beyond the EEZ, and gave these vessels two options for doing so.
    The first option allows reports to be sent to the appropriate 
authority established in 33 CFR 151.2041(b)(1)(i) using the Coast Guard 
Ballast Water Reporting Form, OMB form Control No. 1625-0069.
    As an alternative, 33 CFR 151.2041(b)(1)(ii) allows foreign-flag 
vessels to complete the ballast water information section of the St. 
Lawrence Seaway ``Pre-entry Information from Foreign Flagged Vessels 
Form'' and submit it in accordance with the applicable Seaway Notice. 
However, the Coast Guard highlights through this notice that, if this 
second option is used, the owners and operators of these vessels must 
still ensure they provide all the information required by 33 CFR 
151.2045 to be in compliance with the ballast water reporting 
requirements. If the Pre-entry form used to make the applicable Seaway 
Notice does not provide ample space for all the information required by 
33 CFR 151.2045, the information must still be provided. This can be 
accomplished either with an annotated version of the Pre-entry form or 
an accompanying Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form. Also, if the 
information required by 33 CFR 151.2041 is submitted within the Seaway 
Notice 96 hours prior to arrival and the vessel's ballast information 
subsequently changes, an amended form must be submitted before the 
vessel departs the waters of the United States.
    In addition, the Coast Guard published a Notice of Policy entitled 
``Ballast Water Management for Vessels Entering the Great Lakes that 
Declare No Ballast Onboard'' in the Federal Register on August 31, 
2005. See 70 FR 51831. The Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form, 
with sections 4 and 5 properly completed, is the only means of 
documenting a vessel's implementation of the voluntary best management 
practices described in the August 31, 2005 Notice of Policy. See 70 FR 
51831.
    Finally, to further avoid confusion and reporting submission 
issues, the Coast Guard recommends each foreign-flag vessel that enters 
the Great Lakes from outside the EEZ should submit the required 
information using the Coast Guard Ballast Water Reporting Form to 
either the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Buffalo, Massena Detachment 
or the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, at least 24 hours 
before the vessel arrives in Montreal, Quebec, in addition to the Pre-
entry form required by the applicable Seaway Notice. The fax number for 
the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Buffalo, Massena Detachment is 315-
769-5032, and the fax number for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation is 315-764-3250.

    Dated: April 5, 2006.
H.L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Assistant Commandant for Prevention, U.S. 
Coast Guard.
 [FR Doc. E6-5652 Filed 4-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P
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