Updates to Vessel Inspection Fees, 74674-74677 [2010-30151]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
74674
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2010 / Proposed Rules
I. Does this action apply to me?
46 CFR Part 2
This action is directed to the public
in general. It simply announces the
submission of a draft proposed rule to
the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) and does not
otherwise affect any specific entities.
This action may, however, be of
particular interest to those who export
a pesticide product, a pesticide device,
or an active ingredient used in
producing a pesticide. Since other
entities may also be interested, the
Agency has not attempted to describe all
the specific entities that may be
interested in this action. If you have any
questions regarding this action, consult
the person listed under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT.
To avoid duplication, please use only
one of these four methods. See the
‘‘Request for Information’’ portion of the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
below for instructions on submitting
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you have questions on this notice of
inquiry, call or e-mail Lieutenant
Commander Alan Moore, U.S. Coast
Guard, at telephone: 202–372–1231 or
e-mail: Alan.H.Moore@uscg.mil. If you
have questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, call Ms. Renee V.
Wright, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, at telephone: 202–366–
9826.
[Docket No. USCG–2010–0245]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
RIN 1625–ZA28
Request for Information
We encourage you to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting
comments and related materials. All
comments received will be posted
without change to https://
www.regulations.gov and will include
any personal information you have
provided.
Submitting comments and
information: If you submit a comment,
please include the docket number for
this notice of inquiry (USCG–2010–
0245), and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. You
may submit your comments and
material online or by fax, mail, or hand
delivery, but please use only one of
these means. We recommend that you
include your name and a mailing
address, an e-mail address, or a phone
number in the body of your document
so that we can contact you if we have
questions regarding your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, enter
‘‘USCG–2010–0245’’ in the ‘‘Keyword’’
box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ Then, click on
the ‘‘Submit a Comment’’ link. If you
submit your comments by mail or hand
delivery, submit them in an unbound
format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches,
suitable for copying and electronic
filing. If you submit comments by mail
and would like to know that they
reached the facility, please enclose a
stamped, self-addressed postcard or
envelope. We will consider all
comments and material received during
the comment period.
Viewing comments and documents:
To view comments, and other
documents available in the docket, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, enter
‘‘USCG–2010–0245’’ in the ‘‘Keyword’’
box, and click ‘‘Search.’’ If you do not
have access to the Internet, you may
view the docket by visiting the Docket
Management Facility in Room W12–140
Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket
Facility telephone number is (703) 305–
5805.
Vera
Au, Field & External Affairs Division
(7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington
DC 20460–0001; telephone number:
(703) 308–9069; e-mail address:
au.vera@epa.gov@epa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
II. What action is EPA taking?
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
Section 25(a)(2) of FIFRA requires the
Administrator to provide the Secretary
of Agriculture with a copy of any
proposed regulation at least 60 days
before signing it for publication in the
Federal Register. The draft proposed
rule is not available to the public until
after it has been signed by EPA. If the
Secretary comments in writing
regarding the draft proposed rule within
30 days after receiving it, the
Administrator shall include the
comments of the Secretary and the
Administrator’s response to those
comments in the proposed rule when
published in the Federal Register. If the
Secretary does not comment in writing
within 30 days after receiving the draft
proposed rule, the Administrator may
sign the proposed regulation for
publication in the Federal Register
anytime after the 30-day period.
III. Do any statutory and executive
order reviews apply to this notification?
No. This document is not a proposed
rule, it is merely a notification of
submission to the Secretary of
Agriculture. As such, none of the
regulatory assessment requirements
apply to this document.
20:10 Nov 30, 2010
Jkt 223001
Dated: November 15, 2010.
Steven Bradbury,
Director, Office of Pesticide Programs.
[FR Doc. 2010–30222 Filed 11–30–10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 168
Environmental protection, Exports,
Labeling, Pesticides and pests.
Updates to Vessel Inspection Fees
Coast Guard, DHS.
Notice of inquiry; request for
information.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Coast Guard seeks public
comment on updating vessel inspection
fees. The Coast Guard, by regulation,
establishes inspection fees for U.S.
commercial vessels required to maintain
a Certificate of Inspection and foreign
tankships and mobile offshore drilling
units required to maintain a Certificate
of Compliance. This includes overseas
inspection and examination fees. The
Coast Guard is considering options for
updating and/or restructuring these
inspection fees to ensure their adequacy
and equity, and for adapting to changes
that have occurred since they were last
modified in 1998. The Coast Guard
seeks information on factors to consider
when updating these fees.
DATES: Comments and related material
must either be submitted to our online
docket via https://www.regulations.gov
on or before March 1, 2011 or reach the
Docket Management Facility by that
date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by docket number USCG–
2010–0245 using any one of the
following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202–493–2251.
(3) Mail: 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.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail
address above, between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number
is 202–366–9329.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00012
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\01DEP1.SGM
01DEP1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2010 / Proposed Rules
on the ground floor of the Department
of Transportation West Building, 1200
New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington
DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the
electronic form of comments received
into any of our dockets by the name of
the individual submitting the comment
(or signing the comment, if submitted
on behalf of an association, business,
labor union, etc.). You may review a
Privacy Act notice regarding our public
dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of
the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background and Purpose
In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–508, November
5, 1990) Congress amended 46 U.S.C.
2110 by removing long-standing
prohibitions against imposing certain
inspection fees. Congress also directed
the Coast Guard to establish inspection
fees to recover costs associated with
providing Coast Guard vessel inspection
services.
On December 18, 1991, the Coast
Guard published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) (56 FR 65786) on
Direct User Fees for Inspection or
Examination of U.S. and Foreign
Commercial Vessels. A correction to the
proposed rule (56 FR 66766) was issued
on December 24, 1991, adding
Appendix A, a summary of the
preliminary Regulatory Evaluation.
Following publication of the NPRM, the
Coast Guard received 1,092 written
comments and 176 statements from
participants at public meetings. All
segments of the maritime industry
generally objected to the proposed
imposition of any inspection fees for the
inspection of their vessels.
On March 13, 1995, the Coast Guard
published a final rule on Direct User
Fees for Inspection or Examination of
U.S. and Foreign Commercial Vessels
(60 FR 13550). Through this final rule,
Coast Guard added a new subpart 2.10,
Fees, to Title 46 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), part 2.
On April 21, 1997, as required by the
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996,
the Coast Guard published an interim
rule titled Vessel Inspection User Fees
(62 FR 19229) that reduced annual
vessel inspection fees for small
passenger vessels and excluded publicly
owned ferries from payment of vessel
inspection fees. The interim rule also
revised the existing discretionary
exemption criteria to allow additional
vessels to qualify for exemptions from
the annual fee. The Coast Guard
published the final rule (63 FR 59472)
on November 4, 1998, adding several
new definitions and amending the
exemptions section to exclude
inspection fees for qualifying vessels
owned or operated by certain non-profit
organizations.
Currently, the Coast Guard collects
inspection fees to recover the costs of
providing vessel inspection services in
support of commercial vessels required
to have Certificates of Inspection (COIs)
(for U.S. vessels) or Certificates of
Compliance (COCs) (for foreign vessels)
in order to meet statutory and regulatory
requirements. Additional fees are
required for inspections and
examinations conducted at overseas
locations.
The inspection fee amounts have not
been updated since 1998. Office of
Management and Budget Circular
Number A–25 directs a biennial review
of inspection fees. The Coast Guard
completed its last review on May 30,
2008. That review, which is available in
the docket, accounted for various
inflations and revealed that the cost
associated with marine inspection
services exceeds the inspection fees
collected, which have not been adjusted
since 1998. Based on this review, the
Coast Guard is considering adjusting its
vessel inspection fees.
Because there have been many
changes since the last update to 46 CFR
part 2, subpart 2.10, Fees, both in the
74675
maritime industry and in the Coast
Guard’s commercial vessel inspection
program, the Coast Guard is seeking
public input on any such update. This
notice of inquiry and request for
information seeks public comment and
information to aid the Coast Guard in
updating and/or restructuring vessel
inspection fees.
With some exceptions, the current
vessel inspection fees are assigned
based on vessel service and length. The
Coast Guard designed this fee structure
based on these factors to offset the Coast
Guard’s cost of providing vessel
inspection services. The vessel
inspection and fee categories were
derived from inspection activity data
during the years 1987, 1988, 1989, and
1990, and included the contemporary
program costs associated with
conducting vessel inspection and
examination activities by Coast Guard
personnel. The current annual vessel
inspection fee structure is shown in the
table below, as set forth in 46 CFR 2.10–
101. Section 2.10–101 covers U.S. vessel
inspection fees plus other fees charged
for foreign tankships and foreign mobile
offshore drilling units trading in U.S.
ports. Subpart 2.10 also sets forth fees
for inspections conducted at overseas
locations.
Certain inspection fees have been
capped by statute; the Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 1996 limited the
amount of fees that may be charged to
small passenger vessels as defined in
Title 46 CFR 2.10–25, and the Omnibus
Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1990
limited the annual vessel inspection fee
for non-self propelled tank barges. In
any update to 46 CFR part 2, subpart
2.10, the Coast Guard does not intend to
make any changes to these capped fees
or to any currently excluded or
exempted category vessels despite being
required to maintain a COI. For
convenience, the table in 46 CFR 2.101
listing inspection fees has been
reproduced below.
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
TABLE 2.10–101—ANNUAL VESSEL INSPECTION FEES FOR U.S. AND FOREIGN VESSELS REQUIRING A CERTIFICATE OF
INSPECTION
Any inspected vessel not listed in this table ...........................................................................................................................................
Freight barges:
Length not greater than 150 feet .....................................................................................................................................................
More than 150 feet but not more than 300 feet ...............................................................................................................................
More than 300 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Freight ships:
Length not greater than 100 feet .....................................................................................................................................................
More than 100 feet but not more than 300 feet ...............................................................................................................................
More than 300 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Industrial Vessels:
Length not greater than 200 feet .....................................................................................................................................................
More than 200 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs):
Drill ship MODUs ..............................................................................................................................................................................
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:10 Nov 30, 2010
Jkt 223001
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
E:\FR\FM\01DEP1.SGM
01DEP1
$1,030
495
610
955
1,425
1,870
5,410
1,435
2,550
6,710
74676
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2010 / Proposed Rules
TABLE 2.10–101—ANNUAL VESSEL INSPECTION FEES FOR U.S. AND FOREIGN VESSELS REQUIRING A CERTIFICATE OF
INSPECTION—Continued
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
Submersible MODUs ........................................................................................................................................................................
Self-elevating MODUs ......................................................................................................................................................................
Semi-submersible MODUs ...............................................................................................................................................................
Nautical School Vessels:
Length not greater than 100 feet .........................................................................................................................................................
More than 100 feet but not more than 200 feet ..................................................................................................................................
More than 200 feet ...............................................................................................................................................................................
Oceanographic Research Vessels:
Length not greater than 170 feet .....................................................................................................................................................
More than 170 feet but not more than 240 feet ...............................................................................................................................
More than 240 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Offshore Supply Vessels:
Length not greater than 140 feet .....................................................................................................................................................
More than 140 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Offshore Supply Vessels: Alternate Reinspection Program
Length not greater than 140 feet .....................................................................................................................................................
More than 140 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Passenger Barges:
Less than 100 gross tons and:
Less than 65 feet in length ...............................................................................................................................................................
65 feet or more in length ..................................................................................................................................................................
100 gross tons or more and:
Certified for fewer than 150 passengers ..........................................................................................................................................
Certified for 150 or more passengers ..............................................................................................................................................
Passenger Ships:
Length not greater than 250 feet:
Certified for fewer than 150 passengers ..........................................................................................................................................
Certified for 150 or more passengers ..............................................................................................................................................
More than 250 feet but not more than 350 feet ...............................................................................................................................
More than 350 feet but not more than 450 feet ...............................................................................................................................
More than 450 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Sailing School Vessels:
Length not greater than 30 feet .......................................................................................................................................................
More than 30 feet but not more than 65 feet ...................................................................................................................................
More than 65 feet .............................................................................................................................................................................
Sea-going Towing Vessels ...............................................................................................................................................................
Small Passenger Vessels:
Less than 65 feet in length ...............................................................................................................................................................
65 feet or more in length ..................................................................................................................................................................
Tank Barges .....................................................................................................................................................................................
Tankships:
Length not greater than 100 feet .....................................................................................................................................................
More than 100 feet but not more than 300 feet ...............................................................................................................................
More than 300 feet ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Liquefied Gas Tankships ..................................................................................................................................................................
Fees generated by 46 CFR part 2,
subpart 2.10 are deposited in the general
fund of the U.S. Treasury as offsetting
receipts of the Department of Homeland
Security and are assigned generally to
Coast Guard activities. The Coast Guard
does not directly benefit from the
collection of inspection fees. The Coast
Guard’s intent, during any update to
subpart 2.10, is to consider viable
options for updating and/or
restructuring the inspection fees listed
above to ensure their adequacy and
equity, plus to adapt to changes that
have occurred since inspection fee
amounts were last modified in 1998. It
is expected that any update to subpart
2.10 will ensure a more comprehensive,
equitable, and current inspection fee
structure.
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:10 Nov 30, 2010
Jkt 223001
Request for Information
Through this notice of inquiry, the
Coast Guard asks for comments and
information to consider in updating
vessel inspection fees. Please consider
the following questions when preparing
comments:
• Should the Coast Guard restructure
the current vessel inspection fees?
• What factors, such as length,
tonnage, type of vessel, inspection time,
type of service, number of crew, number
of passengers, or length of operating
season, should be considered in
restructuring the vessel inspection fees?
• How often or at what frequency
should inspection fees be adjusted?
• Should the fee be indexed based on
economic measures?
• Should the fee be a direct bill based
on the inspection type and frequency (to
include and not be limited to separate
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
4,695
4,695
8,050
835
1,450
7,205
840
1,980
3,610
1,135
1,470
940
1,260
300
600
2,215
2,525
3,600
4,050
5,330
6,835
14,650
530
560
980
2,915
300
600
500
1,295
2,310
5,805
12,120
fees for annual inspections, periodic
inspections, re-examinations, hull
examinations, and deficiency followups) based on program costs and Coast
Guard personnel hours incurred?
• Should the Coast Guard impose fees
on a vessel based upon the number of
visits to complete the inspection or
examination?
• Should vessel owners or operators
apply annually for exemptions and
waivers?
• Should the Coast Guard apply
inspection fees to new construction
vessels and associated plan review?
• Should the Coast Guard apply
inspection fees to vessels undergoing
major alterations where new plan
review and onsite verification is
required?
• Should separate fees be developed
for vessels enrolled in the Alternate
Compliance and Streamlined Inspection
E:\FR\FM\01DEP1.SGM
01DEP1
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2010 / Proposed Rules
Programs under Title 46 CFR Part 8—
Vessel Inspection Alternatives?
This notice of inquiry is issued under
authority of 46 U.S.C. 3305, 46 U.S.C.
3306, Department of Homeland Security
Delegation No. 0170.1.
74677
Dated: September 10, 2010.
Kevin S. Cook,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of
Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010–30151 Filed 11–30–10; 8:45 am]
jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
VerDate Mar<15>2010
20:10 Nov 30, 2010
Jkt 223001
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 9990
E:\FR\FM\01DEP1.SGM
01DEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74674-74677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30151]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
46 CFR Part 2
[Docket No. USCG-2010-0245]
RIN 1625-ZA28
Updates to Vessel Inspection Fees
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of inquiry; request for information.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard seeks public comment on updating vessel
inspection fees. The Coast Guard, by regulation, establishes inspection
fees for U.S. commercial vessels required to maintain a Certificate of
Inspection and foreign tankships and mobile offshore drilling units
required to maintain a Certificate of Compliance. This includes
overseas inspection and examination fees. The Coast Guard is
considering options for updating and/or restructuring these inspection
fees to ensure their adequacy and equity, and for adapting to changes
that have occurred since they were last modified in 1998. The Coast
Guard seeks information on factors to consider when updating these
fees.
DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our
online docket via https://www.regulations.gov on or before March 1, 2011
or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2010-0245 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail: 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.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Request for Information'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section below for instructions on submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice
of inquiry, call or e-mail Lieutenant Commander Alan Moore, U.S. Coast
Guard, at telephone: 202-372-1231 or e-mail: Alan.H.Moore@uscg.mil. If
you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket,
call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, at
telephone: 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Information
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted
without change to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided.
Submitting comments and information: If you submit a comment,
please include the docket number for this notice of inquiry (USCG-2010-
0245), and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You
may submit your comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand
delivery, but please use only one of these means. We recommend that you
include your name and a mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone
number in the body of your document so that we can contact you if we
have questions regarding your submission.
To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov,
enter ``USCG-2010-0245'' in the ``Keyword'' box, and click ``Search.''
Then, click on the ``Submit a Comment'' link. If you submit your
comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic
filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they
reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard
or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during
the comment period.
Viewing comments and documents: To view comments, and other
documents available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov,
enter ``USCG-2010-0245'' in the ``Keyword'' box, and click ``Search.''
If you do not have access to the Internet, you may view the docket by
visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140
[[Page 74675]]
on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building,
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a
Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17,
2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
Background and Purpose
In the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101-508,
November 5, 1990) Congress amended 46 U.S.C. 2110 by removing long-
standing prohibitions against imposing certain inspection fees.
Congress also directed the Coast Guard to establish inspection fees to
recover costs associated with providing Coast Guard vessel inspection
services.
On December 18, 1991, the Coast Guard published a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) (56 FR 65786) on Direct User Fees for
Inspection or Examination of U.S. and Foreign Commercial Vessels. A
correction to the proposed rule (56 FR 66766) was issued on December
24, 1991, adding Appendix A, a summary of the preliminary Regulatory
Evaluation. Following publication of the NPRM, the Coast Guard received
1,092 written comments and 176 statements from participants at public
meetings. All segments of the maritime industry generally objected to
the proposed imposition of any inspection fees for the inspection of
their vessels.
On March 13, 1995, the Coast Guard published a final rule on Direct
User Fees for Inspection or Examination of U.S. and Foreign Commercial
Vessels (60 FR 13550). Through this final rule, Coast Guard added a new
subpart 2.10, Fees, to Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), part
2.
On April 21, 1997, as required by the Coast Guard Authorization Act
of 1996, the Coast Guard published an interim rule titled Vessel
Inspection User Fees (62 FR 19229) that reduced annual vessel
inspection fees for small passenger vessels and excluded publicly owned
ferries from payment of vessel inspection fees. The interim rule also
revised the existing discretionary exemption criteria to allow
additional vessels to qualify for exemptions from the annual fee. The
Coast Guard published the final rule (63 FR 59472) on November 4, 1998,
adding several new definitions and amending the exemptions section to
exclude inspection fees for qualifying vessels owned or operated by
certain non-profit organizations.
Currently, the Coast Guard collects inspection fees to recover the
costs of providing vessel inspection services in support of commercial
vessels required to have Certificates of Inspection (COIs) (for U.S.
vessels) or Certificates of Compliance (COCs) (for foreign vessels) in
order to meet statutory and regulatory requirements. Additional fees
are required for inspections and examinations conducted at overseas
locations.
The inspection fee amounts have not been updated since 1998. Office
of Management and Budget Circular Number A-25 directs a biennial review
of inspection fees. The Coast Guard completed its last review on May
30, 2008. That review, which is available in the docket, accounted for
various inflations and revealed that the cost associated with marine
inspection services exceeds the inspection fees collected, which have
not been adjusted since 1998. Based on this review, the Coast Guard is
considering adjusting its vessel inspection fees.
Because there have been many changes since the last update to 46
CFR part 2, subpart 2.10, Fees, both in the maritime industry and in
the Coast Guard's commercial vessel inspection program, the Coast Guard
is seeking public input on any such update. This notice of inquiry and
request for information seeks public comment and information to aid the
Coast Guard in updating and/or restructuring vessel inspection fees.
With some exceptions, the current vessel inspection fees are
assigned based on vessel service and length. The Coast Guard designed
this fee structure based on these factors to offset the Coast Guard's
cost of providing vessel inspection services. The vessel inspection and
fee categories were derived from inspection activity data during the
years 1987, 1988, 1989, and 1990, and included the contemporary program
costs associated with conducting vessel inspection and examination
activities by Coast Guard personnel. The current annual vessel
inspection fee structure is shown in the table below, as set forth in
46 CFR 2.10-101. Section 2.10-101 covers U.S. vessel inspection fees
plus other fees charged for foreign tankships and foreign mobile
offshore drilling units trading in U.S. ports. Subpart 2.10 also sets
forth fees for inspections conducted at overseas locations.
Certain inspection fees have been capped by statute; the Coast
Guard Authorization Act of 1996 limited the amount of fees that may be
charged to small passenger vessels as defined in Title 46 CFR 2.10-25,
and the Omnibus Budget and Reconciliation Act of 1990 limited the
annual vessel inspection fee for non-self propelled tank barges. In any
update to 46 CFR part 2, subpart 2.10, the Coast Guard does not intend
to make any changes to these capped fees or to any currently excluded
or exempted category vessels despite being required to maintain a COI.
For convenience, the table in 46 CFR 2.101 listing inspection fees has
been reproduced below.
Table 2.10-101--Annual Vessel Inspection Fees for U.S. And Foreign
Vessels Requiring a Certificate of Inspection
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Any inspected vessel not listed in this table.............. $1,030
Freight barges:
Length not greater than 150 feet....................... 495
More than 150 feet but not more than 300 feet.......... 610
More than 300 feet..................................... 955
Freight ships:
Length not greater than 100 feet....................... 1,425
More than 100 feet but not more than 300 feet.......... 1,870
More than 300 feet..................................... 5,410
Industrial Vessels:
Length not greater than 200 feet....................... 1,435
More than 200 feet..................................... 2,550
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs):
Drill ship MODUs....................................... 6,710
[[Page 74676]]
Submersible MODUs...................................... 4,695
Self-elevating MODUs................................... 4,695
Semi-submersible MODUs................................. 8,050
Nautical School Vessels:
Length not greater than 100 feet......................... 835
More than 100 feet but not more than 200 feet............ 1,450
More than 200 feet....................................... 7,205
Oceanographic Research Vessels:
Length not greater than 170 feet....................... 840
More than 170 feet but not more than 240 feet.......... 1,980
More than 240 feet..................................... 3,610
Offshore Supply Vessels:
Length not greater than 140 feet....................... 1,135
More than 140 feet..................................... 1,470
Offshore Supply Vessels: Alternate Reinspection Program
Length not greater than 140 feet....................... 940
More than 140 feet..................................... 1,260
Passenger Barges:
Less than 100 gross tons and:
Less than 65 feet in length............................ 300
65 feet or more in length.............................. 600
100 gross tons or more and:
Certified for fewer than 150 passengers................ 2,215
Certified for 150 or more passengers................... 2,525
Passenger Ships:
Length not greater than 250 feet:
Certified for fewer than 150 passengers................ 3,600
Certified for 150 or more passengers................... 4,050
More than 250 feet but not more than 350 feet.......... 5,330
More than 350 feet but not more than 450 feet.......... 6,835
More than 450 feet..................................... 14,650
Sailing School Vessels:
Length not greater than 30 feet........................ 530
More than 30 feet but not more than 65 feet............ 560
More than 65 feet...................................... 980
Sea-going Towing Vessels............................... 2,915
Small Passenger Vessels:
Less than 65 feet in length............................ 300
65 feet or more in length.............................. 600
Tank Barges............................................ 500
Tankships:
Length not greater than 100 feet....................... 1,295
More than 100 feet but not more than 300 feet.......... 2,310
More than 300 feet..................................... 5,805
Liquefied Gas Tankships................................ 12,120
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fees generated by 46 CFR part 2, subpart 2.10 are deposited in the
general fund of the U.S. Treasury as offsetting receipts of the
Department of Homeland Security and are assigned generally to Coast
Guard activities. The Coast Guard does not directly benefit from the
collection of inspection fees. The Coast Guard's intent, during any
update to subpart 2.10, is to consider viable options for updating and/
or restructuring the inspection fees listed above to ensure their
adequacy and equity, plus to adapt to changes that have occurred since
inspection fee amounts were last modified in 1998. It is expected that
any update to subpart 2.10 will ensure a more comprehensive, equitable,
and current inspection fee structure.
Request for Information
Through this notice of inquiry, the Coast Guard asks for comments
and information to consider in updating vessel inspection fees. Please
consider the following questions when preparing comments:
Should the Coast Guard restructure the current vessel
inspection fees?
What factors, such as length, tonnage, type of vessel,
inspection time, type of service, number of crew, number of passengers,
or length of operating season, should be considered in restructuring
the vessel inspection fees?
How often or at what frequency should inspection fees be
adjusted?
Should the fee be indexed based on economic measures?
Should the fee be a direct bill based on the inspection
type and frequency (to include and not be limited to separate fees for
annual inspections, periodic inspections, re-examinations, hull
examinations, and deficiency follow-ups) based on program costs and
Coast Guard personnel hours incurred?
Should the Coast Guard impose fees on a vessel based upon
the number of visits to complete the inspection or examination?
Should vessel owners or operators apply annually for
exemptions and waivers?
Should the Coast Guard apply inspection fees to new
construction vessels and associated plan review?
Should the Coast Guard apply inspection fees to vessels
undergoing major alterations where new plan review and onsite
verification is required?
Should separate fees be developed for vessels enrolled in
the Alternate Compliance and Streamlined Inspection
[[Page 74677]]
Programs under Title 46 CFR Part 8--Vessel Inspection Alternatives?
This notice of inquiry is issued under authority of 46 U.S.C. 3305,
46 U.S.C. 3306, Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
Dated: September 10, 2010.
Kevin S. Cook,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2010-30151 Filed 11-30-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
