Recreational Vessel Accident Reporting, 55079-55081 [2011-22630]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 6, 2011 / Notices in the Federal Register of December 22, 2010 (75 FR 80542). Below we provide The Department of Homeland Security projected average estimates for the next three years: Current Actions: New collection of information. Type of Review: New Collection. Affected Public: Individuals and Households, Businesses and Organizations, State, Local or Tribal Government. Average Expected Annual Number of Activities: 20. Respondents: 45,098. Annual Responses: 45,098. Frequency of Response: Once per Request. Average Minutes per Response: 8. Burden Hours: 375,148. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget control number. Dated: August 23, 2011. Richard Spires, Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2011–22610 Filed 9–2–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–9B–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [Docket No. DHS–2011–0063] Homeland Security Advisory Council The Office of Policy, DHS. Notice of Open Teleconference Federal Advisory Committee Meeting. AGENCY: ACTION: The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) will meet via teleconference for the purpose of reviewing and deliberating on recommendations by the HSAC’s Task Force on Secure Communities. DATES: The HSAC conference call will take place from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EDT on Thursday, September 22, 2011. Please be advised that the meeting is scheduled for one hour and may end early if all business is completed before 1 p.m. ADDRESSES: The HSAC meeting will be held via teleconference. Members of the public interested in participating in this teleconference meeting may do so by following the process outlined below (see ‘‘Public Participation’’). Written comments must be submitted and received by September 21, 2011. Comments must be identified by Docket No. DHS–2011–0063 and may be submitted by one of the following methods: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:00 Sep 02, 2011 Jkt 223001 55079 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • E-mail: HSAC@dhs.gov. Include the docket number in the subject line of the message. • Fax: (202) 282–9207. • Mail: Homeland Security Advisory Council, Department of Homeland Security, Mailstop 0445, 245 Murray Lane, SW., Washington, DC 20528. Instructions: All submissions received must include the words ‘‘Department of Homeland Security’’ and DHS–2011– 0063, the docket number for this action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Docket: For access to the docket to read comments received by the DHS Homeland Security Advisory Council, go to https://www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Miron at hsac@dhs.gov or 202– 447–3135. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. The HSAC provides independent advice to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to aid in the creation and implementation of critical and actionable policies and capabilities across the spectrum of homeland security operations. The HSAC will meet to review and deliberate on the Task Force on Secure Communities report of findings and recommendations. Public Participation: Members of the public will be in listen-only mode. The public may register to participate in this HSAC teleconference via afore mentioned procedures. Each individual must provide his or her full legal name, e-mail address and phone number no later than 5 p.m. EDT on September 19, 2011, to a staff member of the HSAC via e-mail at HSAC@dhs.gov or via phone at (202) 447–3135. HSAC conference call details and the Task Force on Secure Communities report will be provided to interested members of the public at the time they register. Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities: For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities, or to request special assistance during the teleconference, contact Mike Miron (202) 447–3135. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Dated: August 27, 2011. Becca Sharp, Executive Director, Homeland Security Advisory Council, DHS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2011–22618 Filed 9–2–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–9M–P PO 00000 Frm 00082 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Coast Guard [Docket No. USCG–2011–0674] Recreational Vessel Accident Reporting Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of Advisory Committee recommendations; request for additional public comments. AGENCY: ACTION: The Coast Guard has received recommendations from the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) regarding potential ways to improve the recreational boating accident reporting process. NBSAC recommended that the Coast Guard: (1) Use a two-tiered reporting system for boating accidents; and (2) take steps to clarify what, how, and when information is reported. This notice solicits public comment on the NBSAC recommendations, as well as general public comment on the burden involved in reporting accidents, and other alternative means of reporting or collecting information. DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our online docket via https://www.regulations.gov on or before December 5, 2011 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG– 2011–0674 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 ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on submitting comments. SUMMARY: If you have questions on this notice, call or e-mail Mr. Jeff Ludwig, Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, Boating Safety Division, Coast Guard; telephone 202–372–1061, e-mail E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1 55080 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 6, 2011 / Notices jeffrey.a.ludwig@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–9826. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Public Participation and Request for Comments We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) recommendations and related questions posed in this notice. All comments received will be posted, without change, to https:// www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice (USCG–2011– 0674), 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 telephone 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, insert ‘‘USCG–2011–0674’’ in the ‘‘Keyword’’ box. 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 them 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 National Boating Safety Advisory Council recommendations: To view the comments and the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) recommendations, go to https:// www.regulations.gov. In the ‘‘Keyword’’ box insert ‘‘USCG–2011–0674’’ and click ‘‘Search.’’ If you do not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 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. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility. VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:00 Sep 02, 2011 Jkt 223001 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, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008 issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316). Basis and Purpose In 2009, the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) recommended that the Coast Guard revise its accident reporting requirements. NBSAC is a Federal advisory committee under 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92–463). It was established under authority of 46 U.S.C. 13110 and advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security through the Coast Guard on boating safety regulations and other major boating safety matters. The NBSAC recommendations were intended to help the Coast Guard improve the quality and timeliness of boating accident information. The Coast Guard relies on accident information provided by recreational boat operators to make decisions aimed at improving boating safety. This information, described in title 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 173 and 174, is often collected from the owner or operator of a vessel, who fills out a very detailed Coast Guard Boating Accident Report (BAR, form CG–3865) or a similar form provided by the State reporting authority. After an accident, the owner or operator of a vessel involved must: • Report the accident to the appropriate State reporting authority within a specified timeframe; and • Provide the information required in 33 CFR 173.57. The State reporting authority is then required by 33 CFR 174.101 and 174.121 to: • Review each report for accuracy and completeness; • Determine the cause of the accident based on the available information; and • Forward the accident report to the Coast Guard within 30 days of receiving the report. The Coast Guard receives reports of boating accidents from the States and other sources and uses this information to meet its statutory responsibilities to promote the safety of the recreational vessel, its associated equipment, and the operator and passengers (see 46 U.S.C. Chapter 43). The Coast Guard also has a statutory obligation to publish statistics on boating safety (see 46 U.S.C. 6102). Each year, information received PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 through the accident reporting system is compiled and published in a report entitled ‘‘Boating Statistics’’, Commandant Publication (COMDTPUB) P16754 (series). Unfortunately, many accidents are not reported, or the information provided by boat owners or operators is often inaccurate or incomplete and frequently becomes available to the Coast Guard long after an accident occurs. Incomplete, inaccurate, or late accident information makes ensuring safe boating conditions more difficult, and may indicate that the accident reporting system could be improved. To address these issues, NBSAC recommended that the Coast Guard establish a two-tiered notification/ reporting system that would ease the reporting burden on the owner or operator of a vessel, but would place more responsibilities on State reporting authorities. NSBAC also recommended a number of steps to be taken to clarify what, how, and when information is reported. The specific NBSAC recommendations can be found in the docket for this notice. Through this notice and request for comments, the Coast Guard hopes to receive additional information from the public that will help us improve the quality and timeliness of boating accident information. Our goal is to receive information that will allow us to achieve the following: • Reduce the accident reporting burden on the public; • Increase the number of accidents reported to the State reporting authorities; • Improve the timeliness of accident reports; and • Increase the accuracy and completeness of reports forwarded by the State reporting authorities to the Coast Guard. In this notice, we specifically seek information and public comments relating to the following questions: 1. Would the States support, and are some States already informally using, the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has recommended, with the boat operator providing a notification to the State (via local law enforcement, first responder, etc.) and the State reporting authority ensuring that a follow-up investigation is conducted? 2. Would the public support the twotiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has recommended? 3. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has recommended improve the number of accident reports received? 4. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 172 / Tuesday, September 6, 2011 / Notices recommended improve the accuracy of accident reports received? 5. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has recommended improve the timeliness of accident reports received? 6. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has recommended ease the burden of accident reporting on owners or operators of recreational vessels? If so, by how much? 7. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has recommended increase the burden of accident reporting on State reporting authorities? If so, by how much? 8. Would any additional time (over the current system) be required for the owner/operator in a reporting system where the State had to contact him/her for information? If so, how many minutes of additional time per report would be required for the owner/ operator? 9. Would any additional time (over the current system) and/or resources be required for a State employee to complete the report as opposed to the owner/operator? If so, how many minutes of additional time per report and/or what additional resources? 10. How many States currently use an electronic reporting system? 11. How many States are considering using an electronic reporting system? 12. Would the use of an Internet reporting system reduce the time required by the State to report information to the Coast Guard? If so, how many minutes of time per report would be saved? 13. Do any States collect data in addition to what is currently required in 33 CFR 173.57? If so, what additional information is collected? 14. How many boating accident report forms (BAR, CG–3865 or State equivalent forms) does a State receive from the public annually (approximately)? 15. How many boating accidents does a State investigate or cause to be investigated annually (approximately)? 16. How frequently (as a percentage) does a State collect data on an accident for which no BAR form is submitted by the public? 17. Under the current system, do States provide accident reporting information that is the responsibility of the recreational vessel owner or operator? If so, how many man-hours are required to collect this information (please give time as hours per week or month or as an average per accident report)? 18. If a State provides information that is the responsibility of the vessel VerDate Mar<15>2010 18:00 Sep 02, 2011 Jkt 223001 owner or operator, what is the average time required by a State employee to complete the entire accident report form under the current system? 19. Under the current system, how much time does a State reporting authority spend validating the accident report submitted by a recreational vessel owner or operator (please give time as hours per week or month or as an average per accident report)? 20. Under the current system, what percentage of reports that a State receives from owner/operators are illegible or otherwise unintelligible? How many man-hours are currently required to address these problems (please give time as hours per week or month or as an average per accident report)? 21. Under the current system, when there is missing information from the owner/operator, what is the average amount of time that passes before a State employee is able to contact him/ her in order to complete the report? (please give time as hours per week or month or as an average per accident report). 22. Do boat owners/operators have enough information or expertise to provide some or all of the accident reporting data currently required by them in 33 CFR 173.57? 23. What is the average time required for the owner/operator to complete the report under the current system? 24. Does the reporting of some or all of the accident reporting data currently required in 33 CFR 173.57 result in adverse consequences for owners/ operators? 25. How can owners or operators of recreational vessels be encouraged to comply with boating accident reporting requirements? 26. What is a reasonable amount of time for a State reporting authority to submit a complete accident investigation report to the Coast Guard? 27. What percentage of a State’s accident reports are reported to Coast Guard within 30/60/90 days? What are the significant factors that cause a report to be delayed beyond the 30 days? 28. What is a good definition of an injury that required medical treatment beyond first aid? Should the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards for ‘‘medical treatment beyond first aid’’ be adopted as the standard for recreational boating injury reporting? (see 29 CFR 1904.7(b)(5) for the OSHA standards) 29. How should boating-related swimming incidents be defined? The NBSAC recommendation suggests that incidents where the vessel was being used as a swimming platform and/or a PO 00000 Frm 00084 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 55081 person voluntarily leaves the vessel as the first event, whether the vessel was underway or not, should not be considered reportable boating accidents, although it would continue counting incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning, in-water electrical shock or other boat-related caused accidents. This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 33 CFR part 173. Dated: August 26, 2011. James A. Watson, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention Policy. [FR Doc. 2011–22630 Filed 9–2–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency Information Collection Activities: Form I–129S; Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request 60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Form I–129S, Nonimmigrant Petition Based on Blanket L Petition. ACTION: The Department Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be submitting the following information collection request for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for sixty days until November 7, 2011. During this 60 day period, USCIS will be evaluating whether to revise the Form I–129S. Should USCIS decide to revise Form I–129S we will advise the public when we publish the 30-day notice in the Federal Register in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The public will then have 30 days to comment on any revisions to the Form I–129S. Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time, should be directed to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), USCIS, Chief, Regulatory Products Division, Office of the Executive Secretariat, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20529– 2020. Comments may also be submitted to DHS via facsimile to 202–272–0997 or via e-mail at uscisfrcomment@dhs.gov. When E:\FR\FM\06SEN1.SGM 06SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55079-55081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22630]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0674]


Recreational Vessel Accident Reporting

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Advisory Committee recommendations; request for 
additional public comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has received recommendations from the National 
Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) regarding potential ways to 
improve the recreational boating accident reporting process. NBSAC 
recommended that the Coast Guard: (1) Use a two-tiered reporting system 
for boating accidents; and (2) take steps to clarify what, how, and 
when information is reported. This notice solicits public comment on 
the NBSAC recommendations, as well as general public comment on the 
burden involved in reporting accidents, and other alternative means of 
reporting or collecting information.

DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our 
online docket via https://www.regulations.gov on or before December 5, 
2011 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-0674 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 ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or e-mail Mr. Jeff Ludwig, Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, 
Boating Safety Division, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1061, e-mail

[[Page 55080]]

jeffrey.a.ludwig@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments and related material on the 
National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) recommendations and 
related questions posed in this notice. All comments received will be 
posted, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov and will include 
any personal information you have provided.
    Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2011-0674), 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 telephone 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, 
insert ``USCG-2011-0674'' in the ``Keyword'' box. 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 them 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 National Boating Safety Advisory Council 
recommendations: To view the comments and the National Boating Safety 
Advisory Council (NBSAC) recommendations, go to https://www.regulations.gov. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0674'' 
and click ``Search.'' If you do not have access to the internet, you 
may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Management Facility 
in Room W12-140 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. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to 
use the Docket Management Facility.
    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, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in 
the January 17, 2008 issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Basis and Purpose

    In 2009, the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) 
recommended that the Coast Guard revise its accident reporting 
requirements. NBSAC is a Federal advisory committee under 5 U.S.C. App. 
(Pub. L. 92-463). It was established under authority of 46 U.S.C. 13110 
and advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security 
through the Coast Guard on boating safety regulations and other major 
boating safety matters.
    The NBSAC recommendations were intended to help the Coast Guard 
improve the quality and timeliness of boating accident information. The 
Coast Guard relies on accident information provided by recreational 
boat operators to make decisions aimed at improving boating safety. 
This information, described in title 33 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) parts 173 and 174, is often collected from the owner or operator 
of a vessel, who fills out a very detailed Coast Guard Boating Accident 
Report (BAR, form CG-3865) or a similar form provided by the State 
reporting authority. After an accident, the owner or operator of a 
vessel involved must:
     Report the accident to the appropriate State reporting 
authority within a specified timeframe; and
     Provide the information required in 33 CFR 173.57.
    The State reporting authority is then required by 33 CFR 174.101 
and 174.121 to:
     Review each report for accuracy and completeness;
     Determine the cause of the accident based on the available 
information; and
     Forward the accident report to the Coast Guard within 30 
days of receiving the report.
    The Coast Guard receives reports of boating accidents from the 
States and other sources and uses this information to meet its 
statutory responsibilities to promote the safety of the recreational 
vessel, its associated equipment, and the operator and passengers (see 
46 U.S.C. Chapter 43). The Coast Guard also has a statutory obligation 
to publish statistics on boating safety (see 46 U.S.C. 6102). Each 
year, information received through the accident reporting system is 
compiled and published in a report entitled ``Boating Statistics'', 
Commandant Publication (COMDTPUB) P16754 (series).
    Unfortunately, many accidents are not reported, or the information 
provided by boat owners or operators is often inaccurate or incomplete 
and frequently becomes available to the Coast Guard long after an 
accident occurs. Incomplete, inaccurate, or late accident information 
makes ensuring safe boating conditions more difficult, and may indicate 
that the accident reporting system could be improved.
    To address these issues, NBSAC recommended that the Coast Guard 
establish a two-tiered notification/reporting system that would ease 
the reporting burden on the owner or operator of a vessel, but would 
place more responsibilities on State reporting authorities. NSBAC also 
recommended a number of steps to be taken to clarify what, how, and 
when information is reported. The specific NBSAC recommendations can be 
found in the docket for this notice.
    Through this notice and request for comments, the Coast Guard hopes 
to receive additional information from the public that will help us 
improve the quality and timeliness of boating accident information. Our 
goal is to receive information that will allow us to achieve the 
following:
     Reduce the accident reporting burden on the public;
     Increase the number of accidents reported to the State 
reporting authorities;
     Improve the timeliness of accident reports; and
     Increase the accuracy and completeness of reports 
forwarded by the State reporting authorities to the Coast Guard.
    In this notice, we specifically seek information and public 
comments relating to the following questions:
    1. Would the States support, and are some States already informally 
using, the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has 
recommended, with the boat operator providing a notification to the 
State (via local law enforcement, first responder, etc.) and the State 
reporting authority ensuring that a follow-up investigation is 
conducted?
    2. Would the public support the two-tiered accident reporting 
system that NBSAC has recommended?
    3. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has 
recommended improve the number of accident reports received?
    4. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has

[[Page 55081]]

recommended improve the accuracy of accident reports received?
    5. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has 
recommended improve the timeliness of accident reports received?
    6. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has 
recommended ease the burden of accident reporting on owners or 
operators of recreational vessels? If so, by how much?
    7. Would the two-tiered accident reporting system that NBSAC has 
recommended increase the burden of accident reporting on State 
reporting authorities? If so, by how much?
    8. Would any additional time (over the current system) be required 
for the owner/operator in a reporting system where the State had to 
contact him/her for information? If so, how many minutes of additional 
time per report would be required for the owner/operator?
    9. Would any additional time (over the current system) and/or 
resources be required for a State employee to complete the report as 
opposed to the owner/operator? If so, how many minutes of additional 
time per report and/or what additional resources?
    10. How many States currently use an electronic reporting system?
    11. How many States are considering using an electronic reporting 
system?
    12. Would the use of an Internet reporting system reduce the time 
required by the State to report information to the Coast Guard? If so, 
how many minutes of time per report would be saved?
    13. Do any States collect data in addition to what is currently 
required in 33 CFR 173.57? If so, what additional information is 
collected?
    14. How many boating accident report forms (BAR, CG-3865 or State 
equivalent forms) does a State receive from the public annually 
(approximately)?
    15. How many boating accidents does a State investigate or cause to 
be investigated annually (approximately)?
    16. How frequently (as a percentage) does a State collect data on 
an accident for which no BAR form is submitted by the public?
    17. Under the current system, do States provide accident reporting 
information that is the responsibility of the recreational vessel owner 
or operator? If so, how many man-hours are required to collect this 
information (please give time as hours per week or month or as an 
average per accident report)?
    18. If a State provides information that is the responsibility of 
the vessel owner or operator, what is the average time required by a 
State employee to complete the entire accident report form under the 
current system?
    19. Under the current system, how much time does a State reporting 
authority spend validating the accident report submitted by a 
recreational vessel owner or operator (please give time as hours per 
week or month or as an average per accident report)?
    20. Under the current system, what percentage of reports that a 
State receives from owner/operators are illegible or otherwise 
unintelligible? How many man-hours are currently required to address 
these problems (please give time as hours per week or month or as an 
average per accident report)?
    21. Under the current system, when there is missing information 
from the owner/operator, what is the average amount of time that passes 
before a State employee is able to contact him/her in order to complete 
the report? (please give time as hours per week or month or as an 
average per accident report).
    22. Do boat owners/operators have enough information or expertise 
to provide some or all of the accident reporting data currently 
required by them in 33 CFR 173.57?
    23. What is the average time required for the owner/operator to 
complete the report under the current system?
    24. Does the reporting of some or all of the accident reporting 
data currently required in 33 CFR 173.57 result in adverse consequences 
for owners/operators?
    25. How can owners or operators of recreational vessels be 
encouraged to comply with boating accident reporting requirements?
    26. What is a reasonable amount of time for a State reporting 
authority to submit a complete accident investigation report to the 
Coast Guard?
    27. What percentage of a State's accident reports are reported to 
Coast Guard within 30/60/90 days? What are the significant factors that 
cause a report to be delayed beyond the 30 days?
    28. What is a good definition of an injury that required medical 
treatment beyond first aid? Should the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA) standards for ``medical treatment beyond first 
aid'' be adopted as the standard for recreational boating injury 
reporting? (see 29 CFR 1904.7(b)(5) for the OSHA standards)
    29. How should boating-related swimming incidents be defined? The 
NBSAC recommendation suggests that incidents where the vessel was being 
used as a swimming platform and/or a person voluntarily leaves the 
vessel as the first event, whether the vessel was underway or not, 
should not be considered reportable boating accidents, although it 
would continue counting incidents involving carbon monoxide poisoning, 
in-water electrical shock or other boat-related caused accidents.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 33 CFR 
part 173.

    Dated: August 26, 2011.
James A. Watson,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2011-22630 Filed 9-2-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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