Lifesaving Equipment: Production Testing and Harmonization With International Standards, 9859-9865 [2012-3869]

Download as PDF 9859 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Rules and Regulations Community No. State and location Effective date authorization/cancellation of sale of flood insurance in community Current effective map date Date certain Federal assistance no longer available in SFHAs Region VIII North Dakota: Hettinger County, Unincorporated Areas 380293 July 7, 1975, Emerg; February 19, 1987, Reg; March 2, 2012, Susp. ......do ............... Do. Mott, City of, Hettinger County .............. 380038 ......do ............... Do. Regent, City of, Hettinger County ......... 380198 October 20, 1972, Emerg; December 15, 1976, Reg; March 2, 2012, Susp. August 5, 1975, Emerg; January 30, 1984, Reg; March 2, 2012, Susp. *do = Ditto. Code for reading third column: Emerg.—Emergency; Reg.—Regular; Susp.—Suspension. Dated: February 7, 2012. David L. Miller, Associate Administrator, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. [FR Doc. 2012–3887 Filed 2–17–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–12–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 46 CFR Part 160 [Docket No. USCG–2010–0048] RIN 1625–AB46 Coast Guard, DHS. Interim rule. AGENCY: The Coast Guard is amending the interim rule addressing lifesaving equipment to harmonize Coast Guard regulations for inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses with recently adopted international standards affecting capacity requirements for such lifesaving equipment. DATES: This interim rule is effective March 22, 2012. The Director of the Federal Register has approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in this rule effective March 22, 2012. ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket USCG–2010–0048 and are available for inspection or copying at the 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, between 9 a.m. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 17:33 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 If you have questions on this rule, email or call Ms. Jacqueline Yurkovich, Commercial Regulations and Standards Directorate, Office of Design and Engineering Standards, Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG–5214), Coast Guard; email TypeApproval@uscg.mil, telephone 202–372–1389. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202–366–9826. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lifesaving Equipment: Production Testing and Harmonization With International Standards ACTION: and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this docket on the Internet by going to https://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG–2010–0048 in the ‘‘Keyword’’ box, and then clicking ‘‘Search.’’ Viewing incorporation by reference material. You may inspect the material incorporated by reference at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593–7126 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202–372– 1389. Copies of the material are available as indicated in the ‘‘Incorporation by Reference’’ section of this preamble. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents for Preamble I. Abbreviations II. Regulatory History III. Basis and Purpose IV. Discussion of the Interim Rule V. Incorporation by Reference VI. Regulatory Analyses A. Regulatory Planning and Review B. Small Entities C. Assistance for Small Entities D. Collection of Information E. Federalism F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act G. Taking of Private Property H. Civil Justice Reform I. Protection of Children J. Indian Tribal Governments K. Energy Effects L. Technical Standards PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 M. Coast Guard Authorization Act Sec. 608 (46 U.S.C. 2118(a)) N. Environment I. Abbreviations CFR Code of Federal Regulations DHS Department of Homeland Security IMO International Maritime Organization LSA Life-saving Appliance MSC Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime Organization NEPA National Environmental Policy Act 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370f) NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (15 U.S.C. 272 note) OMB Office of Management and Budget SNPRM Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking SOLAS International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended § Section symbol USCG United States Coast Guard II. Regulatory History On August 31, 2010, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled ‘‘Lifesaving Equipment: Production Testing and Harmonization With International Standards’’ in the Federal Register. See 75 FR 53458. On October 11, 2011, the Coast Guard published an interim rule titled ‘‘Lifesaving Equipment: Production Testing and Harmonization With International Standards; Interim Rule’’ (2011 interim rule) making effective changes proposed in the NPRM. 76 FR 62962. Also on October 11, 2011, the Coast Guard published a supplementary notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) proposing amendments to the portion of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) modified by the 2011 interim rule regarding inflatable liferafts and buoyant apparatuses. 76 FR 62714. The SNPRM addressed amendments to international standards affecting capacity requirements for inflatable liferaft and inflatable buoyant apparatuses that were recently adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and that entered into force on January 1, 2012. E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1 9860 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Rules and Regulations mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES The IMO amendments to the international standards affect the 2011 interim rule regarding inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses. The IMO amendments affect capacity requirements for such liferafts, and by extension buoyant apparatuses, but do not affect any other part of the 2011 interim rule. III. Basis and Purpose The Coast Guard is charged with ensuring that lifesaving equipment used on vessels subject to inspection by the United States meets specific design, construction, and performance standards, including those found in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, (SOLAS), Chapter III ‘‘Life-saving appliances and arrangements.’’ See 46 U.S.C. 3306. The Coast Guard carries out this charge through the approval of lifesaving equipment per 46 CFR part 2, subpart 2.75. The approval process includes pre-approving lifesaving equipment designs, overseeing prototype construction, witnessing prototype testing, and monitoring production of the equipment for use on U.S. vessels. See 46 CFR part 159. At each phase of the approval process, the Coast Guard sets specific standards to which lifesaving equipment must be built and tested. The Coast Guard’s specific standards for inflatable liferafts are found in 46 CFR part 160, subparts 160.151 (Inflatable Liferafts (SOLAS)) and 160.051 (Inflatable Liferafts for Domestic Service). The Coast Guard’s specific standards for inflatable buoyant apparatuses are found in 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.010 (Buoyant Apparatus for Merchant Vessels). Current subpart 160.151 satisfies SOLAS requirements, and current subparts 160.051 and 160.010 require compliance with the standards in subpart 160.151, with some specifically listed exceptions. See 46 CFR 160.051– 1 and 160.010–3(a). Subpart 160.151 implements SOLAS requirements by incorporating by reference the IMO standards referenced by Chapter III of SOLAS. The primary IMO standards referenced by Chapter III of SOLAS are the ‘‘Revised recommendation on testing of lifesaving appliances’’ (Recommendation on Testing), IMO Resolution MSC.81(70), and the ‘‘International Lifesaving Appliance Code’’ (LSA Code), IMO Resolution MSC.48(66). The IMO updates these standards by adopting MSC resolutions promulgating amendments to these standards. In the 2011 interim rule, the Coast Guard revised subpart 160.151 to, VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:13 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 among other things, update the version of the Recommendation on Testing incorporated by reference, and incorporate by reference for the first time the LSA Code. Subpart 160.151– 5(d)(3) and (4) of Title 46 of the CFR incorporate by reference the LSA Code (as amended up through resolutions MSC.207(81), MSC.218(82), and MSC.272(85)), and the Recommendation on Testing (as amended up through resolutions MSC.226(82) and MSC.274(85)). Subparts 160.051 and 160.010 retain, with some specifically listed exceptions, the requirement for compliance with the standards in subpart 160.151, which will now also include the updated versions of the Recommendation on Testing and the LSA Code. IMO recently adopted two new MSC resolutions further amending the LSA Code and the Recommendation on Testing: ‘‘Adoption of Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code’’ (MSC.293(87)) and ‘‘Adoption of Amendments to the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances’’ (MSC.295(87)). Resolution MSC.293(87) amends the LSA Code and entered into force on January 1, 2012. This resolution increases the assumed average mass of liferaft occupants from 75 kg to 82.5 kg for inflatable liferaft design and approval testing purposes.1 Resolution MSC.295(87) amends the Recommendation on Testing and also entered into force on January 1, 2012. This resolution specifies revisions necessary to account for this assumed average mass increase with respect to certain existing tests. The tests required by the Recommendation on Testing, Part 1 (Prototype Tests), significantly affected by Resolution MSC.295(87), are: The jump test, loading and seating test, davit-launched liferaft boarding test, damage test, righting test, and davitlaunched inflatable liferaft strength tests. Based on these amendments, the Coast Guard is revising the regulations 1 Although the numbers are similar, the assumed average occupant mass of 82.5 kg (181.5 lbs) adopted by IMO for survival craft design and approval testing purposes and the average passenger weight of 185 lbs used in the Coast Guard’s Passenger Weight and Inspected Vessel Stability Requirements Final Rule (75 FR 78064) are not related. The Passenger Weight Final Rule updated regulations that address vessel stability and the assumed average passenger weights that directly affect vessel stability. This rule, however, would use the assumed average occupant mass of 82.5 kg (181.5 lbs) to address safe loading of inflatable liferafts and buoyant apparatuses, and does not address vessel stability. The IMO-adopted assumed average occupant mass is the international consensus standard, and the Coast Guard views this IMO standard as the best standard in this context. PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 modified by the 2011 interim rule to include the increased average mass of liferaft occupants and to require liferaft performance under subpart 160.151 to comply with the revisions to tests necessitated by the occupant weight increase. This revision to subpart 160.151 will also, by extension, affect liferaft performance under subpart 160.051 and inflatable buoyant apparatus performance under subpart 160.010. IV. Discussion of This Interim Rule In this new interim rule, the Coast Guard is revising § 160.151–5(d) to incorporate by reference Resolution MSC.293(87) and Resolution MSC.295(87), and revising all references to the LSA Code and Recommendation on Testing to include the newly incorporated by reference Resolutions. References to the LSA Code will become ‘‘LSA Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87),’’ and references to the Recommendation on Testing will become ‘‘Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87).’’ These revisions will affect the tests in §§ 160.151–27, 160.151–29, 160.151–31, and 160.151– 57, which refer to the Recommendation on Testing. A complete discussion of these changes is available in the SNPRM, published October 11, 2011. 76 FR 62714. The Coast Guard received one comment in response to the SNPRM. The comment addresses the Coast Guard’s expanded use of qualified independent laboratories, instead of Coast Guard inspectors, during the approval process and for production inspections of certain types of lifesaving equipment. This comment is beyond the scope of the SNPRM and this interim rule, which addresses the increase in occupant mass for SOLAS life rafts based on two new IMO Resolutions only. The Coast Guard sought public comment in the 2010 NPRM on the Coast Guard’s proposal regarding expanded use of independent laboratories, and finalized that proposal in the 2011 interim rule. As stated in the 2011 interim rule, the Coast Guard still finds the use of independent laboratories in the Coast Guard’s approval process to be ‘‘the most effective manner’’ of executing and carrying out its obligations under 46 U.S.C. section 3306. See the discussion regarding the use of independent labs to perform these inspections in III.B ‘‘Independent Laboratories’’ in the Preamble of the interim rule published on October 11, 2011. The Coast Guard did not make any changes to the regulations in response to this comment. E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Rules and Regulations In this interim rule, the Coast Guard is making non-substantive changes to the citations for the IMO resolutions incorporated by reference. The changes update the citations for IMO resolutions to make them easier to identify and to obtain copies. These citation updates have not changed the IMO resolutions or the versions of the IMO resolutions from the SNPRM to the interim rule. V. Incorporation by Reference The Director of the Federal Register has approved the material in 46 CFR 160.151–5 for incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552 and 1 CFR part 51. You may inspect this material at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters where indicated under ADDRESSES. Copies of the material are available from the sources listed in paragraph (d) of § 160.151–5. VI. Regulatory Analyses The Coast Guard developed this interim rule after considering numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below the Coast Guard summarizes these analyses based on 14 of these statutes or executive orders. 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, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility. This interim rule has not been designated a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, the interim rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. The Coast Guard received no comments that altered our assessment of impacts in the SNPRM. We have found no additional data or information that changed our findings in the NPRM. We have adopted the assessment in the SNPRM for this rule as final. The SNPRM is available in the docket where indicated under the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ section of this preamble. A summary of the analysis follows: This interim rule addresses the change in the international standard for occupant weight used in testing equipment to establish the rated capacity of inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses. This interim rule revises the occupant weight or ‘‘assumed average occupant mass’’ from the current 75 kg to the new weight standard of 82.5 kg. The Coast Guard issues a Certificate of Approval for inflatable liferafts and 9861 inflatable buoyant apparatuses under the applicable subpart in 46 CFR part 160 after successful testing of those appliances by their manufacturers. A Certificate of Approval specifies the number of occupants (or rated capacity) for which the inflatable liferaft or inflatable buoyant apparatus is designed and has been successfully tested, and the Certificate must be renewed every 5 years. New testing is not required to renew a current Certificate, but new approval requests require testing before a Certificate can be issued. Costs While this interim rule requires manufacturers to conduct prototype and production tests for inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses manufactured on or after March 22, 2012 using the new occupant weight standard, it would limit re-testing of currently approved equipment, thus limiting the cost impact on manufacturers. And, as discussed in section IV. Discussion of the Interim Rule (referencing the complete discussion of the rule in the SNPRM, published October 11, 2011 (76 FR 62714)), this interim rule does not apply to liferafts currently in service aboard U.S. vessels; thus, no vessel would incur replacement costs for liferafts. A summary of changes to the baseline testing requirements is shown in Table 1. TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF CHANGES Existing equipment (approval prior to January 1, 2012) Device Testing type New equipment (approval after January 1, 2012) Testing mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES Non-SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts (160.051). VerDate Mar<15>2010 Testing Impacts Prototype testing .. Manufacturers must obtain a new Certificate of Approval certifying rated occupancy using the new occupant weight standard. Manufacturers may either re-test or have a certification made using previous test results adjusted for the new occupant weight standard. Testing costs are negligible on a unit cost basis. Units with rated capacity of less than 6 occupants are ineligible for SOLAS service. All tests use the new weight standard to establish occupancy rating. Units with rated capacity of less than 6 occupants are ineligible for SOLAS service. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. All tests use the new occupant weight standard to establish occupancy rating. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. Production Testing SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts (160.151). Impacts All tests use the new occupant weight standard to establish occupancy rating. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. Prototype testing .. Existing Certificates of Approval may be renewed without re-testing. No cost or benefit as the use of the new occupant weight standard is optional. All tests use the new occupant weight standard to establish occupancy rating. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. 16:13 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1 9862 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Rules and Regulations TABLE 1—SUMMARY OF CHANGES—Continued Existing equipment (approval prior to January 1, 2012) Device New equipment (approval after January 1, 2012) Testing type Testing Impacts Testing Impacts Production Testing All tests use the new occupant weight standard to establish occupancy rating. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. Prototype testing .. Existing Certificates of Approval may be renewed without re-testing. All tests use the new occupant weight standard to establish occupancy rating. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. Production Testing Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus (160.010). No cost or benefit. The use of the new occupant weight standard is optional for equipment manufactured under an existing Certificate of Approval. No cost or benefit. The use of the new occupant weight standard is optional for equipment manufactured under an existing Certificate of Approval. All tests use the new occupant weight standard to establish occupancy rating. Costs of testing unchanged as nature of the test is unchanged. SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts (Subpart 160.151) As shown in Table 1 above, manufacturers of SOLAS inflatable liferafts approved under subpart 160.151 (SOLAS liferafts) and manufactured on or after March 22, 2012 are allowed the option of either retesting using the new occupant weight standard or requesting certification for a lower rated occupancy (adjusted for the new occupant weight standard) based on the certification testing submitted for their current approval. The principal cost impact for manufacturers of SOLAS liferafts will be for currently approved inflatable liferafts whose rated capacity is six using the current 75 kg occupant weight No cost or benefit as the use of the new occupant weight standard is optional. standard. Since SOLAS requires that inflatable liferafts have a minimum capacity of six, any SOLAS liferaft currently approved for six occupants will have to be re-tested under the new occupant weight standard in order to retain approval. Currently, there are 10 manufacturers that produce 109 models of SOLAS liferafts. Of these, there are 11 liferaft models (from eight manufacturers) whose rated capacity is six (Table 2). These 11 models will be required to retest to maintain their SOLAS certification. Three of these eight manufacturers are U.S. firms and they each produce one model of inflatable liferaft with a rated occupancy of six occupants. Of those three models, one model is designed primarily for use in aircraft under a Federal Aviation Administration approval number. The three models produced by U.S. firms and the eight models manufactured by foreign firms will have to be re-tested in order to verify a minimum occupancy rating under the new occupant weight standard to be used on SOLAS vessels. From estimates obtained from industry, we estimate the costs of re-testing for compliance with the new occupant weight standard at $1,800 for each model. We estimate the total cost to industry to re-test all current SOLAS liferaft models as $19,800 ($14,400 for foreign manufacturers and $5,400 for U.S.owned manufacturers). See Table 2 below. TABLE 2—SOLAS LIFERAFTS Total number of models of liferaft produced Number of manufacturers Manufacturer Total number of models of liferaft produced with an occupancy rating of 6 Cost to re-test each SOLAS liferaft Total cost to retest 7 3 104 5 8 3 $1,800 1,800 $14,400 5,400 Total .......................................................... mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES Foreign owned ................................................. U.S. owned ...................................................... 10 109 11 1,800 19,800 Non-SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts (Subpart 160.051) and Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus (Subpart 160.010) As shown earlier in Table 1, manufacturers of domestic service inflatable liferafts under subpart 160.051 (domestic service liferafts) and inflatable buoyant apparatuses under subpart 160.010 manufactured on or after March 22, 2012 under current VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:13 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 Certificates of Approval, have the option of using either the old 75 kg or the new 82.5 kg occupant weight standard. If a manufacturer of domestic service liferafts or a manufacturer of inflatable buoyant apparatuses with current Certificates of Approval chooses to use the new occupant weight standard, it also has the option of either re-testing using the new occupant weight standard PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 or requesting re-certification for a lower number of occupants (adjusted for the new occupant weight standard). Manufacturers of domestic inflatable liferafts under subpart 160.051 or inflatable buoyant apparatuses under 160.010 are required to use the new occupant weight standard only when testing domestic inflatable liferafts or E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Rules and Regulations inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved after March 22, 2012. In terms of the cost of the regulation: 1. While prototype testing for all SOLAS liferafts on or after March 22, 2012, will have to employ the new occupant weight standard, there is no additional cost in performing the required tests due to the change in the testing weight because the nature of the test remains the same. 2. Production testing of all SOLAS liferafts manufactured on or after March 22, 2012 will require testing using the new occupant weight standard. As with prototype testing, there is no additional cost in performing the required tests due to the change in the testing weight because the nature of the test remains the same. 3. For production testing of SOLAS liferafts, the manufacturer may either request a certification with a lower maximum occupancy based on the new occupant weight standard or re-test the equipment for certification of its current rated capacity using the new occupant weight standard. 4. The 11 models (three models made by U.S. manufacturers) of SOLAS inflatable liferafts whose current rated capacity is six occupants, would have to verify that they meet the minimum SOLAS requirements for a capacity of six occupants at the new occupant weight standard if they wish to continue their current SOLAS approval status. 5. For both prototype and production testing of domestic service inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved by the Coast Guard prior to March 22, 2012 the manufacturer may test under either the 75 kg or the 82.5 kg occupant weight standard with no change to testing based on the new occupant weight standard. 6. For prototype and production testing of domestic service inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved on or after March 22, 2012 the manufacturer must test under the 82.5 kg occupant weight standard. For inflatable liferafts approved under subpart 160.051 prior to March 22, 2012 and inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved under subpart 160.010 prior to March 22, 2012, the cost of testing equipment at the higher occupant weight standard is voluntary, as domestic liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses may be certified using either occupant weight standard. Likewise, equipment manufactured under a current Certificate of Approval is required to be re-tested only if the manufacturer elects to retain their current rated capacity for their VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:13 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 equipment under the higher occupant weight standard. However, manufacturers have the option to reduce the current rated capacities of their equipment to comply with the new occupant weight standard, provided that the resulting capacity does not conflict with the minimum required capacity applicable to that equipment. Prototype and production testing of all SOLAS liferafts approved under subpart 160.151 is required using the higher 82.5 kg occupant weight standard. The Coast Guard has no evidence to suggest that testing at the higher occupant weight standard will involve additional testing costs for manufacturers because the nature of the test remains the same. Benefits The principal benefit of the interim rule is the protection of life at sea by establishing capacity standards for inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses reflecting a global increase in mariner weights. Additionally, the rule ensures compliance with internationally applicable standards for SOLAS adopted by IMO where noncompliance would exclude the use of inflatable liferafts manufactured under subpart 160.151 aboard SOLAS vessels. B. Small Entities Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601–612), the Coast Guard has considered whether this rule will 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. An SNPRM discussing the impact of this rule on small entities is available in the docket where indicated under the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ section of this preamble. In the SNPRM, the Coast Guard certified under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that the rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. We received no comments on this certification and have made no changes that would alter our assessment of the impacts in the SNPRM. We have identified three U.S.-owned entities involved in the manufacture of SOLAS liferafts manufactured under subpart 160.151. All are business entities, and all are small entities. For manufacturers seeking certification of equipment currently approved under subpart 160.151 whose rated capacity is PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 9863 six, re-testing at the higher occupant weight standard will be required to retain their SOLAS approval status since SOLAS inflatable liferafts must have a minimum rated capacity of at least six. For the three models of liferafts currently approved under subpart 160.151, the cost estimates for certification testing, obtained from industry sources, are approximately $1,800 per liferaft, for a total industry cost of $5,400 (3 liferaft models × $1,800 testing cost per model). As each of the three U.S. owned small businesses directly impacted by this rule will likely need to retest one model, the costs to these three small businesses is $1,800 per business. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this interim rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. C. Assistance for Small Entities Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104–121), the Coast Guard wants to assist small entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please consult Ms. Jacqueline Yurkovich, Commercial Regulations and Standards Directorate, Office of Design and Engineering Standards, Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG–5214), Coast Guard; email TypeApproval@uscg.mil, telephone 202–372–1389. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against individuals or small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard. Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency’s responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1–888–REG–FAIR (1–888–734–3247). D. Collection of Information This rule calls for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501– 3520). E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1 9864 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Rules and Regulations mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES E. Federalism F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act L. Technical Standards A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. The U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized the field preemptive impact of the Federal regulatory regime for inspected vessels. See, e.g., Kelly v. Washington ex rel Foss, 302 U.S. 1 (1937) and the consolidated cases of United States v. Locke and Intertanko v. Locke, 529 U.S. 89, 113–116 (2000). Therefore, the Coast Guard’s view is that regulations issued under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 3306 in the areas of design, construction, alteration, repair, operation, superstructures, hulls, fittings, equipment, appliances, propulsion machinery, auxiliary machinery, boilers, unfired pressure vessels, piping, electric installations, accommodations for passengers and crew, sailing school instructors, sailing school students, lifesaving equipment and its use, firefighting equipment, its use and precautionary measures to guard against fire, inspections and tests related to these areas and the use of vessel stores and other supplies of a dangerous nature have preemptive effect over State regulation in these fields, regardless of whether the Coast Guard has issued regulations on the subject or not, and regardless of the existence of conflict between the State and Coast Guard regulation. 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, as these categories are within a field foreclosed from regulation by the States (see U.S. v. Locke, above), the Coast Guard recognizes the key role state and local governments may have in making regulatory determinations. Additionally, Sections 4 and 6 of Executive Order 13132 require that for any rules with preemptive effect, the Coast Guard will provide elected officials of affected state and local governments and their representative national organizations the notice and opportunity for appropriate participation in any rulemaking proceedings, and to consult with such officials early in the rulemaking process. Therefore, we invited affected state and local governments and their representative national organizations to indicate their desire for participation and consultation in this rulemaking. We received no such indications. 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 $100,000,000 (adjusted for inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble. The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, 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 rule uses the following voluntary consensus standards: • Resolution MSC.293(87), Adoption of Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code; • Resolution MSC.295(87), Adoption of Amendments to the Revised Recommendation on Testing of LifeSaving Appliances (Resolution MSC.81(70)). The sections that reference these standards and the locations where these standards are available are listed in 46 CFR 160.151–5. VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:13 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 G. Taking of Private Property This rule will 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 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 rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might disproportionately affect children. J. Indian Tribal Governments This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it will not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, 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 The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. The Coast Guard has 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. PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 M. Coast Guard Authorization Act Sec. 608 (46 U.S.C. 2118(a)) Section 608 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111– 281) adds new section 2118 to 46 U.S.C. Subtitle II (Vessels and Seamen), Chapter 21 (General). New section 2118(a) sets forth requirements for standards established for approved equipment required on vessels subject to 46 U.S.C. Subtitle II (Vessels and Seamen), Part B (Inspection and Regulation of Vessels). Those standards must be ‘‘(1) based on performance using the best available technology that is economically achievable; and (2) operationally practical.’’ See 46 U.S.C. 2118(a). This rule addresses lifesaving equipment for Coast Guard approval that is required on vessels subject to 46 U.S.C. Subtitle II, Part B, and the Coast Guard has ensured that this rule satisfies the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 2118(a), as necessary. N. Environment We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security Directive 023–01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321–4370f), and have concluded that this action is E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 34 / Tuesday, February 21, 2012 / Rules and Regulations one of a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. This rule involves regulations which are editorial, regulations concerning equipping of vessels, and regulations concerning vessel operation safety standards. This rule is categorically excluded under Section 2.B.2, Figure 2–1, paragraphs (34)(a) and (d) of the Instruction and under paragraph 6(a) of the ‘‘Appendix to National Environmental Policy Act: Coast Guard Procedures for Categorical Exclusions, Notice of Final Agency Policy’’ (67 FR 48243, July 23, 2002). An environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion determination are available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. List of Subjects in 46 CFR Part 160 Marine safety, Incorporation by reference, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 46 CFR part 160 as follows: PART 160—LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT 1. The authority citation for part 160 continues to read as follows: ■ Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 3703 and 4302; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; 49 CFR 1.46. 2. Amend § 160.151–5 by adding paragraphs (d)(5) and (d)(6) to read as follows: Incorporation by reference. mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with RULES * * * * (d) * * * (5) Annex 7 to MSC 87/26, Report of the Maritime Safety Committee on its Eighty-Seventh Session, ‘‘Resolution MSC.293(87), Adoption of Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code,’’ (adopted May 21, 2010), IBR approved for §§ 160.151– 7, 160.151–15, 160.151–17, 160.151–21, 160.151–29, and 160.151–33 (‘‘Resolution MSC.293(87)’’). (6) Annex 9 to MSC 87/26, Report of the Maritime Safety Committee on its Eighty-Seventh Session, ‘‘Resolution MSC.295(87), Adoption of Amendments to the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances (Resolution MSC.81(70)),’’ (adopted May 21, 2010), IBR approved for §§ 160.151–21, 160.151–27, 160.151–29, 160.151–31, and 160.151–57 (‘‘Resolution MSC.295(87)’’). * * * * * VerDate Mar<15>2010 16:13 Feb 17, 2012 Jkt 226001 § 160.151–33 [Amended] 10. Amend § 160.151–33 by removing the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code’’ wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)’’. 3. Amend § 160.151–7 by removing the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code’’ wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)’’. § 160.151–15 § 160.151–57 ■ [Amended] 4. Amend § 160.151–15 by removing the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code’’ wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)’’. ■ § 160.151–17 [Amended] 5. Amend § 160.151–17 by removing the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code’’ wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)’’. ■ [Amended] 11. Amend § 160.151–57 by removing the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing’’ wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87)’’. ■ Dated: February 1, 2012. J.G. Lantz, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard. [FR Doc. 2012–3869 Filed 2–17–12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P § 160.151–21 [Amended] 6. Amend § 160.151–21 as follows: a. Remove the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code’’ wherever they appear and add, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)’’; and ■ b. In paragraph (f), remove the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing’’ and add, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87)’’. ■ ■ 7. Amend § 160.151–27 by removing the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing’’ wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87)’’. § 160.151–29 [Amended] 8. Amend § 160.151–29 as follows: a. In the introductory text, remove the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code’’ and add, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)’’; and ■ b. In the introductory text, remove the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing’’ and add, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87)’’. ■ ■ § 160.151–31 [Amended] 9. Amend § 160.151–31 by removing the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing’’ wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ‘‘IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87)’’. ■ PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration 49 CFR Part 173 [Docket No. PHMSA–2011–0157; Notice No. 11–6] Clarification on the Division 1.1 Fireworks Approvals Policy Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), DOT. ACTION: Clarification. AGENCY: [Amended] ■ ■ * [Amended] ■ § 160.151–27 Subpart 160.151—Inflatable Liferafts (SOLAS) § 160.151–5 § 160.151–7 9865 In this document, PHMSA is responding to comments received from its initial Notice No. 11–6 clarifying PHMSA’s policy regarding the fireworks approvals program. Furthermore, in this document PHMSA is restating its policy clarification that it will accept only those classification approval applications for Division 1.1 fireworks that have been examined and assigned a recommended shipping description, division, and compatibility group by a DOT-approved explosives test laboratory, or those that have been issued an approval for the explosive by the competent authority of a foreign government acknowledged by PHMSA’s Associate Administrator. This policy clarification is intended to enhance safety by ensuring that fireworks transported in commerce meet the established criteria for their assigned classification, thereby minimizing the potential shipment of incorrectly classified or forbidden fireworks. DATES: The policy clarification discussed in this document is effective February 21, 2012. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\21FER1.SGM 21FER1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 21, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9859-9865]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3869]

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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

46 CFR Part 160

[Docket No. USCG-2010-0048]
RIN 1625-AB46

Lifesaving Equipment: Production Testing and Harmonization With
International Standards

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Interim rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is amending the interim rule addressing
lifesaving equipment to harmonize Coast Guard regulations for
inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses with recently
adopted international standards affecting capacity requirements for
such lifesaving equipment.

DATES: This interim rule is effective March 22, 2012. The Director of
the Federal Register has approved the incorporation by reference of
certain publications listed in this rule effective March 22, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as
documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket,
are part of docket USCG-2010-0048 and are available for inspection or
copying at the 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, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this
docket on the Internet by going to https://www.regulations.gov,
inserting USCG-2010-0048 in the ``Keyword'' box, and then clicking
``Search.''
Viewing incorporation by reference material. You may inspect the
material incorporated by reference at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-7126 between 9 a.m. and 3
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-372-1389. Copies of the material are available as
indicated in the ``Incorporation by Reference'' section of this
preamble.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule,
email or call Ms. Jacqueline Yurkovich, Commercial Regulations and
Standards Directorate, Office of Design and Engineering Standards,
Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG-5214), Coast Guard; email
TypeApproval@uscg.mil, telephone 202-372-1389. If you have questions on
viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright,
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents for Preamble

I. Abbreviations
II. Regulatory History
III. Basis and Purpose
IV. Discussion of the Interim Rule
V. Incorporation by Reference
VI. Regulatory Analyses
A. Regulatory Planning and Review
B. Small Entities
C. Assistance for Small Entities
D. Collection of Information
E. Federalism
F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
G. Taking of Private Property
H. Civil Justice Reform
I. Protection of Children
J. Indian Tribal Governments
K. Energy Effects
L. Technical Standards
M. Coast Guard Authorization Act Sec. 608 (46 U.S.C. 2118(a))
N. Environment

I. Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
IMO International Maritime Organization
LSA Life-saving Appliance
MSC Maritime Safety Committee of the International Maritime
Organization
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f)
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
NTTAA National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (15 U.S.C.
272 note)
OMB Office of Management and Budget
SNPRM Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
SOLAS International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as
amended
Sec. Section symbol
USCG United States Coast Guard

II. Regulatory History

On August 31, 2010, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) titled ``Lifesaving Equipment: Production Testing and
Harmonization With International Standards'' in the Federal Register.
See 75 FR 53458. On October 11, 2011, the Coast Guard published an
interim rule titled ``Lifesaving Equipment: Production Testing and
Harmonization With International Standards; Interim Rule'' (2011
interim rule) making effective changes proposed in the NPRM. 76 FR
62962. Also on October 11, 2011, the Coast Guard published a
supplementary notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) proposing
amendments to the portion of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
modified by the 2011 interim rule regarding inflatable liferafts and
buoyant apparatuses. 76 FR 62714. The SNPRM addressed amendments to
international standards affecting capacity requirements for inflatable
liferaft and inflatable buoyant apparatuses that were recently adopted
by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and that entered into
force on January 1, 2012.

[[Page 9860]]

The IMO amendments to the international standards affect the 2011
interim rule regarding inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant
apparatuses. The IMO amendments affect capacity requirements for such
liferafts, and by extension buoyant apparatuses, but do not affect any
other part of the 2011 interim rule.

III. Basis and Purpose

The Coast Guard is charged with ensuring that lifesaving equipment
used on vessels subject to inspection by the United States meets
specific design, construction, and performance standards, including
those found in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at
Sea, 1974, as amended, (SOLAS), Chapter III ``Life-saving appliances
and arrangements.'' See 46 U.S.C. 3306. The Coast Guard carries out
this charge through the approval of lifesaving equipment per 46 CFR
part 2, subpart 2.75. The approval process includes pre-approving
lifesaving equipment designs, overseeing prototype construction,
witnessing prototype testing, and monitoring production of the
equipment for use on U.S. vessels. See 46 CFR part 159. At each phase
of the approval process, the Coast Guard sets specific standards to
which lifesaving equipment must be built and tested.
The Coast Guard's specific standards for inflatable liferafts are
found in 46 CFR part 160, subparts 160.151 (Inflatable Liferafts
(SOLAS)) and 160.051 (Inflatable Liferafts for Domestic Service). The
Coast Guard's specific standards for inflatable buoyant apparatuses are
found in 46 CFR part 160, subpart 160.010 (Buoyant Apparatus for
Merchant Vessels). Current subpart 160.151 satisfies SOLAS
requirements, and current subparts 160.051 and 160.010 require
compliance with the standards in subpart 160.151, with some
specifically listed exceptions. See 46 CFR 160.051-1 and 160.010-3(a).
Subpart 160.151 implements SOLAS requirements by incorporating by
reference the IMO standards referenced by Chapter III of SOLAS. The
primary IMO standards referenced by Chapter III of SOLAS are the
``Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances''
(Recommendation on Testing), IMO Resolution MSC.81(70), and the
``International Life-saving Appliance Code'' (LSA Code), IMO Resolution
MSC.48(66). The IMO updates these standards by adopting MSC resolutions
promulgating amendments to these standards.
In the 2011 interim rule, the Coast Guard revised subpart 160.151
to, among other things, update the version of the Recommendation on
Testing incorporated by reference, and incorporate by reference for the
first time the LSA Code. Subpart 160.151-5(d)(3) and (4) of Title 46 of
the CFR incorporate by reference the LSA Code (as amended up through
resolutions MSC.207(81), MSC.218(82), and MSC.272(85)), and the
Recommendation on Testing (as amended up through resolutions
MSC.226(82) and MSC.274(85)). Subparts 160.051 and 160.010 retain, with
some specifically listed exceptions, the requirement for compliance
with the standards in subpart 160.151, which will now also include the
updated versions of the Recommendation on Testing and the LSA Code.
IMO recently adopted two new MSC resolutions further amending the
LSA Code and the Recommendation on Testing: ``Adoption of Amendments to
the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code'' (MSC.293(87)) and
``Adoption of Amendments to the Revised Recommendation on Testing of
Life-Saving Appliances'' (MSC.295(87)).
Resolution MSC.293(87) amends the LSA Code and entered into force
on January 1, 2012. This resolution increases the assumed average mass
of liferaft occupants from 75 kg to 82.5 kg for inflatable liferaft
design and approval testing purposes.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ Although the numbers are similar, the assumed average
occupant mass of 82.5 kg (181.5 lbs) adopted by IMO for survival
craft design and approval testing purposes and the average passenger
weight of 185 lbs used in the Coast Guard's Passenger Weight and
Inspected Vessel Stability Requirements Final Rule (75 FR 78064) are
not related. The Passenger Weight Final Rule updated regulations
that address vessel stability and the assumed average passenger
weights that directly affect vessel stability. This rule, however,
would use the assumed average occupant mass of 82.5 kg (181.5 lbs)
to address safe loading of inflatable liferafts and buoyant
apparatuses, and does not address vessel stability. The IMO-adopted
assumed average occupant mass is the international consensus
standard, and the Coast Guard views this IMO standard as the best
standard in this context.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resolution MSC.295(87) amends the Recommendation on Testing and
also entered into force on January 1, 2012. This resolution specifies
revisions necessary to account for this assumed average mass increase
with respect to certain existing tests. The tests required by the
Recommendation on Testing, Part 1 (Prototype Tests), significantly
affected by Resolution MSC.295(87), are: The jump test, loading and
seating test, davit-launched liferaft boarding test, damage test,
righting test, and davit-launched inflatable liferaft strength tests.
Based on these amendments, the Coast Guard is revising the
regulations modified by the 2011 interim rule to include the increased
average mass of liferaft occupants and to require liferaft performance
under subpart 160.151 to comply with the revisions to tests
necessitated by the occupant weight increase. This revision to subpart
160.151 will also, by extension, affect liferaft performance under
subpart 160.051 and inflatable buoyant apparatus performance under
subpart 160.010.

IV. Discussion of This Interim Rule

In this new interim rule, the Coast Guard is revising Sec.
160.151-5(d) to incorporate by reference Resolution MSC.293(87) and
Resolution MSC.295(87), and revising all references to the LSA Code and
Recommendation on Testing to include the newly incorporated by
reference Resolutions. References to the LSA Code will become ``LSA
Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87),'' and references to the
Recommendation on Testing will become ``Revised recommendation on
testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87).'' These revisions will
affect the tests in Sec. Sec. 160.151-27, 160.151-29, 160.151-31, and
160.151-57, which refer to the Recommendation on Testing. A complete
discussion of these changes is available in the SNPRM, published
October 11, 2011. 76 FR 62714.
The Coast Guard received one comment in response to the SNPRM. The
comment addresses the Coast Guard's expanded use of qualified
independent laboratories, instead of Coast Guard inspectors, during the
approval process and for production inspections of certain types of
lifesaving equipment. This comment is beyond the scope of the SNPRM and
this interim rule, which addresses the increase in occupant mass for
SOLAS life rafts based on two new IMO Resolutions only. The Coast Guard
sought public comment in the 2010 NPRM on the Coast Guard's proposal
regarding expanded use of independent laboratories, and finalized that
proposal in the 2011 interim rule. As stated in the 2011 interim rule,
the Coast Guard still finds the use of independent laboratories in the
Coast Guard's approval process to be ``the most effective manner'' of
executing and carrying out its obligations under 46 U.S.C. section
3306. See the discussion regarding the use of independent labs to
perform these inspections in III.B ``Independent Laboratories'' in the
Preamble of the interim rule published on October 11, 2011. The Coast
Guard did not make any changes to the regulations in response to this
comment.

[[Page 9861]]

In this interim rule, the Coast Guard is making non-substantive
changes to the citations for the IMO resolutions incorporated by
reference. The changes update the citations for IMO resolutions to make
them easier to identify and to obtain copies. These citation updates
have not changed the IMO resolutions or the versions of the IMO
resolutions from the SNPRM to the interim rule.

V. Incorporation by Reference

The Director of the Federal Register has approved the material in
46 CFR 160.151-5 for incorporation by reference under 5 U.S.C. 552 and
1 CFR part 51. You may inspect this material at U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters where indicated under ADDRESSES. Copies of the material
are available from the sources listed in paragraph (d) of Sec.
160.151-5.

VI. Regulatory Analyses

The Coast Guard developed this interim rule after considering
numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below the
Coast Guard summarizes these analyses based on 14 of these statutes or
executive orders.

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, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of
promoting flexibility. This interim rule has not been designated a
``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order
12866. Accordingly, the interim rule has not been reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget.
The Coast Guard received no comments that altered our assessment of
impacts in the SNPRM. We have found no additional data or information
that changed our findings in the NPRM. We have adopted the assessment
in the SNPRM for this rule as final.
The SNPRM is available in the docket where indicated under the
``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' section of this
preamble. A summary of the analysis follows: This interim rule
addresses the change in the international standard for occupant weight
used in testing equipment to establish the rated capacity of inflatable
liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses. This interim rule revises
the occupant weight or ``assumed average occupant mass'' from the
current 75 kg to the new weight standard of 82.5 kg.
The Coast Guard issues a Certificate of Approval for inflatable
liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses under the applicable
subpart in 46 CFR part 160 after successful testing of those appliances
by their manufacturers. A Certificate of Approval specifies the number
of occupants (or rated capacity) for which the inflatable liferaft or
inflatable buoyant apparatus is designed and has been successfully
tested, and the Certificate must be renewed every 5 years. New testing
is not required to renew a current Certificate, but new approval
requests require testing before a Certificate can be issued.
Costs
While this interim rule requires manufacturers to conduct prototype
and production tests for inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant
apparatuses manufactured on or after March 22, 2012 using the new
occupant weight standard, it would limit re-testing of currently
approved equipment, thus limiting the cost impact on manufacturers.
And, as discussed in section IV. Discussion of the Interim Rule
(referencing the complete discussion of the rule in the SNPRM,
published October 11, 2011 (76 FR 62714)), this interim rule does not
apply to liferafts currently in service aboard U.S. vessels; thus, no
vessel would incur replacement costs for liferafts. A summary of
changes to the baseline testing requirements is shown in Table 1.

Table 1--Summary of Changes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing equipment (approval prior to January 1, New equipment (approval after January 1,
2012) 2012)
Device Testing type ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Testing Impacts Testing Impacts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts Prototype testing.... Manufacturers must obtain Units with rated All tests use the Units with rated
(160.151). a new Certificate of capacity of less new occupant weight capacity of less
Approval certifying rated than 6 occupants are standard to than 6 occupants
occupancy using the new ineligible for SOLAS establish occupancy are ineligible for
occupant weight standard. service. rating. SOLAS service.
Manufacturers may either Costs of testing Costs of testing
re-test or have a unchanged as nature unchanged as nature
certification made using of the test is of the test is
previous test results unchanged. unchanged.
adjusted for the new
occupant weight standard.
Testing costs are
negligible on a unit cost
basis.
Production Testing... All tests use the new Costs of testing All tests use the Costs of testing
weight standard to unchanged as nature new occupant weight unchanged as nature
establish occupancy of the test is standard to of the test is
rating. unchanged. establish occupancy unchanged.
rating.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts Prototype testing.... Existing Certificates of No cost or benefit as All tests use the Costs of testing
(160.051). Approval may be renewed the use of the new new occupant weight unchanged as nature
without re-testing. occupant weight standard to of the test is
standard is optional. establish occupancy unchanged.
rating.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 9862]]

Production Testing... No cost or benefit. The use of the new occupant All tests use the Costs of testing
weight standard is optional for equipment new occupant weight unchanged as nature
manufactured under an existing Certificate of standard to of the test is
Approval. establish occupancy unchanged.
rating.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus Prototype testing.... Existing Certificates of No cost or benefit as All tests use the Costs of testing
(160.010). Approval may be renewed the use of the new new occupant weight unchanged as nature
without re-testing. occupant weight standard to of the test is
standard is optional. establish occupancy unchanged.
rating.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Production Testing... No cost or benefit. The use of the new occupant All tests use the Costs of testing
weight standard is optional for equipment new occupant weight unchanged as nature
manufactured under an existing Certificate of standard to of the test is
Approval. establish occupancy unchanged.
rating.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts (Subpart 160.151)
As shown in Table 1 above, manufacturers of SOLAS inflatable
liferafts approved under subpart 160.151 (SOLAS liferafts) and
manufactured on or after March 22, 2012 are allowed the option of
either re-testing using the new occupant weight standard or requesting
certification for a lower rated occupancy (adjusted for the new
occupant weight standard) based on the certification testing submitted
for their current approval.
The principal cost impact for manufacturers of SOLAS liferafts will
be for currently approved inflatable liferafts whose rated capacity is
six using the current 75 kg occupant weight standard. Since SOLAS
requires that inflatable liferafts have a minimum capacity of six, any
SOLAS liferaft currently approved for six occupants will have to be re-
tested under the new occupant weight standard in order to retain
approval.
Currently, there are 10 manufacturers that produce 109 models of
SOLAS liferafts. Of these, there are 11 liferaft models (from eight
manufacturers) whose rated capacity is six (Table 2). These 11 models
will be required to re-test to maintain their SOLAS certification.
Three of these eight manufacturers are U.S. firms and they each produce
one model of inflatable liferaft with a rated occupancy of six
occupants. Of those three models, one model is designed primarily for
use in aircraft under a Federal Aviation Administration approval
number. The three models produced by U.S. firms and the eight models
manufactured by foreign firms will have to be re-tested in order to
verify a minimum occupancy rating under the new occupant weight
standard to be used on SOLAS vessels. From estimates obtained from
industry, we estimate the costs of re-testing for compliance with the
new occupant weight standard at $1,800 for each model.
We estimate the total cost to industry to re-test all current SOLAS
liferaft models as $19,800 ($14,400 for foreign manufacturers and
$5,400 for U.S.-owned manufacturers). See Table 2 below.

Table 2--SOLAS Liferafts
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total number of
Total number of models of
Number of models of liferaft Cost to re-test Total cost to
Manufacturer manufacturers liferaft produced with an each SOLAS retest
produced occupancy rating liferaft
of 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign owned................................................. 7 104 8 $1,800 $14,400
U.S. owned.................................................... 3 5 3 1,800 5,400
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................................................... 10 109 11 1,800 19,800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Non-SOLAS Inflatable Liferafts (Subpart 160.051) and Inflatable Buoyant
Apparatus (Subpart 160.010)
As shown earlier in Table 1, manufacturers of domestic service
inflatable liferafts under subpart 160.051 (domestic service liferafts)
and inflatable buoyant apparatuses under subpart 160.010 manufactured
on or after March 22, 2012 under current Certificates of Approval, have
the option of using either the old 75 kg or the new 82.5 kg occupant
weight standard. If a manufacturer of domestic service liferafts or a
manufacturer of inflatable buoyant apparatuses with current
Certificates of Approval chooses to use the new occupant weight
standard, it also has the option of either re-testing using the new
occupant weight standard or requesting re-certification for a lower
number of occupants (adjusted for the new occupant weight standard).
Manufacturers of domestic inflatable liferafts under subpart 160.051 or
inflatable buoyant apparatuses under 160.010 are required to use the
new occupant weight standard only when testing domestic inflatable
liferafts or

[[Page 9863]]

inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved after March 22, 2012.
In terms of the cost of the regulation:
1. While prototype testing for all SOLAS liferafts on or after
March 22, 2012, will have to employ the new occupant weight standard,
there is no additional cost in performing the required tests due to the
change in the testing weight because the nature of the test remains the
same.
2. Production testing of all SOLAS liferafts manufactured on or
after March 22, 2012 will require testing using the new occupant weight
standard. As with prototype testing, there is no additional cost in
performing the required tests due to the change in the testing weight
because the nature of the test remains the same.
3. For production testing of SOLAS liferafts, the manufacturer may
either request a certification with a lower maximum occupancy based on
the new occupant weight standard or re-test the equipment for
certification of its current rated capacity using the new occupant
weight standard.
4. The 11 models (three models made by U.S. manufacturers) of SOLAS
inflatable liferafts whose current rated capacity is six occupants,
would have to verify that they meet the minimum SOLAS requirements for
a capacity of six occupants at the new occupant weight standard if they
wish to continue their current SOLAS approval status.
5. For both prototype and production testing of domestic service
inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved by the
Coast Guard prior to March 22, 2012 the manufacturer may test under
either the 75 kg or the 82.5 kg occupant weight standard with no change
to testing based on the new occupant weight standard.
6. For prototype and production testing of domestic service
inflatable liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved on or
after March 22, 2012 the manufacturer must test under the 82.5 kg
occupant weight standard.
For inflatable liferafts approved under subpart 160.051 prior to
March 22, 2012 and inflatable buoyant apparatuses approved under
subpart 160.010 prior to March 22, 2012, the cost of testing equipment
at the higher occupant weight standard is voluntary, as domestic
liferafts and inflatable buoyant apparatuses may be certified using
either occupant weight standard. Likewise, equipment manufactured under
a current Certificate of Approval is required to be re-tested only if
the manufacturer elects to retain their current rated capacity for
their equipment under the higher occupant weight standard. However,
manufacturers have the option to reduce the current rated capacities of
their equipment to comply with the new occupant weight standard,
provided that the resulting capacity does not conflict with the minimum
required capacity applicable to that equipment.
Prototype and production testing of all SOLAS liferafts approved
under subpart 160.151 is required using the higher 82.5 kg occupant
weight standard. The Coast Guard has no evidence to suggest that
testing at the higher occupant weight standard will involve additional
testing costs for manufacturers because the nature of the test remains
the same.
Benefits
The principal benefit of the interim rule is the protection of life
at sea by establishing capacity standards for inflatable liferafts and
inflatable buoyant apparatuses reflecting a global increase in mariner
weights. Additionally, the rule ensures compliance with internationally
applicable standards for SOLAS adopted by IMO where noncompliance would
exclude the use of inflatable liferafts manufactured under subpart
160.151 aboard SOLAS vessels.

B. Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Coast
Guard has considered whether this rule will 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.
An SNPRM discussing the impact of this rule on small entities is
available in the docket where indicated under the ``Public
Participation and Request for Comments'' section of this preamble. In
the SNPRM, the Coast Guard certified under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that the
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. We received no comments on this certification
and have made no changes that would alter our assessment of the impacts
in the SNPRM.
We have identified three U.S.-owned entities involved in the
manufacture of SOLAS liferafts manufactured under subpart 160.151. All
are business entities, and all are small entities. For manufacturers
seeking certification of equipment currently approved under subpart
160.151 whose rated capacity is six, re-testing at the higher occupant
weight standard will be required to retain their SOLAS approval status
since SOLAS inflatable liferafts must have a minimum rated capacity of
at least six. For the three models of liferafts currently approved
under subpart 160.151, the cost estimates for certification testing,
obtained from industry sources, are approximately $1,800 per liferaft,
for a total industry cost of $5,400 (3 liferaft models x $1,800 testing
cost per model). As each of the three U.S. owned small businesses
directly impacted by this rule will likely need to retest one model,
the costs to these three small businesses is $1,800 per business.
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this
interim rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.

C. Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), the Coast Guard wants to assist
small entities in understanding this rule so that they can better
evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the
rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or
options for compliance, please consult Ms. Jacqueline Yurkovich,
Commercial Regulations and Standards Directorate, Office of Design and
Engineering Standards, Lifesaving and Fire Safety Division (CG-5214),
Coast Guard; email TypeApproval@uscg.mil, telephone 202-372-1389. The
Coast Guard will not retaliate against individuals or small entities
that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of
the Coast Guard.
Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory
Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory
Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and
rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to
comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR
(1-888-734-3247).

D. Collection of Information

This rule calls for no new collection of information under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

[[Page 9864]]

E. Federalism

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132,
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial
direct cost of compliance on them.
The U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized the field preemptive
impact of the Federal regulatory regime for inspected vessels. See,
e.g., Kelly v. Washington ex rel Foss, 302 U.S. 1 (1937) and the
consolidated cases of United States v. Locke and Intertanko v. Locke,
529 U.S. 89, 113-116 (2000). Therefore, the Coast Guard's view is that
regulations issued under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 3306 in the areas
of design, construction, alteration, repair, operation,
superstructures, hulls, fittings, equipment, appliances, propulsion
machinery, auxiliary machinery, boilers, unfired pressure vessels,
piping, electric installations, accommodations for passengers and crew,
sailing school instructors, sailing school students, lifesaving
equipment and its use, firefighting equipment, its use and
precautionary measures to guard against fire, inspections and tests
related to these areas and the use of vessel stores and other supplies
of a dangerous nature have preemptive effect over State regulation in
these fields, regardless of whether the Coast Guard has issued
regulations on the subject or not, and regardless of the existence of
conflict between the State and Coast Guard regulation.
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, as these categories are within a field foreclosed
from regulation by the States (see U.S. v. Locke, above), the Coast
Guard recognizes the key role state and local governments may have in
making regulatory determinations. Additionally, Sections 4 and 6 of
Executive Order 13132 require that for any rules with preemptive
effect, the Coast Guard will provide elected officials of affected
state and local governments and their representative national
organizations the notice and opportunity for appropriate participation
in any rulemaking proceedings, and to consult with such officials early
in the rulemaking process. Therefore, we invited affected state and
local governments and their representative national organizations to
indicate their desire for participation and consultation in this
rulemaking. We received no such indications.

F. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

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 $100,000,000 (adjusted for
inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in
such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere
in this preamble.

G. Taking of Private Property

This rule will 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 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 rule under Executive Order 13045,
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety
Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not
create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might
disproportionately affect children.

J. Indian Tribal Governments

This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order
13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments,
because it will not have a substantial direct effect on one or more
Indian tribes, 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

The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211,
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,
Distribution, or Use. The Coast Guard has 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 (NTTAA) (15
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress,
through the Office of Management and Budget, 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 rule uses the following voluntary consensus standards:
Resolution MSC.293(87), Adoption of Amendments to the
International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code;
Resolution MSC.295(87), Adoption of Amendments to the
Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving Appliances (Resolution
MSC.81(70)).
The sections that reference these standards and the locations where
these standards are available are listed in 46 CFR 160.151-5.

M. Coast Guard Authorization Act Sec. 608 (46 U.S.C. 2118(a))

Section 608 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L.
111-281) adds new section 2118 to 46 U.S.C. Subtitle II (Vessels and
Seamen), Chapter 21 (General). New section 2118(a) sets forth
requirements for standards established for approved equipment required
on vessels subject to 46 U.S.C. Subtitle II (Vessels and Seamen), Part
B (Inspection and Regulation of Vessels). Those standards must be ``(1)
based on performance using the best available technology that is
economically achievable; and (2) operationally practical.'' See 46
U.S.C. 2118(a). This rule addresses lifesaving equipment for Coast
Guard approval that is required on vessels subject to 46 U.S.C.
Subtitle II, Part B, and the Coast Guard has ensured that this rule
satisfies the requirements of 46 U.S.C. 2118(a), as necessary.

N. Environment

We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security
Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guide the
Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded that this action
is

[[Page 9865]]

one of a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively
have a significant effect on the human environment. This rule involves
regulations which are editorial, regulations concerning equipping of
vessels, and regulations concerning vessel operation safety standards.
This rule is categorically excluded under Section 2.B.2, Figure 2-1,
paragraphs (34)(a) and (d) of the Instruction and under paragraph 6(a)
of the ``Appendix to National Environmental Policy Act: Coast Guard
Procedures for Categorical Exclusions, Notice of Final Agency Policy''
(67 FR 48243, July 23, 2002). An environmental analysis checklist and a
categorical exclusion determination are available in the docket where
indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 46 CFR Part 160

Marine safety, Incorporation by reference, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends
46 CFR part 160 as follows:

PART 160--LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT

0
1. The authority citation for part 160 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306, 3703 and 4302; E.O. 12234, 45
FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; 49 CFR 1.46.

Subpart 160.151--Inflatable Liferafts (SOLAS)

0
2. Amend Sec. 160.151-5 by adding paragraphs (d)(5) and (d)(6) to read
as follows:

Sec. 160.151-5 Incorporation by reference.

* * * * *
(d) * * *
(5) Annex 7 to MSC 87/26, Report of the Maritime Safety Committee
on its Eighty-Seventh Session, ``Resolution MSC.293(87), Adoption of
Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code,''
(adopted May 21, 2010), IBR approved for Sec. Sec. 160.151-7, 160.151-
15, 160.151-17, 160.151-21, 160.151-29, and 160.151-33 (``Resolution
MSC.293(87)'').
(6) Annex 9 to MSC 87/26, Report of the Maritime Safety Committee
on its Eighty-Seventh Session, ``Resolution MSC.295(87), Adoption of
Amendments to the Revised Recommendation on Testing of Life-Saving
Appliances (Resolution MSC.81(70)),'' (adopted May 21, 2010), IBR
approved for Sec. Sec. 160.151-21, 160.151-27, 160.151-29, 160.151-31,
and 160.151-57 (``Resolution MSC.295(87)'').
* * * * *

Sec. 160.151-7 [Amended]

0
3. Amend Sec. 160.151-7 by removing the words ``IMO LSA Code''
wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ``IMO LSA
Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-15 [Amended]

0
4. Amend Sec. 160.151-15 by removing the words ``IMO LSA Code''
wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ``IMO LSA
Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-17 [Amended]

0
5. Amend Sec. 160.151-17 by removing the words ``IMO LSA Code''
wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ``IMO LSA
Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-21 [Amended]

0
6. Amend Sec. 160.151-21 as follows:
0
a. Remove the words ``IMO LSA Code'' wherever they appear and add, in
their place, the words ``IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution
MSC.293(87)''; and
0
b. In paragraph (f), remove the words ``IMO Revised recommendation on
testing'' and add, in their place, the words ``IMO Revised
recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution MSC.295(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-27 [Amended]

0
7. Amend Sec. 160.151-27 by removing the words ``IMO Revised
recommendation on testing'' wherever they appear and adding, in their
place, the words ``IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by
Resolution MSC.295(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-29 [Amended]

0
8. Amend Sec. 160.151-29 as follows:
0
a. In the introductory text, remove the words ``IMO LSA Code'' and add,
in their place, the words ``IMO LSA Code, as amended by Resolution
MSC.293(87)''; and
0
b. In the introductory text, remove the words ``IMO Revised
recommendation on testing'' and add, in their place, the words ``IMO
Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by Resolution
MSC.295(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-31 [Amended]

0
9. Amend Sec. 160.151-31 by removing the words ``IMO Revised
recommendation on testing'' wherever they appear and adding, in their
place, the words ``IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by
Resolution MSC.295(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-33 [Amended]

0
10. Amend Sec. 160.151-33 by removing the words ``IMO LSA Code''
wherever they appear and adding, in their place, the words ``IMO LSA
Code, as amended by Resolution MSC.293(87)''.

Sec. 160.151-57 [Amended]

0
11. Amend Sec. 160.151-57 by removing the words ``IMO Revised
recommendation on testing'' wherever they appear and adding, in their
place, the words ``IMO Revised recommendation on testing, as amended by
Resolution MSC.295(87)''.

Dated: February 1, 2012.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2012-3869 Filed 2-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

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