Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee's Response to Task Statement 1, Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08 Revision, 73199-73200 [2015-29837]

Download as PDF mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 226 / Tuesday, November 24, 2015 / Notices Authorization Act of 2010, Public Law 111–281 and operates in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, (5 U.S.C. Appendix). The Committee’s purpose is to provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary on matters related to medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents; medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels; medical examiner education; and medical research. The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee is expected to meet at least twice a year at various locations around the country. It may also meet intercessionally for extraordinary purposes. Working groups may also meet to consider specific tasks as required. The Coast Guard will consider applications for seven positions that expire on August 8, 2016. These positions include two professional mariners with knowledge and experience in mariners’ occupational requirements, and five health care professionals with particular expertise, knowledge, or experience regarding the medical examinations of merchant mariners or occupational medicine. The members appointed will serve a term of office of five years. The members are limited to serving no more than two consecutive terms. All members serve without compensation from the Federal Government; however, members may be reimbursed for travel and per diem depending on fiscal budgetary constraints. Members of the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee will be appointed and serve as Special Government Employees as defined in section 202(a) of Title 18 United States Code. As candidates for appointment as Special Government Employees, applicants are required to complete Confidential Financial Disclosure Reports (OGE Form 450). Coast Guard may not release the reports or the information in them to the public except under an order issued by a Federal court or as otherwise provided under the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). Only the Designated Coast Guard Ethics Official or his designee may release a Confidential Financial Disclosure Report. Applicants can obtain this form by going to the Web site of the Office of Government Ethics (www.oge.gov), or by contacting the individual listed above in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Applications for a Special Government Employees that are not accompanied by VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:20 Nov 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 a completed OGE Form 450 will not be considered. Registered lobbyists are not eligible to serve on Federal advisory committees in an individual capacity. Registered lobbyists are lobbyists required to comply with provisions contained in the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1605; Pub. L. 104–65; as amended by Title II of Pub. L. 110–81). The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee members are appointed in their individual capacity and would be designated as a Special Government Employee as defined in 202(a) of Title 18, U.S.C. See ‘‘Revised Guidance on Appointment of Lobbyist to Federal Advisory Committees, Boards and Commissions’’ (79 FR 47482, August 13, 2014). The Department of Homeland Security does not discriminate in selection of Committee members on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disabilities and genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, or any other non-merit factor. The Department of Homeland Security strives to achieve a widely diverse candidate pool for all of its recruitment actions. If you are interested in applying to become a member of the Committee, send your cover letter and resume to Lieutenant Ashley Holm, Designated Alternate Federal Officer of the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee by email or mail according to instructions in the ADDRESSES section by the deadline in the DATES section of this notice. All email submittals will receive email receipt confirmation. To visit our online docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov enter the docket number (for this notice (USCG– 2015–1005) in the Search box, and click ‘‘Search’’. Please do not post your resume or OGE 450 Form on this site. Dated: November 17, 2015. V.B. Gifford, Jr., Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director, Inspections and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2015–29836 Filed 11–23–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73199 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [Docket No. USCG–2015–1018] Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee’s Response to Task Statement 1, Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04–08 Revision Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of availability. AGENCY: ACTION: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee’s response to Task Statement 1, ‘‘Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04–08 Revision Working Group.’’ This document recommends various changes to NVIC 04–08, ‘‘Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials,’’ which the Coast Guard uses when making decisions on mariner credentialing. The Coast Guard has not adopted this document as policy, but will consider it in future policy development. ADDRESSES: Task Statement 1 and the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee’s response to the task are available on the Coast Guard’s Web site at: https://homeport.uscg.mil. To locate the documents on the Web site, select Missions/Ports and Waterways/Safety Advisory Committees/MEDMAC/ Announcements/MEDMAC’s Response to Task Statement 1—Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04–08 Revision. SUMMARY: If you have questions on this notice, email MMCPolicy@uscg.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Background and Purpose The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (the Committee) is authorized under 46 United States Code 7115 and operates in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Title 5 U.S.C., Appendix). The Committee advises the Secretary on matters related to (a) medical certification determinations for issuances of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners’ documents; (b) medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels; (c) medical examiner education; and (d) medical research. The Committee voted to accept Task Statement 1 during the second public meeting held on May 8–9, 2012 in Martinsburg, WV. This task requested E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 73200 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 226 / Tuesday, November 24, 2015 / Notices that the Committee review sections of NVIC 04–08, ‘‘Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials,’’ to ensure that the Coast Guard’s guidance is in compliance with all current regulations and reflects medical considerations that are appropriate for merchant mariners. Task Statement 1 required the following inputs. First, it required the working group to review the introduction and Enclosures 1, 2, 5, and 6 of NVIC 04–08 to ensure compliance with existing Coast Guard regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations. Second, it required the working group to review all medical conditions listed in Enclosures 3 and 4 of the NVIC and perform the following actions: —Identify circumstances defining inordinate risk for the condition. —Identify circumstances which would decrease the risk from inordinate. —Determine appropriate amplifying information and testing required to assess the condition. —Identify the standards used to determine the suitability of the condition. —Determine the minimum compliance for the condition that should allow safe operation. —Determine whether or not a waiver is required and define waiver parameters. —Work with the Top Mariner Conditions working group to incorporate their recommendations for the top medical conditions. Subsequently, a working group was established. The working group was comprised of individual members of MEDMAC and the public, although the composition of the working group changed over time. The Committee voted to accept the response to Task Statement 1 provided by the working group during the sixth public meeting held on September 29–30, 2014 in Piney Point, MD. All working group meetings were open to the public. The response to Task Statement 1 is in the form of a revised NVIC 04–08. This revision includes both the introduction to NVIC 04–08 as well as revised versions of each of the enclosures. In accordance with the task statement, the working group has made revisions to each enclosure, but made substantial revisions to enclosures 3 and 4. These enclosures, entitled ‘‘Vision and Hearing Standards’’ and ‘‘Guidance on Specific Medical Conditions,’’ provide detailed guidelines that can help the Coast Guard make fitness determinations for mariners to maintain their credentials. The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee’s response to Task VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:20 Nov 23, 2015 Jkt 238001 Statement 1 is a work product of the Committee and therefore is not an official Coast Guard policy and may not be cited as an official agency position. The Coast Guard may use the response, or portions of the response, for development of future policy. Authority This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 46 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., 46 CFR 10.215, and Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0710.1. Dated: November 17, 2015. V. B. Gifford, Jr., Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance. [FR Doc. 2015–29837 Filed 11–23–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [OMB Control Number 1615–0047] Agency Information Collection Activities: Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I–9; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: 60-Day notice. AGENCY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed revision of a currently approved collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection notice is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort, and resources used by the respondents to respond), the estimated cost to the respondent, and the actual information collection instruments. SUMMARY: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until January 25, 2016. ADDRESSES: All submissions received must include the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 1615–0047 in the subject box, the agency name, and Docket ID USCIS– 2006–0068. To avoid duplicate DATES: PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 submissions, please use only one of the following methods to submit comments: (1) Online. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at https://www.regulations.gov under eDocket ID number USCIS–2006–0068; (2) Email. Submit comments to USCISFRComment@uscis.dhs.gov; (3) Mail. Submit written comments to DHS, USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529–2140. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, Laura Dawkins, Chief, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529– 2140, telephone number 202–272–8377. (This is not a toll-free number.) Comments are not accepted via telephone message). Please note contact information provided here is solely for questions regarding this notice. It is not for individual case status inquiries. Applicants seeking information about the status of their individual cases can check Case Status Online, available at the USCIS Web site at https:// www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 800–375–5283 (TTY 800–767–1833). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments You may access the information collection instrument with instructions, or additional information, by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: https://www.regulations.gov and enter USCIS–2006–0068 in the search box. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of https://www.regulations.gov. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the E:\FR\FM\24NON1.SGM 24NON1

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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 226 (Tuesday, November 24, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73199-73200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29837]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2015-1018]


Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee's Response to Task 
Statement 1, Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08 Revision

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Merchant 
Mariner Medical Advisory Committee's response to Task Statement 1, 
``Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08 Revision Working 
Group.'' This document recommends various changes to NVIC 04-08, 
``Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner 
Credentials,'' which the Coast Guard uses when making decisions on 
mariner credentialing. The Coast Guard has not adopted this document as 
policy, but will consider it in future policy development.

ADDRESSES: Task Statement 1 and the Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory 
Committee's response to the task are available on the Coast Guard's Web 
site at: https://homeport.uscg.mil. To locate the documents on the Web 
site, select Missions/Ports and Waterways/Safety Advisory Committees/
MEDMAC/Announcements/MEDMAC's Response to Task Statement 1--Navigation 
and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08 Revision.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
email MMCPolicy@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (the Committee) is 
authorized under 46 United States Code 7115 and operates in accordance 
with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Title 5 U.S.C., Appendix). The 
Committee advises the Secretary on matters related to (a) medical 
certification determinations for issuances of licenses, certificates of 
registry, and merchant mariners' documents; (b) medical standards and 
guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial 
vessels; (c) medical examiner education; and (d) medical research.
    The Committee voted to accept Task Statement 1 during the second 
public meeting held on May 8-9, 2012 in Martinsburg, WV. This task 
requested

[[Page 73200]]

that the Committee review sections of NVIC 04-08, ``Medical and 
Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials,'' to 
ensure that the Coast Guard's guidance is in compliance with all 
current regulations and reflects medical considerations that are 
appropriate for merchant mariners.
    Task Statement 1 required the following inputs. First, it required 
the working group to review the introduction and Enclosures 1, 2, 5, 
and 6 of NVIC 04-08 to ensure compliance with existing Coast Guard 
regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations. Second, it required the 
working group to review all medical conditions listed in Enclosures 3 
and 4 of the NVIC and perform the following actions:

--Identify circumstances defining inordinate risk for the condition.
--Identify circumstances which would decrease the risk from inordinate.
--Determine appropriate amplifying information and testing required to 
assess the condition.
--Identify the standards used to determine the suitability of the 
condition.
--Determine the minimum compliance for the condition that should allow 
safe operation.
--Determine whether or not a waiver is required and define waiver 
parameters.
--Work with the Top Mariner Conditions working group to incorporate 
their recommendations for the top medical conditions.

    Subsequently, a working group was established. The working group 
was comprised of individual members of MEDMAC and the public, although 
the composition of the working group changed over time. The Committee 
voted to accept the response to Task Statement 1 provided by the 
working group during the sixth public meeting held on September 29-30, 
2014 in Piney Point, MD. All working group meetings were open to the 
public.
    The response to Task Statement 1 is in the form of a revised NVIC 
04-08. This revision includes both the introduction to NVIC 04-08 as 
well as revised versions of each of the enclosures. In accordance with 
the task statement, the working group has made revisions to each 
enclosure, but made substantial revisions to enclosures 3 and 4. These 
enclosures, entitled ``Vision and Hearing Standards'' and ``Guidance on 
Specific Medical Conditions,'' provide detailed guidelines that can 
help the Coast Guard make fitness determinations for mariners to 
maintain their credentials.
    The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee's response to Task 
Statement 1 is a work product of the Committee and therefore is not an 
official Coast Guard policy and may not be cited as an official agency 
position. The Coast Guard may use the response, or portions of the 
response, for development of future policy.

Authority

    This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 46 
U.S.C. 7101 et seq., 46 CFR 10.215, and Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0710.1.

    Dated: November 17, 2015.
V. B. Gifford, Jr.,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Inspections and Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2015-29837 Filed 11-23-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

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