Lifejacket Approval Harmonization, 41095-41096 [2018-17799]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices (available at https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ go/roc14). Background Information on NTP PeerReview Panels: NTP panels are technical, scientific advisory bodies established on an ‘‘as needed’’ basis to provide independent scientific peer review and advise NTP on agents of public health concern, new/revised toxicological test methods, or other issues. These panels help ensure transparent, unbiased, and scientifically rigorous input to the program for its use in making credible decisions about human hazard, setting research and testing priorities, and providing information to regulatory agencies about alternative methods for toxicity screening. NTP welcomes nominations of scientific experts for upcoming panels. Scientists interested in serving on an NTP panel should provide their current curriculum vitae to Kate Helmick by email: NTP-Meetings@ icf.com. The authority for NTP panels is provided by 42 U.S.C. 217a; section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The panel is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees. Dated: August 8, 2018. Brian R. Berridge, Associate Director, National Toxicology Program. [FR Doc. 2018–17782 Filed 8–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [Docket No. USCG–2018–0565] Lifejacket Approval Harmonization Coast Guard, DHS. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: The Coast Guard announces that it is harmonizing personal flotation device (PFD) standards between the United States and Canada by accepting a new standard for approval of PFDs. Specific elements of the new standard are contained in a policy letter and deregulatory savings analysis, on which we are requesting public comment, and are intended to promote the Coast Guard’s maritime safety and stewardship missions. DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via https:// www.regulations.gov, or reach the amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Aug 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 Docket Management Facility, on or before October 16, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG– 2018–0565 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. See the ‘‘Public Participation and Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on submitting comments. For information about this document call or email Jacqueline Yurkovich, Coast Guard; telephone 202–372–1389, email Jacqueline.M.Yurkovich@uscg.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Participation and Comments We encourage you to submit comments on the lifejacket approval harmonization policy letter entitled, ADOPTION OF ANSI/CAN/UL 12402–5 AND –9, and the deregulatory savings analysis entitled, ‘‘Approval for Personal Floatation Devices/Adoption of ANSI/CAN/UL 12402–5 and 9,’’ which are available in the docket. The policy letter is also available on the USCG website, https://www.dco.uscg.mil/CGENG, listed as CG–ENG Policy 02–18. We will consider all submissions and may adjust our final action based on your comments. If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this notice, indicate the specific section of the document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https:// www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using https:// www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions. Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public comments, are in our online docket at https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website’s instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will be notified when comments or other documents are posted. We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal Docket Management System in the March 24, PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 41095 2005, issue of the Federal Register (70 FR 15086). Discussion The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has statutory authority under Title 46, U.S. Code, Sections 3306(a) and (b), 4102(a) and (b), 4302(a), and 4502(a) and (c)(2)(B) to prescribe regulations for the design, construction, performance, testing, carriage, use, and inspection of lifesaving equipment on commercial and recreational vessels. Since 2008, the USCG has been working closely with Transport Canada (TC) and a diverse group of U.S. and Canadian stakeholders to harmonize PFD standards with the current international standard (ISO 12402) to create a single North American standard for PFD approval. A single North American standard will allow manufacturers the opportunity to produce more innovative equipment that meets the approval requirements of both the United States and Canada. In 2015, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. published bi-national standards 1 to set forth performance requirements and manufacturing standards for PFDs that are being used when vessels are close to shore, or where a rescue may be imminent. UL 12402–5 sets forth the performance requirements for PFDs and, within UL 12402–5, there are two levels of performance: Level 50 and Level 70. A Level 70 PFD provides an equivalent level of safety to a Type III PFD currently approved under 46 CFR 160.064, 160.076, or 160.077–15, and certified to UL 1123 (Marine Buoyant Devices). A Level 50 PFD provides a reduced level of performance, and is not included in this policy. UL 12402–9 sets forth the test methods for determining compliance with UL 12402–5. In April 2017, the USCG and TC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining intended cooperation for approval of personal lifesaving appliances that comply with mutually acceptable standards, are tested by mutually accepted conformity assessment bodies or independent test laboratories, and are covered by a mutually acceptable follow-up program. In January 2018, TC published a policy stating it will accept UL 12402–5 as a substitute for its PFD standards in support of the MOU. The policy letter on which we are requesting comment builds on the efforts described above by establishing that the USCG will accept Level 70 PFDs complying 1 ANSI/CAN/UL 12402–5, Standard for Personal Flotation Devices—Part 5: Buoyancy Aids (Level 50)—Safety Requirements (UL 12402–5), and ANSI/ CAN/UL 12402–9, Standard for Personal Flotation Devices—Part 9: Test Methods (UL12402–9). E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1 amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1 41096 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 160 / Friday, August 17, 2018 / Notices with UL 12402–5 as equivalent to PFDs meeting the requirements in 46 CFR 160.064 and 160.076, with certain exceptions. The adoption of this policy marks the culmination of over a decade of dedicated work across the lifejacket and recreational boating safety community and supports National Boating Safety Advisory Council Resolution 2009–83– 01, which is available in the docket.2 This policy also responds to a comment submitted by the Lifejacket Association in response to the Coast Guard’s request for public input on ‘‘Evaluation of Existing Coast Guard Regulations, Guidance Documents, Interpretive Documents, and Collections of Information,’’ 3 recommending the Coast Guard consider full adoption of UL 12402–5 and UL 12402–9. In order to provide the maximum benefit to the public with minimum delay, the Coast Guard evaluated which elements of the new standards could be implemented without a change to the regulations. Those elements are being adopted by this policy. The remaining elements of the standards that cannot be adopted without a change to the regulations are being considered for possible future regulatory action. This policy letter allows manufacturers to have their products certified to the new bi-national standard, in lieu of the legacy standards codified in title 46 CFR. This allowance is intended to reduce the burden of maintaining approvals in U.S. and Canadian markets and to make additional types of PFDs available to U.S. and Canadian boaters. This policy does not impact existing PFD approvals, and does not require any action on the part of boaters or mariners who have approved PFDs onboard. An existing approved PFD will continue to meet the same carriage requirements, as long as it remains in good and serviceable condition. The Coast Guard has prepared a Deregulatory Savings Analysis for the policy letter that identifies and examines the potential costs and savings associated with implementing the new standards plan and is available in the docket. We request your comments on any concerns that you may have related to the policy changes. This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a). 2 The Resolution requested the U.S. Coast Guard work cooperatively with stakeholders to devise and implement within 3 years an improved regulatory approach to the testing and approval of personal flotation devices, including life jackets. 3 82 FR 26632 (June 8, 2017). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:17 Aug 16, 2018 Jkt 244001 Dated: August 9, 2018. J.G. Lantz, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard. [FR Doc. 2018–17799 Filed 8–16–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [Docket ID FEMA–2014–0022] Technical Mapping Advisory Council Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Committee Management; Notice of Federal Advisory Committee Meeting. AGENCY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) will meet in person on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, and Wednesday, September 26, 2018, in Reston, Virginia. The meeting will be open to the public. DATES: The TMAC will meet on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, from 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), and Wednesday, September 26, 2018, from 8:00 a.m.–5:30 p.m. EDT. Please note that the meeting will close early if the TMAC has completed its business. SUMMARY: The meeting will be held at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Headquarters at 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192. Members of the public who wish to attend the meeting must register in advance by sending an email to FEMATMAC@fema.dhs.gov (Attention: Michael Nakagaki) by 11:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2018. Members of the public must follow signs for the Visitor’s Entrance on the U.S. Geological Survey Drive entrance of the USGS; once you pull into the Visitor’s Entrance, facility security will direct you to parking and where to check in at the front desk of the visitor’s entrance at the USGS. Photo identification is required. For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact the person listed below in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible. To facilitate public participation, members of the public are invited to provide written comments on the issues to be considered by the TMAC, as listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below. Associated meeting materials will be available at www.fema.gov/TMAC for review by Wednesday, September 19, 2018. ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Written comments to be considered by the committee at the time of the meeting must be submitted and received by Friday, September 21, 2018, identified by Docket ID FEMA–2014–0022, and submitted by one of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Email: Address the email TO: FEMA-RULES@fema.dhs.gov and CC: FEMA-TMAC@fema.dhs.gov. Include Docket ID FEMA–2014–0022 in the subject line of the message. Include name and contact information in the body of the email. • Mail: Regulatory Affairs Division, Office of Chief Counsel, FEMA, 500 C Street SW, Room 8NE, Washington, DC 20472–3100. Instructions: All submissions received must include the words ‘‘Federal Emergency Management Agency’’ and the docket number for this action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. Docket: For docket access to read background documents or comments received by the TMAC, go to https:// www.regulations.gov and search for the Docket ID FEMA–2014–0022. A public comment period will be held on Tuesday, September 25, 2018, from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT and again on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT. Speakers are requested to limit their comments to no more than three minutes. The public comment period will not exceed 30 minutes. Please note that the public comment period may end before the time indicated, following the last call for comments. Contact the individual listed below to register as a speaker by close of business on Friday, September 21, 2018. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Nakagaki, Designated Federal Officer for the TMAC, FEMA, 400 C Street SW, Washington, DC 20024, telephone (202) 212–2148, and email michael.nakagaki@fema.dhs.gov. The TMAC website is: https://www.fema.gov/ TMAC. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. Appendix. In accordance with the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, the TMAC makes recommendations to the FEMA Administrator on: (1) How to improve, in a cost-effective manner, the (a) accuracy, general quality, ease of use, and distribution and dissemination of E:\FR\FM\17AUN1.SGM 17AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41095-41096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17799]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0565]


Lifejacket Approval Harmonization

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces that it is harmonizing personal 
flotation device (PFD) standards between the United States and Canada 
by accepting a new standard for approval of PFDs. Specific elements of 
the new standard are contained in a policy letter and deregulatory 
savings analysis, on which we are requesting public comment, and are 
intended to promote the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship 
missions.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via https://www.regulations.gov, or reach the Docket Management Facility, on or 
before October 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0565 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Comments'' 
portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email Jacqueline Yurkovich, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-
1389, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments on the lifejacket approval 
harmonization policy letter entitled, ADOPTION OF ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-5 
AND -9, and the deregulatory savings analysis entitled, ``Approval for 
Personal Floatation Devices/Adoption of ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-5 and 9,'' 
which are available in the docket. The policy letter is also available 
on the USCG website, https://www.dco.uscg.mil/CG-ENG, listed as CG-ENG 
Policy 02-18. We will consider all submissions and may adjust our final 
action based on your comments. If you submit a comment, please include 
the docket number for this notice, indicate the specific section of the 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions. Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public 
comments, are in our online docket at https://www.regulations.gov and 
can be viewed by following that website's instructions. Additionally, 
if you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will 
be notified when comments or other documents are posted.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal 
Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal 
Register (70 FR 15086).

Discussion

    The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has statutory authority under 
Title 46, U.S. Code, Sections 3306(a) and (b), 4102(a) and (b), 
4302(a), and 4502(a) and (c)(2)(B) to prescribe regulations for the 
design, construction, performance, testing, carriage, use, and 
inspection of lifesaving equipment on commercial and recreational 
vessels. Since 2008, the USCG has been working closely with Transport 
Canada (TC) and a diverse group of U.S. and Canadian stakeholders to 
harmonize PFD standards with the current international standard (ISO 
12402) to create a single North American standard for PFD approval. A 
single North American standard will allow manufacturers the opportunity 
to produce more innovative equipment that meets the approval 
requirements of both the United States and Canada.
    In 2015, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. published bi-national 
standards \1\ to set forth performance requirements and manufacturing 
standards for PFDs that are being used when vessels are close to shore, 
or where a rescue may be imminent. UL 12402-5 sets forth the 
performance requirements for PFDs and, within UL 12402-5, there are two 
levels of performance: Level 50 and Level 70. A Level 70 PFD provides 
an equivalent level of safety to a Type III PFD currently approved 
under 46 CFR 160.064, 160.076, or 160.077-15, and certified to UL 1123 
(Marine Buoyant Devices). A Level 50 PFD provides a reduced level of 
performance, and is not included in this policy. UL 12402-9 sets forth 
the test methods for determining compliance with UL 12402-5.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-5, Standard for Personal Flotation 
Devices--Part 5: Buoyancy Aids (Level 50)--Safety Requirements (UL 
12402-5), and ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-9, Standard for Personal Flotation 
Devices--Part 9: Test Methods (UL12402-9).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In April 2017, the USCG and TC signed a Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU) outlining intended cooperation for approval of personal 
lifesaving appliances that comply with mutually acceptable standards, 
are tested by mutually accepted conformity assessment bodies or 
independent test laboratories, and are covered by a mutually acceptable 
follow-up program. In January 2018, TC published a policy stating it 
will accept UL 12402-5 as a substitute for its PFD standards in support 
of the MOU. The policy letter on which we are requesting comment builds 
on the efforts described above by establishing that the USCG will 
accept Level 70 PFDs complying

[[Page 41096]]

with UL 12402-5 as equivalent to PFDs meeting the requirements in 46 
CFR 160.064 and 160.076, with certain exceptions.
    The adoption of this policy marks the culmination of over a decade 
of dedicated work across the lifejacket and recreational boating safety 
community and supports National Boating Safety Advisory Council 
Resolution 2009-83-01, which is available in the docket.\2\ This policy 
also responds to a comment submitted by the Lifejacket Association in 
response to the Coast Guard's request for public input on ``Evaluation 
of Existing Coast Guard Regulations, Guidance Documents, Interpretive 
Documents, and Collections of Information,'' \3\ recommending the Coast 
Guard consider full adoption of UL 12402-5 and UL 12402-9. In order to 
provide the maximum benefit to the public with minimum delay, the Coast 
Guard evaluated which elements of the new standards could be 
implemented without a change to the regulations. Those elements are 
being adopted by this policy. The remaining elements of the standards 
that cannot be adopted without a change to the regulations are being 
considered for possible future regulatory action.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The Resolution requested the U.S. Coast Guard work 
cooperatively with stakeholders to devise and implement within 3 
years an improved regulatory approach to the testing and approval of 
personal flotation devices, including life jackets.
    \3\ 82 FR 26632 (June 8, 2017).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    This policy letter allows manufacturers to have their products 
certified to the new bi-national standard, in lieu of the legacy 
standards codified in title 46 CFR. This allowance is intended to 
reduce the burden of maintaining approvals in U.S. and Canadian markets 
and to make additional types of PFDs available to U.S. and Canadian 
boaters.
    This policy does not impact existing PFD approvals, and does not 
require any action on the part of boaters or mariners who have approved 
PFDs onboard. An existing approved PFD will continue to meet the same 
carriage requirements, as long as it remains in good and serviceable 
condition.
    The Coast Guard has prepared a Deregulatory Savings Analysis for 
the policy letter that identifies and examines the potential costs and 
savings associated with implementing the new standards plan and is 
available in the docket. We request your comments on any concerns that 
you may have related to the policy changes.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: August 9, 2018.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2018-17799 Filed 8-16-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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