Coast Guard January 16, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document informs the public that, after their Captain of the Port (COTP) has implemented access control procedures using the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), the COTP no longer needs to enforce the previously published notice requiring name- based vetting of certain port workers.

The Coast Guard is amending its oil pollution prevention equipment regulations to make them consistent with new International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines and specifications issued under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex I. These revisions will implement MARPOL Annex I regulations and are intended to reduce the amount of oil discharged from vessels and eliminate the use of ozone-depleting solvents in equipment tests. This interim rule will require all vessels replacing or installing oil separators and bilge alarms to install equipment that meets revised standards and it will require newly constructed vessels carrying oil in bulk to install monitoring systems that meet the revised standards. We have delayed the implementation of three paragraphs involving vessels constructed and equipment installed on or after January 1, 2005. We seek comments on these three paragraphs and will consider those comments before issuing a final rule.