CG Announces CTAC Meeting

Today the Coast Guard published a meeting notice in the Federal Register (83 FR 5638-5640) for a three-day meeting of the Chemical Transport Advisory Committee on March 7-9, 2018 in Houston, TX. Subcommittee meetings will take up the first two days.

There are two subcommittees that maybe of specific interest to readers of this blog:

• Hazardous Substance Response Plans for Tank Vessels and Facilities (HAZSUB Twins) (Fall 2017 Report, PPT download); and

• Hazardous Cargo Transportation Security Subcommittee (Fall 2017 Report, PPT download).

The full Committee meeting will review the work of the subcommittees and formulate recommendations to the Commandant on their activities. Additionally, presentations will be made on:

• CG update on International Maritime Organization activities as they relate to the marine transportation of hazardous materials; and

• Presentation of interest related to safe and secure shipment of hazardous materials.

Public attendance is encouraged, but advance registration is required. Public comment periods will be included in all meetings. Written comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; docket # USCG-2018-0042). Comments to be considered at this meeting must be submitted by February 28^th, 2018.

CG Seeking CTAC Applicants

Today DHS posted a notice in the Federal Register (79 FR 23003-23004) announcing that the Coast Guard is seeking applicants for membership on the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC). CTAC provides advice and consultation to the Coast Guard's Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Directorate with respect to the water transportation of hazardous materials in bulk. 

The notice explains that applicants should have experience in:

• Chemical manufacturing;

• Marine handling or transportation of chemicals;

• Vessel design and construction;

• Marine safety or security; or

• Marine environmental protection

CTAC members are volunteers serving at their own expense, including travel and per diem. CTAC's membership includes six vessel operators, five chemical shippers, five environmental response sector representatives, and five environmental safety and health officials.  The remaining members represent non-profit classification societies. The notice does not explain which of positions are included in the 10 positions for which they are seeking applicants.

Applicants may submit their applications via email (Patrick.A.Keffler@uscg.mil) by June 9^th, 2014. Applications should include a a cover letter and resume and identify the position for which the application is being made.

CG Publishes CTAC Meeting Notice – 12-10-13

The Coast Guard published a meeting notice in Monday’s Federal Register (78 FR 67379-67381; available on-line Saturday) for the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee. The three-day public meeting will start on December 10^th, 2013 in Washington, DC. The first two days will be fore subcommittee and working group meetings.

The subcommittees will address the following topics:

• Harmonization of Response and Carriage Requirements for Biofuels and Biofuel Blends;

• Recommendations on Safety Standards for the Design of Vessels Carrying Natural Gas or Using Natural Gas as Fuel;

• Recommendations for Safety Standards of Portable Facility Vapor Control Systems Used for Marine Operations;

• Recommendations for Guidance on the Implementation of Revisions to MARPOL Annex II and the IBC Code to 46 CFR 153;

• Requirements for Third-Party Surveyors of MARPOL Annex II Prewash; and

• Improving Implementation and Education of MARPOL Discharge Requirements Under MARPOL Annex II and V.

Note: Many of the subcommittee topics are dealt with in more detail on the CG’s Homeport page. Normally I would provide links, but the Homeport page does not provide for real links to the pages contained within it. No one has been able to explain to my why the CG has their own special version of the internet that is so hard to use. Maybe it is a new form of security.

The CG will address the following topics with the full committee:

• Update on International Maritime Organization as it relates to the marine transportation of hazardous materials;

• Update on U.S. Regulations as it relates to the marine transportation of hazardous materials;

• Update on Bulk Chemical Data Guide (Blue Book); and

• Vessel to vessel transfer of hazardous materials in bulk.

Public comment periods will be scheduled in each subcommittee hearing and at the full committee meeting. Advance registration (contact Patrick Keffler, telephone 202-372-1424) is required to make a three minute presentation on the topics covered at that meeting. 

DHS Re-establishes Chemical Transport Advisory Committee

Today the Coast Guard published a notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 55278-55279) concerning the re-establishment of the Chemical Transport Advisory Committee. The CTAC was established two years ago and advisory committees that are not specifically authorized by law must be re-established every two years {5 USC Appendix §9(c)(I)}.

Then new charter has some minor wording changes in describing the nature of the membership in the Committee; no substantive changes were made. It now states that each member must represent a point of view directly relevant to at least one of the following activities associated with marine transportation of hazardous materials:

• Chemical manufacturing;

• Marine handling or transportation of chemicals;

• Vessel design and construction;

• Marine safety or security; and

• Marine environmental protection.

The Secretary of DHS is soliciting public comments on the re-establishment of CTAC. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket #USCG-2013-0813). Comment must be submitted by October 9^th, 2013.

CG Announces CTAC Meeting

The Coast Guard published a notice in this Monday’s Federal Register (77 FR 70453-70454; available on-line today) that the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (click through the HomePort link for more information) would be holding a 2-day meeting on December 12^th in Washington, DC. The Committee will address issues related to the maritime transportation of bulk-hazardous chemicals. This Committee was re-established last year after having been idle since their 2008 meeting.

Agenda

The Committee will receive presentations from the Coast Guard on:

• Hazardous Substances Response Plans;

• Vapor control systems and mobile vapor control systems;

• Classification of Biofuels and Biofuel blends;

• Shipments and use as fuel of Liquefied Natural Gas and Compressed Natural Gas;

• Air emissions;

• Tank Barge best practices;

• Certification of 3rd party witnesses for the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships prewash;

• Material Safety Data Sheets requirement for oils carried as cargo and fuel;

• Pending International Maritime Organization issues;

• Security, Transportations Worker Identification Credential, etc;

• USCG Centers of Excellence; and

• Food grade product safety.

In addition the Committee will establish their initial prioritization of issues and establish the agenda and meeting schedules for Subcommittees and Working Groups to address the topics listed above.

It is possible (but not real likely) that there might be additional information provided on the TWIC Reader Rule recently submitted to the OMB.

Public Comments

The Coast Guard is soliciting public comments on the agenda topics listed above. Written comments and requests to make oral comments at the meeting need to be submitted by November 29^th. Written comments can be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # USCG-2012-1030). Personnel wishing to make oral comments (limited to 3 minutes each) before the Committee should contact Lieutenant Sean Peterson, ADFO (ph – 202-372-1403; fax – 202-372-1926).