
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 91 (Friday, May 10, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27335-27336]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11227]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 101, 104, 105, and 106

[Docket No. USCG-2007-28915]
RIN 1625-AB21


Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)--Reader 
Requirements

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published March 22, 2013, entitled 
``Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)--Reader 
Requirements'' for 30 days. This extension of the comment period is 
designed to accommodate requests from the public for more time to 
review the proposed rule and associated analysis.

DATES: The comment period for the proposed rule published March 22, 
2013, at 78 FR 17781, is extended. Comments and related material must 
be submitted to the docket by June 20, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number using 
any one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for further instructions 
on submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of 
these three methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Lieutenant Commander Loan T. O'Brien, U.S. Coast Guard, 
telephone 202-372-1133, email Loan.T.O'Brien@uscg.mil. If you have 
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Barbara 
Hairston, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

1. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online, it 
will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully 
transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, 
it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when 
it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2007-28915) in the ``SEARCH'' box and 
click ``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated 
with this rulemaking.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period and may change the rule 
based on your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2007-28915) in the ``SEARCH'' box and 
click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated 
with this

[[Page 27336]]

rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room 
W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

3. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

B. Regulatory History and Information

    The Coast Guard published an NPRM entitled ``Transportation Worker 
Identification Credential (TWIC)--Reader Requirements'' on March 22, 
2013 (78 FR 17782) that proposes to require owners and operators of 
certain vessels and facilities regulated by the Coast Guard to use 
electronic readers designed to work with the Transportation Worker 
Identification Credential (TWIC) as an access control measure. The NPRM 
also proposes additional requirements associated with electronic TWIC 
readers, including recordkeeping requirements for those owners and 
operators required to use an electronic TWIC reader, and security plan 
amendments to incorporate TWIC requirements. The TWIC program, 
including the proposed TWIC reader requirements in the proposed rule, 
is an important component of the Coast Guard's multi-layered system of 
access control requirements and other measures designed to enhance 
maritime security. All comments on this NPRM were originally due on May 
21, 2013.

C. Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard believes that the public would benefit from 
additional time to provide comments on the proposed rule and analysis. 
For that reason, we are extending the comment period for a period of 30 
days. Comments on the NPRM will now be accepted until June 20, 2013.

D. Authority

    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: May 3, 2013.
Paul F. Thomas,
Director of Inspections and Compliance, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2013-11227 Filed 5-8-13; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


