
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 30, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53924-53925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22197]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0821]


Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of federal advisory committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MMMAC) will 
hold its inaugural meeting starting Monday, September 19, and ending 
Wednesday September 21, 2011. The meetings will be open to the public.

DATES: MMMAC will meet on Monday, September 19, Tuesday, September 20, 
and Wednesday, September 21, 2011 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please 
note that the meeting may close early if the committee has completed 
its business.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Calhoon Marine Engineers 
Beneficial Association (MEBA) Engineering School at 27050 Saint 
Michaels Road, Easton, MD 21601.

[[Page 53925]]

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Anne Higgins, MEBA School Executive Assistant, 410-822-9600 Extension 
338 as soon as possible.
    To facilitate public participation, we are inviting public comment 
on the issues to be considered by the committee as listed in the 
``Summary'' section below. Comments must be submitted in writing to the 
Coast Guard on or before September 12, 2011 and must be identified by 
USCG-2011-0821 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments (preferred method to 
avoid delays in processing).
     Fax: 202-372-1918.
     Mail: 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.
     Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. 
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays. The 
telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this 
action. Comments received will be posted without alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided. You 
may review a Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the 
January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments related to this notice, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Two public comment periods will be held during the meeting. The 
first public comment period will be held on Day 1 September 19, 2011 
prior to the presentation of issues and task and the second comment 
period will be held on Day 3, September 21, 2011 from 10:00 to 11:00 
a.m. Speakers are requested to limit their comments to 3 minutes. 
Please note that the public comment period may end before the time 
indicated, following the last call for comments. Additionally, public 
comment will be sought throughout the meeting as specific tasks and 
issues are discussed by the committee. Contact the individual listed 
below to register as a speaker.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Dylan McCall, the MMMAC 
Alternate Designated Federal Officer (ADFO), at telephone 202-372-1128 
or e-mail Dylan.k.mccall@uscg.mil. If you have questions about the MEBA 
facility, contact Anne Higgins, MEBA School Executive Assistant, at 
telephone 410-822-9600 Extension 338 or e-mail ahiggins@mebaschool.org. 
If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 
202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463). The 
MMMAC is authorized by section 210 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act 
of 2010 (Pub. L. 111-281) and the Committee's purpose is to advise the 
Secretary on matters related to medical certification determinations 
for issuance of merchant mariner credentials; medical standards and 
guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial 
vessels; medical examiner education; and medical research.

Agenda

Day 1

    (1) Opening comments by Designated Federal Officer (DFO), Captain 
E. P. Christensen;
    (2) Introduction and swearing in of the new members;
    (3) Remarks from Coast Guard Leadership, Rear Admiral J. A. Watson;
    (4) Staff Administration issues;
    (5) Designation of the Chair and Vice-Chair;
    (6) Public Comments/Presentations; and
    (7) Presentation of Issues and Tasks (Order of Presentations TBD);

--Briefing the committee on the Coast Guard's Mariner Credentialing 
Program and mariner evaluation process.
--Report of maritime casualties with a nexus to mariner medical issues.
--Form CG-719K & CG-719K/E--Review of the forms used by physicians for 
documenting the medical/fitness exams of merchant mariners and 
discussion of recommendations for improvement.
--Review of the most common mariner medical conditions leading to the 
denial of a mariner's application and discussion of applicable 
standards or guidance.
--Revising the Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant 
Mariner Credentials, Navigation.
--and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 04-08 (NVIC 04-08).
--Discussion of the development of Designated Medical Examiners.
--Aging Mariners--Presentation to address the committee on the concerns 
with aging mariners. Discuss/Present how medical issues impact mariners 
as they age and the aged mariner is normally your more competent 
mariner.

    (8) Acceptance of task statements by committee and establishment of 
work groups;

Day 2

    Work groups meetings on tasks accepted by the committee.

Day 3

    (1) Report of working groups;
    (2) Public comments/presentations; and
    (3) Closing remarks/plans for next meeting.

    Dated: August 24, 2011.
J. A. Watson,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. 2011-22197 Filed 8-29-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


