Fees for Sanitation Inspections of Cruise Ships and Consultation Services for Ship Construction and Renovation

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Fees for Sanitation Inspections of Cruise Ships and Consultation

Services for Ship Construction and Renovation

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of

Health and Human Services (DHHS).

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces fees for vessel sanitation inspections

effective January 1, 1998. The Public Health Service (PHS) proposes an

additional vessel size category for ships >90,000 gross register

tonnage. The purpose of the new ``Mega'' size category is to more

accurately recover costs of the Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) for

conducting sanitary inspections of these super-large ships. The PHS

also proposes to begin charging fees for consultation services for ship

construction and renovation. The purpose of these charges would be to

recover costs of conducting the consultation services for ship

construction and renovation.

Public comment is requested on the proposed administrative policies

to add the new size category for inspections, and to charge for

consultation services for ship construction and renovation.

DATES: To ensure consideration, respondents must have their written

comments regarding the new size category and charges for services for

ship construction and renovation to the VSP by January 2, 1998. Fees

for vessel sanitation inspections are effective January 1, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by mail or facsimile to the

Vessel Sanitation Program, Special Programs Group, National Center for

Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),

4770 Buford Highway, NE., (F16), Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3724, facsimile

(770) 488-4127.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel M. Harper, Program Manager,

Vessel Sanitation Program, National Center for Environmental Health,

telephone (770) 488-7093 or e-mail [email protected], or Dave Forney, Public

Health Advisor, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects,

National Center for Environmental Health, telephone (770) 488-7333 or

e-mail [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose and Background

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) operates a

vessel sanitation inspection program for cruise ships with

international itineraries and calling at United States ports under

sections 361-369 (42 U.S.C. 264-272) of the Public Health Service Act,

as amended. Regulations for the inspection program appear at 42 CFR

part 71.

[[Page 61337]]

The Vessel Sanitation Program is a cooperative activity between the

cruise ship industry and CDC. The purpose and goals of the VSP are to

achieve and maintain a level of sanitation that will lower the risk for

gastrointestinal disease outbreaks and assist the passenger line

industry in its effort to provide a healthful environment for

passengers and crew.

The fee schedule for sanitation inspections of passenger cruise

ships currently inspected under the VSP was first published in the

Federal Register on November 24, 1987 (52 FR 45019), and revised in a

schedule published in the Federal Register on November 28, 1989 (54 FR

48942). Since then, CDC has published the fee schedule annually. The

purpose of this notice is to announce the revised fee schedule for the

period January 1, 1998, through September 31, 1998. Public comment is

also being requested on the proposal to create a new ``Mega'' category

and on the proposal to charge fees for consultation services for ship

construction and renovation.

Revised Inspection Fee Schedule

This notice announces fees effective January 1, 1998. The proposed

revised size/cost factor is presented in Appendix A. The formula used

to determine the fees is as follows:

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN17NO97.039

The average cost per inspection is multiplied by a size/cost factor

to determine the fee for vessels in each size category. The fee

schedule for sanitation inspections is presented in Appendix A and will

be effective January 1, 1998, through September 30, 1998. Beginning

October 1, 1999, all VSP fiscal activities will be on a Federal fiscal

year basis (October 1-September 30). Should a substantial increase

occur in the cost of air transportation, it may be necessary to

readjust the fees before September 30, 1998, since travel constitutes a

sizable portion of the costs of this program. If such a readjustment in

the fee schedule is necessary, a notice will be published in the

Federal Register 30 days before the effective date.

Calender year 1997 opened with the delivery of the first cruise

ship exceeding 100,000 gross tonnage. Records for new ship construction

document that additional ships of equal or greater tonnage are coming

into the U.S. market in 1998 and beyond. As set out in Appendix A, the

PHS proposes an additional vessel size category for ships >90,000 gross

register tonnage. The purpose of the new ``Mega'' size category is to

more accurately recover the VSP's costs for conducting sanitary

inspections of these super-large ships.

Construction and Renovation Consultation Fees

As part of the program designed to assist cruise ship operators in

achieving and maintaining a healthy level of sanitation, the VSP offers

consultative services upon the request of a ship's owner or operator.

The VSP staff review ship construction or renovation plans before

construction begins and conduct on-site inspections of the cruise ship

during construction as needed. After each review or inspection, VSP

staff members issue a written advisory report summarizing any

recommended changes to conform to CDC inspection guidelines.

The proposed fees for consultation services by VSP for ship

construction and renovation will be three times the cost of a routine

sanitation inspection of a passenger cruise ship (based on tonnage)

inspected under the VSP, plus travel and per diem costs. The fee

schedule for sanitation inspections of passenger cruise ships is

published annually in the Federal Register and is determined by

dividing the full cost of the VSP by the estimated number of

inspections and multiplying by a size/cost factor based on the size of

the vessel and the number of vessels in each category.

The proposed fee structure for consultation services is based on

the following time commitment from two VSP inspectors:

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Number of

Number of Number of days for Total number

days for days for shipyard Initial of days

Gross tonnage plan office visit U.S. consultation

reviews consultations (including inspection provided

travel)

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90,000..................................... 2 5 6 1 14

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Procedure for Requesting Consultation Services

Requests for consultation services for ship construction and

renovation must be in writing and received at least 45 days prior to

the requested travel dates. (See Appendix B for a sample request.)

Applicability

The inspection fees will be applicable to all passenger cruise

vessels for which sanitation inspections are conducted as part of CDC's

VSP. The construction and renovation fees will be applicable to all

passenger cruise vessels for which CDC provides consultation on ship

construction and renovations.

Dated: November 7, 1997.

Joseph R. Carter,

Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Appendix A

Size/Cost Factor

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Average

Vessel size (GRT\1\) cost X

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Extra Small (90,000)............................................. 2.50

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[[Page 61338]]

Fee Schedule January 1, 1998--September 30, 1998

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Vessel size (GRT\1\) Inspection \2\ Consultation

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Extra Small (90,000).......................... $10,750 $32,250

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\1\ GRT-Gross Register Tonnage in cubic feet, as shown in Lloyd's

Register of Shipping.

\2\ Inspections and reinspections involve the same procedure, require

the same amount of time, and will, therefore, be charged at the same

rate.

Appendix B

Sample

Fax to: Henry Falk, M.D., Director, Division of Environmental

Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental

Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770

Buford Highway, NE., (F28), Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 Facsimile (770)

488-4127

Fax copy to: Program Manager, Vessel Sanitation Program, Special

Programs Group, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway, NE.,

(F16), Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, Facsimile (770) 488-4127

We request the presence of a DHHS representative for

consultation on cruise liner (NAME). We tentatively expect to take

delivery of the cruise liner on (DATE). We would like to schedule

the consultation for (DATE). We expect the consultation to take

approximately (NUMBER OF DAYS).

We will pay CDC in accordance with the consultation fee

published in the Federal Register, and for all expenses in

connection with the shipyard inspection. We will make all necessary

arrangements for lodging and transportation, which includes airfare

and ground transportation in (CITY, STATE, COUNTRY). We will provide

in-kind for lodging and transportation expenses. All remaining

expenses, such as en route per diem and meals and miscellaneous

expenses, including ground transportation to and from the airport

nearest the representatives work site or residence, should be sent

to the following address:

Company

Attention:

Street Address

City, State, Country

Zip Code

Office Telephone Number

Facsimile Number

If you have questions regarding this confirmation, please

contact:

Signed:

[FR Doc. 97-30056 Filed 11-14-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4163-18-P