Request for Topic Specific Comments on the Revision of the Vessel Sanitation Program's Operations Manual (1989)

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Request for Topic Specific Comments on the Revision of the Vessel

Sanitation Program's Operations Manual (1989)

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

Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice solicits topic specific information for

consideration in revision of the Vessel Sanitation Program's (VSP)

operations manual. The document was last revised in August 1989. Input

from the cruise line industry and other interested parties is critical

to this document. Comments and information provided will be used to

draft a revised and expanded Operations Manual to reflect CDC's, the

industry's, and others current knowledge. The specific topical areas

for the revised manual are:

Food Safety.

Water Sanitation.

Disease Surveillance.

Childcare Sanitation.

Housekeeping Sanitation.

Pools, Spas, & Recreational Areas.

Self-Inspection and Microbiological Monitoring.

Indoor Air Quality.

Toxic Substances.

Waste Management.

Integrated Pest Management.

Administrative Guidelines.

DATES: To be considered in the manual revision process, written

comments and additional information must be received by September 8,

1998.

ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the current Operations Manual must be

made by calling (770) 488-3141. Written comments on the existing

document, or suggested changes or additions for a revised document

should be sent by mail or facsimile to: Daniel Harper, Chief, VSP,

Mailstop F16, 4770 Buford Highway, NE., Atlanta, GA, 30341-3724,

facsimile (770) 488-4127, or e-mail [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) is a cooperative activity

between the cruise ship industry and the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health

and Human Services. This program is authorized by the Public Health

Service Act Sections 361-369 [42 U.S.C. 264-272], and implementing

regulations found at 42 CFR Part 71. The

[[Page 37129]]

purpose and goals of the VSP are to achieve and maintain a level of

sanitation that will lower the risk for gastrointestinal and other

disease outbreaks and assist the passenger line industry in its effort

to provide a healthful environment for passengers and crew.

Comments and suggestions for revision of the manual must include

appropriate text specific documentation and/or references providing the

scientific support for any suggested change or addition to the current

operations manual. The VSP will evaluate all comments and suggestions

received and will draft a revised operations manual for discussion and

review by interested parties and the public. The draft document will be

circulated to the industry and others, and VSP will hold a public

meeting in October or November, 1998, to allow discussion of the draft

manual. The final draft of a revised operations manual is planned for

January 1, 1999.

Dated: July 2, 1998.

Joseph R. Carter,

Acting Associate Director for Management and Operations, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

[FR Doc. 98-18197 Filed 7-8-98; 8:45 am]

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