Rules of Practice, Procedure, and Evidence for Administrative Proceedings of the Coast Guard

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 20

46 CFR Part 5

[USCG-1998-3472]

RIN 2115-AF59

Rules of Practice, Procedure, and Evidence for Administrative

Proceedings of the Coast Guard

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Reopening of comment period on interim rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is reopening the period for public comment on

its interim rule, Rules of Practice, Procedure, and Evidence for

Administrative Proceedings of the Coast Guard. Because of several

requests for extension, the Coast Guard is reopening the period for 180

days.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before April 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Please submit your comments and related material by any one

of the following methods (but by only one, to avoid multiple listings

in the public docket):

(1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, [USCG-1998-3472],

U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW.,

Washington, DC 20590-0001.

(2) By delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif

Building, 400

[[Page 53971]]

Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday

through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-

366-9329.

(3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251.

(4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management

System at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on the substance of the

rulemaking, call George J. Jordan, Attorney-Adviser, Office of the

Chief Administrative Law Judge, telephone 202-267-0006. For questions

on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Dorothy

Walker, Chief of Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone 202-

366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The interim rule, published on May 24, 1999 [64 FR 28054],

encouraged interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by

submitting written data, views, or arguments by July 23, 1999. This

request does the same, except that it invites their submitting them by

April 3, 2000.

Persons submitting comments should include their names and

addresses, identify this docket [USCG-1998-3472] and the specific

section of the interim rule to which each comment applies, and give the

reason for each comment. Please submit one copy of each comment and

attachment in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches,

suitable for copying and electronic filing, to the DOT Docket

Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. If you want

acknowledgment of receipt of your comment, enclose a stamped, self-

addressed postcard or envelope.

The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the

comment period. It may change this interim rule in view of them.

The Coast Guard plans no public meeting. Persons may request one by

writing to the Docket Management Facility at the address under

ADDRESSES. The request must identify this docket [USCG-1998-3472] and

should include the reasons why an opportunity for oral presentations

would be helpful to this rulemaking. If such an opportunity would help

the rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a public meeting at a time

and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

The Coast Guard seeks to improve its adjudicative process.

Improvement will also affect certain actions involving merchant

mariners. First, the interim rule consolidates all Coast Guard

adjudicative procedures to include the following: the suspension and

revocation (S&R) of merchant mariners' licenses, certificates of

registry, and documents and the procedures involving class II civil

penalties. Second, the interim rule eliminates unnecessary procedures

from S&R proceedings. The Coast Guard expects the interim rule to

facilitate the efficient use of administrative resources relating to

adjudication by the Coast Guard. It will save time, effort, and money

for all parties who are or may become involved in actions of the Coast

Guard.

Dated: September 27, 1999.

Robert S. Horowitz,

Acting Chief Counsel.

[FR Doc. 99-25865 Filed 10-4-99; 8:45 am]

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