CG Public Meetings, Proposed Regulations

The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to hold public meetings in Seattle on Sept. 28 and in New Orleans on Sept. 30 to hear comments about a proposed rulemaking for ballast water discharge standards.

A total of six public meetings are slated for the Coast Guard to receive comments about a proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register Aug. 28 (74 FR 44632) that would add ballast water discharge standards to the Coast Guard’s ballast water management regulations in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 151, Subparts C and D.  The proposed rule would also add approval procedures for ballast water management systems found in Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter Q.

The first public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Hotel 1000, 1000 First Ave., Seattle.  Details about the hotel and surrounding city can be found at: http://www.hotel1000seattle.com/explore.html

The second public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Rue Royal, New Orleans. Details about the hotel and surrounding city can be found at: http://www.hotelmonteleone.com/

The public is encouraged to participate by submitting written or verbal comments at the meetings. The comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking closes Nov.  27.  All comments and related material submitted after the meeting must be submitted to the online docket at http://www.regulations.gov on or before Nov. 27, or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

Other public meetings are scheduled for:  Chicago, Oct. 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile, 10 E. Grand Ave.; Washington, Oct. 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW; Oakland, Calif., Oct. 27; and New York Oct. 29.  Specific meeting times and locations for the New York and Oakland meetings will be published at a later date.