1625-0001
Supporting Statement
for
Reporting of Marine Casualties &
Chemical
Drug and Alcohol Testing
of Commercial Vessel Personnel
A. Justification.
1) Circumstances that make the collection necessary.
I. Reporting of Marine Casualties
Title 46 USC 6101 authorizes the Coast Guard to prescribe regulations for the reporting of marine casualties involving death, serious injury, material loss of property, material damage affecting the seaworthiness of a vessel, or significant harm to the environment. It also requires that information on the use of alcohol be included in a marine casualty report. These reporting requirements permit the Coast Guard to initiate the immediate investigation of marine casualties as required by 46 USC 6301, in order to: (a) determine the causes of casualties, and, (b) whether existing safety standards are adequate or whether new laws or regulations need to be developed. The overall goal of investigations therefore is to identify pertinent safety lessons and to initiate appropriate steps for reducing the likelihood of similar accidents in the future. Regulations implementing reporting requirements and investigative procedures are contained in 46 CFR Part 4. The table below identifies which part of the CFR corresponds to the subject.
Table 1
Reporting of Marine Casualties: CFR, Subject and Affected Population
46 CFR |
Subject and Affected Population |
4.05-10 |
Written report of marine casualty.
|
4.05-12 |
Alcohol or drug use by individuals directly involved in casualties.
|
4.06-5(b) |
Refusal to provide blood, breath or urine specimens for chemical tests.
|
4.06-60 (a) – (d) |
Submission of reports and test results.
|
1. The regulation specifies that all chemical testing results be submitted to the Coast Guard. In The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Paperwork Reduction Act submission titled Procedures for Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Program, OMB # 2105-0529, DOT has taken the responsibility of the burden posed by reporting the result of drug tests. The Coast Guard is the only transportation mode that requires alcohol testing results; therefore, only the burden of reporting alcohol testing results is accounted in this submission.
II. Chemical Testing
Title 46 USC 7503 requires the Coast Guard to deny the issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariner’s documents (seaman’s papers) to users of dangerous drugs. Similarly, 46 USC 7704 requires the Coast Guard to revoke such papers when a holder of the same has been shown to be a drug user. Congress has shown increased interest in this problem by enacting 46 USC 2302 and 18 USC Chapter 17A, which prohibit an individual from operating a vessel while intoxicated by any drug or alcohol. Until 1988, the primary means of detecting drug use has been through examination of criminal conviction records of applicants and holders of seaman’s papers. This results in a narrowly focused method. It does not identify drug users in a timely manner.
With advances in the reliability and accessibility of chemical testing methods, the Coast Guard developed drug and alcohol testing requirements that provide meaningful enforcement of existing statutory prohibitions. These requirements are part of a DOT-wide initiative for reducing and deterring substance abuse in all modes of commercial transportation and are consistent with regulations issued by other regulatory agencies.
Coast Guard regulations implementing chemical testing requirements are contained in 46 CFR Part 16. DOT implemented its own drug and alcohol testing requirements, contained in 49 CFR Part 40, some of which overlapped with the Coast Guard’s regulatory requirements in this area. Therefore the burdens associated with the overlapping regulatory requirements that were calculated in the previous Collection of Information renewal have now been moved over to DOT. The details associated with this burden can be found in DOT Collection of Information titled Procedures for Transportation Drug and Alcohol Testing Program, OMB # 2105-0529, which expires on November 30, 2013.
The table below identifies the parts of the CFR that the Coast Guard is now responsible for, and shows the populations that correspond to the applicable area of regulation.
Table 2
Chemical Testing: CFR, Subject and Affected Population
46 CFR |
Subject and Affected Population |
16.201 (c) |
Positive drug/alcohol test report.
|
16.207 |
Foreign Laws Exemption Program.
|
16.220 |
Periodic testing requirements.
|
16.250 (c) and (d) |
Reasonable cause testing requirement.
|
16.401(a) and (b) |
Employee assistance program education and training.
|
III. Strategic Goals
This information collection supports the following strategic goals:
Department of Homeland Security
Prevention
Protection
Maritime Safety
Maritime Stewardship
Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate (CG-5)
Reduce crewmember deaths and injuries on U.S. commercial vessels
Reduce the risk of major loss of life on passenger vessels
Reduce the amount of oil discharged into the marine environment
Reduce the amount of chemicals entering the environment
2) Purpose of the information collection.
I. Reporting of Marine Casualties
Title 46 CFR 4.05.1 requires that "the owner, agent, master, operator, or person in charge, shall notify the nearest Sector Office, Marine Inspection Office or Coast Guard Group Office whenever a vessel is involved in a marine casualty. Receipt of a marine casualty report (CG-2692) is often the only way in which the Coast Guard becomes aware of a marine accident. It is therefore a necessary first step that provides the Coast Guard with the opportunity to determine the extent to which a casualty will be investigated. In the short term, the information provided in the report may also trigger: (a) corrective safety actions addressing immediate hazards or defective conditions; (b) further investigations of mariners’ conduct or professional competence; and/or, (c) civil or criminal enforcement actions by the Coast Guard, other Federal agencies, or state and local authorities.
Form CG-2692B in particular will be utilized for reporting chemical testing following serious marine incidents. The two-page form will capture elementary information on the incident category, names of individuals directly involved, whether urine, blood, or breath samples were obtained, and where the samples have been sent for analysis. The Coast Guard can use this critical information to: (a) initiate administrative action against a commercial mariner’s right to continue holding seaman’s papers, (b) initiate civil or criminal penalty action when an individual has been found to be operating a vessel while intoxicated, and, (c) assess the impact of drug or alcohol use in serious marine incidents.
In
the long term, information contained in the report becomes part of a
comprehensive marine casualty database at Coast Guard Headquarters.
This database is utilized extensively by the Coast Guard for:
(a)
identifying specific safety problems and analyzing longer-term
trends, (b) publishing casualty summaries and annual statistics for
public use, (c) supporting the need for additional safety oversight
or regulation, (d) measuring the effectiveness of existing safety
regulatory programs, and, (e) better focusing of limited Coast Guard
marine safety resources. This database is also continually in use by
other Federal and state government agencies, marine industry
researchers, international groups or foreign government
representatives involved in marine safety issues, and the public.
II. Chemical Testing
Reasonable cause and periodic testing requirements outlined in 46 CFR 16 are designed for marine employers to identify users of dangerous drugs and/or alcohol. As required by 46 CFR 16.201 (C), the marine employer must notify the nearest OCMI in writing when a individual holding a Coast Guard credential fails a chemical test for dangerous drugs. The individual testing positive must be denied employment and is subject to suspension and revocation proceedings against their credential under 46 CFR Part 5.
3) Considerations of the use of improved information technology to reduce the burden.
The information may be submitted in writing or electronically via facsimile or e-mail. All forms used for this collection can be found on the Coast Guard’s Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Web site at-- http://homport.uscg.mil Missions > Investigations.. We estimate that 100% of the reporting and recordkeeping requirements can be done electronically. At this time, we estimate that 40% are done electronically.
I. Reporting of Marine Casualties
Marine casualty reports forms may be downloaded, filled out and submitted in writing, electronically via e-mail, or by facsimile equipment.
II. ChemicalTesting
Marine employer records, when required, may be submitted electronically via e-mail, or by facsimile equipment .
4) Efforts to identify duplication. Why similar information available cannot be used.
There is no duplication of this information at the Federal level. The Coast Guard is the only Federal agency that collects this information from the marine industry and the public.
5) Methods used to minimize the burden to small businesses if involved.
This information collection does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.
6) Consequences to the Federal program if collection were not conducted or conducted less frequently.
I. Reporting of Marine Casualties
Information is collected only upon occurrence of a reportable marine casualty. Less frequent collection of such information would directly conflict with a well-established statutory mandate, would lead to inconsistencies with data already collected, and would severely diminish the capability to identify specific safety hazards and accurately analyze unsafe trends in the commercial marine industry. This in turn would have a highly negative impact on the Coast Guard's continuing efforts to reduce the incidence of marine casualties.
II. Chemical Testing
Circumstances requiring periodic testing are identified in 46 CFR 16.220. Testing is required for an original issuance/renewal of a CG credential, a raise in grade, and certain first endorsements, 1 Less frequent collection will reduce marine employer’s’ capability to identify drug users and the Coast Guard’s ability to take enforcement action concerning drug or alcohol use by commercial mariners. This reduced capability would have obvious negative consequences on marine safety.
7) Special circumstances that require collection to be conducted in an inconsistent manner.
This information collection is conducted in manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).
8) Solicitation of comments.
A 60-day Notice was published in the Federal Register to obtain public comment on this collection (see [USCG-2011-0710]; August 3, 2011; 76 FR 46824). Additionally, a 30-day Notice was published in the Federal Register to obtain public comment on this collection (October 7, 2011; 76 FR 62424). The Coast Guard received 4 comment letters on this information collection. Agency responses to these letters will be posted in ROCIS.
The following are concise CG-INV comments as a part of the OMB public comment process for the US Coast Guard’s marine casualty reporting form(s) (1625-0001) CG-2692, CG-2692A, and CG-2692B. For background and in-depth rationale, see consolidated Coast Guards response dated 9 December 2011.
Comment #1: Passenger Vessel Association Letter – The Coast Guard requires submission of more 2692’s than required. The Coast Guard requires submission for the following events which are defined in 46 CFR Part 4;
An unintended grounding, or an unintended strike of (allusion with) a bridge.
An intended grounding, or an intended strike of a bridge, that creates a hazard to navigation, the environment, or the safety of a vessel, or that meets any criterion of paragraphs (3) through (8).
A loss of main propulsion, primary steering, or any associated component or control system that reduces the maneuverability of the vessel.
An occurrence materially and adversely affecting the vessel’s seaworthiness or fitness for service or route, including but not limited to fire, flooding, or failure of or damage to fixed fire-extinguishing equipment, auxiliary power-generating equipment, or bilge pumping systems.
A loss of life.
An injury that requires professional medical treatment (treatment beyond first aid) and, if the person is engaged or employed on board a vessel in commercial service, that renders the individual unfit to perform his or her routine duties.
An occurrence causing property damage in excess of $25,000, this damage including the cost of labor and material to restore the property to its condition before the occurrence, but not including the cost of salvage, cleaning, gas-freeing, drydocking, or demurrage.
An occurrence involving significant harm to the environment as defined in 33 CFR 160.204.
There is no evidence that excessive “over-reporting” is occurring in other than isolated instances. The vast majority of 2692’s submitted are properly filed and acted upon by both Industry and Coast Guard personnel. This includes a broad spectrum of commercial vessel operations from single operator fishing vessels to large corporate tank ship companies.
Comment #2: Passenger Vessel Association Letter - Preparation and filing of form(s) is not routine – greater than 1 hour. The form(s) are two pages or less in length and provide basic, readily available factual information including a “free-form” narrative block. The submitter has 5 days after notifying the Coast Guard immediately after the accident. This provides the reporter the unhindered ability to provide comment of an accident from their perspective. The consequences and internal processes each company undertakes in filling out the forms is a business consideration that is outside the Coast Guard’s control. These forms are barred from use in civil litigation per 46 USC 6308.
Comment #3: Lake Carriers Association Letter – The Coast Guard requires submission of more 2692’s than required. See #1 Comment.
Comment #4: Lake Carriers Association Letter – Over-reporting creates a statistically misleading portrait of the industry which leads to over regulation. There is no evidence supporting this statement. Events which are not defined in 46 CFR Part 4 are not entered into the Coast Guard’s data base. New regulations go through a rigorous evaluation process, including opportunities for extensive public/industry input and comment prior to implementation.
Comment #5: Lake Carriers Association Letter – Anecdotal cited incidents. The validity of whether an occurrence is a reportable casualty is a case-by-case determination in light of the totality of all facts.
Comment #6: Lake Carriers Association Letter – Alter the monetary threshold higher. This action would require congressional support and a regulatory change. However, we agree in principal that raising the threshold from the current $25,000 is appropriate.
Comment #7: Mr. Tom Hudson, citizen – Preparation and filing of form(s) takes longer than 1 hour. See Comment #2.
Comment #8: Mr. Christian Stark, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District – Ferry Division. Preparation and filing of form(s) takes longer than 1 hour. See Comment #2
Comment #9: Mr. Christian Stark, Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District – Ferry Division. The Coast Guard requires submission of more 2692’s than required. See Comment #1.
9) Provide any payment or gift to respondents.
There is no offer of monetary or material value for this information collection.
10) Assurances of confidentiality provided to respondents.
This information collection is covered by a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) and System of Records Notice (SORN). Details follows—
Privacy Impact Assessment for the Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) System // September 3, 2009 // DHS/USCG/PIA-008.
Privacy Act of 1974; United States Coast Guard--013 Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) System of Records Notice (DHS/USCG-013) [June 25, 2009; Docket No. DHS-2008-0110; 74 FR 30305].
The PIA and SORN are available at— http://www.dhs.gov/privacy .
11) Additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature.
The Coast Guard’s authority and need for collecting information, including sensitive information, is stated on form CG-2692. In part, it states—46 U.S.C. §6301 and Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 4 authorizes the collection of this information. Reportable marine casualty information is needed for Coast Guard investigations of vessel casualties involving death, vessel damage, property loss and data reports mandated by Congress. Information gathered is also used to determine whether new or revised safety initiatives are necessary. Additionally, chemical testing information is needed to improve Coast Guard detection and reduction of drug use by mariners.
12) Estimate of annual hour and cost burden.
Annualized Hour and Cost Burden:
The number of respondents is 31,388.
The number of responses for this collection is 179,288.
The total annual reporting and recordkeeping burden is 20,986 hours.
The total annual cost burden is $924,876.
A wage rate of $28/hour was used for most calculations involving the marine industry and the public. This is the GS-03 out of government rate according to COMDTINST 7310.1M. Detailed calculations, as well as explanations of the assumptions used, can be found in Appendix A of this Supporting Statement. Table 3 below gives the hour and cost burdens associated with the regulatory requirements in this collection of information. Some figures may be rounded.
I. Reporting of Marine Casualties
An incident list from 2008-20102 was downloaded from the MISLE Incident Investigations cube. The list was narrowed to only include cases of reported marine casualty or environmental damage.
Total annual number of respondents = 4,792
We estimate that it takes approximately one (1) hour3 to complete all parts of the form (CG-2692, with CG-2692A and CG-2692B when necessary). With an hour to fill out the form, at a wage rate of $28/hour, the annual cost associated with the requirement is $134,176, and the burden hours are 4,792. In addition, some Report of Marine Accident forms may undergo additional processing by respondents. To account for this additional time, we estimate that up to 10% of the forms submitted may have about 10 hours of additional burden. The additional time reflects company internal review by individuals in additional to the person that completed the form. The additional reviewers may be shore-side reps, port engineers, attorneys, etc. We estimate the wage rate for this added review is $96/hour.4 The annual burden for this added review is 4,792 hour at a cost of $460,032. The total annual burden for Reporting Marine Casualties is 9,584 hours and $594,208.
II. Chemical Testing
For reporting and recordkeeping calculations for chemical testing, we use the Association of Records Management and Administrators, Inc. (ARMA) methodology required by OMB. As the ARMA methodology was not applicable to all the elements involved in this collection of information, we used the Standard method of calculation for those elements. The annualized cost and burden hours associated with chemical testing are $330,668 and 11,402 burden hours respectively. Again, please see Table 3 below, and Appendix A, for more details on the calculations.
Table 3 below offers a more detailed tabulation of the hour and cost burdens associated with each of the regulatory requirements for information collection. The source of certain cost information is Appendix A.
Table 3
Annual Burden of Collection of Information
Requirement
|
Respondents |
Responses |
Burden (Hours) |
Cost |
46 CFR 4.05-10 & 4.05-12
|
4,792 |
4,792 |
4,792 |
$134,176 |
|
[497]* |
[497]* |
4,792 |
$460,032 |
46 CFR 4.06-5(b)
|
1 |
1 |
0.083 |
$2.41 |
46 CFR 4.06-5(b) & 4.06-60
|
245 |
245 |
16 |
$464 |
46 CFR 4.06-60(d)
|
40 |
40 |
10 |
$290 |
46 CFR 16.201(c)
|
40 |
40 |
10 |
$290 |
46 CFR 16.207
|
1 |
1 |
0.065 |
$1.89 |
46 CFR 16.220
|
8,700 |
87,000 |
5,593 |
$162,197 |
46 CFR 16.250(c) & (d)
|
79
3 |
79
3 |
5
0.19 |
$145
$5.51 |
46 CFR 16.401(a) and (b)
|
8,700
8,700
87 |
17,400
69,600
87 |
1,119
4,475
174 |
$32,451
$129,775
$5,046 |
Total Annual Respondents and Burden (Hours & Cost) |
31,388 |
179,288 |
20,986 |
$924,876 |
This is a subset of the respondents/responses, and not added to the total.
13) Estimate of annualized capital and start-up costs.
There are no capital, start-up or maintenance costs associated with this information collection.
14) Estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government.
The total annualized cost to the Government is $191,680.
I. Reporting of Marine Casualties
It is estimated that 1 hour is required for the Coast Guard’s processing of each form CG-2692/CG-2692A/CG-2692B, including the auditing at a local field investigation office and the entering of pertinent information including the additional information resulting from the change “significant harm to the environment” into a computerized database at Coast Guard Headquarters. Using an estimated wage rate of $40/hour for Coast Guard personnel of rank E-45 the annual cost, for 4,792 forms, is $191,680.
II. Chemical Testing
Those applying for original issuances, a renewal of a license, a certificate of registry and other similar licenses must include the passing of a chemical test for dangerous drugs as part of their application that has to be submitted to the CG Regional Examination Center. The additional cost to the Federal Government here is minimal, as it would have been calculated under the cost to review an application for such licenses. Moreover, there are no costs to the Federal Government from the requirements for routine drug and alcohol testing by employers, as these are records that have to be retained by employers for inspection when necessary.
15) Reasons for change in the burden.
The change in burden is an ADJUSTMENT due a change in the number of marine casualty reports submitted to the Coast Guard. There is no proposed change to the reporting or recordkeeping requirements of this collection. The reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and the methodology for calculation burden, remain unchanged-with one exception. In response to public comments, we have changes our methodology for calculating the burden for Reporting Marine Casualties. The change is to estimate the added review that some reports may undergo. This added review is not required by regulations. Annual marine casualty reports received by the CG are as follows; CY 2008 =5,504, CY 2009= 4,414, and CY 2010=4,459. Additionally, revised ICR title to clarify applicable requirements. Title changes from—Marine Casualty Information & Periodic Chemical Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Vessel Personnel; to—Reporting of Marine Casualties & Chemical Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Vessel Personnel.
16) Plans for tabulation, statistical analysis and publication.
This information collection will not be published for statistical purposes.
17) Approval for not explaining the expiration date for OMB approval.
The Coast Guard will display the expiration date for OMB approval of this information collection
18) Exception to the certification statement.
The Coast Guard does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.
B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods.
This information collection does not employ statistical methods.
Appendix APRA Cost Indicator Summary: Marine Casualties and Chemical Testing
|
|||||||
Using ARMA: Chemical Testing Calculations |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Times |
Record Creation |
Record Filing |
Record Storage |
Total |
Burden Hours |
PRA Task |
Rule Citation |
Performed |
$1.145 |
$0.118 |
$0.0228 |
Sum ($) |
$29 |
Post Accident Determination Documentation 1 |
46 CFR 4.06-5 (b), and 4.06-60 |
245 |
280.53 |
28.91 |
5.59 |
$464 |
16 |
Foreign Laws Program Exemption 2 |
46 CFR 16.207 |
1 |
1.15 |
0.12 |
0.02 |
$1.89 |
0.065 |
Periodic Test Result Report 3 |
46 CFR 16.220 |
87,000 |
99,615.00 |
10,266.00 |
1,983.60 |
$162,197 |
5,593 |
Reasonable Suspicion Determination Documentation 4 |
46 CFR 16.250 (c) |
79 |
90.46 |
9.32 |
1.80 |
$145 |
5 |
Refusal-to-Test Record 5 |
46 CFR 16.250 (d) |
3 |
3.44 |
0.35 |
0.07 |
$5.51 |
0.19 |
Employee Training Documentation 6 |
46 CFR 16.401 (a) and (b) |
69,600 |
79,692.00 |
8,212.80 |
1,586.88 |
$129,775 |
4,475 |
Supervisor Training Documentation 7 |
46 CFR 16.401 (b) |
17,400 |
19,923.00 |
2,053.20 |
396.72 |
$32,451 |
1,119 |
The ‘times performed’ is the number of times in a year the Coast Guard expects that a drug/alcohol test after a SMI would be refused. Also, the log entry is only made when the person is a crewmember of a ship that is required to have a logbook (ships that are greater than 1600 gross tons).
No companies have submitted applications under this program. The burden has been calculated in case any apply.
For the number of times performed, we assumed 8 new employees and 2 employees would apply for licenses and renewal of licenses, for 8,700 firms. The number of firms involved is based on Coast Guard estimates. The total number of times performed is therefore 87,000.
The times performed was determined by taking the actual 1998 number of “reasonable suspicion” tests that were performed, times the proportion of documented vessels that are greater than 1600 gross tons. Since there were 741 inspected vessels greater than 1600 gt in 1999, and 7,521 inspected vessels overall in 1999, the times performed = (741/7521)*800 = 79.
Number of times performed is estimated by the number of times in a year the Coast Guard expects drug/alcohol test after reasonable suspicion would be refused. Also, the log entry is only made when the person is crewmember of a ship that is required to have a logbook (ships that are greater than 1600 gross tons).
For number of times performed, assumed 8 new employees for 8,700 firms. The number of firms involved is a Coast Guard estimate.
For number of times performed, assumed 2 new supervisors for 8,700 firms. The number of firms involved is a Coast Guard estimate.
Appendix
A
|
|||||||
Using Standard Method: Chemical Testing |
|
|
|
|
|
||
|
|
Time to Complete |
Number of Times |
|
Burden Cost |
|
|
PRA Task |
Rule Citation |
Single Task (hours) |
Performed |
Burden Hours |
$29 |
|
|
Special Post Accident Documentation 1 |
46 CFR 4.06-5(b) |
0.083 |
1 |
0.083 |
$2.41 |
|
|
Positive Chemical Test Report to OCMI 2 |
46 CFR 4.06-60(d) |
0.250 |
40 |
10 |
$290 |
|
|
Promulgate Policy 3 |
46 CFR 16.401 |
2 |
87 |
174 |
$5,046 |
|
|
Positive Drug/Alcohol Test Report to OCMI 5 |
46 CFR 16.201(c) |
0.250 |
40 |
10 |
$290 |
|
|
Using Standard Method: Marine Casualty Information Collection |
|
||||||
Requirement
|
Rule Citation
|
Time to complete task (hours) |
Number of times performed |
Burden hours
|
Burden Cost $29
|
|
|
Written Report of Marine Casualty1 |
46 CFR 4.05-10
|
1
|
4,351
|
4,351
|
$126,179
|
|
|
submitted to the Coast Guard in year 2006. |
|
1 Generally tests are required on issuance, reissuance, upgrades, annual physicals, raise in grade, etc. of CG licenses, COR, MMD, or MMC.
2 Annual incident figures as follows—CY2008—5,504, CY2009—4,414 & CY2010—4,459.
3 The Coast Guard estimates that it takes up to 1 hour to complete a form CG-2692/A/B. However, we have received comments that some submitters take more time—up to 8-12 hours—to complete the form. The reason for this difference is that some entities have the form(s) reviewed by shore-side personnel, such as an attorney prior to submission to the CG. The practice of having a form reviewed by an attorney is not required by CG regulation. While we believe that this does not typically occur, we have revised our burden estimate to account for the added review.
4 This is the GS-14 out of government rate per to COMDTINST 7310.1M.
5 According to COMDTINST 7310.1M
File Type | application/msword |
File Modified | 2013-01-25 |
File Created | 2013-01-25 |