The Coast Guard is withdrawing the proposed rule entitled “Outer Continental Shelf Activities” published Dec. 7, 1999. The Coast Guard is withdrawing this proposed rule due to the passage of time, advances in technology, and changes in industry practices that have rendered the proposed rule obsolete.

The proposed rule is withdrawn as of Sept. 19, 2018.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposed revisions to Coast Guard’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) regulations that pertain to workplace safety and health on vessels and facilities engaged in the exploration for, or development or production of, minerals on the OCS. The Coast Guard initiated this rulemaking in response to the various advances that had changed the nature of the offshore industry since the last major revision of OCS regulations in 1982. As detailed in the proposed regulatory text, this rulemaking would have reassessed all current OCS regulations in light of past experiences and new improvements in order to help make the OCS a safer work environment. The Coast Guard received comments from the public regarding the proposed rulemaking. These comments are available in the docket.

In the nearly 20 years since the Coast Guard published the NPRM and the comment period closed, the offshore industry has continued to grow and evolve. Due to the passage of time, advances in technology, and changes in industry practice, much of what was proposed in the NPRM is now obsolete and no longer applicable to the modern OCS work environment. Consequently, the NPRM is no longer suitable as a basis for further rulemaking action.

To view documents mentioned in this withdrawal, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type “USCG-1998-3868” in the search box and click “Search” then click on “Open Docket Folder.”

For more information view the Federal Register notice, or contact Mr. Charles Rawson at 202-372-1390 or Charles.E.Rawson@uscg.mil.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.