b'REGULATORY REPORT:PVA REGULATORY REGULATORYCOMMITTEE 2021 UpdatePETER LAURIDSEN // PVA REGULATORY AFFAIRS CONSULTANTT hePVARegulatoryCommitteethe U.S. Coast Guard Subchapter Q approvalClean Water Act were subject to a voluminous recentlyconvenedavirtualmeetingisalong-desiredchangeandprobablynon- noticeofproposedrulemaking.Wemade to inform and update its members oncontroversial. comments generally in support of the notice. current issues. Theacceptanceortimingofafi ruleisnal unknown at this time.The regulatory environment is one of knownWhen the EPA and unknowns. First and foremost, the newproposed rule isWhen the EPA proposed rule is issued as a fi nal Administrationputatemporaryfreezeonrule it will trigger a two-year period of rule regulatory measures in development. This isissued as a fi nal ruledevelopmentfortheCoastGuardtodefi ne expected since each Administration wants anit will trigger a two- its enforcement role for the new EPA vessel opportunity to ensure that it has a chance toincidental discharge standards.review and accept, reject or modify the mattersyear period of rule thatcouldbecomeregulationundertheirdevelopment for theRecentmaritimecasualtieshavegenerated tenure. legislation regarding the M/V Conception fi re Coast Guard to defi neand proposed legislation regarding the Stretch Regulationsthatarecurrentlyintheits enforcement roleDuck 7. Conception post-casualty eff orts have developmentprocessthatimpactpassengeridentifi edremediesthattheCoastGuardis vessel operators include the fi nal rule on fi rst aidfor the new EPA vesseldirected to address in regulation and policy. kits where we asked for further changes seekingincidental dischargeThe Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020 voluntaryexclusionofanalgesicsanddatedcontainedadefi nitionforanewlydefi ned materials and the fi nal rule on Environmentalstandards. group called covered small passenger vessels. Protection Agency (EPA) regulation of vesselThese vessels are small passenger vessels carrying incidental discharges. The EPA incidental discharge changes directedovernight accommodations for passengers and bytheadoptionoftheVesselIncidentalsmall passenger vessels authorized to operate Acceptance of the fi rst aid kits not defi ned byDischargeAct(VIDA)amendmenttotheon ocean and coastwide routes.Withrespecttoallcoveredsmallpassenger vessels, the Coast Guard is directed to undertake a comprehensive review of existing regulations for more fi protection. More specifi cally, itre requiresmoreextensivemarinefi refi ghting training and drills to improve crew profi ciency, interconnectedaudibleandvisualalarms,re refi ghting additionalfi extinguishersandfiequipment, detection and suppression systems in machinery and heat producing spaces, and handlingandoperationoffl itemsammable such as lithium-ion batteries. Forcoveredsmallpassengervesselswith passengeraccommodationstheregulations shall address installation and use of devices to ensurethewakefulnessofdesignatedroving nightwatchpersonsandtwoindependent avenues of escape from all areas accessible to passengers.Thesetwoavenuesmustensure REGULATORY REPORT 26 FOGHORN'