§ 1231a. — Towing Safety Advisory Committee.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC1231a]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER 25--PORTS AND WATERWAYS SAFETY PROGRAM
Sec. 1231a. Towing Safety Advisory Committee
(a) Establishment; membership
There is established a Towing Safety Advisory Committee (hereinafter
referred to as the ``Committee''). The Committee shall consist of
sixteen members with particular expertise, knowledge, and experience
regarding shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and
towing safety as follows:
(1) seven members from the barge and towing industry, reflecting
a regional geographic balance;
(2) one member from the offshore mineral and oil supply vessel
industry; and
(3) two members from each of the following--
(A) port districts, authorities, or terminal operators;
(B) maritime labor;
(C) shippers (of whom at least one shall be engaged in the
shipment of oil or hazardous materials by barge); and
(D) the general public.
(b) Appointments; Chairman, Vice Chairman, and observers; publication in
Federal Register
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
operating (hereinafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall appoint
the members of the Committee. The Secretary shall designate one of the
members of the Committee as the Chairman and one of the members as the
Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the absence or
incapacity of, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of, the
Chairman. The Secretary may request the Secretary of the Army and the
Secretary of Commerce to each designate a representative to participate
as an observer on the Committee. The Secretary shall, not less often
than once a year, publish notice in the Federal Register for
solicitation of nominations for membership on the Committee.
(c) Functions; meetings; public proceedings and records; disclosures to
Congress
The Committee shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations
to the Secretary on matters relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal
waterway navigation and towing safety. Any advice or recommendation made
by the Committee to the Secretary shall reflect the independent judgment
of the Committee on the matter concerned. The Secretary shall consult
with the Committee before taking any significant action affecting
shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.
The Committee shall meet at the call of the Secretary, but in any event
not less than once during each calendar year. All proceedings of the
Committee shall be open to the public, and a record of the proceedings
shall be made available for public inspection. The Committee is
authorized to make available to Congress any information, advice, and
recommendations which the Committee is authorized to give to the
Secretary.
(d) Compensation and travel expenses; administrative services;
personnel; authorization of appropriations
Members of the Committee who are not officers or employees of the
United States shall serve without pay and members of the Committee who
are officers or employees of the United States shall receive no
additional pay on account of their service on the Committee. While away
from their homes or regular places of business, members of the Committee
may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5. The Secretary
shall furnish to the Committee an executive secretary and such
secretarial, clerical, and other services as are considered necessary
for the conduct of its business. There are authorized to be appropriated
such sums as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this
subsection.
(e) Termination
Unless extended by subsequent Act of Congress, the Committee shall
terminate on September 30, 2005.
(Pub. L. 96-380, Oct. 6, 1980, 94 Stat. 1521; Pub. L. 97-322, title I,
Sec. 118(d), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1587; Pub. L. 98-557, Sec. 16(a),
Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2866; Pub. L. 101-225, title I, Sec. 105(b),
Dec. 12, 1989, 103 Stat. 1910; Pub. L. 104-324, title III, Sec. 304(c),
Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3917; Pub. L. 107-295, title III, Sec. 336,
Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2105.)
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of the Ports and Waterways Safety
Act which comprises this chapter.
Amendments
2002--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107-295 substituted ``September 30,
2005'' for ``September 30, 2000''.
1996--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 104-324 substituted ``September 30,
2000'' for ``September 30, 1995''.
1989--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 101-225 substituted ``September 30,
1995'' for ``September 30, 1990''.
1984--Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98-557 substituted ``on September 30,
1990'' for ``five years from the date of enactment of this Act''.
1982--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97-322, Sec. 118(d)(1), required the
Secretary, not less often than once a year, to publish notice in the
Federal Register for solicitation of nominations for membership on the
Committee.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97-322, Sec. 118(d)(2), authorized the
Committee to make available to Congress any information, advice, and
recommendations which the Committee is authorized to give to the
Secretary.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97-322, Sec. 118(d)(3), inserted introductory
provisions respecting compensation and travel expenses of members of the
Committee.
Transfer of Functions
For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the
Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of
Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security,
and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d),
552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of
Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified,
set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.
