[Federal Register: June 29, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 124)]
[Notices]
[Page 37410-37411]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jn05-78]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[ATSDR-211]
Vessel Sanitation Program; Notice of Revision and Implementation
of the Vessel Sanitation Program Operations Manual
AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of
Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the revision and implementation of the
Vessel Sanitation Program Operations Manual. The manual will become
effective on August 1, 2005.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Forney, Chief, Vessel Sanitation
Program, Division of Emergency and Environmental Health Services
(EEHS), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), telephone
(770) 488-7333 or e-mail DForney@cdc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose and Background
The Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) is a cooperative activity
between the cruise ship industry and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. The purpose and goals of VSP are to achieve and
maintain a level of sanitation that will lower the risk for
gastrointestinal diseases and will assist the cruise ship industry in
its efforts to provide a healthful environment for passengers and crew.
Comments
In 2003, CDC announced plans to revise the Vessel Sanitation
Operations Manual, November 2000. Input and comments requested and
received from the cruise ship industry, private sanitation consultants,
other Federal
[[Page 37411]]
agencies, and other interested parties were discussed in detail at a
public meeting held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 27, 2004. On
the basis of comments received, VSP staff drafted a third revised
manual that was discussed at a public meeting held in Fort Lauderdale
on August 23-26, 2004. Input from the cruise ship industry was critical
of this document. VSP revised the document and incorporated the
comments received from the cruise ship industry, private sanitation
consultants, and other interested parties who attended the public
meetings or submitted comments in writing. A final draft of the VSP
Operations Manual, 2005 was put on the VSP Web site (http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp
) and was presented to attendees at the VSP annual
public meeting held in Fort Lauderdale on April 26, 2005.
VSP acknowledges the helpful participation and the input of the
cruise ship industry, private sanitation consultants, and other
interested parties throughout the revision process. Major input for
this document was provided by the International Council of Cruise Lines
(ICCL), which represents the 16 largest passenger cruise lines that
call on major ports in the U.S. and abroad.
Implementation and Transition for the VSP Operations Manual, 2005
The VSP Operations Manual, 2005 will become effective on August 1,
2005. At that time, the VSP Environmental Health Officers will begin
using the new manual and inspection report when they conduct their
routine operational inspections.
For one year or for two routine inspections, whichever comes first,
VSP staff will document deficiencies that indicate noncompliance with
the 2005 operations manual. However, no points will be deducted for
failure to meet the revised provisions in the 2005 manual. During the
phase-in period, these deficiencies will be cited with a star on the
inspection report, and no points will be deducted so that corrective
actions can be taken.
One example of the new requirements in the 2005 manual is that hand
wash sinks with the electronic sensors that cannot be user-adjusted
have a maximum water temperature of 52 [deg]C (125 [deg]F). The VSP
Operations Manual, 2000 required only a minimum water temperature for
the sinks with the sensors. For the first year or for two routine
inspections, whichever comes first, inspectors will document water
temperatures above the maximum at the handwash sinks with the sensors,
but the item will be cited with a star on the inspection report, and no
points will be deducted.
Applicability
The VSP Operations Manual is applicable to all passenger cruise
vessels that have international itineraries and that call on U.S.
Ports.
Availability
Final copies of the VSP Operations Manual, 2005 can be found on the
VSP Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/vsp; by contacting Stephanie
Lawrence, Program Management Assistant for the Vessel Sanitation
Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mail stop
F23, 4770 Buford Highway NE., Atlanta, GA 30341-3274; or by e-mail at
SLawrence1@cdc.gov Requests may also be sent to vsp@cdc.gov..
Dated: June 24, 2005.
Kevin A. Ryan,
Acting Director, Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, National
Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry.
[FR Doc. 05-12806 Filed 6-28-05; 8:45 am]
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