SAFETY--New Watercraft Safety Requirements
To: "File WRD Archive Reston, VA "
cc: "Carole Nethaway, Secretary (OA), Reston, VA ",
        "Betty J Dodds, Secretary, Reston, VA ",
        "Alice C Dilandro, Secretary (S), Reston, VA "
Subject: WRD Memo No. 96.25
Date: Mon, 06 May 1996 08:15:59 -0400
From: "Alice C Dilandro, Secretary (S), Reston, VA "

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From: "Betty J Dodds, Secretary, Reston, VA"  (Betty J. Dodds)
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Subject: SAFETY--New Watercraft Safety Requirements
Cc: "William G Shope Jr., Chief, Br. of Oper. Support, Reston, VA" 

An electronic mail version of the attached memorandum is being sent to you
because of the urgency for setting up training for watercraft operators and
to facilitate the completion of the questionnaire.  A copy of Chapter 22 of
the Departmental manual is not included in the electronic mail, but will be
attached to the WRD memorandum that you receive through the U.S. Postal
Service mail.

Bill Shope

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In Reply Refer To:
Mail Stop 405                                                   May 3, 1996


WATER RESOURCES DIVISION MEMORANDUM NO. 96.25

Subject:        SAFETY - New Watercraft Safety Requirements

This memorandum transmits, as attachment 1, the recently revised Chapter
22, Watercraft Safety, from the Department of the Interior (DOI)
Departmental Manual - Safety and Health Handbook (485 DM).  Chapter 22
establishes minimum requirements for the safe operation of DOI watercraft
and for the training and certification of DOI watercraft operators. 
Chapter 22 requires that all motorboat operators be trained and certified
in accordance with the requirements presented in the attached document no
later than October 1, 1997.  The U.S. Geological Survey Occupational
Hazards and Safety Procedures Handbook (445-2-H), Chapter 16, is being
revised to reflect the new Chapter 22 of the DOI manual.

The Bureau Watercraft Safety Manager, Tom Edwards from the Water Resources
Division (WRD) Oregon District office, is assisting the Regional Safety
Officers (RSO) in coordinating training for the Motorboat Operator
Certification Course.  To facilitate the coordination of the certification
activities, we ask that the form that appears as attachment 2 be completed
and sent to the appropriate RSO by June 1, 1996.  In order to meet the
training and certification deadline, it is vital that certified instructors
be made available to assist with training for WRD and the bureau. 
Equipment requirements have also changed as a result of the new release of
Chapter 22.  Please insure your office is in compliance with the new
requirements.  

The four RSO's will compile the district and project training requirements
based on field input, and will coordinate with Tom Edwards to schedule the
required certification training.  If there are any questions regarding this
activity, please contact your RSO.





                                                Catherine L. Hill
                                                Assistant Chief Hydrologist 
                                                for Operations

Attachments

Distribution:  A, B, S, FO, PO

cc:    WRD General File, MS 402
        Regional Safety Officers
        District Safety Officers
        ACH/O, MS 441
        Chron File, MS 405
        Operations File, MS 405
USGS:WRD:WGShope:bjd:4/26/96:x5364
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Attachment 2

                            U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

                            WATERCRAFT USER SURVEY

                                                         DATE____/____/____

NAME (safety officer and/or person responding)___________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

OFFICE___________________________________________________________________

DIVISION_________________________________________________________________

ADDRESS, (incl. mail stop)_______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

PHONE_______________________________   FAX_______________________________

E-MAIL ADDRESS___________________________________________________________

1.      Number of DOI/MOCC certified watercraft operators in your office.

                                                                _________  

2.      Number of DOI/MOICC certified watercraft operator instructors in 
        your office.

                                                                _________
                                                                           
 

3.      Number of instructors involved in MOCC operator training since 
        receiving certification by DOI/MOICC.

                                                                _________

4.      Number of potential watercraft operators needing DOI/MOCC certif-
        ication training by the October 1, 1997 deadline.

                                                                _________

5.      Number of watercraft in use by operators in your office.

                                                                _________
                                                                           
                 
6.     Type(s) of watercraft used by operators in your office?
        (Mark appropriate type(s) with an X.)

        Non-motorized_____  Motorized <26'_____  Motorized >26'_____

7.      Hull type(s) or configuration(s) of watercraft in use by operators
        in your office.  (Mark appropriate type(s) with and X.) 

        'V' hull____  Tri-hull_____  Jon boat___

        Canoe___  Round bottom fishing boat___

        Other (describe)__________________________________________

8.      What type(s) of material is/are watercraft in use by operators in
        office constructed of?  (Mark appropriate type(s) with an X.)

        Wood____  Fiberglass_____  Alluminum_____  Steel____

        Other (describe)__________________________________________

9.      What type(s) of flow conditions do your watercraft operators 
        work in?  (Mark approiate type(s) with and X.)

        Slow current 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Fast current

        Small rivers/streams 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Large rivers

        Canals_____  Lakes/reserviors_____  Locks/dams_____

        Estuarian/tidal____  Marine_____  Foreign waters____

10.     Work conditions experienced by your watercraft operators.
        (Mark appropriate answer(s) with and X.)

        Weather: Extreme cold 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Extreme heat

        Light rain 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Heavy rain 

        Light wind 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Heavy wind

        Light fog 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Heavy fog

        Cold water 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Warm water (>60 degrees F)

        Operation at night: Never 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Frequent    

        Boat traffic: Sm recreational 1__ 2_ 3__ 4_ 5__ Lg commercial

11.    Number of potential (non-MOCC) operators in your office with 
        other types of watercraft training, certifications, or licenses.  
        (Write number of potential operators in each appropriate category.)

        USCG Auxilliary - Boating Skills and Seamanship_____

        U.S. Power Squadron - Basic boating course_____

        USCG license - Uninspected vessel_____

        25 ton____  50 ton_____  100 ton_____  300 ton____

        Other (describe)__________________________________________

        ______________________________________________________

12.     Number of operators (potential and certified) who are certified
        in First Aid.  
                        
                                                                __________
                                                                                
13.     Number of operators (potential and certified) who are certified
        in CPR.
                                                                           
                    
                                                                __________

Return completed survey to your Regional Safety Officer with a copy to
Bureau Watercraft Safety Program Manager, "tedwards@usgs.gov" by close of
business 
June 1 ,1996.  Questions regarding this questionare should be emailed or
directed to Tom Edwards at 503-251-3227.




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