Volume 94 · 1521
Public Law 96–380
To establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the Department of Transportation.
Approved October 6, 1980
Statutory text
An Act
To establish a Towing Safety Advisory Committee in the Department of Transportation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That
there is
Towing Safety Advisory Committee, establishment.
Membership.
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:
seven members from the barge and towing industry, reflecting a regional geographic balance;
one member from the offshore mineral and oil supply vessel industry; and
two members from each of the following—
port districts, authorities, or terminal operators;
maritime labor;
shippers (of whom at least one shall be engaged in the shipment of oil or hazardous materials by barge); and
the general public.
The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is
Appointments.
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 Committee shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations
Functions.
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
Meetings.
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
Public proceedings and record.
made available for public inspection.
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.
Unless extended by subsequent Act of Congress, the Committee shall terminate five years from the date of enactment of this Act.
Approved October 6, 1980.