NATIONAL CHEMICAL TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NCTAC)

 

AUTHORITY

The National Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (NCTSAC) was authorized on December 4, 2018, by § 601 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-282, 132 Stat. 4192), and codified in 46 U.S.C. 15101. NCTSAC operates under the provisions for the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 10) and 46 U.S.C. 15109. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of the National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (NCTSAC), as stated in its Charter, is to provide advice to the Secretary of Homeland Security through the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. NCTSAC supports regulatory development by supplying industry-specific expertise that is not otherwise readily available within the federal government. 

The Coast Guard holds sole jurisdiction over the safety of American maritime personnel involved in the transport of hazardous materials, distinct from other sectors regulated by OSHA. NCTSAC’s subject matter experts contribute directly to the formulation of marine safety standards, cargo handling procedures, and hazard mitigation protocols. 

MEMBERSHIP

The members of NCTSAC are all subject matter experts in the field of chemical transportation, with a broad range of experience and knowledge relating to vessel operation and design, chemical characteristics and hazards, and port facility operations.   The committee consists of not more than 25 representatives from a wide range of entities, encompassing chemical manufacturing, marine handling or transportation of chemicals, vessel design and construction, marine safety/security, and marine environmental protection.  

Subcommittee members, also technically qualified, support task-specific work. All members of NCTSAC and its subcommittees serve voluntarily.  Two Committee members are elected as Chairman and Vice-Chairman to serve as the presiding officers on the Committee. The Designated Federal Officer is a full-time Coast Guard official. This individual furnishes administrative and staff support to the Committee. The Designated Federal Officer or Assistant Designated Federal Officer must be present at each Committee meeting. 

MEETINGS

NCTSAC meets in-person typically twice a year in addition to subcommittee meetings. An official notice for each meeting is published in the Federal Register, indicating dates, locations, and contact information for attendance. At each meeting, NCTSAC receives updates on the work and activities of its associated subcommittees, votes on recommendations, reviews, modifies, and proposes new task statements for continued subcommittee efforts.  Each respective subcommittee establishes its own meeting schedule to progress work on identified tasking.  

CONTACT THE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS DIVISION (CG-ENG-5)

For questions regarding NCTSAC or for more current information, please contact the Hazardous Materials Division (CG-ENG-5)

Commandant (CG-ENG-5)
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE, Stop 7509
Washington DC 20593-7509

Email: hazmatstandards@uscg.mil

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