FACACLASSIC

Note: An Annual Comprehensive Review, as required by §7 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, is conducted each year on committee data entered for the previous fiscal year (referred to as the reporting year). The data for the reporting year is not considered verified until this review is complete and the data is moved to history for an agency/department. See the Data From Previous Years section at the bottom of this page for the committee’s historical, verified data.

Details on agency responses to committee recommendations can be found under the Performance Measures section for each committee in the fields “Agency Feedback” and “Agency Feedback Comment.”

DHS - 194 - National Boating Safety Advisory Committee - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Boating Safety Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of Homeland Security
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	194
Original Establishment Date	11/26/1971	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/federal-advi...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	21
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Chief, Boating Safety Division, Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mr.
Current Charter Date	3/1/2024	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Verne
Date Of Renewal Charter	3/1/2026	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date	9/30/2029	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Gifford
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	571-608-4647
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 372-1932
Specific Establishment Authority*	§ 601 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-282, 132 Stat. 4192 and is codified in 46 U.S.C. § 15105	Designated Federal Officer Email*	verne.b.gifford2@uscg.mil
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/4/2018
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	National Policy Issue Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	The Committee accomplishes its purpose well in advising the Coast Guard on a variety of boating safety issues, both those that would require regulatory or legislative action and those that would require other action by the US Coast Guard. In FY 2024, the Committee focused on major issues: (1) Monitoring progress on the current National Recreational Boating Safety Program's 2022-2026 Strategic Plan; and (2) Reviewing boating safety regulations and other preventive measures. In general discussion at the Committee meetings, representatives of major national boating elements apprised the Committee of the programs, issues, and present and planned actions of their respective organizations, which resulted in a valuable exchange of information and views. Three standing NBSAC Subcommittees (i.e., Boats and Associated Equipment, Strategic Planning, and Prevention through People) considered a myriad of in-depth issues, which included the following: Standards Review, Rental Vessels, Communications Plan, Boating Safety Equipment Requirements, and Alternative Compliance.
How is membership balanced?*	The present Committee membership is well balanced in accordance with the intent of Congress with 21 members divided into three boating interest segments. During FY 2024, the manufacturing segment included representatives from manufacturers of a variety of types of recreational boats/vessels and associated equipment. The State boating safety officials segment was composed of representatives of a cross section of the States that were geographically diverse (i.e., northeast, southeast, midwest, southwest and west coast) and represented various coastal and inland boating activity. The last sector is composed of prominent members of five national boating organizations and two members of the public. The different areas of expertise on the Committee give the Coast Guard a very balanced views on related programs. Additionally, to ensure that the recommendations of the Committee take into account the needs of diverse groups, membership appointments consider, to the extent practicable, geography, minorities, gender, and persons with disabilities.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	During FY 2024, the full Committee met virtually or held a hybrid meeting on October 17, 2023, January 17, 2024, and one in-person meeting in Austin, TX on April 23-25, 2024. The Prevention Through People, Boats and Associated Equipment, and Strategic Planning subcommittees met during the April 23-25, 2024. Meetings are very relevant to following through on actions recommended and addressing new and emerging recreational boating problems and developments.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	NBSAC provides broad-based input to the Coast Guard regarding regulations and other major boating safety matters in accordance with its statutory mandate. This balance helps to ensure that regulations, if that solution is utilized, are well founded, and also that safety issues/concerns of the diverse boating interests are brought to the Coast Guard’s attention. Advice given by this Committee is not available from within the Department because it does not employ (1) State boating safety officials; (2) boat and/or associated equipment manufacturers; or (3) representatives of national boating organizations. The members serving on this Committee are experienced and knowledgeable representatives of their respective fields. The desired impact and credibility is not available through other committees or agencies, and could not be achieved through public hearings. The use of consultants would prove to be quite expensive compared to what is now being expended for the large amount of professional time involved in Committee projects. In addition, there is no equivalent means available to fund and organize consumer representation in rulemaking in the systematic way that is presently achieved through the public members of the Committee.
Why close or partially close meetings?	N/A
Recommendation Remarks	Under 46 U.S.C. § 15109(m), the Committee is authorized to continue until September 30, 2029.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	Yes
Outcome Effective Grant Making	Yes	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	No
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	NA
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	No	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	NA	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Under $100,000	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment	The Committee provides invaluable expertise to the US Coast Guard by allowing the Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety to use this resource for guidance as opposed to paying for consultants and other subject matter experts.	Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	14	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	Previously, under the Council, there were 41 recommendations. In 2022, the Committee consolidated these recommendations to 13 and added an additional two recommendations, but one was not moved forward by the committee. Going through each of the 41 to determine which were still relevant. One of these 13, one was not adopted (2022-03-08). In 2024, the Committee brought forth two new recommendations in FY24 (2024-09-01 and 2024-09-02), resulting in a total count of 14 when the non-adopted recommendation is not counted. The Committee is working on task statements from the USCG and will likely result in new recommendations starting in FY25. We are tracking the progress of the recommendations under the Committee with a dashboard recommended by the Chairperson. Two of the 14 have been addressed completely (2022-03-04 and 2022-03-10), but the Committee wants to keep two of them open to ensure the Coast Guard continues to consider. We have addressed 10 of the recommendations substantially (2022-03-01, 2022-03-05, 2022-03-06, 2022-03-07, 2022-03-09, 2022-03-11, 2022-03-12, 2022-03-13, 2024-09-01, and 2024-09-02). Only two are not considered addressed substantially (2022-03-02 and 2022-03-03).	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	28.60%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Two of the recommendations are fully implemented (please see Number of Recommendations comments).	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	71.40%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Ten of the 14 are partially implemented (please see Number of Recommendations comment).	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Not Applicable	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*		Narrative Description*	The Coast Guard's mission is to minimize the loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and environmental impact associated with the use of recreational boats, through preventive means, in order to maximize safe use and enjoyment of U.S. waterways by the public. The Committee supports the US Coast Guard's mission and the national recreational boating safety strategic plan by advising the Coast Guard on a variety of boating safety issues. Some of those issues require regulatory or legislative action and some only require administrative action by the US Coast Guard.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/12/2025 12:42 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

Interest Areas

Category Area Health Safety Transportation Boating and Navigation Water Harbors Rivers Waterways

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