Proposed rules for drug, alcohol testing met with skepticism

摘要

A proposed rule by the U.S. Coast Guard that would expand drug and alcohol testing for the operators of all commercial vessels in the United States has generated considerable opposition from the maritime industry. The rule would require all commercial vessels to carry testing devices onboard so that alcohol testing could be done within two hours of a serious marine incident. If safety concerns prevented the test, it would have to be done no later than eight hours after the incident. In addition, drug testing would be required "as soon as possible" after a serious marine incident, but no later than 32 hours after it occurred. Operators would also have to carry onboard kits for drug testing. The rule is to be published in April 2004 and would be in effect 180 days after that, according to Robert C. Schoening, drug and alcohol program manager for the Coast Guard. It would affect about 180,800 commercial vessels and would cost the industry about $144 million over 10 years, according to the Coast Guard.