[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 5 (Thursday, January 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1141-1143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-451]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 97-024]
National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP)
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Request for comments on PREP triennial exercise schedule for
1998, 1999, and 2000.
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SUMMARY: Coast Guard, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the
Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) and the Minerals
Management Service (MMS), in concert with the states, the oil industry
and concerned citizens, developed the Preparedness for Response
Exercise Program (PREP). This notice announces the PREP triennial
cycle, 1998-2000, requests comments from the public, and requests
industry participants to volunteer for scheduled PREP area exercises.
DATES: Comments are due at Coast Guard Headquarters no later than March
1, 1998.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to: Ms. Karen Sahatjian, US Coast
Guard, Office of Response, (G-MOR-2), 2100 2nd Street SW, Washington,
DC 20593.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For general information regarding the PREP program and the schedule,
contact Ms. Karen Sahatjian, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection
Directorate, Office of Response, (G-MOR-2), (202) 267-2850.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following information describes how to
obtain copies of documents available to the public. The PREP Area
exercise schedule and exercise design manual are available on the
internet at http://www.dot.gov/dotinfo/uscg/hq/g-m/gmhome.htm (see oil
response). To obtain a hard copy of the exercise design manual, contact
Ms. Melanie Barber at the Research and Special Programs Administration,
Office of Pipeline Safety, at (202)366-4560. The 1994 PREP Guidelines
and Training Elements are available at no cost by writing or faxing the
TASC Dept Warehouse, 3341 Q 75th Avenue, Landover, MD 20785, fax: 301-
386-
[[Page 1142]]
5394. The stock numbers of each manual are: PREP Guidelines--USCG-
X0191; the Training Reference--USCG-X0188. Please indicate the quantity
when ordering. Quantities are limited to 10 per order.
On August 6-7, 1997, the USCG, EPA, MMS, and OPS conducted a public
workshop to review the PREP. The summary of the public workshop was
mailed to all the participants, The summary is available on the
internet at http://www/dot.gov/dotinfo/uscg/hq/g-m/gmhome/htm. Although
numerous issues were discussed, the workshop participants suggested the
federal agencies not revise the PREP Guidelines, August 1994. The
workshop participants did agree that the guidelines should be reviewed
in 12-18 months during another public workshop.
Background Information
The Coast Guard, EPA, RSPA and MMS developed the National
Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) to provide guidelines
for compliance with the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90) pollution
response exercise requirements (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)). OPA 90 requires
periodic unannounced drills. See 33 U.S.C. 1321(j)(7). However, the
working group (comprised of Coast Guard, EPA, RSPA, MMS, state
representatives, and industry representatives) determined that the PREP
Guidelines should also include announced drills. See 33 CFR 1055(a)(5)
and 155.1060(c), and 40 CFR 112. The guiding principles for PREP
distinguish between internal and external exercises. Internal exercises
are conducted within the plan holder's organization. External exercises
extend beyond the plan holder's organization to involve other members
of the response community. External exercises are separated into two
categories: (1) Area exercises, and (2) Government-initiated
unannounced exercises. These exercises are designed to evaluate the
entire response mechanism in a given area to ensure adequate pollution
response preparedness.
Since 1994, the USCG, EPA, MMS, and OPS have published a triennial
schedule of Area exercises. In short, the Area exercises involve the
entire response community (Federal, State, local, and industry
participants) and therefore, require more extensive planning than other
oil spill response exercises. The PREP Guidelines describe all of these
exercises in more detail. This notice announces the next triennial
schedule of Area Exercises. Some exercises are scheduled with industry
participants, but where participants have not been listed, the USCG and
DPA request volunteers.
If a company wants to volunteer for an Area exercise, a company
representative may call either the Coast Guard or EPA On-Scene
Coordinator (OSC) where the exercise is scheduled. Alternatively, if a
company is interested in participating in an exercise where Coast Guard
is the OSC, a representative may call Ms. Karen Sahatjian and she can
facilitate scheduling the volunteer. Although either method will
provide the same result, contact at the local level, with the OSC, is
preferred.
The following is the revised PREP schedule for calendar years 1998,
1999, and 2000.
Prep Schedule Government-Led Area Exercises
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Area Agency Date/Qtr\1\ Participant
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1998
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Guam Area (MSO Guam OSC).............. CG.............................. 2/10-12 Shell
San Diego, CA Area (MSO San Diego OSC) CG.............................. 4/14-16 J&S
Morgan City Area (MSO Morgan City OSC) CG w/MMS........................ 6/3-5 .........................
EPA Region VII Area (EPA OSC)......... EPA............................. 8/18-20 .........................
Long Island Sound Area (COTP Long CG.............................. 9/23-24 .........................
Island Sound).
Savannah Area (MSO Savannah).......... CG.............................. 12/15-17 .........................
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1999
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LA/LB North Area, (MSO LA/LB OSC)..... CG w/OPS........................ 2/8-12 .........................
Boston Area (MSO Boston OSC).......... CG.............................. 4/5-9 .........................
Providence Area (MSO Providence OSC).. CG.............................. 6/7-11 .........................
EPA Region VI (EPA OSC)............... EPA............................. 8/2-6 .........................
Buffalo, NY Area (MSO Buffalo OSC).... CG.............................. 9/20-24 .........................
Virginia Coastal Area (MSO Hampton Rds CG.............................. 12/6-10 .........................
OSC).
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2000
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North Coast Area (MSO San Francisco CG.............................. 2/7-11 .........................
OSC).
Florida Panhandle Area (MSO Mobile CG.............................. 4/10-14 .........................
OSC).
Houston/Galveston Area (MSO Houston CG.............................. 6/12-16 .........................
OSC).
EPA Region IX (EPA OSC)............... EPA............................. 8/14-18 .........................
Western Lake Erie Area (MSO Toledo CG.............................. 9/18-22 .........................
OSC).
NE North Carolina Area (MSO Hampton CG.............................. 12/8-11 .........................
Roads OSC).
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Prep Schedule--Industry-Led Exercises
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Area Ind Date/Qtr Lead
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New York, NY Area (COTP NY OSC)....... v............................... ........... OMI Corp
Southern Coastal NC Area (MSO v............................... ........... .........................
Wilmington OSC).
San Francisco Bay & Delta Region Area f(mtr).......................... ...........
(MSO San Francisco OSC).
Cleveland, OH Area (MSO Cleveland OSC) f(mtr).......................... ........... .........................
EPA Region V Area (EPA OSC)........... p............................... ........... .........................
Saulte Ste. Marie, MI Area (COTP f(mtr).......................... ........... .........................
Saulte Ste. Marie OSC).
South Texas Coastal Zone Area (MSO f(mtr).......................... ........... .........................
Corpus Christi OSC).
[[Page 1143]]
Maryland Coastal Area (COTP Baltimore v............................... ........... .........................
OSC).
SW Louisiana/SE Texas Area (MSO Port v............................... ........... .........................
Arthur OSC).
Puget Sound Area (MSO Puget Sound).... f............................... ........... .........................
EPA Region I Area (EPA OSC)........... p............................... ........... .........................
LA/LB South Area (MSO LA/LB OSC)...... v............................... ........... .........................
Chicago Area (MSO Chicago OSC)........ f(mtr).......................... ........... .........................
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1999
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Alabama/Mississippi Area (MSO Mobile p...............................
OSC).
South Florida Area (MSO Miami OSC).... p...............................
Portland, OR Area (MSO Portland OSC).. v...............................
EPA Region VIII (EPA OSC)............. f(nonmtr).......................
Hawaii/Samoa Area (MSO Honolulu OSC).. v............................... ........... .........................
Central Coast Area (MSO San Francisco v...............................
OSC).
Eastern Wisconsin Area (MSO Milwaukee f(mtr)..........................
Area).
EPA Region Oceania Area (EPA OSC)..... f(nonmtr).......................
Maine & New Hampshire Area (MSO v...............................
Portland OSC).
EPA Region II Area (EPA Caribbean OSC) f(nonmtr)....................... ...........
Prince William Sound Area (MSO Valdez f............................... ........... .........................
OSC).
Western Alaska Area (MSO Anchorage v............................... ........... .........................
OSC).
Tampa, FL Area (MSO Tampa OSC)........ v............................... ........... .........................
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2000
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Caribbean Area (MSO San Juan OSC)..... v............................... ........... .........................
EPA Region III Area (EPA OSC)......... f(nonmtr)....................... ........... .........................
Duluth-Superior Area (MSO Duluth OSC). f............................... ........... .........................
Jacksonville Area (MSO Jacksonville v............................... ........... .........................
OSC).
EPA Region IX Oceania (EPA OSC)....... f(nonmtr)....................... ........... .........................
New Orleans Area (MSO New Orleans OSC) p............................... ........... .........................
Commonwealth of N. Mariannas Islands v............................... ........... .........................
Area (MSO Guam OSC).
EPA Alaska Area (EPA OSC)............. f(nonmtr)....................... ........... .........................
EPA Region IV Area (EPA OSC).......... f(nonmtr)....................... ........... .........................
Detroit Area (MSO Detroit OSC)........ f(mtr).......................... ........... .........................
EPA Region IX Area (EPA OSC).......... p............................... ........... .........................
Southeast Alaska Area (MSO Juneau OSC) v............................... ........... .........................
Philadelphia Area (MSO Philadelphia f(mtr).......................... ........... .........................
OSC).
Charleston Area (MSO Charleston OSC).. f(mtr).......................... ........... .........................
EPA Region II (EPA OSC)............... f(nonmtr)....................... ........... .........................
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\1\ Quarters: 1 (Jan-March); 2 (April-June); 3 (July-Sept); 4 (Oct-Dec).
\2\ Industry: v-vessel; f(mtr)-marine transportation-related facility; f(nonmtr)-nonmarine transportation-
related facility; p-pipeline.
Dated: December 23, 1997.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental
Protection.
[FR Doc. 98-451 Filed 1-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
