[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7292-7293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3997]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 97-003]
Additional Hazards Study
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the initiation of a study that will
evaluate the hazards related to potential oil spills by commercial
ships while in transit. This study is being completed by the Volpe
National Transportation Systems Center on behalf of the U.S. Coast
Guard and Department of Transportation (DOT) pursuant to the
Presidential Directive to the Secretary to review overall marine safety
in the waters in and around Puget Sound. This notice also solicits
public comments on the proposed study and invites qualified personnel
to apply for membership on an expert panel. Two public workshops will
also be held to gather information from stakeholders on possible
problems and solutions.
DATES: The following dates apply:
1. Duplicate public workshops will be held on March 6, 1997, from
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
2. Submit comments concerning this notice on or before March 14,
1997.
3. Submit applications for membership on the expert panel on or
before February 26, 1997.
ADDRESSES: The following addresses apply:
1. The workshops will be held at the Cavanaugh's Inn on Fifth
Avenue, 1415 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101.
2. Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety
Council (G-LRA/3406) [CGD 97-003], U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100
Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to
room 3406 at the same address between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202)
267-1477.
The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this
project. Comments will become part of this docket and will be available
for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,
between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
3. Applications for membership on the expert panel should be
submitted to Mr. Mike Dyer, Volpe Center/DTS-72, Kendall Square,
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, or faxed to (617) 494-3066.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Duane Boniface, Human Element and
Ship Design Division (G-MSE-1), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100
Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, telephone 202-267-0178,
fax 202-267-4816, email fldr-he@comdt.uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written
data, views, or arguments, concerning the subject matter of this
notice. Persons submitting comments should include their names and
addresses, identify this docket (CGD 97-003), and give the reason for
each comment, providing specific examples whenever possible. Please
submit two copies of all comments and attachments in an unbound format,
no longer than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic
filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should
enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
Qualifications Necessary for Membership on the Expert Panel
Applicants for membership on the expert panel must have at least
ten years of experience in the field that they represent and be
available to attend a workshop in the Seattle area for three days
during the first week of April 1997. Additionally, experts must be
available to participate in correspondence sessions before and after
the expert panel workshop in order to provide insight and guidance. The
fields of expertise requested are: marine and coastal environments;
shipping operations and safety; risk assessment; pilotage; navigation
of the waters in and around Pugent Sound; response planning and
capabilities; assistance towing; macro-ergonomics; and fisheries. To be
considered, applicants should forward a resume by mail or fax to the
address for applications listed under ADDRESSES.
Background and Purpose
The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe) is
performing a study entitled ``The Additional Hazards Study'' on behalf
of the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Transportation in accordance
with a Presidential Directive issued in 1996. This study will evaluate
all measures, current and planned, intended to reduce the hazards of
major oil spills (including crude oil, refined product, and bunker) by
commercial ships while transiting the waters of Pugent Sound, the
Straits of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Coast National Marine
Sanctuary. An example of one of these measures is the planned
International Tug of Opportunity System (ITOS), which is a system
designed to coordinate tugs responding to disabled vessels off the
Olympic Coast.
This study represents another step in a continuous improvement
process to address maritime concerns in the Pacific Northwest.
Development of this project began in early December 1996, and is
intended to be completed during the summer of 1997. It is critical that
all marine interests in the Pacific Northwest be accurately
represented; therefore, stakeholders representing various concerns have
been, and are being, contacted.
There are four primary stages comprising this study which must be
completed before the deadline. The first three stages primarily involve
collection of information and include analysis of data from the
pertinent databases, review of the current and planned marine safety
and environmental protection (MSEP) system, and acquisition of
stakeholder input on the hazards and potential improvements through
comments and participation in public workshops. Although
representatives of Volpe are ultimately responsible for the collection
and analysis of this information, Volpe will use a panel of experts to
assist them with their analysis. This panel of experts will compile the
information obtained in the first three stages into a list of hazards,
ranked by level of risk, and measures which may mitigate those hazards.
Volpe's final report will include a list of hazards, ranked by
level of risk, and a corresponding listing of measures which might
mitigate those hazards. The report will be used as a basis to
[[Page 7293]]
focus further review of marine safety measures for the Pugent Sound
area.
Dated: February 11, 1997.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-3997 Filed 2-13-97; 9:56 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
