[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14494-14497]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7621]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 97-016]
National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP)
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of a public workshop and the exercise schedule for
calendar years 1997, 1998, and 1999; requests for comments.
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SUMMARY: The 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 next PREP
workshop and the next triennial PREP schedule. The schedule covers
calendar years 1997, 1998, and 1999. This notice requests industry
volunteers for industry-and government-led exercises.
DATES: The workshop will be held on April 8, 1997 from 5:30 PM to 7:30
PM. Comments must be received on or before April 30, 1997.
ADDRESSES: The workshop will be held in rooms 203/204 at the Greater
Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower
Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. Written comments should be
submitted to COMMANDANT (G-MOR-2), Room 2100, U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW; Washington, DC, 20593-0001. ATTN:
Ms. Karen Sahatjian.
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. The schedule and exercise design manual is
available on the internet at http://www.navcen.uscg.mil or to obtain a
hard copy of the design manual, contact Ms. Toni Hundley at the Office
of Pipeline Safety at (202) 366-4397. 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-
386-5394. 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.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background Information
The workshop will address several issues that have been raised by
exercise participants and response plan holders. The topics to be
discussed at the workshop include, but are not limited to: (1)
Developing and Evaluating an Oil Spill Response Exercise, (2)
government-initiated unannounced exercises, (3) minor changes to
existing PREP Guidelines, and (4) the proposed triennial exercise
schedule. The following information is provided as background in
preparation for the workshop.
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
[[Page 14495]]
154.1055(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.
1. Guidelines for Developing and Evaluating an Oil Spill Response
Exercise
The PREP Guidelines have been extremely valuable to exercise
participants. However, the Coast Guard and other federal agencies
received numerous requests for a more detailed guide to develop Area
exercises, especially for Industry-led exercises. A manual used by the
National Strike Force Coordination Center (NSFCC) to develop
government-led exercises was rewritten to provide guidance to exercise
participants.
This document is not intended to replace exercise designs already
used by companies following the PREP Guidelines. It is meant to augment
or provide further explanation for companies without exercise
experience.
The Coast Guard realizes that some companies have their own staff
to plan and execute exercises and that these exercises may differ
between companies. The emphasis of these guidelines is guidance to plan
holders who do not have employees experienced in developing exercises
or the financial resources to hire contractors to meet their triennial
exercise requirement. The Coast Guard is interested in ensuring that
the response community does not neglect the exercise requirement
because of lack of knowledge. This document will not be used to
evaluate how well an exercise is executed. The Coast Guard would like
to hear comments from the public regarding these guidelines.
2. Government-Initiated Unannounced Exercises
Recently, the Coast Guard began conducting more Government-
initiated unannounced exercises. The unannounced exercises provide the
opportunity for the Captain of the Port (COTP) to determine if an
adequate level of preparedness exists in an area and whether the plan
holder is prepared to activate the plan during an incident.
As a result of these exercises and the input of other interested
parties, several issues have been identified by both industry and
government. The Coast Guard is requesting comments on the following
issues as outlined below.
a. Equipment Deployment
It may not always be necessary to deploy equipment as part of an
unannounced exercise. Equipment deployment is typically included as
part of the scenario. However, the Coast Guard may decide to test other
important elements of the response plan. If the plan holder recently
conducted an equipment deployment exercise, it may be redundant to have
the equipment deployed again. Equipment may be used in circumstances
where the COTP wants to determine the availability of equipment through
Oil Spill Removal Organizations (OSROs). To afford the COTP the
opportunity to ensure the Area is prepared for a spill greater than an
average most probable discharge, the scenario may exceed the current 50
bbl limit.
b. Length of Exercise
To prevent the exercises from exceeding a duration of
``approximately four hours'', they should be focused on no more than
four of the 15 objectives listed in the PREP Guidelines (August 1994).
The COTP has the discretion to choose the number of objectives, but the
should not exceed four.
c. Unannounced Exercise Credit
A plan holder will not be given credit for a Government-Initiated
Unannounced Exercise if the plan holder does not use or follow the
industry response plans. Although the planning requirements in 33 CFR
154 and 155 and 40 CFR 112 should be used as guidance, they are not
performance measures for responses. For example, if the plan holder
calls the OSRO and the OSRO arrives within 1\1/2\ hours (not 1 hour)
because of road traffic, the plan holder should not be penalized for
missing the 1 hour planning reference. Contrarily, if the plan holder
does not call the OSRO until an hour into the exercise, and the plan
holder has no facility owned equipment to deploy, then the Coast Guard
may deny credit for the exercise. If the plan holder does not receive
credit for an unannounced exercise, then the Coast Guard may return in
less than 36 months to conduct another exercise. Once the plan holder
receives credit from the COTP, then the plan holder will not be
exercised for 36 months.
3. Changes to PREP Guidelines
Since August 1994, several commenters have highlighted
discrepancies in the PREP Guidelines. The Coast Guard has determined
that minor corrections to the PREP Guidelines are needed. Accordingly,
the guidelines should be adjusted as follows:
Page 3-3: Currently, under objectives for QI Notification
Exercises, telex could only be used if other means were not available.
A telex can be used if this is the means of communication that would
normally be used to report an incident. The objective should be changed
to: Contact by telephone, radio-message-pager, telex, or facsimile and
confirmation must be made with a qualified individual or designee as
designated in the plan. The QI must acknowledge receipt of the message
and action being taken.
Page 3-7: Under frequency for Emergency Procedures Exercises,
change quarterly to annually.
Page 3-20: Currently, under Government-initiated unannounced
exercise, the guidelines read that industry can take credit for this
exercise after an actual spill. This was never the intent of the
Government-initiated Unannounced Exercises. Therefore, the credit
paragraph should be changed to: Plan holders participating in this
exercise should take credit for appropriate internal exercises if they
meet the objectives stated in the guidelines.
4. Proposed Triennial Exercise Schedule
This notice announces the PREP Schedule for Calendar Years 1997,
1998, and 1999. There are several changes since the schedule was
published in the Federal Register on November 13, 1995 (60 FR 57050).
Because of the North Cape Oil Spill in Rhode Island in 1996, Area
Exercise credit was given to the Area and the company. The Incident
Specific Preparedness Report will serve as the Joint Evaluation Report.
Providence Area was moved to 1999 and the Caribbean Area will conduct a
Government-led Area Exercise during the first quarter of 1997. As
stated in 60 FR 57050, the only dates/quarters are listed for those
exercises where an industry participant has already volunteered for an
Industry-led Area Exercise. The industry volunteer should work with the
COTP to schedule a mutually acceptable date to conduct the exercise.
The dates for the Government-led Exercises will not vary much because
the National Strike Force Coordination Center is under time constraints
throughout the year.
[[Page 14496]]
Dated: March 17, 1997.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety
and Environmental Protection. /
Prep Schedule--Government-Led Area Exercises
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Area Agency Date/qtr\1\ Participant
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1997
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Caribbean Area (MSO Puerto Rico CG 2/12-13 Sun Oil.
OSC).
Duluth-Superior Area (MSO Duluth CG w/RSPA 4/16-17 Lakehead Pipeline.
OSC).
Jacksonville Area (MSO CG 6/13-14 ST Services/Compliance System.
Jacksonville OSC).
Southeast Alaska Area (MSO Juneau CG 8/11-12
OSC).
EPA Region IX (EPA OSC)........... EPA 9/10-11
New Orleans Area (MSO New Orleans CG w/MMS 12/10-11
OSC).
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1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Guam Area (MSO Guam OSC).......... CG 1
San Diego, CA Area (MSO San Diego CG
OSC).
Savannah Area (MSO Savannah OSC).. CG 2
EPA Region VII Area (EPA OSC)..... EPA 3
Long Island Sound Area (COTP Long CG 3
Island Sound).
Morgan City Area (MSO Morgan City) CG 4
1999
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LA/LB North Area (MSO LA/LB OSC).. CG 1
Prince William Sound Area (MSO CG 2
Valdez OSC).
Boston Area (MSO Boston OSC)...... CG 2
EPA Region VI (EPA OSC)........... EPA 3
Buffalo, NY Area (MSO Buffalo OSC) CG 4
Virginia Coastal Area (MSO Hampton CG 4
Rds OSC).
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Prep Schedule--Industry-Led Exercises
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Area Ind Date/qtr Lead
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1997
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Coast Area (MSO San v\2\
Francisco OSC).
Northeast North Carolina Coastal v
Area.
(MSO Hampton Rds OSC).............
Commonwealth of N. Mariannas v 1 Mobil Corp.
Islands Area (MSO Guam OSC).
Florida Panhandle Area (MSO Mobile v 2 Kirby Corp.
OSC).
Western Lake Erie Area (MSO Toledo f (mtr)\2\
OSC).
EPA Alaska Area (EPA OSC)......... p\2\
Houston/Galveston Area (MSO v 3 Aramco Services.
Houston OSC).
EPA Region IV Area (EPA OSC)...... p
Detroit Area (MSO Detroit OSC).... f (mtr) Mobil Corp.
EPA Region X Area (EPA OSC)....... f (nonmtr)\2\
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1998
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York, NY Area (COTP NY OSC)... v OMI Corp.
Southern Coastal NC Area (MSO v
Wilmington OSC).
San Francisco Bay & Delta Region f (mtr)
Area (MSO San Francisco OSC).
Cleveland, OH Area (MSO Cleveland f (mtr)
OSC).
EPA Region V Area (EPA OSC)....... p
EPA Region III Area (EPA OSC)..... f (nonmtr)
Saulte Ste. Marie, MI Area........
(COTP Saulte Ste. Marie OSC)...... f (mtr)
South Texas Coastal Zone Area (MSO f (mtr)
Corpus Christi OSC).
Maryland Coastal Area (MSO v
Baltimore OSC).
SW Louisana/SE Texas Area (MSO v
Port Arthur OSC).
Puget Sound Area (MSO Puget Sound) f
Tampa, FL Area (MSO Tampa OSC).... v
EPA Region I Area (EPA OSC)....... p
LA/LB South Area (MSO LA/LB OSC).. v
EPA Region II (EPA OSC)........... f (nonmtr)
Philadelphia Coastal Area (MSO v
Phila OSC).
Chicago Area (MSO Chicago OSC).... f (mtr)
-----------------------------------
[[Page 14497]]
1999
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama/Mississippi Area (MSO f (mtr)
Mobile OSC).
South Florida Area (MSO Miami OSC) f (mtr)
Portland, OR Area (MSO Portland v
OSC).
EPA Region VIII (EPA OSC)......... f (nonmtr)
Hawaii/Samoa Area (MSO Honolulu v
OSC).
Central Coast Area (MSO San v
Francisco OSC).
Western Alaska Area (MSO Anchorage v
OSC).
Eastern Wisconsin Area (MSO f (mtr)
Milwaukee Area).
EPA Region Oceania Area (EPA OSC). f (nonmtr)
Maine & New Hampshire Area (MSO v
Portland OSC).
Charleston, SC Area (MSO v
Charleston OSC).
EPA Region II Area (EPA Caribbean f (nonmtr)
OSC).
Providence Area (MSO Providence v
OSC).
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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.
[FR Doc. 97-7621 Filed 3-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-P
