[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 86 (Thursday, May 2, 1996)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19507-19508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11097]
Presidential Documents
Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 86 / Thursday, May 2, 1996 /
Presidential Documents
[[Page 19507]]
Memorandum of April 28, 1996
Exports of Alaskan North Slope (ANS) Crude Oil
Memorandum for the Secretary of Commerce [and] the
Secretary of
Energy
Pursuant to section 28(s) of the Mineral Leasing Act,
as amended, 30 U.S.C. 185, I hereby determine that
exports of crude oil transported over right-of-way
granted pursuant to section 203 of the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline Authorization Act are in the national
interest. In making this determination, I have taken
into account the conclusions of an interagency working
group, which found that such oil exports:
--will not diminish the total quantity or quality
of petroleum available to the United States; and
--are not likely to cause sustained material oil
supply shortages or sustained oil price increases
significantly above world market levels that would
cause sustained material adverse employment effects in
the United States or that would cause substantial harm
to consumers, including those located in noncontiguous
States and Pacific Territories.
I have also considered the interagency group's
conclusions regarding potential environmental impacts
of lifting the ban. Based on their findings and
recommendations, I have concluded that exports of such
crude oil will not pose significant risks to the
environment if certain terms and conditions are met.
Therefore, pursuant to section 28(s) of the Mineral
Leasing Act I direct the Secretary of Commerce to
promulgate immediately a general license, or a license
exception, authorizing exports of such crude oil,
subject to appropriate documentation requirements, and
consistent with the following conditions:
--tankers exporting ANS exports must use the same
route that they do for shipments to Hawaii until they
reach a point 300 miles due south of Cape Hinchinbrook
Light and then turn toward Asian destinations. After
reaching that point, tankers in the ANS oil trade must
remain outside of the 200 nautical-miles Exclusive
Economic Zone of the United States as defined in the
Fisheries Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C.
1811). This condition also applies to tankers returning
from foreign ports to Valdez, Alaska. Exceptions can be
made at the discretion of the vessel master only to
ensure the safety of the vessel;
--that export tankers be equipped with satellite-
based communications systems that will enable the Coast
Guard independently to determine their location. The
Coast Guard will conduct appropriate monitoring of the
tankers, a measure that will ensure compliance with the
200-mile condition, and help the Coast Guard respond
quickly to any emergencies;
--the owner or operator of an Alaskan North Slope
crude oil export tankship shall maintain a Critical
Area Inspection Plan for each tankship in the trade in
accordance with the U.S. Coast Guard's Navigation and
Inspection Circular No. 15-91 as amended, which shall
include an annual internal survey of the vessel's cargo
block tanks; and
--the owner or operator of an Alaskan North Slope
crude oil export tankship shall adopt a mandatory
program of deep water ballast exchange
[[Page 19508]]
(i.e., in 2,000 meters water depth). Exceptions can be
made at the discretion of the captain only in order to
ensure the safety of the vessel. Recordkeeping subject
to Coast Guard audit will be required as part of this
regime.
The Secretary of Commerce is authorized and directed to
inform the appropriate committees of the Congress of
this determination and to publish it in the Federal
Register.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
Washington, April 28, 1996.
[FR Doc. 96-11097
Filed 5-1-96; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3501-BP-M
