[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 136 (Monday, July 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36453-36454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-17489]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 95-043]
Annual Certification of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens'
Advisory Council
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: Under the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight
and Monitoring Act of 1990, the Coast Guard may certify, on an annual
basis, a voluntary advisory group in lieu of a Regional Citizens'
Advisory Council for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification
allows the advisory group to monitor the activities of terminal
facilities and crude-oil tankers under the Prince William Sound Program
established by the statute. The purpose of this notice is to inform the
public that the Coast Guard has recertified the alternative voluntary
advisory group for Prince William Sound, Alaska.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mrs. Janice Jackson, Project Manager, Marine Environmental Protection
Division (G-MEP-3), (202) 267-0500, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100
Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990,
Congress passed the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight
and Monitoring Act of 1990 (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 2732, to foster the
long-term partnership among industry, government, and local communities
in overseeing compliance with environmental concerns in the operation
of terminal facilities and crude-oil tankers.
Subsection 2732(o) permits an alternative voluntary advisory group
to represent the communities and interests in the vicinity of the
terminal facilities in Prince William Sound, in lieu of a council of
the type specified in subsection 2732(d), if certain conditions are
met. The Act requires that the group enter into a contract to ensure
annual funding, and that it receive annual certification by the
President to the effect that if fosters the general goals and purposes
of the Act and is broadly representative of the community and
[[Page 36454]]
interests in the vicinity of the terminal facilities. Accordingly, in
1991, the President granted certification to the Prince William Sound
Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (RCAC). The authority to certify
alternative advisory groups was subsequently delegated to the
Commandant of the Coast Guard, and redelegated to the Chief, Office of
Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection.
On May 11, 1995, in the Federal Register, the Coast Guard announced
the availability of the application for recertification that it
received from the RCAC and requested comments (60 FR 25257). It
received twenty-four comments.
Discussion of Comments
Twenty-three comments support recertification of RCAC without
reservation. However, a comment from a member of the oil-tanker
industry argues that three issues need to be resolved if the RCAC is to
be effective.
The comment states that, ``[d]uring the past year, RCAC has made a
concerted effort to improve its relationship with the tanker
industry.'' However, despite the positive notes, the comment presses
those three issues. ``First, is acceptance of RCAC's role as advisory
as defined in OPA '90. Second, is RCAC's efforts to influence decision
making through political and lobbying efforts. Third, and most
important, is trust between RCAC and industry.'' The Coast Guard has
forwarded the comment to RCAC and asked the members to review the
issues, consider what is necessary to resolve the issues, and provide a
response to the Coast Guard.
It is the Coast Guard's position that those three issues can be
addressed successfully by RCAC and that, in fact, progress has been
made on the issues during the past year. In light of this, and the many
positive comments received regarding RCAC's performance during the past
year, the Coast Guard has determined that recertification of RCAC in
accordance with the Act is appropriate. The Coast Guard has informed
RCAC that documentation should be included in RCAC's recertification
application next year indicating how each of the issues has been
addressed.
Recertification: By letter dated June 23, 1995, the Chief, Office
of Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection certified that
the RCAC qualifies as an alternative voluntary advisory group under 33
U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification terminates on June 30, 1996.
Dated: July 11, 1995.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-17489 Filed 7-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
