[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19804-19806]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9712]



-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 95-032]


National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP)

agency: Coast Guard, DOT.

action: Notice of PREP area exercise schedule for 1996, 1997 and 1998, 
annual workshop, and availability of the PREP guidelines and training 
elements.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 proposed 
schedule of the Area Exercises for 1996, 1997 and 1998 and solicits 
industry members to lead Area Exercises for 1996. It also announces the 
annual public workshop to discuss the PREP guidelines and the overall 
PREP program which will be held on June 14, 1995, in Alexandria, VA, 
and the availability of the PREP Guidelines and Training Elements.

dates: Industry members interested in leading an Industry-led Area 
Exercise or participating in a Government-led Area Exercise should 
submit their requests directly to the Coast Guard or EPA On-Scene 
Coordinator (OSC) as soon as possible, but no later than May 15, 1995. 
Industry representatives should indicate the date and location of the 
exercise in which they are interested in participating or leading. Once 
the OSC has chosen an industry plan holder for an Industry-led Area 
Exercise or as participant for the Government-led Exercise, the OSC 
will contact the National Scheduling Coordinating Committee (NSCC) at 
the address listed below.
    The annual PREP Scheduling Workshop is scheduled for June 14, 1995, 
from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm at the Best Western Old Colony Inn, in 
Alexandria, VA. Comments regarding the schedule or scheduling process 
should be submitted to the NSCC no later than May 15, 1995 at addresses 
below.

addresses: Written comments should be mailed to Commandant (G-MEP-4), 
Room 2100, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., 
Washington, DC, 20593-0001. ATTN: Ms. Karen Sahatjian.

for further information contact: Ms. Karen Sahatjian, Office of Marine 
Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, Marine Environmental 
Protection Division, (G-MEP-4), (202) 267-0746. PREP Guidelines and 
Training Elements, previously available through Coast Guard 
Headquarters, are now available from the Government Printing Office, 
(202) 512-1800. Stock numbers and cost for each manual are: PREP 
GUIDELINES--050-012-00365-3 COST: $3.75; TRAINING REFERENCE--050-012-
00364-5 COST: $8.50. PREP information is now available via the Coast 
Guard Navigation Information Service (NIS) Electronic Bulletin Board 
System (BBS). Most major modem communications software, including those 
packaged with operating systems can access the BBS. If using the 
communications software, call (703) 313-5910. First time users will 
need to answer some preliminary questions to establish an account. 
There is no charge for the use of the BBS. Once an account has been 
established, the user will be allowed to log on. Once logged on, the 
user should select option (1) to access the PREP specific menu.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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 pollution response 
exercise requirements (33 U.S.C. 1321(j)). One section of the PREP 
focuses on Area Exercises, which are designed to evaluate the entire 
response mechanism in a given area to ensure adequate pollution 
response preparedness. The goal of the PREP is to conduct approximately 
20 Area Exercises per year, with the intent of exercising most areas of 
the country over a three year period. This notice sets forth the 
proposed exercise schedule for calendar years 1996, 1997 and 1998.

Scheduling Workshop

    The annual PREP scheduling workshop will be conducted by the NSCC, 
which is comprised of representatives of the Coast Guard, EPA, RSPA and 
MMS. The workshop will focus primarily on the upcoming year's Area 
Exercise schedule, but will also address issues related to the 
following two years of the triennial schedule. Industry representation 
is strongly encouraged at these workshops, because this is an 
opportunity for industry plan holders to comment on the schedule and on 
the PREP program in general and address issues which may affect them 
and their operations. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for past 
industry participants to discuss their Area Exercises during the last 
year and an open discussion of changes that need to be made to the PREP 
guidelines.
    This workshop is also an opportunity for the plan holders to 
comment on priorities for each exercise, particularly in instances 
where more than one plan holder expresses an interest in leading or 
participating in the same exercise. At the workshop, the NSCC would 
like to explore the idea of encouraging and incorporating ``industry 
mentorship,'' where a large company and a smaller company would 
participate in a PREP exercise as partners. Although such partnerships 
need not be limited to the Area Exercises, the NSCC is particularly 
interested in involving more than one company in an Area Exercise. In 
considering the idea of joint participation in Area Exercises, the 
following questions and issues will be considered: What are the 
benefits and drawbacks to participation by more than [[Page 19805]] one 
company? What suggestions and concerns do industry members have 
regarding the ``industry mentorship'' idea? What should be done to 
ensure successful implementation of such a plan? Has industry engaged 
in joint participation among companies in their own exercises?
    Finally, the NSCC invites industry representatives to express 
concerns, or comment, on the PREP internal exercises (Qualified 
Individual Notification, Equipment Deployment and Spill Management 
Table Top Exercises).
    During the workshop, the NSCC will highlight the changes in the 
final PREP Guidelines which was printed in August 1994 and discuss the 
accomplishments of the program since the last workshop.
    The workshop will be the forum for discussion and final selection 
of the plan holders to lead the Area Exercises in calendar year 1996. 
Input from the workshop will be used for finalizing the upcoming year's 
schedule and proposing the schedule for the following two years.

Proposed Schedule

    The following is the proposed PREP Schedule for calendar years 
1996, 1997 and 1998. All of the comments received will be considered by 
the NSCC and the appropriate OSC. Where no industry plan holders have 
come forward to either participate or lead an exercise, the OSCs will 
solicit and recommend plan holders. Companies that wish to participate 
should contact the USCG or EPA OSC, who will then forward the name to 
the NSCC at the address listed under addresses. The Coast Guard will 
continue to publish a final schedule in the Federal Register annually 
in the fall.

           Prep Schedule--Government Led Area Exercises, 1996           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Area              Agency            Date/qtr*       Participant   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charleton, SC    CG..................         2/15-16  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Charleston                                                             
 OSC).                                                                  
Puget Sound      CG..................         4/18-19  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Puget Sound                                                            
 OSC).                                                                  
Buffalo, NY      CG..................         6/13-14  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Buffalo OSC).                                                          
EPA Region VIII  EPA.................           8/8-9  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Philadelphia     CG..................         9/26-27  Christiana.      
 Coastal Area                                                           
 (MSO                                                                   
 Philadelphia                                                           
 OSC).                                                                  
South Florida    CG..................        12/12-13  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Miami OSC).                                                            
                         1997                                           
Providence, RI   CG..................               1  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Providence                                                             
 OSC).                                                                  
Jacksonsville    CG..................               1  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Jacksonville                                                           
 OSC).                                                                  
Southeast        CG..................               2  .................
 Alaska Area                                                            
 (MSO Juneau                                                            
 OSC).                                                                  
Detroit Area     CG w/RSPA...........               3  .................
 (MSO Detroit                                                           
 OSC).                                                                  
EPA Oceania      EPA.................               3  .................
 Region (EPA                                                            
 OSC).                                                                  
New Orleans      CG w/MMS............               4                   
 Area (MSO New                                                          
 Orleans OSC).                                                          
                         1998                                           
Guam Area (MSO   CG..................               1  .................
 Guam OSC).                                                             
San Diego, CA    CG..................               2  .................
 Area (MSO San                                                          
 Diego OSC).                                                            
Savannah Area    CG..................               2  .................
 (MSO Savannah                                                          
 OSC).                                                                  
EPA Region VII   EPA.................               3  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Long Island      CG..................               3  .................
 Sound, NY Area                                                         
 (COTP Long                                                             
 Island Sound                                                           
 OSC).                                                                  
Morgan City      CG..................               4  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Morgan City).                                                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------


             Prep Schedule--Industry Led Area Exercises 1996            
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Area               Ind**            Date/qtr*           Lead      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prince William   f (mtr).............               1  .................
 Sound Area                                                             
 (MSO Valdez                                                            
 OSC).                                                                  
Virginia         v...................               1  .................
 Coastal Area                                                           
 (MSO Hampton                                                           
 Roads OSC).                                                            
Portland, OR     f (mtr).............               2  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Portland OSC).                                                         
Western Lake     f (mtr).............               2  .................
 Erie Area (MSO                                                         
 Toledo OSC).                                                           
EPA Region VI    p...................               2  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Central Coast    v...................               2  .................
 Area (MSO San                                                          
 Francisco OSC).                                                        
Western Alaska   p...................               3  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Anchorage OSC).                                                        
Boston Area      f...................               3  .................
 (MSO Boston                                                            
 OSC).                                                                  
EPA Region IX    f (nonmtr)..........               3  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Maine & New      v...................               3  .................
 Hampshire Area                                                         
 (MSO Portland                                                          
 OSC).                                                                  
Santa Barbara/   v...................               4  .................
 Ventura Area                                                           
 (MSO Los                                                               
 Angeles/Long                                                           
 Beach OSC).                                                            
EPA Region II    f (nonmtr)..........               4  .................
 Area (EPA                                                              
 Caribbean OSC).                                                        
                         1997                                           
North Coast      v...................               1  .................
 Area (MSO San                                                          
 Francisco OSC).                                                        
Northeast North  v...................               1  .................
 Carolina                                                               
 Coastal Area                                                           
 (MSO Hampton                                                           
 Roads OSC).                                                            
Commonwealth of  v...................               1  Mobil Corp.      
 N. Marianas                                                            
 Islands Area                                                           
 (MSO Guam OSC).                                                        
Caribbean Area   f (mtr).............               2  .................
 (MSO San Juan                                                          
 OSC).                                                                  
Florida          v...................               2  Kirby Corp.      
 Panhandle Area                                                         
 (MSO Mobile                                                            
 OSC).                                                                  
Eastern          f (mtr).............               2  .................
 Wisconsin Area                                                         
 (MSO Milwaukee                                                         
 OSC).                                                                  
Chicago Area     f (mtr).............               2  .................
 (MSO Chicago                                                           
 OSC).                                                                  
EPA Alaska       p...................               3  .................
 Region (EPA                                                            
 OSC).                                                                  
Houston/         v...................               3  Aramco Services  
 Galveston Area                                         Co.             
 (MSO Houston                                                           
 OSC).                                                                  
New York, NY     v...................               3  OMI Corp.        
 Area (COTP New                                                         
 York OSC).                                                             
Hawaii/American  v...................               4  .................
 Samoa Area                                                             
 (MSO Honolulu                                                          
 OSC).                                                                  
EPA Region IV    p...................               4  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Duluth-Superior  v...................               3  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Duluth OSC)..                                                          
                                                                        
                                                                        
[[Page 19806]]           1998                                           
                                                                        
Southern         v...................               1  .................
 Coastal NC                                                             
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Wilmington).                                                           
San Francisco    f (mtr).............               1  .................
 Bay & Delta                                                            
 Region Area                                                            
 (MSO San                                                               
 Francisco OSC).                                                        
Cleveland, OH    v...................               1  .................
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Cleveland OSC).                                                        
EPA Region V     f (nonmtr)..........               1  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
EPA Region III   p...................               2  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Saulte Ste.      f (mtr).............               2  .................
 Marie, MI Area                                                         
 (COTP Saulte                                                           
 Ste. Marie                                                             
 OSC).                                                                  
South Texas      v...................               2  .................
 Coastal Zone                                                           
 Area (MSO                                                              
 Corpus                                                                 
 Christie OSC).                                                         
Maryland         v...................               3  .................
 Coastal Area                                                           
 (MSO Baltimore                                                         
 OSC).                                                                  
SW Louisana/SE   v...................               3  .................
 Texas Area                                                             
 (MSO Port                                                              
 Arthur OSC).                                                           
EPA Region X     f (nonmtr)..........               3  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Tampa, FL Area   v...................               3  .................
 (MSO Tampa                                                             
 OSC).                                                                  
EPA Region I     p...................               4  .................
 Area (EPA OSC).                                                        
Los Angeles/     v...................               4  .................
 Long Beach                                                             
 Area (MSO LA/                                                          
 LB OSC).                                                               
EPA Region II    f (nonmtr)..........               4  .................
 (EPA OSC).                                                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Quarters: 1 (January-March); 2 (April-June); 3 (July-September); 4     
  (October-December).                                                   
**Industry: v-vessel; f(mtr)-marine transportation-related facility;    
  f(nonmtr)-nonmarine transportation-related facility; p-pipeline.      

    Dated: April 14, 1995.
G.N. Naccara,
Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-9712 Filed 4-19-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M