[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34312-34313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-16141]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 95-048]


Annual Certification of Cook Inlet 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 Cook Inlet, Alaska. This certification allows the 
advisory group to monitor the activities of oil tankers and facilities 
under the Cook Inlet Program established by the Act. The purpose of 
this notice is to inform the public that the Coast Guard has 
recertified the 

[[Page 34313]]
alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook Inlet, Alaska.

DATES: June 1, 1995, through May 31, 1996.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Mrs. Janice Jackson, Project Manager, Marine 
Environmental Protection Division, (G-MEP-3), (202) 267-0500, U.S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street S.W., 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 crude oil terminals and oil tankers.
    Section 2732(o) permits an alternative voluntary advisory group to 
represent the communities and interests in the vicinity of the oil 
terminal facilities in Cook Inlet, in lieu of a council of the type 
specified in 33 U.S.C. 2732(d), if certain conditions are met. The Act 
requires that the group enter into a contract to ensure annual funding 
and receive annual certification by the President that it fosters the 
general goals and purposes of the Act and is broadly representative of 
the community and interests in the vicinity of the terminal facilities. 
Accordingly, in 1991, the President granted certification to the Cook 
Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (CIRCAC). 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 April 20, 1995, the Coast Guard announced in the Federal 
Register, the availability of the application for recertification that 
it received from the CIRCAC, and requested comments (60 FR 19803). Six 
comments were received.

Discussion of Comments

    The Coast Guard received six comments in response to the 
recertification application of the CIRCAC. Five of these supported 
recertification of CIRCAC without reservation. However, a comment 
received from a member of the CIRCAC Monitoring Committee, while 
supporting recertification, offered constructive criticism in several 
areas.
    The comment raised several important issues and possible methods of 
addressing what the commenter perceives as shortcomings in the current 
operation of CIRCAC. Specifically, the comment suggested limiting the 
terms of office for CIRCAC members and committee leaders. This, 
according to the comment, would help to increase local participation 
through the years by involving greater numbers of individuals from the 
community. The comment suggests that unless greater numbers of local 
citizens are involved, CIRCAC may become too removed from the regional 
community. The comment also suggests a close review of the focus of 
CIRCAC's activities. The comment suggest that too much emphasis, and 
funds, may be placed on travel outside the region, rather than 
activities sponsored within the community. The Coast Guard has 
forwarded the comment to CIRCAC and asked the members to review the 
issues raised, consider the suggestions put forth, and provide a 
response to the Coast Guard.
    In a related issue, the Coast Guard has noted through the year in 
its own review of CIRCAC, that the open budget process needed 
improvement to assure that it is maintained in a manner which will 
ensure that all members are aware of the projects being undertaken and 
the funds being expended by CIRCAC and its subcommittees. The Coast 
Guard notes that significant progress has been made to rectify this 
problem. The Coast Guard will continue to stress the need for an open 
budget process and consider CIRCAC's progress in this area when 
reviewing future applications for recertification.
    It is the Coast Guards's position that the issues raised by the 
CIRCAC Monitoring Committee member and the Coast Guard can be addressed 
successfully by CIRCAC and, in fact, progress has been made in these 
areas in recent months. In light of this, and the many positive 
comments received regarding CIRCAC's performance throughout the year, 
the Coast Guard has determined that recertification of CIRCAC in 
accordance with the Act is appropriate. The Coast Guard has informed 
CIRCAC that documentation should be included in CIRCAC's 
recertification application next year indicating how each of the issues 
raised by the Monitoring Committee Member and the Coast Guard have been 
addressed.

Recertification

    By letter dated May 30, 1995, the Chief, Office of Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection certified that the Cook Inlet 
Regional Citizens' Advisory Council qualifies as an alternative 
voluntary advisory group under the provisions of 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). 
This recertification terminates on May 31, 1996. The Cook Inlet 
Regional Citizens' Advisory Council was advised to review and address 
the issues raised during this recertification period in order to 
strengthen the organization and foster the goals and purposes of the 
Act. These efforts will be examined with future recertification 
requests of the CIRCAC.

    Dated: June 23, 1995.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-16141 Filed 6-29-95; 8:45 am]
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