[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]
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