[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64412-64413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-30647]



 ========================================================================
 Notices
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules 
 or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings 
 and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings, 
 delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency 
 statements of organization and functions are examples of documents 
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 241 / Friday, December 15, 1995 / 
Notices  

[[Page 64412]]


DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Export Administration


Public Hearings on the Effects of Lifting the Export Ban on 
Alaskan North Slope Crude Oil

AGENCY: Bureau of Export Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration 
(BXA) is holding public hearings to determine the effects on the 
environment and the economy of lifting the ban on the export of Alaskan 
North Slope (ANS) crude oil. BXA is conducting the hearings pursuant to 
the legislation that the President signed on November 28, which, among 
other things, requires him to conduct an environmental review, as well 
as to examine the effect of exports on jobs, consumers, and supplies of 
oil. This notice identifies the issues on which the Department is 
interested in obtaining the public's views. It also sets forth the 
procedures for public participation in the hearings.

DATES: The hearings will be held in Washington, DC, on January 3, 1996; 
Seattle, Washington, on January 5, 1996; Anchorage, Alaska on January 
8, 1996; and Bakersfield, California on January 10, 1996. Requests to 
speak must be submitted by December 22, 1995. The hearing in 
Washington, DC will be held in the main auditorium of the Herbert 
Hoover Building, which is located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20230. The hearing in Seattle will be held 
in Building 9 Auditorium, at the NOAA Western Regional Center, which is 
located at 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Seattle, Washington 98115. The 
hearing in Anchorage will be held in the auditorium of the Anchorage 
Museum of History and Art, which is located at 121 West 7th Avenue, 
Anchorage, Alaska. The hearing in Bakersfield will be held at the 
Sheraton Bakersfield, in the Belridge Room which is located at 5101 
California Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93309.

ADDRESSES: Send requests to speak and written copies of the oral 
presentation to Steven C. Goldman, Acting Director, Office of Chemical 
and Biological Controls and Treaty Compliance, Room 2093, Bureau of 
Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard Kritzer, Manager, Short Supply 
Program, Office of Chemical and Biological Controls and Treaty 
Compliance, Room 2089, Bureau of Export Administration, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 
20230, Telephone (202) 482-0894.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background and Specific Comments Requested

A. Background

    On November 28, 1995, the President signed legislation (S. 395) 
authorizing exports of Alaskan North Slope (ANS) crude oil when 
transported in U.S.-flag tankers, unless the President determines that 
such exports would not be in the national interest. The statute 
requires the President to consider the results of an ``appropriate 
environmental review'' and other issues prior to making his national 
interest determination.
    As amended by S. 395, Section 28(s)(1) of the Mineral Leasing Act 
(30 U.S.C. 185) provides that:
    In evaluating whether exports of this oil are in the national 
interest, the President shall, at a minimum consider:
    1. whether exports of ANS crude oil would diminish the total 
quantity or quality of petroleum available to the United States;
    2. the results of an appropriate environmental review, including 
consideration of appropriate measures to mitigate any potential effects 
of exports of this oil on the environment, which shall be completed 
within four months of the date of enactment; and
    3. whether exports of this oil are 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 noncontiguous States and 
Pacific territories.

B. Specific Comments Requested

    The U.S. Department of Commerce is holding public hearings as part 
of its environmental review. The Department is soliciting public 
comments on the environmental and oil supply and pricing issues 
described above to ensure that the public has a meaningful opportunity 
to address the issues identified in the legislation. The Department has 
decided to conduct four public hearings in order for the public to 
provide suggestions to the Administration as early as practicable about 
issues that should be considered in preparing the required review of 
environmental and economic factors for the President's consideration.
    The Department is particularly interested in comments and 
information on the following questions:
    1. Whether exports of ANS crude oil would diminish the total 
quantity or quality of petroleum available to the United States;
    2. Whether exports of ANS crude oil would result in changes in 
tanker movements out of Valdez, Alaska, and whether such movements 
would pose any substantial new risks to the environment beyond the 
risks that may exist under current tanker movements to the U.S. west 
coast and Hawaii;
    3. Whether exports of ANS crude oil would increase imports of 
foreign oil impacting air quality in PADD V by affecting the level of 
refinery emissions;
    4. Whether exports of ANS crude oil and the projected increases in 
Alaska and California onshore oil production would affect air quality 
by affecting oil field emissions and terminal facilities, and;
    5. Whether exports of ANS crude oil are 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 affects in the United States or that would 
cause substantial harm to consumers, including noncontiguous States and 
Pacific territories. 

[[Page 64413]]


II. Public Hearings and Comment Procedures

    The hearings will be held in Washington, D.C. on January 3, 1996; 
Seattle, Washington, on January 5, 1996; Anchorage, Alaska on January 
8, 1996; and Bakersfield, California on January 10, 1996. The hearings 
will commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 5:30 p.m. Requests to speak must 
be submitted by December 22, 1996. The hearing in Washington, DC will 
be held in the main auditorium of the Herbert Hoover Building which is 
located at 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, 
20230. The hearing in Seattle will be held in Building 9 Auditorium, at 
the NOAA Western Regional Center which is located at 7600 Sand Point 
Way, NE, Seattle, Washington 98115. The hearing in the auditorium of 
the Anchorage Museum of History and Art which is located at 121 West 
7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska. The hearing in Bakersfield will be held 
at the Sheraton Bakersfield, Belridge Room, which is located at 5101 
California Avenue, Bakersfield, California 93309.
    The Department encourages interested participants to present their 
views orally at the hearings. Any person wishing to make an oral 
presentation at the hearings must submit a brief written request to the 
Department of Commerce at the address indicated in the ADDRESSES 
section of this notice. The written requests to participate in the 
public hearings should describe the individual's interest in the 
hearing and, where appropriate, explain why the individual is a proper 
representative of a group or class of person that has such an interest. 
The written request must be received no later than December 22, 1995. 
In addition, the request to speak should contain a daytime phone number 
where the person who will be making the oral presentation may be 
contacted before the hearing. On the day of the hearing, speakers 
should bring 2 copies of the summary of their oral presentation to the 
hearing address indicated in the DATES section of this notice.
    Persons may submit written comments for the record if they are 
unable to attend the hearings.
    Copies of the request to participate in the public hearings will be 
maintained at the Bureau of Export Administration's Freedom of 
Information Records Inspection Facility, Room 4525, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 
20230, telephone (202) 482-5653. The records in this facility may be 
copied in accordance with the regulations published in Part 4 of Title 
15 of the Code of Federal Regulations (15 CFR 4.1 et seq.). Information 
about the inspection and copying of records may be obtained from Mr. 
Ted Zois, the Bureau of Export Administration's Freedom of Information 
Officer, at the above address and telephone number between the hours of 
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Each speaker may be limited to 5 or 10 minutes depending on the 
number of presenters. Comments may respond to the questions posed in 
Section I of this notice or any other related issue.
    A Commerce official will preside at the hearings. Representatives 
from other Federal agencies participating in the review also will 
attend the hearings. Only those conducting the hearing may ask 
questions.
    Any further procedural rules for the proper conduct of the hearing 
will be announced by the presiding officer.

    Dated: December 13, 1995.
Sue E. Eckert,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration.
[FR Doc. 95-30647 Filed 12-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P