[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2484-2485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1391]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 rescheduled public hearings.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration
(BXA) is rescheduling public hearings on the effects on the environment
and the economy of lifting the ban on the export of Alaskan North Slope
(ANS) crude oil that were announced in the Federal Register on December
15, 1995 (60 FR 64412). BXA postponed the January 1996 hearings because
of the government shutdown. The Department is conducting the hearings
pursuant to the legislation that the President signed on November 28,
1995 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 announces the
rescheduled hearing dates and sites and the cancellation of the hearing
in Bakersfield, California. Persons who have previously requested the
opportunity to testify should reconfirm their interest by contacting
the Department at the address below. In the event the Department is not
open for normal business during the new hearing dates, the hearings
will be rescheduled.
DATES: The hearings will be held in Washington, D.C., on February 7,
1996; Seattle, Washington, on February 9, 1996; and Anchorage, Alaska
on February 12, 1996. Requests to speak must be submitted by February
5, 1996. The hearing in Washington, D.C. will be held in Room 6009 of
the Herbert Hoover Building, which is located at 14th Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20230. The hearing in
Seattle will be held in the auditorium of the NOAA Western Regional
Center, which is located at 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Seattle,
[[Page 2485]]
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.
ADDRESSES: Send requests to speak and written copies of the oral
presentation to Steven C. Goldman, 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, D.C., 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, N.W., Washington,
D.C., 20230, Telephone (202) 482-0894, Fax (202) 482-0751.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On December 15, 1995, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export
Administration (BXA) published a notice in the Federal Register (60 FR
64412) announcing its intention to hold public hearings on the
environmental and economic affects of lifting the ban on the export of
Alaskan North Slope (ANS) crude oil. The notice proposed four hearings.
The notice also identified the issues on which the Department is
interested in obtaining the public's views. It also set forth the
procedures for public participation in the hearings. On December 28,
BXA canceled the hearings because of the shutdown of the Federal
Government. The hearings have been rescheduled as described in Section
II of this notice.
The hearings are pursuant to legislation that the President signed
legislation (Public Law 104-58) authorizing exports of Alaskan North
Slope (ANS) crude oil when transported in U.S.-flag tankers. The
statute requires the President to consider the results of an
``appropriate environmental review'' and other issues prior to making
his national interest determination. The Department is soliciting
public comments as described in the December 15, 1995 Federal Register
notice.
II. Public Hearings and Comment Procedures
The hearings will be held in Washington, D.C. on February 7, 1996;
Seattle, Washington, on February 9, 1996; and Anchorage, Alaska on
February 12, 1996. The hearings will commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at
5:30 p.m. Requests to speak must be submitted by February 5, 1996. In
the event the Department is not open for normal business during the new
hearing dates, the hearings will be rescheduled.
The hearing in Washington, D.C. will be held in room 6009 of the
Herbert Hoover Building which is located at 14th Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C, 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 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 ADDRESS section
of this notice. The written request must be received by BXA no later
than February 5, 1996. 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.
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, D.C.
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 10 or 15 minutes depending on the
number of presenters. Comments may respond to the questions posed in
Section I of the December 15, 1995 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: January 23, 1996.
Sue E. Eckert,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration
[FR Doc. 96-1391 Filed 1-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P