[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 66 (Thursday, April 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15154-15155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8354]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 96-015]


Tug-of-Opportunity System Plan for the Olympic Coast Marine 
Sanctuary and the Strait of Juan de Fuca

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard seeks information that may be useful in 
preparing a plan to be submitted to Congress on the most cost-effective 
means of implementing an international private-sector tug-of-
opportunity system to provide timely response to a vessel in distress 
transiting the waters within the boundaries of the Olympic Coast 
National Marine Sanctuary or the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This plan is 
mandated by Section 401 of the Alaska Power Administration Asset Sale 
and Termination Act.

DATES: Comments are requested by June 3, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA/3406), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 3406 
at the same address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477. The 
Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this notice. 
Comments will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commander William Carey, Commander (mep), Thirteenth Coast Guard 
District, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1067, (206) 220-7221.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Information

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this request for comments by submitting written data, views or 
arguments. Persons submitting comments should include their names and 
addresses, identify this notice [CGD 96-015] and the specific section 
or question of this document to which each comment applies, and give 
the reason for each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments 
and attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 
inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting 
acknowledgment of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
addressed postcards or envelopes. The Coast Guard will consider all 
comments received during the comment period.

    Drafting Information: The principal persons involved in drafting 
this document are Commander William Carey, Project Manager, 
Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Marine Safety Division and 
Lieutenant Laticia Argenti, Project Counsel, Thirteenth Coast Guard 
District, Legal Office.

Background and Purpose

    On November 28, 1995, the President signed the Alaska Power 
Administration Asset Sale and Termination Act (Pub. L. 104-58), 
authorizing exports of Alaskan North Slope (ANS) crude oil when 
transported in U.S. flag tankers. Section 401 of the statute directs 
the Coast Guard to submit within 15 months of enactment of the Act, a 
plan to Congress on the most cost-effective means of implementing an 
international private-sector tug-of-opportunity system. The plan is to 
include a coordinated system of communication, using existing towing 
vessels to provide timely emergency response to a vessel in distress 
transiting the waters within the boundaries of the Olympic Coast Marine 
Sanctuary or the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Specific Comments Requested

    To ensure that the Coast Guard provides to Congress the most cost-
effective plan for implementing an international private-sector tug-of-
opportunity system, the Coast Guard needs more information. The Coast 
Guard is particularly interested in receiving information, views, and 
data on the following questions and areas of concern:
    1. What topics should the plan address?
    2. How might a private sector tug-of-opportunity system be 
implemented and operated? What private sector entity would be best 
suited to administer a tug-of-opportunity system?
    3. What are the historical and current volumes and types of traffic 
transiting through the area of concern? What are the projections for 
traffic in future years?
    4. What are the numbers and types (ship particulars, horsepower, 
bollard pull, etc.) of tugs operating in the area of concern?
    5. What are the costs for tugs of varying capability?
    6. What are the various cost components of a tug-of-opportunity 
system?
    7. How might the private sector allocate the system costs among the 
various users? Should costs be passed on to ship operators on a 
operator by operator basis, voyage basis, risk basis or some 
combination of these or other factors?

[[Page 15155]]

    8. Are there alternatives to a tug-of-opportunity system? What are 
the costs/benefits of these alternatives and why are they more cost-
effective? What specific resources and funding do they require?
    9. If you represent an ocean carrier or towing company that 
routinely transits the Strait of Juan de Fuca or the Washington coast, 
do your vessels currently observe the IMO approved area to be avoided 
(ATBA) off the Washington coast? When your vessels transit along the 
Washington coast, how far off shore do they routinely transit?
    All respondents are requested to please identify their status or 
affiliation in the marine industry, if any, and please provide the 
basis upon which costs were calculated.

    Dated: March 28, 1996.
J. C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection Directorate.
[FR Doc. 96-8354 Filed 4-3-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M