[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 32883]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16163]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 96-018]


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 instead 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 alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook Inlet, 
Alaska.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 1, 1996, through May 31, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LCDR Peter A Jensen, Project Manager, Port and Environmental Management 
Division, (G-MOR-1), (202) 267-6134, 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, the 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, Marine 
Safety and Environmental Protection.
    On April 15, 1996, the Coast Guard announced in the Federal 
Register, the availability of the application for recertification that 
it received from the CIRCAC, and requested comments (61 FR 16518). 
Fourteen comments were received.

Discussion of Comments

    All of the comments received by the Coast Guard supported 
recertification of CIRAC. Two of the comments addressed term limits, 
one sought to have committee workplans submitted through a public 
review process, one sought annual community presentations by the CIRCAC 
throughout the Cook Inlet region, and one stated that CIRCAC projects 
should clearly articulate multi-year goals. It is the Coast Guard's 
position that those comments can be addressed successfully be CIRCAC 
and has forwarded them to CIRCAC for their review, consideration for 
what is necessary to resolve the issues, and to provide their response 
to the commenter and the Coast Guard. Therefore, the Coast Guard has 
determined that recertification of CIRCAC in accordance with the Act is 
appropriate.

Recertification

    The Chief, Marine Safety 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, 1997.

    Dated: June 17, 1996.
G.N. Naccara,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Field Activities, Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 96-16163 Filed 6-24-96; 8:45 am]
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