[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 212 (Thursday, October 31, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56258-56259]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27985]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 96-044]


International, Private-Sector, Tug of Opportunity System Plan

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice provides notice of a public meeting to obtain 
views and comments from the public on the International Tug-of-
Opportunity System (ITOS) plan for the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the 
Waters of the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary to be held on 
November 26, 1996. This plan was prepared voluntarily by a cross 
section of the marine operating community in the State of Washington 
and British Columbia, Canada.

DATES: The meeting will be held November 26, 1996, from 9 a.m. to 12 
p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Written statements and requests to make oral 
presentations should reach the Coast Guard on or before November 19, 
1996. Other comments should reach the Coast Guard on or before November 
30, 1996.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration Western Region Conference Center, Building 
Nine Auditorium, 7600 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, Washington. Written 
materials may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety 
Council (G-LRA), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, 
DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 3406 at the same address 
between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

[[Page 56259]]

Lieutenant W. M. Pittman, Office of Response (G-MOR-1), telephone (202) 
267-0426, fax (202) 267-4085. The telephone number is equipped to 
record messages on a 24-hour basis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    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 exiting 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.
    In order to implement this action, the Department of Transportation 
has required that the Coast Guard establish marine safety requirements 
concerning crew qualification, tug performance capabilities, and 
response times which any proposed international tug-of-opportunity 
system (ITOS) must meet to ensure marine environmental safety. In 
addition, the Coast Guard has proposed to establish specific ITOS 
documentation requirements needed to properly describe the operation of 
any proposed ITOS so that it may be fully evaluated as required by 
Public Law 104-58.
    These marine safety requirements and documentation requirements are 
contained in the Interim Report on the International, Private-Sector 
Tug-of-Opportunity System for the Waters of the Olympic National Marine 
Sanctuary and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and will be revised based upon 
public comments received in a prior public meeting held on October 17, 
1996. The comments from the October 17, 1996 meeting will be addressed 
in a future notice.
    The present meeting provides the public an opportunity to comment 
directly on the ITOS plan submitted by the marine operating community 
which the Coast Guard is currently reviewing. Initial copies of the 
interim report were provided to interested parties, distributed by 
Federal Register notice, and distributed at the October 17, 1996 public 
meeting. Additional copies of the interim report and copies of the ITOS 
plan may be obtained by contacting the Office of Response (G-MOR-1), 
Directorate of Field Operations, US Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street 
SW., Washington DC 20593-0001 or by contacting the person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Procedural

    Attendance is open to the public. Persons wishing to make oral 
presentations at the meeting should notify the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. no later than November 19, 1996.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: October 25, 1996.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 96-27985 Filed 10-30-96; 8:45 am]
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