[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7292-7293]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3997]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 97-003]


Additional Hazards Study

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the initiation of a study that will 
evaluate the hazards related to potential oil spills by commercial 
ships while in transit. This study is being completed by the Volpe 
National Transportation Systems Center on behalf of the U.S. Coast 
Guard and Department of Transportation (DOT) pursuant to the 
Presidential Directive to the Secretary to review overall marine safety 
in the waters in and around Puget Sound. This notice also solicits 
public comments on the proposed study and invites qualified personnel 
to apply for membership on an expert panel. Two public workshops will 
also be held to gather information from stakeholders on possible 
problems and solutions.

DATES: The following dates apply:
    1. Duplicate public workshops will be held on March 6, 1997, from 
8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
    2. Submit comments concerning this notice on or before March 14, 
1997.
    3. Submit applications for membership on the expert panel on or 
before February 26, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The following addresses apply:
    1. The workshops will be held at the Cavanaugh's Inn on Fifth 
Avenue, 1415 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA 98101.
    2. Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety 
Council (G-LRA/3406) [CGD 97-003], 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 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 
267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
project. Comments will become part of this docket and will be available 
for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    3. Applications for membership on the expert panel should be 
submitted to Mr. Mike Dyer, Volpe Center/DTS-72, Kendall Square, 
Cambridge, MA 02142-1093, or faxed to (617) 494-3066.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Duane Boniface, Human Element and 
Ship Design Division (G-MSE-1), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 
Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, telephone 202-267-0178, 
fax 202-267-4816, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views, or arguments, concerning the subject matter of this 
notice. Persons submitting comments should include their names and 
addresses, identify this docket (CGD 97-003), and give the reason for 
each comment, providing specific examples whenever possible. Please 
submit two copies of all comments and attachments in an unbound format, 
no longer 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.

Qualifications Necessary for Membership on the Expert Panel

    Applicants for membership on the expert panel must have at least 
ten years of experience in the field that they represent and be 
available to attend a workshop in the Seattle area for three days 
during the first week of April 1997. Additionally, experts must be 
available to participate in correspondence sessions before and after 
the expert panel workshop in order to provide insight and guidance. The 
fields of expertise requested are: marine and coastal environments; 
shipping operations and safety; risk assessment; pilotage; navigation 
of the waters in and around Pugent Sound; response planning and 
capabilities; assistance towing; macro-ergonomics; and fisheries. To be 
considered, applicants should forward a resume by mail or fax to the 
address for applications listed under ADDRESSES.

Background and Purpose

    The Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe) is 
performing a study entitled ``The Additional Hazards Study'' on behalf 
of the U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Transportation in accordance 
with a Presidential Directive issued in 1996. This study will evaluate 
all measures, current and planned, intended to reduce the hazards of 
major oil spills (including crude oil, refined product, and bunker) by 
commercial ships while transiting the waters of Pugent Sound, the 
Straits of Juan de Fuca, and the Olympic Coast National Marine 
Sanctuary. An example of one of these measures is the planned 
International Tug of Opportunity System (ITOS), which is a system 
designed to coordinate tugs responding to disabled vessels off the 
Olympic Coast.
    This study represents another step in a continuous improvement 
process to address maritime concerns in the Pacific Northwest. 
Development of this project began in early December 1996, and is 
intended to be completed during the summer of 1997. It is critical that 
all marine interests in the Pacific Northwest be accurately 
represented; therefore, stakeholders representing various concerns have 
been, and are being, contacted.
    There are four primary stages comprising this study which must be 
completed before the deadline. The first three stages primarily involve 
collection of information and include analysis of data from the 
pertinent databases, review of the current and planned marine safety 
and environmental protection (MSEP) system, and acquisition of 
stakeholder input on the hazards and potential improvements through 
comments and participation in public workshops. Although 
representatives of Volpe are ultimately responsible for the collection 
and analysis of this information, Volpe will use a panel of experts to 
assist them with their analysis. This panel of experts will compile the 
information obtained in the first three stages into a list of hazards, 
ranked by level of risk, and measures which may mitigate those hazards.
    Volpe's final report will include a list of hazards, ranked by 
level of risk, and a corresponding listing of measures which might 
mitigate those hazards. The report will be used as a basis to

[[Page 7293]]

focus further review of marine safety measures for the Pugent Sound 
area.


    Dated: February 11, 1997.
Joseph J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-3997 Filed 2-13-97; 9:56 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M