[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 42279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20636]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 97-040]


Annual Certification of Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory 
Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 terminal facilities and 
crude-oil tankers in Cook Inlet as established by the statute. 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: July 1, 1997, through June 30, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Meza, Project Manager, Port 
and Environmental Management Division (G-MOR-1), (202) 267-0421, U.S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-
0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress passed, as part of the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990, the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental 
Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990 (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 2732, to 
foster the long-term partnership among industry, government, and local 
communities in overseeing compliance with environmental concerns in the 
operation of terminal facilities and crude-oil tankers.
    Sub-section 2732(o) permits an alternative voluntary advisory group 
to represent the communities and interests in the vicinity of the 
terminal facilities in Cook Inlet, instead of a council of the type 
specified in sub-section 2732(d), if certain conditions are met. The 
Act requires that the group enter into a contract to ensure annual 
funding, and that it receive annual certification by the President to 
the effect 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). He later delegated the authority to certify 
alternative advisory groups to the Commandant of the Coast Guard, who 
redelegated it to the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and 
Environmental Protection.
    On May 22, 1997, in the Federal Register, the Coast Guard announced 
the availability of the application for recertification that it 
received from the CIRCAC and requested comments (61 FR 19110). It 
received none. Since it received no comments in opposition to the 
continued operation of the CIRCAC, the Coast Guard has determined that 
recertification of the CIRCAC in accordance with the Act is 
appropriate.
    Recertification: By letter dated July 7, 1997, the Assistant 
Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, certified 
that the CIRCAC qualifies as an alternative voluntary advisory group 
under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification terminates on May 31, 
1998.

    Dated: July 27, 1997.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-20636 Filed 8-5-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M