[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 171 (Friday, September 3, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 48442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23025]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[USCG-1998-4501]


Navigation Safety Advisory Council; North Puget Sound Long-Term 
Risk Management Panel

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: The North Puget Sound Long-term Risk Management Panel will 
meet for the first time to discuss various issues relating to the 
maritime safety in the North Puget Sound area. The Coast Guard is 
creating the Panel under the charter for the Navigation Safety Advisory 
Council (NAVSAC). The meeting and all subsequent meetings will be open 
to the public.

DATES: The North Puget Sound Long-Term Risk Management Panel will meet 
on Thursday and Friday, September 23 and 24, 1999, from 9:00 a.m. to 4 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The Panel will meet at the National Oceanographic and 
Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) Western Regional Center in 
Building 9, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., Seattle, WA 98115. This notice is 
available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Captain Scott Davis, Coast Guard 
Thirteenth District, 206-220-7210, or Mr. Joe Stohr, State of 
Washington Department of Ecology, 360-407-7450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

North Puget Sound Long-Term Risk Management Panel

    The Coast Guard is creating the North Puget Sound Long-Term Risk 
Management Panel under the charter of the Navigation Safety Advisory 
Council (NAVSAC) (a Federal advisory committee under 5 U.S.C. App. 2). 
The Panel will develop an integrated plan for managing the marine 
safety risks in the North Puget Sound area and adjacent waters. The 
geographic area includes the entrance and approaches to the Strait of 
Juan de Fuca, the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Admiralty Inlet, Haro 
Strait and Boundary Pass, Rosario Strait, and the Strait of Georgia. 
The Panel will consider all relevant information and evaluate all 
potential measures to improve marine safety in the North Puget Sound 
area. By June 15, 2000, the Panel will submit a report of its 
recommendations via NAVSAC to the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard 
and the Governor of the State of Washington. Recommendations may 
involve international, Federal, State, and voluntary activities and 
measures. The Panel will be chaired by RADM Paul Blayney, Commander, 
U.S. Coast Guard Thirteenth District, and Mr. Thomas Fitzsimmons, 
Director, State of Washington Department of Ecology.
    In accordance with NAVSAC's charter, the Commandant of the U.S. 
Coast Guard will invite the members of the Panel. Each member will 
represent one of the following groups:
    1. Native Americans (1 seat).
    2. Puget Sound Steamship Operators Association (1 seat).
    3. Western States Petroleum Association (2 seats).
    4. County governments (2 seats).
    5. North Pacific Fishing Vessel Operators Association (1 seat).
    6. Washington Environmental Council (2 seats).
    7. Washington Public Ports Association (1 seat).
    8. Shellfish Growers Association (1 seat).
    9. American Waterways Operators (1 seat).
    10. Puget Sound Pilots Association (1 seat).
    11. City Government (1 seat).
    12. State legislators (4 seats).
    13. U.S. Congressional staff (1 seat).
    14. Canadian Coast Guard (1 seat).
    15. Transport Canada (1 seat).

Agendas of Meetings

    The meetings will include evaluations of the components of the 
existing safety system as well as detailed discussions of various 
potential improvements to maritime safety in the region. The Panel will 
use an approach based on recognized risk assessment and risk management 
practices to develop an integrated plan to manage identified risks. The 
plan development process will include evaluation of a broad range of 
information about the safety and marine transportation systems along 
with relevant risk information on hazards, incident history, oil 
movements, environmental sensitivity, response capability and other 
information.
    Notice of these meetings is given under the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.

Procedural

    The meetings are open to the public. Please note that the meetings 
may close early if all business is finished. At the Co-Chairs' 
discretion, members of the public may make oral presentations during 
the meetings. The Co-Chairs and the Panel members will determine the 
time and place of subsequent meetings of the Panel. For information 
about subsequent meetings, contact a person listed in FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT.

Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact 
Captain Scott Davis at 206-220-7210.

    Dated: August 30, 1999.
Josepth J. Angelo,
Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 99-23025 Filed 9-2-99; 8:45 am]
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