[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 202 (Wednesday, October 18, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62288-62289]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-26766]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 154

[USCG-1999-5149]
RIN 2115-AF79


Response Plans for Marine Transportation-Related Facilities 
Handling Non-Petroleum Oils; Clarification

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Clarification to final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This document clarifies a preamble discussion to a final rule 
published in the Federal Register of June 30, 2000. The rule amended 
Coast Guard regulations requiring response plans for marine 
transportation-related (MTR) facilities that handle, store, or 
transport animal fats or vegetable oils. Specifically, this document 
clarifies the explanation for higher volume ports.

DATES: This document becomes effective on October 18, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on this clarification or 
the final rule, call Lieutenant Claudia Gelzer, Project Manager, Coast 
Guard, telephone 202-267-1983. For questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Dorothy Beard, Chief, Dockets, Department 
of Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Clarification of Preamble to Final Rule

    On June 30, 2000, we published in the Federal Register the final 
rule titled ``Response Plans for Marine Transportation-Related 
Facilities Handling Non-Petroleum Oils'' (USCG-1999-5149)[65 FR 40820]. 
In the preamble to that rule, on page 40822, we stated that higher 
volume port areas were designated based on the availability of response 
equipment on hand in those ports. After that publication, the Coast 
Guard received comments from the affected public requesting 
clarification of our high volume ports discussion.

[[Page 62289]]

    We previously addressed this topic in an interim final rule, 
``Response Plans for Marine Transportation-Related Facilities'' (58 FR 
7330), that was published in the Federal Register on February 5, 1993. 
As stated in the interim rule, higher volume ports were actually 
designated based on the volume of all types of oil transported through 
those ports. Faster response times were established for those ports to 
encourage vessel and facility plan holders to concentrate larger 
quantities of response equipment as close as possible to locations 
having the highest probability of a significant spill incident. Over 
time, the industry has responded by stockpiling larger quantities of 
response equipment in those ports practicable for all plan holders 
regardless of the type of oil cargo carried.

    Dated: October 12, 2000.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 00-26766 Filed 10-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P