[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6747-6748]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1849]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD17-01-001]


Annual Certification of Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory 
Council (CIRCAC)

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Recertification.

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

SUMMARY: Under the Oil Terminal and Tanker Environmental Oversight Act 
of 1990, the Coast Guard may certify on an annual basis, an alternative 
voluntary advisory group in lieu 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 under the Cook Inlet Program 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.

DATES: The effective period of this certification is from September 1, 
2000 to August 31, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information regarding the 
CIRCAC or viewing material submitted to the docket, contact LT Ryan 
Murphy, Seventeenth Coast Guard District, Marine Safety Division, (907) 
463-2817.

[[Page 6748]]


SUPPLEMENTERY INFORMATION: As part of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. 
Congress passed the Oil Pollution Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental 
Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990, (the Act), Section 5002, to 
foster the long-term partnership among industry, government, and local 
communities in overseeing compliance with the environmental concerns in 
the operation of terminal facilities and crude-oil tankers. Subsection 
5002(o) permits an alternative voluntary advisory group to represent 
the communities and interests in the vicinity of the terminal 
facilities in Cook Inlet (CI), in lieu of a council of the type 
specified in subsection 5002(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 communities and 
interests in the vicinity of the terminal facilities and Cook Inlet. 
Accordingly, in 1991, the President granted certification to the Cook 
Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council (CIRCAC). The authority to 
certify alternative advisory groups was subsequently delegated to the 
Commandant of the Coast Guard and redelegated to the Commander, 
Seventeenth Coast Guard District.
    On October 18, 2000, (65 FR 62407) the Coast Guard announced the 
availability of the application for recertification that it received 
from the CIRCAC and requested comments. Eight comments were received.

Discussion of Comments

    Of the 8 comments received, all were supportive of recertification 
and noted the positive efforts, good communication, and broad 
representation of Cook Inlet communities as CIRCAC carries out its 
responsibilities as intended by the Act.
    Upon review of the comments received regarding the CIRCAC's 
performance during the past year and the information provided by the 
RCAC in their annual report and recertification package the Coast Guard 
finds the CIRCAC meets the criteria established under the Oil Pollution 
Act, and that recertification in accordance with the Act is 
appropriate.
    Recertification: By letter dated January 2, 2001, the Commander, 
Seventeenth Coast Guard certified that the CIRCAC qualifies as an 
alternative voluntary advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This 
recertification terminates on August 31, 2001.

    Dated: January 2, 2001.
T.J. Barrett,
U. S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 01-1849 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P