[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49060-49061]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23823]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD17-01-004]


Application for Recertification of Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's 
Advisory Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Availability; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of and seeks 
comments on the application for recertification submitted by the Cook 
Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council (CIRCAC) for September 1, 
2001 through August 31, 2002. Under the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker 
Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990, the Coast Guard may 
certify, on an annual basis, an alternative voluntary advisory group in 
lieu of a Regional Citizen's Advisory Council for Cook Inlet.

DATES: Comments must reach the Seventeenth Coast Guard District on or 
before October 25, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may mail your comments to the Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District (mor), PO Box 25517, Juneau, AK, 99802-5517. You may also 
deliver them to the Juneau Federal Building, room 753, 709 W 9th St, 
Juneau, AK between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The Seventeenth Coast Guard District maintains the public docket 
for this recertification process. Comments regarding recertification 
will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or 
copying at the Juneau Federal Building, room 753, 709 W 9th St.
    A copy of the application is also available for inspection at the 
Cook Inlet Regional Citizen's Advisory Council Offices at 910 Highland 
Avenue, Kenai, AK 99611-8033 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 
(907) 283-7222 in Kenai, Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket contact LT Michael Patterson, Seventeenth Coast 
Guard District (mor), (907) 463-2807.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views, or arguments. It solicits comments from interested groups 
including oil terminal facility owners and operators, owners and 
operators of crude oil tankers calling at terminal facilities, Alaska 
Native Tribes, fishing, aquacultural, recreational and environmental 
citizens groups, concerning the recertification application of CIRCAC. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this rulemaking (CGD17-01-04) and the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each 
comment. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound 
format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and 
electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of 
comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to Commander (m), Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District, PO Box 25517, Juneau, AK, 99802-5517. The request should 
include reasons why a hearing would be beneficial. If there is 
sufficient evidence to determine that oral presentations will aid this 
recertification process, the Coast Guard will hold a public hearing at 
a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard published guidelines on December 31, 1992 (57 FR 
626000), to assist groups seeking recertification under the Oil 
Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 
1990 (33 U.S.C. 2732) (the Act). The Coast Guard issued a policy 
statement on July 7, 1993 (58 FR 36505), to clarify the factors that 
the Coast Guard would be considering in making its determination as to 
whether advisory groups should be certified in accordance with the Act; 
and the procedures which the Coast Guard would follow in meeting its 
certification responsibilities under the Act. Most

[[Page 49061]]

recently, on December 28, 2000 (65 FR 82451) the Coast Guard published 
a proposal and request for comments to streamline the RCAC 
certification process. The comments received on that proposal are under 
review prior to implementing changes to the certification process.
    The Coast Guard has received an application for recertification of 
CIRCAC, the currently certified advisory group for the Cook Inlet 
region. In accordance with the review and certification process 
contained in the policy statement, the Coast Guard announces the 
availability of that application.
    At the conclusion of the comment period, the Coast Guard will 
review all application materials and comments received and will take 
one of the following actions:
    (a) Recertify the advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o).
    (b) Issue a conditional recertification for a period of 90 days, 
with a statement of any discrepancies, which must be corrected to 
qualify for recertification for the remainder of the year.
    (c) Deny recertification of the advisory group if the Coast Guard 
finds that the group is not broadly representative of the interests and 
communities in the area or is not adequately fostering the goals and 
purposes of 33 U.S.C. 2732.
    The Coast Guard will notify CIRCAC by letter of the action taken on 
its application. A notice will be published in the Federal Register to 
advise the public of the Coast Guard's determination.

    Dated: September 6, 2001.
T.J. Barrett,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 01-23823 Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U