[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15274-15275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-7570]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD17-02-001]


Application for Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional 
Citizens' Advisory Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the application 
for recertification submitted by the Prince William Sound Regional 
Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) for March 1, 2002 through February 
28, 2003. 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 
Citizens' Advisory Council for Prince William Sound.

DATES: Comments must reach the Seventeenth Coast Guard District on or 
before April 29, 2002.

ADDRESSES: You may mail your comments to the Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District (mor), P.O. 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 
Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council Offices at 
3709 Spenard Road, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503 and 339 Hazelet, 
Valdez, AK 99686. The telephone number in Anchorage is (907) 277-7222 
and the telephone number in Valdez is (907) 835-5957.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket contact LT Ryan Murphy, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District (mor), (907) 463-2817.

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, and 
fishing, aquacultural, recreational and environmental citizens groups, 
concerning the recertification application of PWSRCAC. Persons 
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify 
this notice (CGD17-02-001) 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, P.O. 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 
62600), 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 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 certification of 
PWSRCAC, the currently certified advisory group for the Prince William 
Sound 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.

[[Page 15275]]

    The Coast Guard will notify PWSRCAC 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: March 4, 2002.
T.J. Barrett,
Rear Admiral, Coast Guard Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 02-7570 Filed 3-28-02; 8:45 am]
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