[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2181-2182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-534]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[CGD17-04-003]


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

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of application submission deadline; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: 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. The current 
certification for Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory 
Council (PWSRCAC) will expire February 28, 2005. This notice announces 
the procedures governing PWSRCAC's recertification for the period March 
1, 2005 through February 28, 2006. This period falls under the 
comprehensive submission provision of 67 FR 58440. Accordingly, PWSRCAC 
must construct their submission in a format that both follows the order 
of, and answers the information specified in 57 FR 62600 guidelines.

DATES: Public comments on PWSRCAC's recertification application must 
reach the Seventeenth Coast Guard District on or before February 1, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to the Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District (mor), P.O. Box 25517, Juneau, AK 99802-5517. Or, hand carried 
documents may be delivered to the Juneau Federal Building, 709 West 9th 
Street, Room 753, 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. The application and comments 
regarding recertification will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at the Juneau Federal Building, 709 
West 9th Street, Room 753.
    A copy of the application will also be available for inspection at 
the PWSRCAC offices at 3709 Spenard Road, Anchorage, AK and 154 
Fairbanks Drive, Valdez, AK between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. The telephone number in 
Anchorage is (907) 277-7222, Valdez (907) 835-5957.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, contact LT Andy Vanskike, Seventeenth Coast 
Guard District (mor), (907)463-2818.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views, or arguments. We solicit comments from interested groups 
including oil terminal facility owners and operators, owners and 
operators of crude oil tankers calling at terminal facilities, and 
fishing, aqua cultural, recreational and environmental citizens groups, 
concerning the recertification application of PWSRCAC. Persons 
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify 
this

[[Page 2182]]

notice (CGD17-04-003), the specific section of the 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 36504) 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 
September 16, 2002 (67 FR 58440) the Coast Guard changed its policy on 
recertification procedures for RCACs by requiring applicants to provide 
comprehensive information every three years. For the two years in 
between, applicants only submit information describing substantive 
changes to the information provided at the last triennial 
recertification.
    At the conclusion of the comment period, February 1, 2005, 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 PWSRCAC by letter of the action taken 
on their respective applications. A notice will be published in the 
Federal Register to advise the public of the Coast Guard's 
determination.

    Dated: December 27, 2004.
James C. Olson,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 05-534 Filed 1-11-05; 8:45 am]
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