[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57127-57128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23033]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2008-0989]


Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council Charter Renewal

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of recertification.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform the public the Coast 
Guard has recertified the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory 
Council (CIRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook 
Inlet, Alaska. This certification allows the CIRCAC to monitor the 
activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Cook 
Inlet Program established by statute.

DATES: This recertification is effective for the period from September 
1, 2008, through August 31, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Ken Phillips, Seventeenth Coast 
Guard District (dpi), by phone at (907) 463-2821, or by mail at P.O. 
Box 25517, Juneau, Alaska 99802.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    As part of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Congress passed the Oil 
Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 
1990 (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 2732, to foster a long-term partnership among 
industry, government, and local communities in overseeing compliance 
with environmental concerns in the operation of crude oil terminals and 
oil tankers.
    On October 18, 1991, the President delegated his authority under 33 
U.S.C 2732(o) to the Secretary of Transportation in Executive Order 
12777, section 8(g) (see 56 FR 54757) for purposes of certifying 
advisory councils, or groups, subject to the Act. On March 3, 1992, the 
Secretary redelegated that authority to the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard (see 57 FR 8582). The Commandant redelegated that authority to 
the Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection (G-M) on March 19, 1992 (letter 5402).
    On July 7, 1993, the Coast Guard published a policy statement, 58 
FR

[[Page 57128]]

36504, to clarify the factors that will be considered in making the 
determination as to whether advisory councils, or groups, should be 
certified in accordance with the Act.
    The Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection (G-M), redelegated recertification authority for advisory 
councils, or groups, to the Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard District 
on February 26, 1999 (letter 16450).
    On September 16, 2002, the Coast Guard published a policy 
statement, 67 FR 58440, which changed the recertification procedures 
such that applicants are required to provide the Coast Guard with 
comprehensive information every three years (triennially). For each of 
the two years between the triennial application procedure, applicants 
submit a letter requesting recertification that includes a description 
of any substantive changes to the information provided at the previous 
triennial recertification. Further, public comment is not solicited 
prior to recertification during streamlined years, only during the 
triennial comprehensive review.

Discussion of Comments

    On August 7, 2008, the Coast Guard published a ``Notice of 
availability; request for comments'' for recertification of Cook Inlet 
Regional Citizens' Advisory Council in the Federal Register (73 FR 
46027). We received six letters commenting on the proposed action. No 
public meeting was requested, and none was held. Of the seven comments 
received, all were positive. Comments in support of the recertification 
consistently cited CIRCAC's broad representation of the respective 
communities' interests, appropriate actions to keep the public 
informed, improvements to both spill response preparation and spill 
prevention, and oil spill industry monitoring efforts that combat 
complacency--as intended by the Act.

Recertification

    By letter dated September 12, 2008, 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, 2009.

    Dated: September 15, 2008.
Arthur E. Brooks,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. E8-23033 Filed 9-30-08; 8:45 am]
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