[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 8, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19347-19348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07836]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0167]


Prince William Sound 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 that the 
Coast Guard has recertified the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' 
Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group 
for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification allows the PWSRCAC 
to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers 
under the Prince William Sound Program established by statute.

DATES: This recertification is effective for the period from March 1, 
2014 through February 28, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Tom Pauser, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District (dpi), by phone at (907) 463-2812, email at 
[email protected].

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 (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; October 22, 1991) 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; March 11, 1992). 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 36504, to clarify the factors that shall 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 procedures, 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.
    The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company pays the PWSRCAC $2.9 million 
annually in the form of a long term contract. In return for this 
funding, the PWSRCAC must annually show that it ``fosters the goals and 
purposes'' of OPA 90 and is ``broadly representative of the communities 
and interests in the vicinity of the terminal facilities and Prince 
William Sound.'' The PWSRCAC is an independent, nonprofit organization 
founded in 1989. Though it receives Federal oversight like many 
independent, non-profit organizations, it is not a Federal agency. The 
PWSRCAC is a local organization that predates the passage of OPA 90. 
The existence of the PWSRCAC was specifically recognized in OPA 90 
where it is defined as an ``alternate voluntary advisory group.''
    Alyeska funds the PWSRCAC, and the Coast Guard makes sure the 
PWSRCRC operates in a fashion that is broadly consistent with OPA 90.

Discussion of Comments

    On January 22, 2014 the Coast Guard published a Notice of 
Availability; request for comments for recertification of Prince 
William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council in the Federal 
Register (79 FR 3602). We received 71 letters commenting on the 
proposed action. No public meeting was requested. Of the 71 letters 
received, all 71 had positive comments. These letters consistently 
cited PWSRCAC's broad representation of the respective community's 
interest, appropriate actions to keep the public informed, improvements 
to both spill response preparation and spill prevention, and oil spill 
industry monitoring efforts that

[[Page 19348]]

combat complacency--as intended by the Act.

Recertification

    By letter dated March 15, 2014, the Commander, Seventeenth Coast 
Guard certified that the PWSRCAC qualifies as an alternative voluntary 
advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification terminates 
on February 28, 2015.

    Dated: March 15, 2014.
T.P. Ostebo,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2014-07836 Filed 4-7-14; 8:45 am]
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