[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60693-60695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27602]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 155

[USCG-2017-0894]


2016 National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) 
Guidelines

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces proposed changes to the 2016 PREP 
Guidelines and solicits public comment to the proposed changes. The 
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is publishing this notice on behalf of the 
Preparedness for Response Exercise Program Compliance, Coordination, 
and Consistency Committee (PREP 4C). The PREP 4C includes 
representatives from the USCG under the Department of Homeland

[[Page 60694]]

Security (DHS); the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) under the 
Department of Transportation (DOT); and the Bureau of Safety and 
Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) under the Department of the Interior 
(DOI).

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the USCG by January 22, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: To view the proposed revisions to the 2016 PREP Guidelines, 
go to http://www.regulations.gov, type ``USCG-2017-0894'' and click 
``Search.'' Then click ``Open Docket Folder.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 
    For USCG: Mr. Jonathan Smith, Office of Marine Environmental 
Response Policy, 202-372-2675.
    For EPA: Mr. Troy Swackhammer, Office of Emergency Management, 
Regulations Implementation Division, 202-564-1966.
    For BSEE/DOI: Mr. John Caplis, Oil Spill Preparedness Division, 
703-787-1364.
    For PHMSA/DOT: Mr. Eddie Murphy, Office of Pipeline Safety, 202-
366-4595.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage the public to participate in revising the 2016 PREP 
Guidelines by submitting comments and related materials. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, 
and will include any personal information provided.
    Submitting comments: If you submit a comment, please include the 
docket number (USCG-2017-0894), indicate the specific section of the 
revised 2016 PREP Guidelines to which each comment applies, and provide 
a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your 
comments and material online or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. We recommend that you include your 
name and mailing address, and an email address or phone number in the 
body of your document so that we may contact you if we have questions 
regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type ``USCG-2017-0894'' in the search box, and click ``Search.'' Then 
click ``Comment Now!'' on the appropriate line. If you submit your 
comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic 
filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they 
reached the DHS Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed 
postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material 
received during the comment period.
    Viewing comments and documents: To view comments as well as 
documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the docket, go 
to http://www.regulations.gov, type ``USCG-2017-0894'' and click 
``Search.'' Then click the ``Open Docket Folder.''
    Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic material submitted 
into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the 
comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act 
and system of records notice regarding our public dockets in the 
January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

I. Abbreviations

BSEE Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DOI Department of the Interior
DOT Department of Transportation
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
FR Federal Register
IMT Incident Management Team
PHMSA Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
PREP Preparedness for Response Exercise Program
PREP 4C PREP Compliance, Coordination, and Consistency Committee
QI Qualified Individual
RAC Remote Assessment and Consultation

II. Background

    The Preparedness for Response Exercise Program Compliance, 
Coordination, and Consistency Committee (PREP 4C) published the 2016 
PREP Guidelines on April 11, 2016 (81 FR 21362). We are publishing this 
notice to seek public comments pertaining to proposed revisions to the 
2016 PREP Guidelines. These proposed revisions constitute the first 
change to the 2016 PREP Guidelines that will hereinafter be referred to 
and published as the ``2016.1 PREP Guidelines.'' We will consider only 
those comments directly pertaining to the proposed revisions. These 
revisions are detailed in a new ``Record of Changes'' that has been 
incorporated into the 2016.1 PREP Guidelines. The 2016.1 PREP 
Guidelines are available for review in docket USCG-2017-0894, as 
described in the ADDRESSES section of this notice.
    The Coast Guard is preparing a regulatory analysis of the potential 
deregulatory savings that may result from the revisions proposed in the 
2016.1 PREP Guidelines. We will publish a Federal Register notice when 
the regulatory analysis is uploaded to the public docket and we will 
establish an additional 30-day public comment period for comments on 
the regulatory analysis. During the additional 30-day comment period 
for the regulatory analysis, the Coast Guard will also accept comments 
that directly pertain to the revisions proposed in the 2016.1 PREP 
Guidelines.

III. Summary of Changes

    A ``Record of Changes'' has been added to the 2016.1 PREP 
Guidelines. This log is a comprehensive listing of the specific 
revisions proposed by PREP 4C. Revisions in the 2016.1 PREP Guidelines 
affect the USCG, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) 
and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exercises only. The Pipeline 
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) sections are 
unaffected by the revisions proposed in the 2016.1 PREP Guidelines.

USCG-Specific Revisions

    One of the significant revisions is to the Remote Assessment and 
Consultation (RAC) drill frequency. The existing frequency will be 
decreased from one drill per vessel per year, to one drill per Plan 
Holder per triennial cycle. Additional revisions include allowing RAC 
drills to be combined with Qualified Individual (QI) drills, and adding 
language that states QI and Salvage and Marine Fire Fighter providers 
must be contacted as specified in the approved Vessel Response Plan.

BSEE-Specific Revisions

    Language was added to BSEE Section 6.2 for Incident Management Team 
(IMT) Exercises for Offshore Facilities. The ``Participating Elements'' 
part of that section now includes information clarifying that the 
incident commander, as well as the command and general staffs, at a 
minimum, should be exercised during an IMT functional exercise. The 
``Participating Elements'' part now also requires that source control 
positions participate when source control objectives are being 
exercised, and encourages operators to request BSEE participation for 
the role of a Source Control Support Coordinator when appropriate.
    ``Objectives'' also has new language that clarifies expectations 
regarding the involvement of IMT members in the exercise design 
process. The BSEE acknowledges that there is sometimes a need to 
involve key members of the IMT

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in the selection of objectives, plan components, and issues that will 
be tested during an exercise. The BSEE also believes that it is 
important that IMT members who will be participating as players in the 
exercise, including the incident commander, do not have knowledge of 
the exercise scenario script prior to the start of the exercise. This 
provision will ensure that all the required IMT positions can be 
properly exercised and evaluated to test their overall preparedness.

EPA-Specific Revisions

    Language was removed from Section 2.3.7.2.3, which addresses 
``Unannounced Exercises for Non-Transportation-Related Facilities 
Regulated by the EPA.'' Section 2.3.7.2.3 had indicated that 
alternative response times may be approved by the EPA Regional 
Administrator; however, there is no supporting regulatory language in 
40 CFR part 112 that specifically provides for this allowance. This 
change removes the language regarding alternate response times being 
approved by the Regional Administrator, and aligns the PREP Guidelines 
with the existing regulatory language in 40 CFR part 112.
    This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: December 19, 2017.
Joseph B. Loring,
Captain, Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy.
[FR Doc. 2017-27602 Filed 12-21-17; 8:45 am]
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