[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42279-42280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20635]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 96-041]


Annual Certification of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' 
Advisory Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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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, a voluntary advisory group instead of a Regional Citizens' 
Advisory Council for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification 
allows the advisory group to monitor the activities of terminal 
facilities and crude-oil tankers under the Prince William Sound Program 
established by the statute. The purpose of this notice is to inform the 
public that the Coast Guard has recertified the advisory group for 
Prince William Sound, Alaska.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1998.


[[Page 42280]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Mark Meza, Project Manager, Port and Environmental Management 
Division (G-MOR-1), (202) 267-0421, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 
Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Congress passed, as part of the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990, the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental 
Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990 (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 2732, to 
foster the long-term partnership among industry, government, and local 
communities in overseeing compliance with environmental concerns in the 
operation of terminal facilities and crude-oil tankers.
    Sub-section 2732(o) permits an alternative voluntary advisory group 
to represent the communities and interests in the vicinity of the 
terminal facilities in Prince William Sound, instead of a council of 
the type specified in sub-section 2732(d), if certain conditions are 
met. The Act requires that the group enter into a contract to ensure 
annual funding, and that it receive annual certification by the 
President to the effect that it fosters the general goals and purposes 
of the Act and is broadly representative of the community and interests 
in the vicinity of the terminal facilities. Accordingly, in 1991, the 
President granted certification to the Prince William Sound Regional 
Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC). He later delegated the authority 
to certify alternative advisory groups to the Commandant of the Coast 
Guard, who redelegated it to the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
    On May 22, 1997, in the Federal Register, the Coast Guard announced 
the availability of the application for recertification that it 
received from the PWSRCAC and requested comments (62 FR 28099). It 
received thirteen comments.

Discussion of Comments

    All of the comments received by the Coast Guard supported 
recertification of the PWSRCAC. One of the comments recommended a 
change in PWSRCAC operations to ensure consistent presentation of 
PWSRCAC official positions. It is the Coast Guard's position that this 
comment as well as the other more general comments be forwarded to 
PWSRCAC for their review and appropriate action. Since none of the 
comments received opposed the recertification, the Coast Guard has 
determined that recertification of the PWSRCAC in accordance with the 
Act is appropriate.
    Recertification: By letter dated July 8, 1997, the Assistant 
Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental Protection certified 
that the RCAC qualifies as an alternative voluntary advisory group 
under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification terminates on June 30, 
1998.

    Dated: July 27, 1997.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-20635 Filed 8-5-97; 8:45 am]
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