Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 121 /Wednesday, June 24, 1998 / Notices 34501

Internet site, which will have the

document posted.

Summaries will be prepared at the

conclusion of each workshop by the

Coast Guard which will be made

available to interested parties upon their

request. Summaries may be obtained by

calling VRP Status-line at 202–267–0434

or may be accessed through the Vessel

Response Plan Program Internet site

(http://www.uscg.mil/vrp).

For questions on this docket, contact

Carol Kelly, Coast Guard Dockets Team

Leader, or Paulette Twine, Chief,

Documentary Services Division, U.S.

Department of Transportation, 202–366–

9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Oil

Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90)

contained provisions that were intended

to increase the preparedness of tank

vessel owners or operators to respond to

a spill, as well as increase the oil spill

response capability in the United States.

To achieve these goals, minimum onwater oil-removal capability

requirements (often referred to as

‘‘caps’’) were set out in 33 CFR

154.1045(m) and 33 CFR 155.1050(o).

These equipment caps were established

in 1993 based on available equipment

and technology levels.

These caps were scheduled to

increase by 25% in 1998 as a planning

target for increasing response

capabilities within the United States. 33

CFR 154.1045(n) and 33 CFR

155.1050(p) requires the Coast Guard to

review the proposed increases to

determine if they are practicable prior to

implementing any new requirements.

The Coast Guard is charged with

evaluating other spill removal

technologies as part of that review. The

Coast Guard intends to review the

proposed increases with a holistic

approach to oil spill removal, evaluating

our national response capability in light

of all available technologies.

The Coast Guard published a

‘‘Request for Comment’’ with regard to

the cap review in the Federal Register

on January 27, 1998. The Coast Guard

received 21 written comments which

were entered into the public docket, as

well as numerous verbal comments from

interested stakeholders at various public

forums.

Raising the equipment requirements

for mechanical recovery systems

appears to be a controversial item, with

numerous comments received both for

and against such as increase. Many

comments suggested that the increase

was not necessary because the

equipment already exists. Other

comments agreed that the equipment

already exists, but argued that it was

obtained in anticipation of the

scheduled increase, and that a failure to

implement the new requirements will

result in equipment being sold off or put

out of service.

In order to ascertain whether existing

equipment stocks are able to meet the

scheduled 25% increase, the Coast

Guard National Strike Force

Coordination Center (NSFCC) reviewed

the availability of mechanical recovery

systems throughout the United States.

The NSFCC looked at the private sector

resources available to respond to a spill

in each Captain of the Port (COTP) zone

using the data compiled in the Regional

Response Inventory (RRI). The NSFCC

review indicates that mechanical

recovery systems are available in

quantities sufficient to meet the

proposed increase. The Coast Guard will

present a summary of this report at the

public workshops. While the NSFCC

report establishes that mechanical

recovery equipment is available to meet

the scheduled increases, the Coast

Guard must still determine whether

implementing such as increase is

practicable, which must include an

examination of the expected benefits in

comparison to the associated costs.

Most of the comments received

strongly supported developing new

requirements for other removal

technologies as part of any cap increase.

Many comments suggested that highrate removal technologies are a more

cost-effective or capacity-enhancing

method of increasing overall response

preparedness than mechanical recovery.

Other comments suggested that the use

of these technologies offers positive net

environmental benefits for many

response situations, and are a necessary

tool for today’s response infrastructure.

The use of dispersants was the most

widely supported means for increasing

the existing requirements, and was

generally preferred to increases in

mechanical recovery [in the comments

that were received].

The Coast Guard is reviewing

dispersants and other oil spill removal

technologies with regard to their

potential for inclusion in a proposed

cap increase. The Coast Guard is

evaluating a range of alternatives,

including mandatory requirements

/and/ or credits for dispersants, in situ

burning, and oil spill tracking resources.

The Coast Guard will present these

alternatives for discussion and comment

during these workshops. The Coast

Guard solicits public comment

regarding appropriate performance

dimensions for these technologies,

including: areas of applicability,

response times, ensured levels of

capability, application equipment,

application rates, monitoring,

anticipated costs and other applicable

planning requirements. Interested

persons are encouraged to submit any

pertinent written views, data, or

arguments, either prior to or during the

workshops, to the Coast Guard.

Agenda for the Workshops

Equipment Cap and Dispersant

Planning Public Workshop

The agenda includes the following

short information presentations, each

followed by an open discussion period:

(1) Introduction and presentation on

concept of Integrated Equipment Cap

Review.

(2) Presentation of National Strike

Force Coordination Center Report on

OSRO Resource Information.

(3) Presentation of summary of

comments received in response to

Request for Comment, Review of Cap

Increases, 63 FR 3861, January 27, 1998.

(4) Presentation and discussion of

potential changes to regulations as part

of integrated cap increase:

(a) Increases to Mechanical Recovery

(b) Required Dispersant Capabilities

Note: The Coast Guard will present a

concept position to facilitate discussion

during the workshop. The document

identifies key elements and issues for

dispersant planning. The concepts contained

within are mainly for discussion purposes

and are likely to change as a result of public

involvement and further regulatory analysis

to be performed at a later date. Participants

may obtain a copy of this document prior to

the workshop [see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION].

Information on Services for Individuals

with Disabilities

For information on facilities or

services for individuals with disabilities

or to request special assistance at the

meetings, contact LCDR John Caplis at

the address or phone number listed

under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT as soon as possible.

Dated: June 17, 1998.

Robert North,

Rear Admiral, Assistant Commandant for

Marine Safety and Environmental Protection.

[FR Doc. 98–16780 Filed 6–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–15–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Submission for OMB Review;

Comment Request

May 8, 1998.

The Department of Treasury has

submitted the following public

information collection requirement(s) to

OMB for review and clearance under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
34502 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 121 /Wednesday, June 24, 1998 / Notices

Public Law 104–13. Copies of the

submission(s) may be obtained by

calling the Treasury Bureau Clearance

Officer listed. Comments regarding this

information collection should be

addressed to the OMB reviewer listed

and to the Treasury Department

Clearance Officer, Department of the

Treasury, Room 2110, 1425 New York

Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20220.

Dates: Written comments should be

received on or before July 24, 1998 to be

assured of consideration.

Special Request: In order to conduct

the surveys described below at the end

of May 1998, the Department of the

Treasury is requesting that the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) review

and approve this information collection

by May 20, 1998. To obtain a copy of

this study, please contact the Internal

Revenue Service Clearance Officer at the

address listed below.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

OMB Number: 1545–1432.

Project Number: M:SP:V 98–009–G.

Type of Review: Revision.

Title: 1999 Filing Season TeleFile

Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Description: The IRS is planning to

conduct a three question automated

TeleFile customer satisfaction survey in

1999 administered to a sample of

taxpayers who successfully use

TeleFile. This survey will build on the

1998 data. In 1998 a six question

automated customer satisfaction survey

of taxpayers who had successfully used

TeleFile was developed with the Bureau

of Labor Statistics Behavioral Science

Research Center (BLS BSRC) to gather

data on the taxpayers’ satisfaction and

use of TeleFile.

Respondents: Individuals or

households.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

5,746.

Estimated Burden Hours Per

Respondent: 2 minutes.

Frequency of Response: Other (onetime only).

Estimated Total Reporting Burden:

192 hours.

Clearance Officer: Garrick Shear (202)

622–3869, Internal Revenue Service,

Room 5571, 1111 Constitution Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20224.

OMB Reviewer: Alexander T. Hunt,

(202) 395–7860, Office of Management

and Budget, Room 10226, New

Executive Office Building, Washington,

DC 20503

Dale A. Morgan,

Departmental Reports Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 98–16765 Filed 6–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4830–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

[T.D. 98–57]

Revocation of Marine Chemist Service

Inc. Customs Gauger Approval and

Laboratory Accreditations

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service,

Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of Revocation of Customs

Gauger Approval and Laboratory

Accreditations.

SUMMARY: Marine Chemist Service, Inc.

of Newport News, Virginia, a Customs

approved gauger and accredited

laboratory under Section 151.13 of the

Customs Regulations (19 CFR 151.13),

has requested that the U.S. Customs

Service revoke its gauger approval and

laboratory accreditations. Accordingly,

pursuant to 151.13(f) of the Customs

Regulations, notice is hereby given that

the Customs commercial gauger

approval and laboratory accrediations of

Marine Chemist Service, Inc. has been

revoked without prejudice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 9, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Michael Parker, Science Officer,

Laboratories and Scientific Services,

U.S. Customs Service, 1300

Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 5.5–B,

Washington, DC 20229 at (202) 927–

1060.

Dated: June 11, 1998.

George D. Heavey,

Director, Laboratories and Scientific Services.

[FR Doc. 98–16757 Filed 6–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820–02–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Customs Service

[T.D. 98–58]

Revocation of I.N.C. Surveys Customs

Gauger Approval

AGENCY: U.S. Customs Service,

Department of the Treasury.

ACTION: Notice of Revocation of Customs

Gauger Approval.

SUMMARY: I.N.C. Surveys of Houston,

Texas, a Customs approved gauger

under Section 151.13 of the Customs

Regulations (19 CFR 151.13), has

requested that the U.S. Customs Service

revokes its gauger approval.

Accordingly, pursuant to 151.13(f) of

the Customs Regulations, notice is

hereby given that the Customs

commercial gauger approval of I.N.C.

Surveys has been revoked without

prejudice.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 4, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Michael Parker, Science Officer,

Laboratories and Scientific Services,

U.S. Customs Service, 1300

Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 5.5–B,

Washington, DC 20229 at (202) 927–

1060.

Dated: June 9, 1998.

George D. Heavey,

Director, Laboratories and Scientific Services.

[FR Doc. 98–16756 Filed 6–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4820–02–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

[OMB Control No. 2900–0179]

Proposed Information Collection

Activity: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Veterans Benefits

Administration, Department of Veterans

Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Veterans Benefits

Administration (VBA), Department of

Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an

opportunity for public comment on the

proposed collection of certain

information by the agency. Under the

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of

1995, Federal agencies are required to

publish notice in the Federal Register

concerning each proposed collection of

information, including each proposed

extension of a currently approved

collection, and allow 60 days for public

comment in response to the notice. This

notice solicits comments for information

on the insured’s eligibility to change

his/her insurance plan.

DATES: Written comments and

recommendations on the proposed

collection of information should be

received on or before August 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments

on the collection of information to

Nancy J. Kessinger, Veterans Benefits

Administration (20S52), Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20420. Please refer

to ‘‘OMB Control No. 2900–0179’’ in

any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nancy J. Kessinger at (202) 273–7079 or

FAX (202) 275–5038.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the

PRA of 1995 (Public Law 104–13; 44

U.S.C., 3501–3520), Federal agencies

must obtain approval from the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) for each

collection of information they conduct

or sponsor. This request for comment is