[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2484-2485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-1391]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Export Administration


Public Hearings on the Effects of Lifting the Export Ban on 
Alaskan North Slope Crude Oil

AGENCY: Bureau of Export Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of rescheduled public hearings.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export Administration 
(BXA) is rescheduling public hearings on the effects on the environment 
and the economy of lifting the ban on the export of Alaskan North Slope 
(ANS) crude oil that were announced in the Federal Register on December 
15, 1995 (60 FR 64412). BXA postponed the January 1996 hearings because 
of the government shutdown. The Department is conducting the hearings 
pursuant to the legislation that the President signed on November 28, 
1995 which, among other things, requires him to conduct an 
environmental review, as well as to examine the effect of exports on 
jobs, consumers, and supplies of oil. This notice announces the 
rescheduled hearing dates and sites and the cancellation of the hearing 
in Bakersfield, California. Persons who have previously requested the 
opportunity to testify should reconfirm their interest by contacting 
the Department at the address below. In the event the Department is not 
open for normal business during the new hearing dates, the hearings 
will be rescheduled.
DATES: The hearings will be held in Washington, D.C., on February 7, 
1996; Seattle, Washington, on February 9, 1996; and Anchorage, Alaska 
on February 12, 1996. Requests to speak must be submitted by February 
5, 1996. The hearing in Washington, D.C. will be held in Room 6009 of 
the Herbert Hoover Building, which is located at 14th Street and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20230. The hearing in 
Seattle will be held in the auditorium of the NOAA Western Regional 
Center, which is located at 7600 Sand Point Way, N.E., Seattle, 

[[Page 2485]]
Washington 98115. The hearing in Anchorage will be held in the 
auditorium of the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, which is located 
at 121 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska.

ADDRESSES: Send requests to speak and written copies of the oral 
presentation to Steven C. Goldman, Director, Office of Chemical and 
Biological Controls and Treaty Compliance, Room 2093, Bureau of Export 
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C., 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernard Kritzer, Manager, Short Supply 
Program, Office of Chemical and Biological Controls and Treaty 
Compliance, Room 2089, Bureau of Export Administration, U.S. Department 
of Commerce, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, 
D.C., 20230, Telephone (202) 482-0894, Fax (202) 482-0751.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 15, 1995, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Export 
Administration (BXA) published a notice in the Federal Register (60 FR 
64412) announcing its intention to hold public hearings on the 
environmental and economic affects of lifting the ban on the export of 
Alaskan North Slope (ANS) crude oil. The notice proposed four hearings. 
The notice also identified the issues on which the Department is 
interested in obtaining the public's views. It also set forth the 
procedures for public participation in the hearings. On December 28, 
BXA canceled the hearings because of the shutdown of the Federal 
Government. The hearings have been rescheduled as described in Section 
II of this notice.
    The hearings are pursuant to legislation that the President signed 
legislation (Public Law 104-58) authorizing exports of Alaskan North 
Slope (ANS) crude oil when transported in U.S.-flag tankers. The 
statute requires the President to consider the results of an 
``appropriate environmental review'' and other issues prior to making 
his national interest determination. The Department is soliciting 
public comments as described in the December 15, 1995 Federal Register 
notice.

II. Public Hearings and Comment Procedures

    The hearings will be held in Washington, D.C. on February 7, 1996; 
Seattle, Washington, on February 9, 1996; and Anchorage, Alaska on 
February 12, 1996. The hearings will commence at 8:30 a.m. and end at 
5:30 p.m. Requests to speak must be submitted by February 5, 1996. In 
the event the Department is not open for normal business during the new 
hearing dates, the hearings will be rescheduled.
    The hearing in Washington, D.C. will be held in room 6009 of the 
Herbert Hoover Building which is located at 14th Street and 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C, 20230. The hearing in 
Seattle will be held in Building 9 Auditorium, at the NOAA Western 
Regional Center which is located at 7600 Sand Point Way, NE, Seattle, 
Washington 98115. The hearing in the auditorium of the Anchorage Museum 
of History and Art which is located at 121 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage, 
Alaska.
    The Department encourages interested participants to present their 
views orally at the hearings. Any person wishing to make an oral 
presentation at the hearings must submit a brief written request to the 
Department of Commerce at the address indicated in the ADDRESS section 
of this notice. The written request must be received by BXA no later 
than February 5, 1996. The written requests to participate in the 
public hearings should describe the individual's interest in the 
hearing and, where appropriate, explain why the individual is a proper 
representative of a group or class of person that has such an interest. 
In addition, the request to speak should contain a daytime phone number 
where the person who will be making the oral presentation may be 
contacted before the hearing. On the day of the hearing, speakers 
should bring 2 copies of the summary of their oral presentation to the 
hearing address indicated in the DATES section of this notice.
    Persons may submit written comments for the record if they are 
unable to attend the hearings.
    Copies of the request to participate in the public hearings will be 
maintained at the Bureau of Export Administration's Freedom of 
Information Records Inspection Facility, Room 4525, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 
20230, telephone (202) 482-5653. The records in this facility may be 
copied in accordance with the regulations published in Part 4 of Title 
15 of the Code of Federal Regulations (15 CFR 4.1 et seq.). Information 
about the inspection and copying of records may be obtained from Mr. 
Ted Zois, the Bureau of Export Administration's Freedom of Information 
Officer, at the above address and telephone number between the hours of 
8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
    Each speaker may be limited to 10 or 15 minutes depending on the 
number of presenters. Comments may respond to the questions posed in 
Section I of the December 15, 1995 notice or any other related issue.
    A Commerce official will preside at the hearings. Representatives 
from other Federal agencies participating in the review also will 
attend the hearings. Only those conducting the hearing may ask 
questions.
    Any further procedural rules for the proper conduct of the hearing 
will be announced by the presiding officer.

    Dated: January 23, 1996.
Sue E. Eckert,
Assistant Secretary for Export Administration
[FR Doc. 96-1391 Filed 1-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DT-P