[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59783-59784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23658]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[USCG-2014-0414]
Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (CIRCAC) Charter
Renewal
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of recertification.
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[[Page 59784]]
SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that the
Coast Guard has recertified the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory
Council (CIRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook
Inlet, Alaska. This certification allows the CIRCAC to monitor the
activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Cook
Inlet Program established by statute.
DATES: This recertification is effective for the period from September
1st, 2014 through August 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Thomas Pauser Seventeenth Coast
Guard District (dpi); Telephone (907)463-2812, email
[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 (the 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 USCG (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 USCG 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 (CG-5), 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 USCG published a policy statement, 67 FR
58440, that changed the recertification procedures such that applicants
are required to provide the USCG with comprehensive information every
three years (triennially). For each of the two years between the
triennial application procedure, 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.
Discussion of Comments
On May 23, 2014 the USCG published a Notice of Availability;
request for comments for recertification of Cook Inlet Regional
Citizens' Advisory Council in the Federal Register (76 FR 1187). We
received 54 comments from the public commenting on the proposed action.
No public meeting was requested, and none was held. All 54 comments
were positive and in support of recertification. These letters in
support of the recertification consistently cited CIRCAC's broad
representation of the respective community's interests, appropriate
actions to keep the public informed, improvements to both spill
response preparation and spill prevention, and oil spill industry
monitoring efforts that combat complacency--as intended by the Act. The
information provided with the 2014 application package, follow up
consultation with CIRCAC and public support through positive comments
displayed ample representation of the communities and interests of Cook
Inlet and promotion of environmentally safe marine transportation and
oil facility operations.
Recertification
By letter dated August 27, 2014, the Commander, Seventeenth Coast
Guard certified that the CIRCAC qualifies as an alternative voluntary
advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification terminates
on August 31, 2015.
Dated: August 27, 2014.
Daniel B. Abel,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 2014-23658 Filed 10-2-14; 8:45 am]
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