[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 5, 1997)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 5356-5357] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-2865] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Coast Guard 33 CFR Parts 154 and 155 [CGD 94-032 and 94-048] RIN 2115-AE87 and 2115-AE88 Tank Vessel and Facility Response Plans, and Response Equipment for Hazardous Substances AGENCY: Coast Guard. ACTION: Notice of workshop and public meeting; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: At the request of the Coast Guard, The Keystone Center is conducting a workshop to discuss specific issues related to the Coast Guard's development of proposed response plans regulations for certain tank vessels operating on the navigable waters of the United States or any marine transportation-related (MTR) facility, that, because of its location, could reasonably be expected to cause substantial or significant and substantial harm to the environment by discharging a hazardous substance. The purpose of the public meeting is to summarize the highlights of the workshop, and provide the general public the opportunity to respond to any findings or recommendations discussed during the workshop. DATES: The workshop will be held Wednesday, February 26, 1997, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., and Thursday, February 27, 1997, from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. The public meeting will be held Thursday, February 27, 1997, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Written statements and requests to make oral presentations must be received on or before February 26, 1997. ADDRESSES: The location of the workshop and public meeting is the Nassau Bay Hilton, 3000 NASA Road 1, Houston, Texas 77058, telephone 1- 800-634-4320. The workshop will be facilitated by The Keystone Center, a non-profit, public policy organization that specializes in developing creative problem-solving processes to assist diverse parties in addressing issues of importance to society. Written materials may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-LRA), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 3406 at the same address between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Comments will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection and copy at the same address. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant C. R. Thomas, Office of Standards Evaluation and Development (G-MSR), telephone (202) 267-1099, fax (202) 267-4547. The telephone number is equipped to record messages on a 24-hour basis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The President is required by the Oil Pollution of 1990 (OPA 90) to issue regulations requiring the preparation of hazardous substance response plans. The Coast Guard has been delegated the responsibility to develop these regulations. The Coast Guard commenced the regulation development process through public meetings and the publication of an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) (61 FR 20084) on May 3, 1996. The ANPRM solicited comments on 96 questions to assist in the development of separate notices of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for vessels and marine transportation-related facilities (MTR). The Coast Guard has reviewed the comments received via the public meetings and the ANPRM, and has determined that this workshop is necessary for further development of the NPRM. Agenda of Workshop The tentative agenda includes the following: Wednesday, February 26, 1997 8:30 a.m.--9:00 a.m.--Introduction 9:00 a.m.--12:15 p.m.--Session I--Role and Contents of First Responders Guides This session will explore how a ``First Responders Guide'' may be utilized to provide concise guidance to address immediate threats following a chemical release. Discussion points will include the usefulness of such a guide, recommended contents, and current industry standards of a similar nature. Wednesday, February 26, 1997 1:15 p.m.--5:30 p.m.--Session II--Role and Capabilities of Decision Support Systems This session will address how these regulations may reflect a non- prescriptive, performance based approach that aligns response with actual risk. One ``risk management'' tool that will be explored in this session is the use of a ``decision support system.'' For the purposes of the workshop, ``decision support system'' refers to any protocol that ensures required information is obtained by the responsible party in an expeditious manner. During this session, participants will assess the feasibility of integrating this concept into the regulatory scheme. [[Page 5357]] Thursday, February 27, 1997 8:00 a.m.--12:00 p.m.--Session III--Chemical Removal Technology This session will explore the range of viable containment, recovery, source control or chemical treatment options appropriate to reduce the risk to public health and the environment. Thursday, February 27, 1997 1:00 p.m.--5:00 p.m.--Session IV--Public Responder versus Private Responder Issues This session will examine the roles of local, public responders and the role of private, contracted responders within the context of hazardous substance response plan regulations. Thursday, February 27, 1997 7:00 p.m.--9:00 p.m.--Public Meeting Discussion of workshop highlights and open public comment. Procedural The workshop is open to the public; however, in order to provide a forum for balanced discussion on specific issues, The Keystone Center has invited a limited number of individuals to be actual participants in the various sessions. In sessions I through IV, the facilitator of the conference will schedule a period of time when the public may present limited, oral comments. As noted in the agenda, the public meeting is open to all individuals to make any comments or respond to points made during the workshop. Persons wishing to make oral presentations during the public meeting should notify the person listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than Thursday, February 20, 1997. Written material may be submitted prior to, during, or up to 30 days after the meeting. Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the workshop, contact the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Joseph J. Angelo, Director of Standards. [FR Doc. 97-2865 Filed 2-4-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-14-M