[Federal Register: January 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 16)]
[Notices]
[Page 4251]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24ja08-94]
[[Page 4251]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2008-0034]
Application for Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional
Citizens' Advisory Council
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of and seeks
comments on the application for recertification submitted by the Prince
William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) for March
1, 2008, through February 28, 2009. Under the Oil Terminal and Tanker
Environmental Oversight Act of 1990, the Coast Guard may certify on an
annual basis, an alternative voluntary advisory group in lieu of a
Regional Citizens' Advisory Council for Prince William Sound, Alaska.
This advisory group monitors the activities of terminal facilities and
crude oil tankers under the Prince William Sound program established by
the statute. The current certification for PWSRCAC will expire February
29, 2008.
DATES: Public comments on PWSRCAC's recertification application must
reach the Seventeenth Coast Guard District on or before February 25,
2008.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to the Seventeenth Coast Guard
District (dpi), P.O. Box 25517, Juneau, AK 99802-5517. Or, hand carried
documents may be delivered to the Juneau Federal Building, 709 West 9th
Street, Room 753, Juneau, AK between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
The Seventeenth Coast Guard District maintains the public docket
for this recertification process. The application and comments
regarding recertification will become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at the Juneau Federal Building, 709
West 9th Street, Room 753, Juneau, AK.
A copy of the application will also be available for inspection at
the PWSRCAC offices at 3709 Spenard Road, Anchorage, AK between the
hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal
holidays. PWSRCAC's telephone number is (907) 277-7222.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, contact LT Ken Phillips, Seventeenth Coast
Guard District (dpi), (907) 463-2821.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written
data, views, or arguments. We solicit comments from interested groups
including oil terminal facility owners and operators, owners and
operators of crude oil tankers calling at terminal facilities, and
fishing, aquacultural, recreational and environmental citizens groups,
concerning the recertification application of PWSRCAC. Persons
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify
this notice (USCG-2008-0034), the specific section of the document to
which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment.
Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic
filing. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of comments should
enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a
public hearing by writing to Commander (dp), Seventeenth Coast Guard
District, P.O. 25517, Juneau, AK 99802-5517. The request should include
reasons why a hearing would be beneficial. If there is sufficient
evidence to determine that oral presentations will aid this
recertification process, the Coast Guard will hold a public hearing at
a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.
Background and Purpose
The Coast Guard published guidelines on December 31, 1992 (57 FR
62600) to assist groups seeking recertification under the Oil Terminal
and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990 (33
U.S.C. 2732) (the Act). The Coast Guard issued a policy statement on
July 7, 1993 (58 FR 36504) to clarify the factors that the Coast Guard
would be considering in making its determination as to whether advisory
groups should be certified in accordance with the Act; and the
procedures which the Coast Guard would follow in meeting its
certification responsibilities under the Act. Most recently, on
September 16, 2002 (67 FR 58440) the Coast Guard changed its policy on
recertification procedures for regional citizen's advisory council by
requiring applicants to provide comprehensive information every 3
years. For the 2 years in between, applicants only submit information
describing substantive changes to the information provided at the last
triennial recertification. This is the year in this triennial cycle
that PWSRCAC must provide comprehensive information.
At the conclusion of the comment period, February 25, 2008, the
Coast Guard will review all application materials and comments received
and will take one of the following actions:
(a) Recertify the advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o);
(b) Issue a conditional recertification for a period of 90 days,
with a statement of any discrepancies, which must be corrected to
qualify for recertification for the remainder of the year; or
(c) Deny recertification of the advisory group if the Coast Guard
finds that the group is not broadly representative of the interests and
communities in the area or is not adequately fostering the goals and
purposes of 33 U.S.C. 2732.
The Coast Guard will notify PWSRCAC by letter of the action taken
on their respective applications. A notice will be published in the
Federal Register to advise the public of the Coast Guard's
determination.
Dated: January 7, 2008.
Arthur E. Brooks,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 08-284 Filed 1-18-08; 3:58 pm]
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