Application for Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD 96-020]

Application for Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional

Citizens' Advisory Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of the application

for recertification submitted by the Prince William Sound Regional

Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) for July 1, 1996, through June 30,

1997. The application may be reviewed at the PWSRCAC office, 750 W. 2nd

Ave., Suite 100, Anchorage, Alaska, 99501-2168, between the hours of 8

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The

telephone number is (907) 277-7222. The Coast Guard seeks comments on

the application from interested groups. The Coast Guard will publish a

later notice in the Federal Register to notify the public of its

decision regarding the recertification request.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 14, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Commandant (G-MRO-1), ATTN: J.

Jackson, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20593-0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mrs. Janice Jackson, Response Operations Division, (202) 267-0500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker

Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2732)

(the Act), the Coast Guard may certify, on an annual basis, on

alternative voluntary advisory group in lieu of Regional Citizens'

Advisory councils for Cook Inlet and Prince William Sound Alaska. The

Coast Guard published guidelines on December 31, 1992, to assist groups

seeking recertification under the Act (57 FR 62600). The Coast Guard

issued a policy statement on July 7, 1993, (58 FR 36505), 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.

The Coast Guard has received an application for recertification of

PWSRCAC, the currently certified advisory group for the Prince William

Sound region. In accordance with the review and certification process

contained in the policy statement, the Coast Guard announces the

availability of that application. It solicits comments from interested

groups including oil terminal facility owners and operators, owners and

operators of crude oil tankers calling at the terminal facilities, and

fishing, aquacultural, recreational and environmental citizens groups,

concerning the recertification application of PWSRCAC. At the

conclusion of the comment period, 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.

(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 the Act.

The Coast Guard will notify PWSRCAC by letter of the action taken

on its application. A notice will be published in the Federal Register

to advise the public of the Coast Guard's determination.

Dated: April 23, 1996.

G.N. Naccara,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Field Activities Marine Safety,

Security and Environmental Protection.

[FR Doc. 96-10558 Filed 4-29-96; 8:45 am]

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