Application for Recertification of Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG-1998-4272]

Application for Recertification of Cook Inlet 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 Cook Inlet Regional Citizens'

Advisory Council (CIRCAC) for September 1, 1998, through August 31,

1999. Under the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and

Monitoring Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2732), the Coast Guard may certify,

on an annual basis, an alternative voluntary advisory group in lieu of

Regional Citizens' Advisory Councils for Cook Inlet.

DATES: Comments must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before

September 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail your comments to the Docket Management Facility

(USCG--1998-XXXX), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400

Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to room

PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the same address

between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays.

The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this

recertification process. Comments regarding recertification, and

documents as indicated in this preamble, will become part of this

docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room PL-401

on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the same address between

10 a.m. amd 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You

may also access this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

A copy of the applicant is also available for inspection at the

Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council's Offices, at 910

Highland Ave., Kenai, Alaska 99611-8033 between the hours of 8 a.m. and

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

number is (907) 283-7222 in Kenai, Alaska.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information regarding the

CIRCAC contact Lt. Pittman, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection

Directorate, Office of Response (G-MOR-1), (202) 267-0426. For

questions on viewing, or submitting material to, the docket, contact

Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone

202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written

data, views, or arguments. It solicits 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 CIRCAC. Persons

submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify

this rulemaking (USCG-1998-XXXX) and the specific section of this

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 to the Docket Management Facility at the address

under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments

should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.

The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the

comment period. It may change this recertification application or

application process in view of the comments.

The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a

public hearing by writing to the Docket Management Facility at the

address under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons why a

hearing would be beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for

oral presentations will aid this recertification process, the Coast

Guard will hold a public hearing at time and place announced by a later

notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

The Coast Guard published guidelines on December 31, 1992, 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) (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

CIRCAC, the currently certified advisory group for the Cook Inlet

region. In accordance with the review and certification process

contained in the policy statement, the Coast Guard announces the

availability of that application.

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 CIRCAC 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: July 29, 1998.

R.C. North,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety

and Environmental Protection.

[FR Doc. 98-21190 Filed 8-6-98; 8:45 am]

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