81_FR_6905 81 FR 6879 - Establishment of Dispersant Preauthorization Area in Alaska

81 FR 6879 - Establishment of Dispersant Preauthorization Area in Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 26 (February 9, 2016)

Page Range6879-6880
FR Document2016-02559

On behalf of the Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces establishment of a more inclusive, comprehensive, and conservative dispersant use policy that includes a preauthorization area and an enhanced protocol for use of chemical dispersant during responses to spills of crude oil in certain waters offshore of Alaska. Federal regulations covering certain vessel response plans require development of defined dispersant response capabilities when such vessels are operating in waters where dispersant use preauthorization agreements exist.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016) 
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6879-6880]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02559]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2016-0080]


Establishment of Dispersant Preauthorization Area in Alaska

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of dispersant preauthorization plan.

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[[Page 6880]]

SUMMARY: On behalf of the Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT), the 
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces establishment of a more inclusive, 
comprehensive, and conservative dispersant use policy that includes a 
preauthorization area and an enhanced protocol for use of chemical 
dispersant during responses to spills of crude oil in certain waters 
offshore of Alaska. Federal regulations covering certain vessel 
response plans require development of defined dispersant response 
capabilities when such vessels are operating in waters where dispersant 
use preauthorization agreements exist.

DATES: Plan holders for affected vessel response plans have 24 months 
from the date of publication of this notice to achieve compliance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document: 
From USCG: call or email Mark Everett, Incident Management & 
Preparedness Advisor, Seventeenth Coast Guard District, Juneau, AK; 
telephone (907) 463-2804; email [email protected];
    From Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): call or email Chris 
Field, Program Manager, Emergency Management Program (EPA Region 10); 
telephone (206) 553-1674; email [email protected];
    For the State of Alaska: call or email Gary Folley, Program 
Manager, Prevention, Preparedness & Response Program, Division of Spill 
Prevention & Response, Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; 
telephone (907) 262-3411; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Comments

    Because this notice is non-rulemaking, no public participation or 
comments are being taken. Questions can be directed to any person named 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section, above.

Discussion

    The Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT) is one of 13 interagency, 
intergovernmental groups responsible under the National Oil and 
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (a.k.a. National 
Contingency Plan or NCP) at 40 CFR part 300 for regional planning, 
including policy development, and coordination of preparedness and 
response actions related to discharges of oil and releases of hazardous 
materials and other pollutants and contaminants into the environment. 
The ARRT's responsibilities include development of policies regarding 
the preauthorization of certain alternative (non-mechanical) 
countermeasures, including chemical dispersants, used in oil spill 
response operations.
    Preauthorization for use of dispersants has not existed in the 
Alaska region since September 2008. This new policy change will allow 
for industry to develop a reliable, regulated dispersant use capability 
to be available to mitigate--if directed by the Federal On Scene 
Coordinator--large crude oil spills more readily. However, extensive 
government, tribal, and other stakeholder notifications would be 
required before use.
    Following a multi-year collaborative effort among governmental 
agencies as described in the NCP at 40 CFR 300.910, the ARRT signed a 
new Dispersant Use Plan for Alaska (Appendix I, Annex F, Alaska 
Federal/State Preparedness Plan for Response to Oil & Hazardous 
Substance Discharges/Releases [Unified Plan]) on January 27, 2016. This 
document includes, among other things, an updated protocol for use and 
monitoring of chemical dispersants in undesignated areas on a case-by-
case basis and a preauthorization plan for use and monitoring of 
chemical dispersants on spills from tank vessels carrying crude oil as 
cargo during non-innocent passage through certain areas north and south 
of the Aleutian Island chain and the northern Gulf of Alaska. The 
Dispersant Use Plan for Alaska may be found at www.alaskarrt.org.
    U.S. Coast Guard enforcement of the requirements of 33 CFR 154.1035 
and 1045 and 33 CFR 155.1035, and 1050 depends upon existence of a 
dispersant preauthorization plan (including a preauthorization area) 
which complies with the requirements of the NCP, specifically at 40 CFR 
300.910. Enforcement of the preauthorization area compliance 
requirements will take effect 24 months after publication of this 
notice to allow plan holders time to achieve compliance.
    Development of the Dispersant Use Plan for Alaska included 
compliance with the consultation (with National Marine Fisheries 
Service and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) requirements of section 7 of 
the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) analysis 
required by the Magnusson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management 
Act, consideration of the requirements of the Marine Mammal Protection 
Act (MMPA), outreach to affected communities and stakeholder groups, 
compliance with State of Alaska public notice requirements, and 
consultation with federally-recognized tribes as required by Executive 
Order 13175. Implementation of the new policy includes a 24-month 
timeline for development of dispersant areas to be avoided within 
geographic subareas covered by the preauthorization area. It also 
includes industry establishing sufficient dispersant capability in 
locales to be available for potential authorization for use by the 
Federal On Scene Coordinator during a spill response. Failure to 
establish dispersant areas to be avoided within geographic subareas 
covered by the preauthorization area will result in the entire 
geographic subarea reverting to the case-by-case dispersant use 
protocol used in undesignated areas until such time as dispersant use 
avoidance areas are developed.
    This notice is issued under authority of the Oil Pollution Act of 
1990 and Executive Order 12777.

    Dated: January 28, 2016.
M.L. Everett,
Incident Management & Preparedness Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard District 
Seventeen.
[FR Doc. 2016-02559 Filed 2-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Notices 6879 Date: March 4, 2016. Contact Person: Kristin Kramer, Ph.D., property such as patentable material, Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Scientific Review Officer, Center for and personal information concerning Agenda: To review and evaluate grant Scientific Review, National Institutes of individuals associated with the grant applications. Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5205, applications, the disclosure of which Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701 MSC 7846, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 437– Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, 0911, kramerkm@csr.nih.gov. would constitute a clearly unwarranted (Telephone Conference Call). invasion of personal privacy. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Contact Person: Gregory S Shelness, Ph.D., Review Special Emphasis Panel, Member Name of Committee: Microbiology, Scientific Review Officer, Center for Conflict: Neurobiology of Visual Cognition Infectious Diseases and AIDS Initial Review Scientific Review, National Institutes of and Perception. Group; Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6156, Date: March 7, 2016. B Subcommittee. Bethesda, MD 20892–7892, (301) 435–0492, Time: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Date: February 29–March 1, 2016. shelnessgs@csr.nih.gov. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Name of Committee: Center for Scientific applications. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant Review Special Emphasis Panel; Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701 applications. Fellowships: Biophysical, Physiological, Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, Place: Residence Inn Bethesda, Calvert Pharmacological and Bioengineering (Virtual Meeting). Room 1&2, 7335 Wisconsin Avenue, Neuroscience. Contact Person: Wei-Qin Zhao, Ph.D., Bethesda, MD 20814. Date: March 7–8, 2016. Scientific Review Officer, Center for Contact Person: Ellen S. Buczko, Ph.D., Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Scientific Review, National Institutes of Scientific Review Officer, Scientific Review Agenda: To review and evaluate grant Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5181 Program, Division of Extramural Activities, applications. MSC 7846, Bethesda, MD 20892–7846, 301– National Institutes of Health/NIAID, 6700B Place: Embassy Suites at the Chevy Chase 435–1236, zhaow@csr.nih.gov. Rockledge Drive, MSC 7616, Bethesda, MD Pavilion, 4300 Military Road NW., 20892–7616, 301–451–2676, ebuczko1@ Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Washington, DC 20015. niaid.nih.gov. Review Special Emphasis Panel; Member Contact Person: Paula Elyse Schauwecker, Conflict: Sleep, Memory, Anxiety and This notice is being published less than 15 Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, National Reward. days prior to the meeting due to the timing Institutes of Health, Center for Scientific Date: March 7, 2016. limitations imposed by the review and Review, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 5211, Time: 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. funding cycle. Bethesda, MD 20892, schauweckerpe@ Agenda: To review and evaluate grant Name of Committee: National Institute of csr.nih.gov. applications. Allergy and Infectious Diseases Special Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701 Emphasis Panel; ‘‘Comprehensive Resources Review Special Emphasis Panel; Member Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, for HIV Microbicides and Biomedical Conflict: Gastrointestinal and Liver (Virtual Meeting). Prevention (N01)’’. Pathobiology and Toxicology. Contact Person: Wind Cowles, Ph.D., Date: March 2, 2016. Date: March 7–8, 2016. Scientific Review Officer, Center for Time: 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Scientific Review, National Institutes of Agenda: To review and evaluate contract Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive Room 3172, proposals. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant Bethesda, MD 20892, cowleshw@csr.nih.gov. Place: National Institutes of Health, Room applications. (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance 6F100, 5601 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701 20892, (Telephone Conference Call). Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, Program Nos. 93.306, Comparative Medicine; Contact Person: Jay R Radke, Ph.D., AIDS (Virtual Meeting). 93.333, Clinical Research, 93.306, 93.333, Review Branch, Scientific Review Program, Contact Person: Atul Sahai, Ph.D., 93.337, 93.393–93.396, 93.837–93.844, Division of Extramural Activities, Room Scientific Review Officer, Center for 93.846–93.878, 93.892, 93.893, National #3G11B, National Institutes of Health, NIAID, Scientific Review, National Institutes of Institutes of Health, HHS) 5601 Fishers Lane MSC–9823, Bethesda, MD Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 2188, Dated: February 3, 2016. 20892–9823, (240) 669–5046, jay.radke@ MSC 7818, Bethesda, MD 20892, 301–435– nih.gov. 1198, sahaia@csr.nih.gov. David Clary, Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Program Nos. 93.855, Allergy, Immunology, Review Special Emphasis Panel; Topics in Committee Policy. and Transplantation Research; 93.856, Bacterial Pathogenesis. [FR Doc. 2016–02540 Filed 2–8–16; 8:45 am] Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Date: March 7, 2016. BILLING CODE 4140–01–P Research, National Institutes of Health, HHS) Time: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant Dated: February 4, 2016. applications. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND Natasha M. Copeland, Place: Residence Inn Bethesda, 7335 HUMAN SERVICES Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. Committee Policy. Contact Person: Richard G Kostriken, National Institutes of Health [FR Doc. 2016–02533 Filed 2–8–16; 8:45 am] Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Center for BILLING CODE 4140–01–P Scientific Review, National Institutes of National Institute of Allergy and Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 3192, Infectious Diseases; Notice of Closed MSC 7808, Bethesda, MD 20892, 240–519– 7808, kostrikr@csr.nih.gov. Meetings DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND Name of Committee: Center for Scientific Pursuant to section 10(d) of the SECURITY Review Special Emphasis Panel; PAR13–325: Federal Advisory Committee Act, as Development of Appropriate Pediatric amended (5 U.S.C. App.), notice is Coast Guard Formulations and Pediatric Drug Delivery mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES hereby given of the following meetings. [USCG–2016–0080] Systems. The meetings will be closed to the Date: March 7, 2016. Establishment of Dispersant public in accordance with the Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Preauthorization Area in Alaska Agenda: To review and evaluate grant provisions set forth in sections applications. 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), Title 5 U.S.C., AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. Place: National Institutes of Health, 6701 as amended. The grant applications and ACTION: Notice of establishment of Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, the discussions could disclose dispersant preauthorization plan. (Virtual Meeting). confidential trade secrets or commercial VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Feb 08, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09FEN1.SGM 09FEN1

6880 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 2016 / Notices SUMMARY: On behalf of the Alaska of certain alternative (non-mechanical) policy includes a 24-month timeline for Regional Response Team (ARRT), the countermeasures, including chemical development of dispersant areas to be U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces dispersants, used in oil spill response avoided within geographic subareas establishment of a more inclusive, operations. covered by the preauthorization area. It comprehensive, and conservative Preauthorization for use of also includes industry establishing dispersant use policy that includes a dispersants has not existed in the sufficient dispersant capability in preauthorization area and an enhanced Alaska region since September 2008. locales to be available for potential protocol for use of chemical dispersant This new policy change will allow for authorization for use by the Federal On during responses to spills of crude oil in industry to develop a reliable, regulated Scene Coordinator during a spill certain waters offshore of Alaska. dispersant use capability to be available response. Failure to establish dispersant Federal regulations covering certain to mitigate—if directed by the Federal areas to be avoided within geographic vessel response plans require On Scene Coordinator—large crude oil subareas covered by the development of defined dispersant spills more readily. However, extensive preauthorization area will result in the response capabilities when such vessels government, tribal, and other entire geographic subarea reverting to are operating in waters where dispersant stakeholder notifications would be the case-by-case dispersant use protocol use preauthorization agreements exist. required before use. used in undesignated areas until such DATES: Plan holders for affected vessel Following a multi-year collaborative time as dispersant use avoidance areas effort among governmental agencies as are developed. response plans have 24 months from the described in the NCP at 40 CFR 300.910, This notice is issued under authority date of publication of this notice to the ARRT signed a new Dispersant Use of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and achieve compliance. Plan for Alaska (Appendix I, Annex F, Executive Order 12777. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For Alaska Federal/State Preparedness Plan information about this document: From Dated: January 28, 2016. for Response to Oil & Hazardous USCG: call or email Mark Everett, M.L. Everett, Substance Discharges/Releases [Unified Incident Management & Preparedness Incident Management & Preparedness Plan]) on January 27, 2016. This Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard District Seventeen. Advisor, Seventeenth Coast Guard document includes, among other things, District, Juneau, AK; telephone (907) an updated protocol for use and [FR Doc. 2016–02559 Filed 2–8–16; 8:45 am] 463–2804; email Mark.Everett@uscg.mil; monitoring of chemical dispersants in BILLING CODE 9110–04–P From Environmental Protection undesignated areas on a case-by-case Agency (EPA): call or email Chris Field, basis and a preauthorization plan for Program Manager, Emergency DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND use and monitoring of chemical Management Program (EPA Region 10); SECURITY dispersants on spills from tank vessels telephone (206) 553–1674; email carrying crude oil as cargo during non- Field.Chris@epa.gov; U.S. Customs and Border Protection innocent passage through certain areas For the State of Alaska: call or email north and south of the Aleutian Island [USCBP–2016–0007] Gary Folley, Program Manager, chain and the northern Gulf of Alaska. Prevention, Preparedness & Response Receipt of Domestic Interested Party The Dispersant Use Plan for Alaska may Program, Division of Spill Prevention & Petition Concerning the Tariff be found at www.alaskarrt.org. Response, Alaska Department of U.S. Coast Guard enforcement of the Classification of a Steel Tube Fitting Environmental Conservation; telephone requirements of 33 CFR 154.1035 and AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border (907) 262–3411; email gary.folley@ 1045 and 33 CFR 155.1035, and 1050 Protection, Department of Homeland alaska.gov. depends upon existence of a dispersant Security. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: preauthorization plan (including a ACTION: Notice; solicitation of preauthorization area) which complies comments. Public Participation and Comments with the requirements of the NCP, Because this notice is non- specifically at 40 CFR 300.910. SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border rulemaking, no public participation or Enforcement of the preauthorization Protection (CBP) has received a petition comments are being taken. Questions area compliance requirements will take submitted on behalf of a domestic can be directed to any person named in effect 24 months after publication of this interested party requesting the the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT notice to allow plan holders time to reclassification under the Harmonized section, above. achieve compliance. Tariff Schedule of the United States Development of the Dispersant Use (HTSUS) of a steel tube fitting from Discussion Plan for Alaska included compliance Taiwan. CBP classified the steel tube The Alaska Regional Response Team with the consultation (with National fitting under subheading 7307.99.50, (ARRT) is one of 13 interagency, Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish HTSUS, which provides for: ‘‘Tube or intergovernmental groups responsible & Wildlife Service) requirements of pipe fittings (for example, couplings, under the National Oil and Hazardous section 7 of the Endangered Species Act elbows, sleeves), of iron or steel: Other: Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (ESA), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Other: Other.’’ The 2015 column one, (a.k.a. National Contingency Plan or analysis required by the Magnusson- general rate of duty is 4.3 percent ad NCP) at 40 CFR part 300 for regional Stevens Fisheries Conservation and valorem. Petitioner contends that the planning, including policy Management Act, consideration of the proper classification for the steel tube mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES development, and coordination of requirements of the Marine Mammal fitting is under subheading 8412.90.90, preparedness and response actions Protection Act (MMPA), outreach to HTSUS, which provides for: ‘‘Other related to discharges of oil and releases affected communities and stakeholder engines and motors, and parts thereof: of hazardous materials and other groups, compliance with State of Alaska Parts: Other.’’ Petitioner asserts that pollutants and contaminants into the public notice requirements, and some of its competitors are classifying environment. The ARRT’s consultation with federally-recognized all or a substantial portion of similar responsibilities include development of tribes as required by Executive Order fittings as parts of hydraulic systems, policies regarding the preauthorization 13175. Implementation of the new under subheading 8412.90.90, HTSUS, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:54 Feb 08, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09FEN1.SGM 09FEN1


Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:30:07
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:30:07
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of establishment of dispersant preauthorization plan.
DatesPlan holders for affected vessel response plans have 24 months from the date of publication of this notice to achieve compliance.
ContactFor information about this document: From USCG: call or email Mark Everett, Incident Management & Preparedness Advisor, Seventeenth Coast Guard District, Juneau, AK; telephone (907) 463-2804; email [email protected];
FR Citation81 FR 6879 
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