82 FR 13643 - Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) Recertification

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 48 (March 14, 2017)

This notice informs the public that the Coast Guard has recertified the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification allows the PWSRCAC to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Prince William Sound Program established by statute.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 14, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13643-13644]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04987]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2016-1078]


Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council 
(PWSRCAC) Recertification

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of recertification.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs the public that the Coast Guard has 
recertified the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory 
Council (PWSRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Prince 
William Sound, Alaska. This certification allows the PWSRCAC

[[Page 13644]]

to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers 
under the Prince William Sound Program established by statute.

DATES: This recertification is effective for the period from March 1, 
2017 through February 28, 2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  LT P. Grizzle, Seventeenth Coast 
Guard District (dpi), by phone at (907) 463-2809, email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    As part of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, Congress passed the Oil 
Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 
1990 (the Act), 33 U.S.C. 2732, to foster a long-term partnership among 
industry, government, and local communities in overseeing compliance 
with environmental concerns in the operation of crude oil terminals and 
oil tankers.
    On October 18, 1991, the President delegated his authority under 33 
U.S.C. 2732(o) to the Secretary of Transportation in Executive Order 
12777, section 8(g) (see 56 FR 54757; October 22, 1991) for purposes of 
certifying advisory councils, or groups, subject to the Act. On March 
3, 1992, the Secretary redelegated that authority to the Commandant of 
the USCG (see 57 FR 8582; March 11, 1992). The Commandant redelegated 
that authority to the Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and 
Environmental Protection (G-M) on March 19, 1992 (letter #5402).
    On July 7, 1993, the USCG published a policy statement, 58 FR 
36504, to clarify the factors that shall be considered in making the 
determination as to whether advisory councils, or groups, should be 
certified in accordance with the Act.
    The Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection (G-M), redelegated recertification authority for advisory 
councils, or groups, to the Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard District 
on February 26, 1999 (letter #16450).
    On September 16, 2002, the USCG published a policy statement, 67 FR 
58440, which changed the recertification procedures such that 
applicants are required to provide the USCG with comprehensive 
information every three years (triennially). For each of the two years 
between the triennial application procedures, applicants submit a 
letter requesting recertification that includes a description of any 
substantive changes to the information provided at the previous 
triennial recertification. Further, public comment is not solicited 
prior to recertification during streamlined years, only during the 
triennial comprehensive review.
    The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company provides financial support to 
the PWSRCAC annually in the form of a long term contract. In return for 
this funding, the PWSRCAC must annually show that it ``fosters the 
goals and purposes'' of OPA 90 and is ``broadly representative of the 
communities and interests in the vicinity of the terminal facilities 
and Prince William Sound.'' The PWSRCAC is an independent, nonprofit 
organization founded in 1989. Though it receives Federal oversight like 
many independent, non-profit organizations, it is not a Federal agency. 
The PWSRCAC is a local organization that predates the passage of OPA 
90. The existence of the PWSRCAC was specifically recognized in OPA 90 
where it is defined as an ``alternate voluntary advisory group.''
    Alyeska funds the PWSRCAC, and the Coast Guard makes sure the 
PWSRCRC operates in a fashion that is broadly consistent with OPA 90.

Discussion of Comments

    On February 2, 2017 the USCG published a Federal Register Notice; 
request for comments for recertification of Prince William Sound 
Regional Citizens' Advisory Council in the Federal Register (82 FR 
9214). We received 63 letters commenting on the proposed action. No 
public meeting was requested. Of the 63 letters received, 62 had 
positive comments. One comment was received recommending against the 
recertification of the PWSRCAC, as appropriate regulations are already 
in place since OPA 90's conception. Of the positive comments, these 
letters consistently cited PWSRCAC's broad representation of the 
respective community's interest, appropriate actions to keep the public 
informed, improvements to both spill response preparation and spill 
prevention, and oil spill industry monitoring efforts that combat 
complacency--as intended by the Act.

Recertification

    By letter dated February 27, 2017, the Commander, Seventeenth Coast 
Guard certified that the PWSRCAC qualifies as an alternative voluntary 
advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification terminates 
on February 28, 2018.

    Dated: February 27, 2017.
M.F. McAllister,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2017-04987 Filed 3-13-17; 8:45 am]
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