
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62428-62429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25973]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2011-0852]


Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (CIRCAC) Charter 
Renewal

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of recertification.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that the 
Coast Guard has recertified the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory 
Council (CIRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook 
Inlet, Alaska. This certification allows the CIRCAC to monitor the 
activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Cook 
Inlet Program established by statute.

DATES: This recertification is effective for the period from September 
1, 2011, through August 31, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LCDR Michael Franklin, Seventeenth 
Coast Guard District (dpi); Telephone (907) 463-2821, e-mail 
Michael.R.Franklin@uscg.mil.

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 (CG-5), 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, that 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 procedure, applicants submit a letter requesting 
recertification that includes a description of any substantive changes 
to the information provided at the previous triennial recertification.

[[Page 62429]]

Further, public comment is not solicited prior to recertification 
during streamlined years, only during the triennial comprehensive 
review.

Discussion of Comments

    On July 18, 2011, the USCG published a Notice of Availability; 
request for comments for recertification of the Cook Inlet Regional 
Citizens' Advisory Council in the Federal Register (76 FR 42134). We 
received 15 letters commenting on the proposed action. No public 
meeting was requested, and none was held. Of the 15 letters received, 
14 were in support of the CIRCAC application for recertification. These 
letters in support of the recertification consistently cited CIRCAC's 
broad representation of the respective community's interests, 
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. One 
comment recommended against recertification and expressed concern that 
CIRCAC did not represent the communities and interests of Cook Inlet 
and that the CIRCAC did not promote environmentally safe marine 
transportation and oil facility operations. All comments were taken 
into consideration, together with the information provided with the 
CIRCAC 2011 application for recertification, and the totality of the 
comments and information provided establishes that the CIRCAC satisfies 
the requirements necessary to obtain recertification under the Act, 33 
U.S.C. 2732 et seq.

Recertification

    By letter dated September 14, 2011, the Commander, Seventeenth 
Coast Guard District certified that the CIRCAC qualifies as an 
alternative voluntary advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This 
recertification terminates on August 31, 2012.

    Dated: September 15, 2011.
Thomas P. Ostebo,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2011-25973 Filed 10-6-11; 8:45 am]
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