[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15486-15487]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-05652]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2019-0946]


Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' 
Advisory Council

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of recertification.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the recertification of 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 an alternative 
composition, other than prescribed, Prince William Sound Program 
established by statute.

DATES: This recertification is effective for the period from March 2, 
2020, through February 28, 2021.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document, 
call or email LT Ian McPhillips, Seventeenth Coast Guard District 
(dpi), by phone at (907) 463-2809 or email at 
Ian.P.McPhillips@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard published guidelines on December 31, 1992 (57 FR 
62600), 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). The Coast Guard issued a policy statement on 
July 7, 1993 (58 FR 36504), 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. Most recently, on 
September 16, 2002 (67 FR 58440), the Coast Guard changed its policy on 
recertification procedures for regional citizen's advisory council by 
requiring applicants to provide comprehensive information every three 
years. For the two years in between, applicants only submit information 
describing substantive changes to the information provided at the last 
triennial recertification. This is the year in the triennial cycle in 
which PWSRCAC provided comprehensive information on its application for 
recertification. The Coast Guard solicited public comments on PWSRCAC 
recertification through a Notice; Request for comments published on 
December 26, 2019, titled ``Application for Recertification of Prince 
William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council'' (82 FR 29572).
    The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company pays the PWSRCAC $3.7 million 
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, nonprofit 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 ``alternative voluntary advisory group.'' 
Alyeska Pipeline Service Company funds the PWSRCAC, and the Coast Guard 
ensures the PWSRCAC operates in a fashion that is broadly consistent 
with OPA 90.

[[Page 15487]]

Discussion of Comments

    On December 26, 2019, the Coast Guard published a Notice; Request 
for comments titled ``Application for Recertification of Prince William 
Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council'' in the Federal Register (82 
FR 29572). We received 69 comments, all in support of the PWSRCAC 
recertification. No public meeting was requested. The comments 
consistently cited PWSRCAC's broad representation of the respective 
communities' 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 25, 2020, the Commander, Seventeenth Coast 
Guard District, certified that the PWSRCAC qualifies as an alternative 
voluntary advisory group under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o). This recertification 
terminates on February 28, 2021.

    Dated: February 25, 2020.
Matthew T. Bell, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2020-05652 Filed 3-17-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


