[Federal Register: December 29, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 249)]
[Notices]               
[Page 79496]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29de08-77]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2008-1229]

 
Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice seeking public comments on MARPOL Reception Facilities.

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SUMMARY: The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC), through 
its Working Group on the International Convention for the Prevention of 
Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex, has been tasked with providing 
comment and recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard for optimizing 
domestic MARPOL port reception facilities. CTAC is a committee formed 
under the authority of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), 5 
U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463). To assist and complement CTAC's efforts, 
the Coast Guard is hereby seeking comments from the public on MARPOL 
reception facilities in the U.S. The Coast Guard is specifically 
interested in identifying all issues that negatively impact MARPOL 
implementing regulations for port reception facilities; and 
recommendations to address those issues.
    CTAC Tasking: The original Task Statement that was provided to CTAC 
at the April 24, 2008 meeting in Washington, DC, included the 
following:
    1. Provide comments and recommendations as necessary on: (To be 
completed by the Spring of 2009)
     Impact, if any, on MARPOL compliance caused by a variance 
in disposal costs;
     Impact, if any, on MARPOL compliance caused by vessels 
having to shift berths to complete transfers;
     Plan to document MARPOL reception facility services 
required and received through an advanced notice of arrival and 
departure report;
     Disposal of residues at other than those facilities 
receiving the cargo related to those residues. Vessels currently have 
limited information on availability of Annex I and Annex II facilities 
at subsequent ports of call;
     Level of consistency in disposal procedures in fulfillment 
of federal, state and local MARPOL waste disposal requirements as well 
as operational variances among facilities. For example, in fulfillment 
of state requirements, some facilities may request pre-identification 
of constituents in Annex I as well as Annex II residues. Additionally, 
facilities themselves have differing disposal procedures; and,
     Feasibility of simultaneous MARPOL and cargo transfers at 
every facility. According to vessel operators, some facilities prohibit 
simultaneous discharge of MARPOL residues and cargo transfers thereby 
causing delays.
    2. Provide a final report in items listed above, a recommended way-
ahead to implement any recommendations (e.g., proposed changes to 
MARPOL and/or domestic regulations) and the corresponding implementing 
language. (To be completed by the fall of 2009)
    Seeking Public Comment: Possible areas of concern for stakeholders 
may include:
     Conflicts with other regulations;
     Disposal cost issues at ports/terminals;
     Requirement for lab analysis of Annex I or II wastes;
     Segregation of Annex V wastes; and
     Additional burden, if any, of adopting standardized 
Advance Notice Forms (ANF) and/or Waste Delivery Receipt (WDR) forms 
adopted by the International Maritime Organization.
    Public comments that are received will assist and complement CTAC's 
efforts. CTAC's MARPOL Annex working group is scheduled to meet in 
February 2009. Comments must be received by January 31, 2009 in order 
to be considered.

ADDRESSES: The public may address comments via USPS, e-mail or FAX, to 
Mr. James Prazak, CTAC Chairman, C/O The Dow Chemical Company, 2301 N. 
Brazosport Blvd., B-122, Freeport, TX 77541-3257. FAX (979) 238-9737, 
E-mail: jprazak@dow.com. The Coast Guard requests that copies of 
comments be sent HQ, U.S. Coast Guard, CG-5442, ATTN: Commander Michael 
Roldan, 2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001. Fax: 202-
372-1906, E-mail: luis.m.roldan@uscg.mil.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commander Michael Roldan, telephone 
202-372-1130, e-mail: luis.m.roldan@uscg.mil, or David Condino, MARPOL 
COA Project Manager, telephone 202-372-1145, e-mail: 
david.a.condino@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice seeking public comment is given under 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92-463).
    Public Meeting: A separate Notice will be given regarding the next 
CTAC meeting at which time the Coast Guard will seek to discuss such 
public comments and the recommendations of CTAC. This will be a public 
meeting and instructions will be provided for those wishing to make 
oral presentations at the meeting and/or wishing to provide written 
comments.

    Dated: December 19, 2008.
J. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. E8-30805 Filed 12-24-08; 8:45 am]

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