Notice2026-02072
Application for Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 2, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard announces the availability of, and seeks comments on, the recertification of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizen's Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) for a period of March 1, 2026 through February 28, 2027. Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), the Coast Guard may recertify the PWSRCAC on an annual basis. This group monitors the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Prince William Sound program established by the OPA 90 statute. The current certification for the PWSRCAC will expire February 28, 2026.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 21 (Monday, February 2, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4575-4576]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02072]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2026-0070]
Application for Recertification of Prince William Sound Regional
Citizens' Advisory Council
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of, and seeks
comments on, the recertification of the Prince William Sound Regional
Citizen's Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) for a period of March 1, 2026
through February 28, 2027. Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA
90), the Coast Guard may recertify the PWSRCAC on an annual basis. This
group monitors the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil
tankers under the Prince William Sound program established by the OPA
90 statute. The current certification for the PWSRCAC will expire
February 28, 2026.
DATES: Comments must be must be received by the Coast Guard on or
before February 15, 2026.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2026-0070 at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. See the ``Public Participation and
Request for Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section
for further instructions on submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document
call or email LT Case Kuikhoven, United States Coast Guard Arctic
District; telephone 907-463-2809, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f695978593d897d89d839f9d9e99809398b683859591d89b9f9a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b787a687e357a35706e727073746d7e755b6e68787c35767277">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Public Participation and Comments
We encourage you to submit comments (or related material) on the
recertification of the PWSRCAC. We will consider all comments and
material received during the comment period. If you submit a comment,
please include the docket number for this notice, indicate the specific
section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a
reason for each suggestion or recommendation.
Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. To do so, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, type USCG-
2026-0070 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this
document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on
the Comment option. If you cannot submit your material using
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions.
Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this
notice as being available in the docket, find the docket as described
in the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & Related
Material'' in the Document Type column. Public comments will also be
placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following instructions
on the <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> Frequently Asked Questions web page.
Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we
post to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> will include any personal information you
have provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to
this document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR
14226, March 11, 2020).
II. Background and Purpose
On December 31, 1992, the Coast Guard published Guidelines for
Recertification of Alternative Voluntary Groups In Lieu of a Council
(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 OPA 90 Act). On July 7, 1993, the Coast
Guard published a notice (58 FR 36504) identifying the factors that the
Coast Guard would consider in making its determination as to whether
advisory groups should be certified in accordance with the OPA 90 Act,
and the procedures which the Coast Guard would follow in meeting its
recertification responsibilities under the OPA 90 Act. On September 16,
2002, the Coast Guard published revised recertification procedure for
alternative voluntary advisory groups established in lieu of councils
(67 FR 58440). According to the revised procedures, an applicant
alternative group requesting recertification is required to provide the
Coast Guard with a comprehensive application once every 3 years
(triennially). For each of the two years between the triennial
application procedures, the applicant utilizes a streamlined process
and submits a recertification application describing any substantive
changes to the information provided at the previous triennial
recertification. Public comment is only solicited during the triennial
comprehensive review. 2026 is the year in this triennial cycle that
PWSRCAC must provide comprehensive information.
The Coast Guard is accepting comments concerning the
recertification of PWSRCAC. At the conclusion of the comment period on
February 15, 2026, the Coast Guard will review all public comments
received and will take one of the following actions:
(a) Recertify the PWSRCAC under 33 U.S.C. 2732(o);
(b) Issue a conditional recertification for a period of 90 days,
with a statement of any discrepancies, which must be corrected to
qualify for recertification for the remainder of the year; or
(c) Deny recertification of PWSRCAC if the Coast Guard finds that
the group is not broadly representative of the interests and
communities in the area or is not adequately fostering the goals and
purposes of 33 U.S.C. 2732.
The Coast Guard will notify PWSRCAC by letter of the action taken
on its application. A notice will be
[[Page 4576]]
published in the Federal Register to advise the public of the Coast
Guard's determination.
R.R. Little,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, United States Coast Guard
Arctic District.
[FR Doc. 2026-02072 Filed 1-30-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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