388 



Agencies to Commeint on Draft Impact Statement 



Department of Cormnerce — (a) NOAA 



(b) Maritime Administration 

 Environmental Protection Agency — (a) Office of Water Quality 



(b) Office of Federal Activities 

 Department of Defense — (a) Army Corps of Engineers 



(b) Department of the Navy 



(c) Office of Oceanographer of the Navy 

 Department of Transportation — Office of P^nvironmental Quality 

 Department of Interior — (a) Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife 



(b) Bureau of Land Management 



(c) Bureau of Outdoor Recreation 



Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement 



All comments received concerning the draft environmental impact statement 

 were used in the preparation of the final impact statement. Changes, correc- 

 tions, additions and expansions to all sections were made as necessary in reply 

 to comments of substantive value. Si^ecific replies to certain comments are 

 listed below. 



department of commerce letter of NOVEMBER 30, 1972 



The sources of the estimated pollution from U.S. flag vessels has been clarified 

 (see page 21). 



Vessels under 500 gross tons and tankers under 150 gross tons are not covered 

 by the Convention for the reasons as discussed on pp. 4-5. 



The alternative of having holding tanks on board vessels to retain bilge water 

 containing lubricating oil which has drained or leaked from machinery spaces 

 is discussed on pp. 37-38. 



Oily waste detection methods and equipment are discussed on pp. 26-27. 



ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY LETTER OF NOVEMBER 22, 1972 



Discussion of the definition of oil in the Convention and in the implementing 

 legislation is given on pp. 44-A5. 



It is felt that the discussion of the limitations of the load-on-top procedure 

 (pp. 19-20) is clear and concise. 



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MEMO OF 



JANUARY 15, 1973 



Section 5 of the impact statement, "Relationship between local short-term 

 use of man's environment . . ." has been expanded. 



DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 22, 1972 



The error noted on page 37 of the draft impact statement has been corrected 

 in the final impact statement. 



Section 5 of the impact statement has been expanded to be more specific. 



The Assistant Secretary of Commerce, 



Washington, D.C., ynvembcr 30, 1972. 

 Comdr. D. B. Charter, Jr., 

 Chief, Environmental Coordination Branch, 

 U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Commander Charter: The draft environmental impact statement on 

 S. 3766/H.R. 15627, a bill which amends the Oil Pollution Act of 1961 (75 

 Stat. 402), as amended, by implementing the 1969 and 1971 amendments to 

 the International Convention for the Prevention of the Pollution of the Sea 

 by Oil. 19.54, as amended, whi<h accompanied your letter of Septemlter 22, 1972, 

 has been received Ity the Department of Connnerce for review and comment. 



The Department of Commen-e has reviewed the draft environmental state- 

 ment and has the following comments to offer for your consideration. 



The estimated pollution from I'.S. flag vessels indicated on page 22 is in 

 question due to the methodology used. For example: The I'.S. percentage of 

 total deadweight tonnage would pre-suppose that all this tonnage was actively 



