Interagency ship scrapping review panel charter

[Polly Parks <pparks@igc.org>]

Public comment is encouraged at a site at: http://es.epa.gov/oeca

 February 10, 1998

 CHARTER FOR THE
 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
 INTERAGENCY SHIP SCRAPPING REVIEW PANEL

A. PURPOSE: To review the Department of Navy and U.S. Maritime
Administration (MARAD) programs to scrap vessels and, as necessary,
make recommendations for improvement. The focus will be to ensure that
these vessels are scrapped in an environmentally sound, safe, and
commercially economically feasible manner.

The Panel will review the process and procedures in place and in
development for scrapping vessels, from preparing vessels for scrapping
through to final closure of contracting actions, for domestic as well
as international ship scrapping. Specific activities to be examined
will include, but not be limited to: information about the hazardous
and toxic materials on the vessels; the legal authorities for scrapping
vessels; the language in solicitations/requests for technical
proposals; development of government cost estimates; the criteria used to
evaluate technical proposals/bids; the process for reviewing technical
proposals/bids to include technical expertise of members of the review
panel; contract clauses; the ability of industry to responsibly carry
out government contracting requirements; level, technical capability,
and process of the DoD, MARAD, OSHA, and EPA oversight of 
contractor/purchaser operations; and relationships with environment, safety,
and occupational health regulators. In addition, the Panel will review
information related to EPA's consideration of whether the export of
Non-Liquid PCBs (NLPCBs) in vessels to be scrapped presents no
unreasonable risk. the basis, if any, for a determination of no
unreasonable risk associated with the solid PCBs in vessels to be scrapped.

B. TERMINATION: The Panel will terminate on March 31, 1998, or earlier. The
Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition & Technology) (USD(A&T)) may
recommend the continuation of the Panel, if needed.

C. AUTHORITY: The Interagency Ship Scrapping Review Panel is established by
direction of USD(A&T) on December 24, 1997.

D. FUNDING: Members of the Panel will fund their own participation, with the
exception of the representative of a state environmental agency, if
invited to participate.

E. MEMBERSHIP: The Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Cleanup)
will serve as the chair. Representatives from the Office of the Deputy
Under Secretary of Defense (Environmental Security) will serve as the
Secretary of the Panel. The Panel will consist of one representative
from the Department of State, the Department of the Navy, the Defense
Logistics Agency, the Department of Justice, the Department of Commerce
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of
Labor -- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the
Department of Transportation -- Maritime Administration, the Department
of Transportation -- U.S. Coast Guard, and the Environmental Protection
Agency. Representatives of the Office of the Secretary of Defense's
Director of Defense Procurement and Office of General Counsel
will serve as advisors to the Panel.

Each Panel Member will identify a Liaison and a Legislative Affairs (LA)
point of contact. The Liaisons and LAs can attend all meetings with
their Panel Members. In the event that a Panel Member cannot attend a
meeting, they are required to designate an Alternate Panel Member that
has authority of the Panel Member. The Liaison may serve as the
Alternate Panel Member, if desired. The Legislative Affairs points of
contact will coordinate all dealings with Congress.

F. OTHER PARTICIPANTS: The Panel may invite representatives of other DoD or
MARAD functional areas or representatives of other government
organizations or activities to participate on an as needed basis.
Representatives of non-government organizations may be asked to provide
information to or communicate with the Panel, but may not participate
in the development of any recommendations.

G. PROCEDURES: The Chair will encourage open discussion and expression of
views during the meetings. The Panel Members will ensure that their
organizations are fully informed on results of the Panel meetings and
will seek to represent the consensus position of their respective
organizations.

The Secretary will develop and distribute minutes, including items agreed
upon, disagreed upon and action items. Draft minutes shall be forwarded
to the Panel Members for review and comment within two business days
following the Panel meeting. The Panel Members shall provide comments
within two business days of receipt, or the minutes will be assumed
correct. Security sensitive issues may be discussed in a closed session and
not reflected in the minutes.

H. REPORT: The final report from the Panel and any recommendations will be
reached by majority vote. Alternative views, if any, will be appended
to the final report. The Panel results and any recommendations will be
presented to the USD(A&T). After endorsement, the USD(A&T) will provide
the report to Panel Members and Congress and make the report available to
the public.

I. WORK GROUPS: As necessary, the Panel may establish Work Groups to examine
specific issues. Each of the Work Groups will be chaired by a DoD
representative. Panel Members shall offer representatives to
participate in the Work Groups, as appropriate. The Work Groups will
develop proposed Goals and Objectives for Panel approval. The Work
Groups will provide status reports at each Panel meeting. Each Work Group
will draft a separate chapter for the final report to reflect the
results of their review and any recommendations. The reports
will include Issue, Background, Discussion, Findings and
Recommendations, if any, and be concise. The Work Groups may
include, but are not limited to, International Policy & Law,
Environment, Safety, and Occupational Health Impacts of Ship
Scrapping, Ship Scrapping Process & Industrial Base, and Contracting & Costs.

 APPROVAL:
 ______/S/_____________
 Dr. Jacques Gansler
 Under Secretary of Defense
 (Acquisition & Technology)
 Dated: __2/10/98_________