[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 1994)] [Unknown Section] [Page 0] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 94-8837] [[Page Unknown]] [Federal Register: April 13, 1994] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 150 [CGD 93-080] RIN 2115-AE69 Louisiana Offshore Oil Port: Expansion of Deepwater Port Safety Zone Boundaries AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is expanding the boundaries of the safety zone for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP). A deepwater port safety zone constitutes an area within which the erection of structures of mobile drilling operations for the exploration for or extraction of oil or gas is prohibited. Expanding the safety zone will enlarge the approach to the terminal portion of the safety zone and provide more unobstructed maneuvering room for vessels arriving and departing from LOOP. This will reduce the risk of a marine casualty and consequent pollution. EFFECTIVE DATE: May 13, 1994. ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated, documents referenced in this preamble are available for inspection or copying at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-LRA/3406), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street, SW., room 3406, Washington, DC 20593-0001 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Jonathan Burton, Office of Marine Environmental Protection (G-MEP), (202) 267-0426. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Drafting Information The principal persons involved in drafting this document are Lieutenant Commander Walter (Bud) Hunt, Project Manager, and Jacqueline Sullivan, Project Counsel, Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) Staff, (G-MS-1). Regulatory History On February 17, 1994, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Louisiana Offshore Oil Port: Expansion of Deepwater Port Safety Zone Boundaries'' in the Federal Register (59 FR 8096). The Coast Guard received eight letters commenting on the proposal. A public hearing was not requested, and one was not held. Background and Purpose The Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) requires the Secretary of Transportation to designate a zone of appropriate size around and including any deepwater port for the purpose of navigational safety and to protect the marine environment. This responsibility was delegated to the Coast Guard in 49 CFR 1.46(s). A deepwater port safety zone is designed to promote safety of life and property, marine environmental protection, and navigational safety at any deepwater port and adjacent waters. No installations, structures, or uses that are incompatible with port operations are permitted in a deepwater port safety zone. 33 CFR part 150 establishes the geographic boundaries of the safety zone for the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) in Annex A and provides for the modification of safety zone boundaries as experience is gained in deepwater port operations. The LOOP Safety Zone was first established on December 29, 1980 (45 FR 85644). On January 16, 1984, LOOP submitted to the Coast Guard a request for a waiver of the requirements of 33 CFR 150.337(a), which prohibits a tanker from entering or departing a safety zone by other than a designated safety fairway. LOOP submitted to the Coast Guard chart 11359 and indicated two uncharted areas adjacent to the safety zone which they referred to as excursion zones. LOOP requested that vessels calling at the deepwater port be provided with additional maneuvering room by allowing use of these excursion zones when departing or entering the LOOP safety zone. Deviations from the safety fairway into these zones came to be known as ``excursions.'' On February 20, 1987, the Coast Guard granted for 1 year a waiver of the requirements that tankers enter and leave the safety zone by the safety fairway. Since then, the Coast Guard has renewed the waiver on an annual basis. On December 30, 1987, LOOP asked the Coast Guard to make the waiver permanent. On February 8, 1988, the Coast Guard denied the request on the grounds that future exploration for or extraction of oil or gas might occur within one or both excursion zones. If such activity took place, the Coast Guard might have to revoke the waiver for the sake of safety. On January 21, 1992, the Coast Guard published a notice of petition for rulemaking and request for comments in the Federal Register announcing a request by LOOP that the Coast Guard expand the safety zone that surrounds the deepwater port (57 FR 2236). LOOP requested that the Coast Guard enlarge the safety zone by adding the two excursion zones and prohibit the erection of structures within the safety zone. This in effect makes permanent the annual waiver of the requirements of 33 CFR 150.337(a). The expanded safety zone will include the present excursion zones, broaden the entrance to LOOP, and prohibit the erection of structures or mobile drilling operations. Enlarging the safety zone will reduce the number of required vessel maneuverings and eliminate structures from the zone, possibly reducing the risk of accidents and consequent pollution. This safety zone reflects actual tanker activity at LOOP based on detailed records the Coast Guard has required LOOP to maintain. To resolve the potential for conflicting use between the expanded safety zone and oil and gas leases actually within the new zone, LOOP has agreed to compensate CONOCO, Inc., the lessee of Grand Isle Blocks 53, 58, 59, and 65. CONOCO, Inc. will then relinquish these blocks to MMS. LOOP will not seek further expansion of the safety zone or oppose any exploration and production activity outside or adjacent to the expanded safety zone. On November 2, 1993, in a letter to the Department of Transportation, the MMS stated that it supports the agreement between LOOP and CONOCO, Inc. MMS stated that it is prepared to prohibit surface occupancy of offshore oil and gas facilities in the safety zone. However, MMS stated that it may be economically and technically feasible to develop the resources lying beneath the safety zone by directional drilling. MMS would not prohibit subseabed access provided that surface facilities are located outside the safety zone. Such subseabed activity would not interfere with vessel activity in the safety zone. Under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1509(d)(1)), the Secretary of Transportation is required to consult with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Commerce prior to issuing the safety zone around any deepwater port for the purposes of navigational safety. The Coast Guard has informed the noted Departments of the safety zone expansion, and they have taken no exception to the safety zone as it appears in this final rule. Discussion of Comments and Changes The Coast Guard has received eight comments on the NPRM. Six comments endorsed the expansion of the safety zone or reversed previous comments which raised questions about the safety zone. One comment stated that LOOP should provide assurances that they will contain their activities to the limits of the safety zone and that LOOP should provide additional equipment and operational policies necessary to do so. The Coast Guard has determined that LOOP has taken sufficient measures to assure safe operation of the facility. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration identified four miles of submerged pipelines in the expanded safety zone. These pipelines have been located in this area at least since 1987 when the excursion zone was first put into effect. The Coast Guard concludes that the expanded safety zone will not increase the opportunity for disturbance of submerged pipelines in the safety zone. The Coast Guard has not revised the final rule based on comments received on the NPRM. Regulatory Assessment This rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(F)(1) of Executive Order 12866 (58 FR 51735; October 4, 1993), and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. It has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under that Order. It is not a significant regulation under the ``Department of Transportation Regulatory Policies and Procedures'' (44 FR 11040; February 26, 1979). The economic consequences of this rulemaking are minimal. Economic effects include impacts on mineral extraction and the commercial fishing industry. The expansion is relatively insignificant, comprising an approximate 15 percent increase in the size of the safety zone. When the original safety zone was established, it was not expected that there would be significant interference with mineral extraction or navigation. Due to the relatively small size of the expansion, no impacts on mineral extraction or navigation are expected in this case either. Access is available via alternative methods such as directional drilling. This rulemaking will have minimal economic consequences for commercial vessels, including commercial fishing vessels. Commercial fishing vessels will continue to have restricted use of portions of the safety zone as provided in 33 CFR Table 150.345(a). Therefore, due to the small additional area involved, the impact on fishing activities is negligible. No opposition to the NPRM was received from the commercial fishing industry. The Coast Guard did not receive any comments on the economic consequences of this rulemaking. In addition, this rulemaking provides permanent safety benefits. Providing additional maneuvering area minimizes the likelihood of a catastrophic pollution incident resulting from a vessel colliding with any portion of the LOOP facility. Therefore, the Coast Guard expects that expansion of the safety zone will reduce the environmental hazard. Small Entities Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Coast Guard must consider whether this safety zone will have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small entities'' include independently owned and operated small business concerns under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). The small entities affected by this rule are commercial fishing activities at the deepwater port. The Coast Guard did not receive any comments on the impact of this rulemaking on small entities. The impact will be minimal. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Collection of Information This rule contains no collection of information requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.). Federalism The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. LOOP is located beyond State waters where only Federal jurisdiction applies. Environment The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that, under section 2.B.2(c) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1B, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This rule will not result in significant impact on the quality of the human environment, as defined by the National Environmental Policy Act. A Categorical Exclusion Determination is available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES. List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 150 Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Occupational safety and health, Oil pollution, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements. For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 150 as follows: PART 150--OPERATIONS 1. The authority citation for part 150 continues to read as follows: Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231, 1321(j)(1)(C), (j)(5), (j)(6) and (m)(2), 1509; sec. 2, E.O. 12777, 56 FR 54757, 3 CFR, 1991 Comp., p. 351; 49 CFR 1.46. Appendix A to Part 150--Deepwater Port Safety Zone Boundaries 2. Appendix A to part 150, Annex A, is amended by revising section (a) to read as follows: * * * * * Annex A.--LOOP, Inc. Deepwater Port, Gulf of Mexico [(a) Deepwater Port Safety Zone] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Latitude N. Longitude W. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ (1) Starting at: 28 deg.55'23''........................................... 90 deg.00'37' ' (2) A rhumb line to 28 deg.53'50''........................................... 90 deg.04'07' ' (3) Then an arc with a 4,465 meter (4,883 yard) radius centered at the port pumping platform complex (PPC), 28 deg.53'06''........................................... 90 deg.01'30' ' (4) to a point 28 deg.51'07''........................................... 90 deg.03'06' ' (5) Then a rhumb line to 28 deg.50'09''........................................... 90 deg.02'24' ' (6) Then a rhumb line to 28 deg.49'05''........................................... 89 deg.55'54' ' (7) Then a rhumb line to 28 deg.48'36''........................................... 89 deg.55'00' ' (8) Then a rhumb line to 28 deg.52'04''........................................... 89 deg.52'42' ' (9) Then a rhumb line to 28 deg.53'10''........................................... 89 deg.53'42' ' (10) Then a rhumb line to 28 deg.54'52''........................................... 89 deg.57'00' ' (11) Then a rhumb line to 28 deg.54'52''........................................... 89 deg.59'36' ' (12) Then an arc with a 4,465 meter (4,883 yard) radius centered again at the port PPC, (13) To the point of starting, 28 deg.55'23''........................................... 90 deg.00'37' ' ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dated: April 6, 1994. * * * * * J.F. McGowan, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection. [FR Doc. 94-8837 Filed 4-12-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-14-M