[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3185-3186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-947]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 156
[CGD 93-081]
RIN 2115-AE90]
Designation of Lightering Zones
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces a public meeting on February 16,
1995, in the New Orleans, Louisiana, area to [[Page 3186]] provide the
public an opportunity to comment on its proposal to establish three
lightering zones in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed zones are more
than 60 miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the
United States is measured and will allow single hull tankers using
these zones to conduct lightering operations until the year 2015. The
views presented at this meeting together with written comments on the
proposal will be considered by the Coast Guard in formulating a final
rule.
DATES: The meeting will be held February 16, 1995, from 9 a.m. to 3
p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Best Western Landmark Hotel,
Mardi Gras Ballroom, 2601 Severn Avenue, Metairie, LA. Comments become
part of this docket (CGD 93-081) and are available for inspection or
copying at room 3406, Coast Guard Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 3
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LCDR Stephen Kantz, Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) Staff (G-MS-A), U.S.
Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593, telephone
(202) 267-6740. This telephone is equipped to record messages on a 24-
hour basis.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
In November 1993, the Coast Guard received several requests to
establish lightering zoned in the Gulf of Mexico. On December 2, 1993,
the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register a notice of these
petitions for rulemaking and request for comment (58 FR 63544).
Currently, 33 CFR part 156 provides that the Coast Guard will
consider various factors in designating lightering zones--traditional
use of the area for lightering; weather and sea conditions; water
depth; proximity to shipping lanes, vessel traffic schemes, anchorages,
fixed structures, designated marine sanctuaries, fishing areas, and
designated units of the National Park System, National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System, National Wilderness Preservation System, properties
included on the National Register of Historic Places and National
Registry of Natural Landmarks, and National Wildlife Refuge System; and
other relevant safety, environmental, or economic data (33 CFR
156.230).
On December 16, 1993, the Coast Guard published in the Federal
Register a notice of public meeting to solicit opinions on whether
lightering zones should be established and, if so, where they should be
located and what operating conditions should be mandated (58 FR 65683).
A public meeting was held in Houston, Texas, on January 18, 1994. At
that time, the Oil Spill Coordinator from the State of Louisiana
requested that a public meeting be held in Louisiana after there was an
opportunity to review any proposal by the Coast Guard to designate
lightering zones.
On January 5, 1995, the Coast Guard published the notice of
proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (60 FR 1958). The
coordinates of the three lightering zones proposed to be established
are set forth in the proposed rulemaking.
Summary of the Rulemaking
By using these proposed designated lightering zones more than 60
miles from the baseline, single hull tank vessels contracted for after
June 20, 1990, and older single hull tank vessels phased out by OPA 90,
would be able to lighter in the U.S. Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ)
until January 1, 2015. In addition to establishing the first lightering
zones designated by the Coast Guard, the proposed rulemaking would also
incorporate the use of recognized industry guidelines, impose certain
weather and sea state restrictions, and require compliance with U.S.
work hour limitations. It would also designate three other areas within
the vicinity of the ecologically sensitive Flower Garden Banks National
Marine Sanctuary in which all lightering will be prohibited.
In the NPRM, the Coast Guard specifically requested comments on the
practicality of also designating a smaller northern area as an
additional, fourth lightering zone. The boundaries of this northern
area, which would be called ``South Sabine Point,'' would consist of
the waters bounded by a line connecting the following points beginning
at:
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Latitude N. Longitude W.
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28 deg.30'00''............................ 92 deg.38'00'', thence to
28 deg.44'00''............................ 93 deg.24'00'', thence to
28 deg.33'00''............................ 94 deg.00'00'', thence to
28 deg.18'00''............................ 94 deg.00'00'', thence to
28 deg.18'00''............................ 92 deg.38'00'', and thence
to the point of beginning.
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This rulemaking has been determined to be a significant regulatory
action under established criteria of the Department of Transportation
and the Office of Management and Budget.
Meeting Procedure
Members of the public planning to make oral presentations during
the meeting should call the number listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT no later than the day before the meeting, and state their
intention to speak about docket number 93-081, provide their name, and
the approximate duration of their presentation. Persons making oral
presentations are also encouraged to submit a copy of their remarks in
writing during the meeting.
Dated: January 9, 1994.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-947 Filed 1-12-95; 8:45 am]
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