[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 27, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16643-16645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7319]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

46 CFR Parts 140 to 146

[USCG-2001-9173]


Floating Production, Storage, and Offloading Units in the Gulf of 
Mexico

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard's Marine Safety and Environmental Protection 
Directorate and the Minerals Management Service (MMS), will jointly 
hold a public listening session. This listening session is in response 
to the marine industry's concerns regarding the standards and 
regulations applicable to the operation of Floating Production, Storage 
and Offloading (FPSO) units in the Gulf of Mexico. This listening 
session is being held to collect comments on design, construction, 
operating and safety standards or regulations for FPSOs and any 
possible need to clarify standards or enforcement policy regarding 
these safety standards. We encourage interested parties to attend the 
meeting and submit comments for discussion during the meeting. We also 
seek written comments from any party who is unable to attend the 
meeting.

DATES: Public Meeting: We will hold the meeting on Thursday, 3 May 
2001, from 2 to 5 p.m.
    Written Comments: Comments and related material must reach the 
Docket Management Facility on or before 25 April, 2001. The Docket 
Management Facility must receive your comments on or before 25 April 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Public Meeting: We will hold the meeting at the Sheraton 
North Houston Hotel's Amphitheater, at George Bush International 
Airport, 15700 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Houston Texas.
    Written Comments: To make sure that your comments and related 
material are not entered more than once in the docket, please submit 
them by only one of the following means:
    (1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility (USCG-2001-9173), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (2) By delivery to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif 
Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    (3) By Internet to http://dms.dot.gov.
    (4) By Fax to the Docket Management Facility: 202-493-2251.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this notice 
or the public meeting, contact Lieutenant Commander Russell Proctor, 
Vessel Compliance Division (G-MOC-2), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 
2100 Second Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, telephone 202-267-0499. 
For questions on viewing or submitting material to the

[[Page 16644]]

docket contact Dorothy Beard, Chief, Dockets, Department of 
Transportation, telephone 202-366-5149.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Do I Participate in This Action?

    The Coast Guard encourages you to participate by submitting 
comments and related material, and by attending the public meeting. If 
you submit written comments, please include--
     Your name and address;
     The docket number for this notice (USCG-2001-9173);
     The specific section of this notice to which each comment 
applies; and
     The reason for each comment.
    You may mail, deliver, fax, or electronically submit your comments 
and attachments to the Docket Management Facility, using an address or 
fax number listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice. Please do 
not submit the same comment or attachment by more than one method. If 
you mail or deliver your comments, they must be on 8\1/2\ by 11 inch 
paper and the quality of the copy should be clear enough for copying 
and scanning. If you mail your comments, and you would like to know if 
the Docket Management Facility received them, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of This 
Notice or Other Related Documents?

    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. The docket number for this notice is USCG-2001-9173. Comments, 
and other documents related to this notice will become part of this 
docket and will be available for inspection or copying as follows:
     In person: You may access the docket in room PL-401, on 
the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same address, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The facility is closed on 
Federal holidays.
     Electronically: You may access the docket on the Internet 
at http://dms.dot.gov.

Where Can I Get Information on Service for Individuals With 
Disabilities?

    To obtain information on facilities or services for individuals 
with disabilities or to request that we provide special assistance at 
the public meeting, please contact Lieutenant Commander Russell Proctor 
as soon as possible. You will find his address and phone number in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice.

Why Is the Coast Guard Holding This Public Meeting?

    This meeting is in response to requests for information and 
direction from the oil industry on the regulations and policies the 
Coast Guard and MMS will jointly use to inspect and oversee the safety 
regimen for FPSO operation and lightering in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). 
No direct request was received by either agency to have this meeting, 
but interest in these operations is building due to recent oil 
exploration finds in the deepwater sectors of the GOM. There have been 
numerous requests for information, seeking specifics as to the 
applicability of existing federal standards and enforcement policy, as 
well as suggestions regarding various practices that should be 
incorporated in the further development of deep water oil and gas 
projects in the GOM. Prior to finalizing policy in this arena we would 
like to take an opportunity to hear and collect information from all 
interested parties. The Coast Guard and MMS are coming to the meeting, 
not to discuss issues or actions, but to listen to industry and public 
concerns about which safety and operation standards should be used for 
this new oil production technology within the GOM. If indicators are 
received from this listening session and written comments that 
regulations or standards need to be developed for FPSO operations in 
the GOM, the Coast Guard will open a rulemaking to address these 
issues.

What Issues Should I Discuss at the Meeting or Address in Written 
Comments?

    The public meeting on 3 May, 2001, will provide a forum for members 
of the public and industry to discuss FPSO operation in the GOM. You 
can discuss or comment on any ideas or issues you have in this area of 
deepwater oil production, use of FPSOs in the GOM, shuttling of 
produced oil from deepwater operations, and industry or regulatory 
standards that would be applicable to these operations. Specific 
questions that the Coast Guard and MMS have and would like to see 
answered in the written or verbal comments are:
    1. Is the industry seeking to use U.S. or foreign-flagged FPSOs in 
deepwater operations in the GOM?
    2. What type of ships or pipelines will be used to transfer the 
produced oil to U.S. Gulf Ports?
    3. What are the three most significant regulatory barriers to 
resolve before FPSO applications are received for review and approval?
    4. What types of standards are being used to design and equip FPSOs 
for the GOM, in the way of:
     Turret units and turrets locations onboard the unit;
     Crude Oil Washing systems;
     Double hull construction;
     Wave plates or sea walls;
     Inert gas systems;
     Anchoring systems;
     Lifesaving equipment;
     Oil spill response equipment; and
     Safety management systems?
    5. What standards should be used for the manning and certification 
of personnel completing the drilling or lightering operations on FPSOs?
    6. USCG lightering regulations are contained in Title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR), part 156--Subpart B, with additional GOM 
specific lightering zone regulations in 33 CFR 156-Subpart C. Are 
additional regulations or standards required to address FPSO cargo 
transfer operations in deepwater activities of the GOM?
    7. What standards should be used for the development of operation 
requirements (operations manual) for an FPSO lightering to shuttle 
vessels?
    8. Should safety zones be established around FPSO operations, 
similar to those for fixed OCS facilities or the Louisiana Offshore Oil 
Port?
    9. Should lightering operations at a FPSO, require a standby 
vessel(s), and when?
    10. Deepwater response logistics, such as environmental or medical, 
present increasing challenges. What ``first response' offsets are 
contemplated to minimize the potential of aggravating emergency 
situations?
    11. What types of standards are being used to design and equip 
shuttle tankers or articulated tug-barge units for offload of FPSOs, in 
the way of:
     Oil lightering systems;
     Positioning systems; and
     Emergency break-aways from transfer hoses during 
lightering operations.
    Interested parties who cannot attend the meeting are strongly 
encouraged to submit issues to the docket for discussion at the public 
meeting prior to 25 April, 2001.

What Is the Agenda for the Public Meeting?

    The agenda for the meeting on May 3, 2001, is as follows:
     Introduction and Overview of meeting rules;
     Presentation and discussion of areas of concern, standards 
that are already in place;

[[Page 16645]]

     Presentation of written statements or comments submitted 
to the docket prior to the meeting;
     Listening session, verbal comments presented by attending 
members of the public and industry; and
     Closing statements and expected next steps by the Coast 
Guard and MMS.

    Dated: March 19, 2001.
Howard H. Hime,
Acting, Director of Standards.
[FR Doc. 01-7319 Filed 3-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P