[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 8, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33351-33352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-11318]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 148, 149, and 150

[USCG-1998-3884]
RIN 1625-AA20 (formerly RIN 2115-AF63)


Deepwater Ports; Voluntary Guidelines

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Navigation and 
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC), providing voluntary guidelines in 
connection with the regulation of deepwater oil and natural gas ports 
pursuant to the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended. The NVIC 
guidelines relate to the design, plan review, fabrication, 
installation, inspection, maintenance, and oversight of these deepwater 
ports. Compliance with the NVIC is voluntary and no new legal 
requirements are imposed.

DATES: The Coast Guard issued NVIC 03-05 on May 16, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of NVIC 03-05 from U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters (G-MSO-5), Room 1508, 2100 2nd Street SW., Washington DC 
20593. The NVIC is available on the Internet at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/. It is also available in the public docket (USCG-1998-
3884) and is available for inspection or copying at the Docket 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-402, 
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this 
public docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call LCDR Kevin Tone, Deepwater Port Standards Division, Coast Guard, 
telephone 202-267-0226, e-mail: [email protected]. If you have 
questions on viewing the docket, call Andrea M. Jenkins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone: 202-366-0271.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as 
amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., a deepwater port is a fixed or 
floating manmade structure other than a vessel, or a group of 
structures, located beyond State seaward boundaries and used or 
intended for use as a port or terminal for the transportation, storage, 
and further handling of oil or natural gas for

[[Page 33352]]

transportation to any State. The Coast Guard regulates the licensing of 
deepwater ports, in 33 CFR parts 148, 149, and 150, under a temporary 
interim rule issued in 2004 (69 FR 724, Jan. 6, 2004).
    On May 16, 2005, the Coast Guard issued Navigation and Vessel 
Inspection Circular No. 03-05 (NVIC 03-05). NVIC 03-05 provides 
guidance to deepwater port license applicants and operators, to the 
Coast Guard, and to ``certifying entities'' that perform certification 
work on behalf of the Coast Guard. This guidance relates to the design, 
plan review, fabrication, installation, maintenance, and oversight of 
deepwater ports. NVIC 03-05 encourages voluntary compliance, but is not 
intended to and does not impose legally binding requirements on any 
person.
    The ADDRESSES section of this notice tells how to view or obtain a 
copy of NVIC 03-05. The Coast Guard is issuing this notice of 
availability in accordance with the commitment we made in our temporary 
interim rule, at 69 FR 726, to keep the public informed of Coast Guard 
policies interpreting the deepwater port regulations. We will issue 
additional notices of availability, should we modify or supplement NVIC 
03-05 in the future.

    Dated: May 31, 2005.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety, Security, and 
Environmental Protection, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 05-11318 Filed 6-7-05; 8:45 am]
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