[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 151 (Monday, August 8, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45735-45736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-15616]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[CGD05-05-088]


Re-opening of South Berth at Dominion Cove Point Liquefied 
Natural Gas Facility, Calvert County, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice; request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the review of a request from 
Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Limited Partnership to 
begin using the south berth of its facility for receiving LNG vessels. 
The Coast Guard solicits

[[Page 45736]]

public comments to consider during the approval process for this 
request.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach U.S. Coast Guard Sector 
Baltimore on or before September 7, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket 
number CGD05-05-088 to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. To avoid 
duplication, please use only one of the following methods:
    (1) Mail: Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, 2401 
Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21226-1791, Attn: Cove Point South 
Berth.
    (2) Fax: 410-576-2553.
    (3) Hand delivery: Room 208 of Building 70 on the Coast Guard Yard 
Curtis Bay, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, MD, between 9 a.m. and 
3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 410-576-2619.
    (4) Electronic mail: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
or if you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the 
docket, call LCDR Joe DuFresne, Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, Waterways 
Management Division, at telephone 410-576-2619.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include your name and address, 
identify the docket number for this notice (CGD05-05-088) and give the 
reason for each comment. You may submit your comments by electronic 
means, mail, fax, or delivery to Coast Guard Sector Baltimore at the 
address under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments by only one 
means. If you submit comments by mail or delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the address listed under ADDRESSES, 
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will 
consider all comments received during the comment period.

Background and Purpose

    On October 25, 2000, Cove Point LNG Limited Partnership submitted a 
Letter of Intent to reopen the LNG Terminal at Cove Point, Calvert 
County, Maryland, located on the Chesapeake Bay. On December 23, 2002, 
the Captain of the Port, Baltimore, submitted a Letter of 
Recommendation addressing several items pertaining to the suitability 
of the Chesapeake Bay for LNG transport.
    One item dealt with the depth of water required to accommodate the 
maximum 36 foot draft of a typical LNG tanker. It was noted that the 
northern berth of the Cove Point LNG terminal pier was able to 
accommodate vessels with this draft. However, the 36 foot mean low 
water depth of the southern berth (38[deg]24' N, 76[deg]23' W) could 
not. The Letter of Recommendation, therefore, noted that the south 
berth would not be suitable for LNG marine traffic unless the water 
depth was increased by dredging.
    On April 28, 2005, Dominion Cove Point LNG Limited Partnership 
submitted a letter to the Captain of the Port, Baltimore, requesting 
approval to receive LNG tankers at the south berth, provided that the 
vessels had a fully laden draft of no more than 34 feet. These smaller 
vessels could be accommodated at the Cove Point facility's south berth 
without dredging.
    The Coast Guard understands that if this request is approved, 
operations at Cove Point will not change other than allowing smaller 
LNG tankers to moor at the south berth. There will still only be one 
LNG vessel moored at Cove Point at any given time.
    No public meeting is currently planned to discuss this issue. 
However, if the response from this request for comment implies that a 
public meeting is strongly desired, we will schedule one.

    Dated: July 20, 2005.
Curtis A. Springer,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, U. S. Coast Guard Sector 
Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland.
[FR Doc. 05-15616 Filed 8-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P