[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7791-7792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2055]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[CGD05-06-011]


Waterway Suitability Assessment for Expansion of Dominion Cove 
Point Liquefied Natural Gas Facility, Calvert County, Maryland

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice, request for comment.

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SUMMARY: On August 8, 2005, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(FERC) requested Dominion Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 
Limited Partnership to prepare a Waterway Suitability Assessment (WSA) 
for the proposed Cove Point LNG Expansion Project to be submitted to 
the United States Coast Guard in accordance with the Navigation and 
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 05-05. The purpose of the WSA is to 
identify credible security threats and safety hazards associated with 
increased LNG marine transportation in the Chesapeake Bay and identify 
appropriate risk management measures. The Coast Guard Captain of the 
Port, Baltimore, and the Captain of the Port, Hampton Roads, received 
the WSA from Dominion Cove Point on January 17, 2006. The conclusions 
of the WSA are included in this notice. The Coast Guard solicits public 
comments on these conclusions to consider when preparing 
recommendations to FERC for inclusion in their final Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the suitability of the Chesapeake Bay 
for increased LNG traffic.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach U.S. Coast Guard Sector 
Baltimore on or before March 16, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket 
number CGD05-06-011 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 WSA.
    (3) Fax: 410-576-2553.
    (4) Hand delivery: Room 216 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.
    (5) 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 (CGD05-06-011) 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

    U.S. Coast Guard NVIC 05-05, ``Guidance on Assessing the 
Suitability of a Waterway for Liquefied Natural Gas Marine Traffic'', 
published on June 14, 2005, provides guidance to an applicant seeking a 
permit to build and operate a shore-side LNG terminal to ensure that 
full consideration is given to safety and security of the port, the 
facility, and the vessels transporting the LNG. The guidance also 
assists the Coast Guard to obtain all information needed to assess the 
proposed LNG marine operations and fulfill its commitment to FERC to 
provide input to their EIS and to allow the Coast Guard to comply with 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). While NVIC 05-05 is 
primarily focused towards new LNG facilities, the guidance it contains 
may also be applied to existing facilities seeking to change their 
operations. Using the guidance in NVIC 05-05, on August 8, 2005, FERC 
requested Dominion Cove Point LNG to prepare a Waterway Suitability 
Assessment for the proposed Cove Point Expansion Project and submit it 
to the Coast Guard.
    Dominion Cove Point LNG approached Det Norske Veritas, USA, Inc. 
(DNV) to perform the WSA on their behalf. The Dominion Cove Point WSA 
prepared by DNV applies the guidance in NVIC 05-05 and the Sandia 
National Laboratories Report SAND2004-6258, ``Guidance on Risk Analysis 
and Safety Implications of a Large Liquefied Natural Gas Spill Over 
Water'', to assess risks and develop risk management strategies.
    The Dominion Cove Point WSA contains the following sections: Port 
Characterization, Facility and Route Characterization, Risk Assessment 
and Risk Management Strategies, and Conclusions and Recommendations. 
The Port Characterization provides a general discussion regarding the 
middle and lower Chesapeake Bay, the LNG operation footprint, and an 
overview identifying the main considerations and elements within the 
region. The Facility and Route Characterization contains detailed 
specifics related to LNG vessels entering and exiting the Chesapeake 
Bay, their transit to and from the Dominion Cove Point facility, and 
the carrier/facility interface. This section provides information on 
the facility layout and operation as well as details concerning 
navigation, population densities, and critical infrastructures along 
the carrier route.
    The Risk Assessment and Risk Management Strategies section applies 
scenarios listed in NVIC 05-05 and the Sandia Lab report to develop an 
initial scenario inventory. DNV further refined the scenario inventory 
by including others developed and obtained during the course of WSA 
research and various hazard identification sessions. In addition, DNV 
analyzed where an LNG carrier could physically maneuver in the 
Chesapeake Bay versus its routine track, withdrew current safeguards 
such that an attack or hijacking would be successful, and assessed the 
overall risk values for select scenarios.
    To assess the scenarios, DNV applied established industry risk 
assessment

[[Page 7792]]

methodologies and Risk Based Decision-Making techniques. Since the 
facility is currently in operation, DNV considered existing safeguards 
documented in the Baltimore Area Maritime Security Plans, other Coast 
Guard safety and security assessments, Dominion's facility security 
assessments, and LNG Maritime Security Workshop findings. The analysis 
results highlighted potential safety and security risks, determined 
overall risk values, and identified risk management strategies.
    The Resource Needs for Safety, Security and Response section 
identifies public and private resources along the length of the 
Chesapeake Bay LNG route that may be used to prevent and/or mitigate an 
accidental or intentional LNG carrier casualty.
    Due to the sensitive nature of the information contained in the 
WSA, it is classified as Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and is 
controlled under 49 CFR part 1520. The WSA itself is, therefore, not 
able to be released in its entirety to the public without a ``need to 
know'' as defined in 49 CFR 1520.5. However, the general conclusions of 
the WSA are presented here for your information.
    Based on the research, analysis, and findings in the Cove Point 
WSA, DNV concluded that additional LNG vessel traffic related with the 
Dominion Cove Point expansion project does not pose an undue hazard to 
the Chesapeake Bay or to the facility/vessel interface. The assessment 
indicates that currently employed risk management strategies at 
required enforcement levels for each MARSEC level offer the necessary 
protection to identified safety and security risks for increased LNG 
tanker traffic in the Chesapeake Bay and that no additional safeguards 
would be necessary to manage the risk to an acceptable level.
    The Coast Guard will take into consideration the results of the 
Cove Point WSA and public comments received on its conclusions when 
preparing our input to FERC for inclusion in the Final EIS. The results 
will also be considered as the Coast Guard prepares a Letter of 
Recommendation which will identify what actions and resources are 
necessary to make the Chesapeake Bay suitable for increased LNG traffic 
to Cove Point.

    Dated: January 26, 2006.
Curtis A. Springer,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector 
Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland.
 [FR Doc. E6-2055 Filed 2-13-06; 8:45 am]
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