[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 2086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-554]



[[Page 2086]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[Docket No. MARAD-2007-26841]


Utilization of U.S. Vessels and Mariners in the Marine 
Transportation of Liquefied Natural Gas

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) seeks public comment on 
the use of United States vessels and mariners in the transportation of 
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) through the nation's offshore deepwater 
port receiving facilities. Comments should focus on the development of 
programs to maximize the utilization and availability of U.S. vessels 
and qualified U.S. citizen officers and unlicensed crews serving the 
international LNG tanker fleet. Comments may also include issues 
related to the overall safe and secure operation of deepwater port 
facilities.

DATES: Comments are due by February 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by DOT DMS Docket Number 
MARAD-2007-26841] by any of the following methods:
     Web Site: http://dms.dot.gov. Follow the instructions for 
submitting comments on the DOT electronic docket site.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 7th St., SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 7th St., SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this action. Note that all comments received will be 
posted without change to http://dms.dot.gov including any personal 
information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading below.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://dms.dot.gov at any time or to Room PL-
401 on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 7th St., SW., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal Holidays.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 19477-78) or you may visit 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: H. Keith Lesnick, Director, Office of 
Deepwater Port Licensing, Maritime Administration, 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20590; fax: (202) 366-5123; or e-mail 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As the lead federal agency for the licensing 
of offshore LNG and oil deepwater port terminals, the Maritime 
Administration is charged with ensuring that each facility is 
constructed and operated in a safe and secure manner. While LNG 
importation has historically had an impeccable safety record, MARAD is 
continually seeking additional ways to ensure the safe and secure 
operations of deepwater port facilities to help preserve the nation's 
security, environmental resources, and energy supply, and to improve 
transportation efficiencies.
    To promote the security of the United States, Congress recently 
amended the Deepwater Port Act through the Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-241, (2006)) to direct the 
Secretary (and, by delegation, the Maritime Administrator) to develop 
and implement a program to promote the transportation of liquefied 
natural gas to the United States on United States flag vessels. The Act 
further directed the Secretary to give top priority to the processing 
of deepwater port licenses to LNG facilities that will be supplied with 
natural gas by United States flag vessels. Further, the Act directed 
that the nation of registry for, and the nationality or citizenship of, 
officers and crew serving on board vessels transporting natural gas to 
a deepwater port be considered when granting a license.
    The enactment of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 
2006 places a firm emphasis on the safe and secure transport of LNG to 
and from our nation's facilities. In keeping with Congressional 
directives, MARAD seeks public comment on efforts to expand and 
maximize utilization of U.S. vessels and U.S. crews on LNG vessels. In 
addition, MARAD seeks comments on the availability of qualified 
officers and crew as well as the advantages of using U.S. crews.

    Authority: 49 CFR 1.66.

    Dated: January 11, 2007.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
Daron T. Threet,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-554 Filed 1-16-07; 8:45 am]
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