[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 226 (Friday, November 23, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70174-70175]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28498]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0640]


Waterway Suitability Assessment for Expansion of Liquefied Gas 
Terminals; Houston and Texas City, TX

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Coast Guard regulations in 33 CFR 127.007, 
Oil Tanking North America has submitted a Letter of Intent and Waterway 
Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Sector 
Houston-Galveston regarding the company's proposed expansion of its 
Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) facilities in Houston and Texas City, 
Texas, and increased LHG marine traffic in the associated waterway. The 
Coast Guard is notifying the public of this action to solicit public 
comments on the proposed increase in LHG marine traffic in Houston and 
Texas City, Texas.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received on or before 
December 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2012-0640 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these three methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or email LCDR Xochitl Castaneda, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 713-
671-5164, email [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments and related material in 
response to this notice. All comments received will be posted without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal 
information you have provided.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (USCG-2012-0640), and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online, it 
will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully 
transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, 
it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when 
it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2012-0640) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with 
this notice.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand 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 Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

Viewing Comments

    To view comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type the docket 
number (USCG-2012-0640) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' 
Click on ``Open Docket Folder'' on the line associated with this 
rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room 
W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West 
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

[[Page 70175]]

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of 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 a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting, but you may submit a 
request for one, using one of the methods specified under ADDRESSES. 
Please explain why you believe a public meeting would be beneficial. If 
we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a 
time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Basis and Purpose

    Under 33 CFR 127.007(a), an owner or operator planning new 
construction to expand or modify marine terminal operations in an 
existing facility handling Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) or Liquefied 
Hazardous Gas (LHG), where the construction, expansion, or modification 
would result in an increase in the size and/or frequency of LNG or LHG 
marine traffic on the waterway associated with the facility, must 
submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the COTP of the zone in which the 
facility is located. Under 33 CFR 127.007(e), an owner or operator 
planning such an expansion must also file or update a Waterway 
Suitability Assessment (WSA) that addresses the proposed increase in 
LNG or LHG marine traffic in the associated waterway. Oil Tanking North 
America submitted an LOI on May 12, 2011 and a WSA on April 24, 2012 
regarding the company's proposed expansion of its LHG facilities in 
Houston and Texas City, Texas.
    Under 33 CFR 127.009, after receiving an LOI, the COTP issues a 
Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as to the suitability of the waterway 
for LNG or LHG marine traffic to the appropriate jurisdictional 
authorities. The LOR is based on a series of factors outlined in 33 CFR 
127.009 that relate to the physical nature of the affected waterway and 
issues of safety and security associated with LNG or LHG marine traffic 
on the affected waterway.
    The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comments on the 
proposed increase in LHG marine traffic in Houston and Texas City, 
Texas. The Coast Guard believes that input from the public may be 
useful to the COTP with respect to development of the LOR. 
Additionally, the Coast Guard tasked the Area Maritime Security 
Committee, Houston-Galveston, Texas, with forming a subcommittee 
comprised of affected port users and stakeholders, including 
appropriate members of the Harbor Safety Committee. The goal of the 
subcommittee will be to gather information to help the COTP assess the 
suitability of the associated waterway for increased LHG marine traffic 
as it relates to navigational safety and security.
    On January 24, 2011, the Coast Guard published Navigation and 
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-2011, ``Guidance Related to 
Waterfront Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities.'' NVIC 01-2011 
provides guidance for owners and operators seeking approval to build 
and operate LNG facilities. While NVIC 01-2011 is specific to LNG, it 
provides useful process information and guidance for owners and 
operators seeking approval to build and operate LHG facilities as well. 
The Coast Guard will refer to NVIC 01-2011 for process information and 
guidance in evaluating Oil Tanking North America's WSA. A copy of NVIC 
01-2011 is available for viewing in the public docket for this notice 
and also on the Coast Guard's Web site at http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvic/2010s.asp.
    This notice is issued under the authority of 33 U.S.C. 1223-1225, 
Department of Homeland Security Delegation Number 0170.1(70), 33 CFR 
127.009, and 33 CFR 103.205.

    Dated: October 19, 2012.
J.H. Whitehead,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston, 
Texas.
[FR Doc. 2012-28498 Filed 11-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P