[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26799-26800]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-10880]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0125]


Waterway Suitability Assessment for Expansion of Liquefied Gas 
Terminals; Beaumont, TX

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, Martin Operating 
Partnership LP has submitted a Letter of Intent and a Waterway 
Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Port 
Arthur regarding the company's proposed expansion of its Liquefied 
Hazardous Gas (LHG) facility in Beaumont, 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 Beaumont, Texas.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received on or before June 
7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2013-0125 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

[[Page 26800]]

``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 Mr. Scott Whalen, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 409-719-
5083, email [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing 
or submitting material to the docket, call Barbara Hairston, 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-2013-0125), 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 comments. 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-2013-0125) 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 them 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 and documents: To view comments, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type the docket number (USCG-2013-0125) 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.
    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. Martin Operating 
Partnership's Stanolind Cut Terminal in Beaumont, Texas submitted an 
LOI on January 25, 2013, and a WSA on January 25, 2013, regarding the 
company's proposed expansion of its LHG facility in Beaumont, 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 related 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 Beaumont, 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, Port Arthur, Texas and the 
Southeast Texas Waterways Advisor Committee (SETWAC) with forming a 
subcommittee comprised of affected port users and stakeholders. The 
goal of these subcommittees 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 Martin Operating Partnership LP'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 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: April 1, 2013.
J. M. Twomey,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port, Port Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2013-10880 Filed 5-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P