[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 42587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17052]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration


Deepwater Port License: Amendment of the Neptune LNG LLC 
Deepwater Port License and Temporary Suspension of Operations at the 
Neptune LNG Deepwater Port

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of Agency Action.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 1503(b)(2) of the Deepwater Port Act of 
1974, as amended (Act), the Secretary of Transportation may, on 
petition of the licensee, amend a Deepwater port license issued under 
the Act. For purposes of this notice, the Maritime Administration 
(MarAd) provides public notice of its decision to approve the request 
of Neptune LNG LLC (Neptune) for a temporary five-year suspension of 
port operations at the Neptune Deepwater Port by amending the Neptune 
Deepwater Port License.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket 
for this project. The docket may be viewed electronically at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number USCG-2005-22611, or in person 
at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the 
Neptune Deepwater Port License Amendment and suspension of port 
operations, please contact Ms. Tracey Ford, Acting Office Director, 
Office of Deepwater Ports and Offshore Activities at (202) 366-0321 or 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the Docket, 
contact Ms. Barbara Hairston, Program Manager, Docket Operations at 
(202) 493-3024 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 24, 2012, MarAd received a written 
request from Neptune for authorization to temporarily suspend 
operations at the Neptune Deepwater Port, located approximately 22 
miles northeast of Boston, Massachusetts and 7 miles south-southeast of 
Gloucester, Massachusetts. In the request, Neptune indicated that 
recent conditions within the Northeast region's natural gas market had 
significantly impacted the Neptune Port's operational status and its 
ability to receive a consistent supply of natural gas imports. As a 
result, the Neptune Port has remained inactive over the past several 
years and will likely remain inactive for the foreseeable future. For 
these reasons, Neptune requested MarAd's authorization to suspend port 
operations for a period of five years.
    After conducting a thorough evaluation and consultation with 
various Federal agencies, MarAd accepted Neptune's request and 
authorized amendment of the Neptune Deepwater Port License including a 
five-year temporary suspension of port operations. The amendment is 
applicable to Articles 2 and 6 of the License. All other terms, 
conditions and obligations of the License will remain current and in 
effect during and after the suspension period. The suspension period 
became effect on the date of the final executed License amendment, June 
26, 2013, and will extend for a period of five years, to be measured in 
calendar days.
    In order to resume operations prior to expiration of the five-year 
suspension period, Neptune must petition MarAd for approval to resume 
port operations. The petition must be submitted at least six months 
prior to the proposed re-start date, and certify that Neptune is in 
receipt of all applicable Federal and State permits, approvals and 
authorizations. Should Neptune request an extension of the suspension 
period, such request must be submitted to MarAd no less than one 
hundred eighty (180) calendar days prior to the expiration date of the 
suspension period. Thereafter, MarAd will evaluate, in consultation 
with the relevant Federal agencies, the appropriateness of such an 
extension. The final determination on an extension will be rendered by 
the Maritime Administrator or a designee acting on behalf of the 
Maritime Administrator.
    Additional information pertaining to this public notice may be 
found in the public docket regarding the Neptune Deepwater Port License 
online at www.regulations.gov, under docket number USCG-2005-22611 (see 
ADDRESSES).

    Authority:  49 CFR 1.93.

    By Order of the Deputy Maritime Administrator.

    Dated: July 11, 2013.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-17052 Filed 7-15-13; 8:45 am]
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