[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 49603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19687]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

[USCG-2003-14294]


Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port Decommissioning and License 
Termination

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Public Notice; Final Agency Approval of the Gulf Gateway 
Deepwater Port Decommissioning and License Termination.

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SUMMARY: The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces its final 
clearance and authorization of the decommissioning of the Gulf Gateway 
Deepwater Port and termination of the Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port 
License (License), effective as of June 28, 2013. Pursuant to Section 
1503(h) of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, a License may 
remain in effect until such time as it is either suspended or revoked 
by the Secretary of Transportation or surrendered by the licensee. For 
purposes of this agency action, MARAD has granted as of June 28, 2013, 
final clearance of the completed decommissioning of the Gulf Gateway 
Deepwater Port facility, and approved termination of the official 
License and all other conditions and obligations set forth by the 
License.

DATES: The date of termination of the License and all actions related 
to this action is effective as of June 28, 2013.

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-2003-14294, 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 Gulf 
Gateway Deepwater Port project, contact Ms. Tracey Ford, Acting Office 
Director, Office of Deepwater Ports and Offshore Activities at (202) 
366-0321 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: By letter dated February 21, 2011, 
Excelerate Energy LP (Excelerate) notified MARAD and the U.S. Coast 
Guard (USCG) of its intention to decommission the Gulf Gateway 
Deepwater Port, located 116 miles off the coast of Louisiana. 
Excelerate's decision to decommission the Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port 
was due primarily to declining pipeline capacity issues, significant 
operational challenges, and changes in the global natural gas market. 
In accordance with Article 20 of the License, Excelerate is required to 
decommission its deepwater port in compliance with the decommissioning 
plans approved by the Maritime Administrator and in accordance with 
applicable Federal regulations and guidelines in place at the time of 
decommissioning. The License further requires that MARAD approval be 
granted in concurrence with other relevant Federal agencies. This 
requirement was satisfied on April 14, 2012, and Excelerate was granted 
authorization by MARAD to proceed with its planned decommissioning 
activities. Excelerate completed the final decommissioning process on 
March 14, 2013. At the end of the decommissioning process, all 
components of the Gulf Gateway facility were removed and the connecting 
pipelines were decommissioned in-place, in accordance with applicable 
Federal regulations.
    As of the date of this notice, MARAD concurred that all 
decommissioning activities for the Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port have 
been completed, and approved termination of the official License and 
other related License obligations.
    This Federal Register Notice completes the final close-out and 
termination procedures for the Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port and License. 
No further action will be undertaken by MARAD.
    Additional information pertaining to the Gulf Gateway Deepwater 
Port project may be found in the public docket at www.regulations.gov 
under docket number USCG-2003-14294.

    Authority: 49 CFR 1.66

    By order of the Maritime Administrator

    Dated: August 8, 2013.
Julie P. Agarwal,
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2013-19687 Filed 8-13-13; 8:45 am]
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