[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 121 (Tuesday, June 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35766-35767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14634]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0406]


Waterway Suitability Assessment for Construction and Operation of 
Liquefied Gas Terminals; Vidor, TX

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Enterprise Terminalling LLC has submitted a Letter of Intent 
and Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard 
Captain of the Port, Port Arthur, TX regarding the company's plans to 
construct, own and operate a waterfront facility handling Liquefied 
Hazardous Gas (LHG) at its Vidor, Texas facility. The Coast Guard is 
notifying the public of this action to solicit public comments on the 
proposed increase in LHG handling and associated marine traffic on the 
Sabine-Neches Waterway.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received on or before July 
24, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments using one of the listed methods, and see 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for more information on public comments.
     Online--http://www.regulations.gov following Web site 
instructions.
     Fax--202-493-2251.
     Mail or hand deliver--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. Hours 
for hand delivery are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays (telephone 202-366-9329).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or email LTJG Akaninyene Inyang, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 409-
719-5067, email [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826, toll free 
1-800-647-5527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments (or related material) in 
response to this notice.
    We will consider all submissions and may adjust our final action 
based on your comments. Comments should be marked with docket number 
USCG-2014-0406 and should provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You should provide personal contact information so that 
we can contact you if we have questions regarding your comments; but 
please note that all comments will be posted to the online docket 
without change and that any personal information you include can be 
searchable online (see the Federal Register Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets, 73 FR 3316, Jan. 17, 2008).
    Mailed or hand-delivered comments should be in an unbound 8\1/2\ x 
11 inch format suitable for reproduction. The Docket Management 
Facility will acknowledge receipt of mailed comments if you enclose a 
stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope with your submission.
    Documents mentioned in this notice, and all public comments, are in 
our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by 
following the Web site's instructions. You can also view the docket at 
the Docket Management Facility (see the mailing address under 
ADDRESSES) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    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.

Discussion

    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. Enterprise 
Terminalling LLC located in Vidor, Texas submitted an LOI and WSA on 
February 27, 2014 regarding the company's proposed construction and 
operation of LHG capabilities at its Vidor, Texas facility.
    Under 33 CR 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 on the Sabine-Neches Waterway. 
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 intends to task the Area Maritime Security Committee, Port 
Arthur, Texas and the Southeast Texas Waterways Advisory Council 
(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 Enterprise Terminalling LLC WSA. A copy of NVIC 
01-2011 is available on

[[Page 35767]]

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: May 21, 2014.
G.J. Paitl,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Port Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2014-14634 Filed 6-23-14; 8:45 am]
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