[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 67179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26749]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0935]


Letter of Recommendation for Washington State Ferries Liquefied 
Natural Gas Conversion; Seattle, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound received a Letter of Intent 
(LOI) and Waterway Suitability Assessment (WSA) from Washington State 
Ferries for a proposal to convert six Issaquah Class Ferries to 
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) propulsion. By statute, the Captain of the 
Port (COTP), Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, will be reviewing and 
validating the WSA in cooperation with key port stakeholders and issue 
a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) to the State of Washington Department 
of Transportation regarding the suitability of the waterway for LNG 
marine traffic. As it conducts this review, the Coast Guard solicits 
public comments that may inform the COTP's recommendation. The 
Washington State Ferries' LOI, WSA, and other supporting documentation 
and information can be viewed at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Environment/LNG.htm.

DATES: Comments must be submitted to the online docket via http://www.regulations.gov, or reach the Docket Management Facility, on or 
before January 12, 2015.

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: For information about this document 
call or email LT Sarah E. Rodino, Coast Guard; telephone 202-217-6623, 
email [email protected]. For information about 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) on the 
Washington State Ferries' proposal as may inform the Coast Guard's LOR. 
We will consider all reasonable submissions on topics related to the 
suitability of the waterway for LNG marine traffic which may affect the 
COTP's review and validation of the WSA and preparation of the LOR. 
Comments should be marked with docket number USCG-2014-0935 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.

Discussion

    In accordance with 33 CFR 127.007, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound 
received an LOI and WSA from Washington State Ferries on June 27, 2014 
regarding their proposal to convert six Issaquah Class Ferries to LNG 
propulsion. The LOI notes that if the conversion is completed, each 
vessel would require fueling by truck once every 7 to 10 days.
    Under 33 CFR 127.009, and in reference to the Coast Guard's 
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-2011, ``Guidance 
Related to Waterfront Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Facilities,'' the 
Coast Guard will be reviewing and validating the Washington State 
Ferries' WSA in cooperation with key port stakeholders. In conjunction 
with the review and validation of the WSA, the Coast Guard seeks public 
comments on the proposal which may inform the COTP's recommendation to 
the State of Washington Department of Transportation. Once the 
information in the WSA is validated, the COTP will issue an LOR to the 
State of Washington Department of Transportation regarding the 
suitability of the waterway for LNG marine traffic.
    The Washington State Ferries' LOI, WSA, and other supporting 
documentation and information can be viewed at: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Environment/LNG.htm. In addition, a copy of 
NVIC 01-2011 is available for viewing 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 CFR 127.009.

    Dated: October 20, 2014.
M.W. Raymond,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Sector Puget Sound.
[FR Doc. 2014-26749 Filed 11-10-14; 8:45 am]
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