[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 131 (Monday, July 9, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31763-31764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14596]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0915]


Waterway Suitability Assessment for Operation of Liquefied 
Natural Gas Terminal; Cameron, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are requesting your comments on a Letter of Intent and 
Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment we received from Sabine 
Pass LNG, L.P. (SPLNG) regarding SPLNG's plans to construct a new berth 
at its Cameron Parish, LA facility and to increase the number of 
liquefied natural gas vessels calling at the facility from 
approximately 400 to 580 annually. The Coast Guard is notifying the 
public of this proposed increase in LNG marine traffic on the Sabine-
Neches Waterway and is soliciting comments relevant to the Coast 
Guard's preparation of a Letter of Recommendation for issuance to the 
federal, state, or local agency with jurisdiction over the proposed 
facility.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received on or before 
August 8, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0915 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for 
further instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice of inquiry, call or email Mr. Scott K. Whalen, Vessel Traffic 
Service Director, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, U.S. Coast Guard; 
telephone 409-719-5086, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur
DHS Department of Homeland Security
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
LOI Letter of Intent
LOR Letter of Recommendation
NVIC Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular
U.S.C. United States Code
WSA Waterway Suitability Assessment

II. Background and Purpose

    Under 33 CFR 127.007(a), an owner or operator planning to build a 
new facility handling liquefied natural gas (LNG), or an owner or 
operator planning new construction to expand or modify marine terminal 
operations in an existing facility handling LNG, where the 
construction, expansion, or modification would result in an increase in 
the size and/or frequency of LNG marine traffic on the waterway 
associated with the proposed facility or modification to an existing 
facility, must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to the Captain of the 
Port of the zone in which the facility is or will be located. Under 33 
CFR 127.007(e), an owner or operator planning such new construction or 
expansion of an existing facility must also file or update a Waterway 
Suitability Assessment (WSA) that addresses the proposed increase in 
LNG marine traffic in the associated waterway.
    Under 33 CFR 127.009, after receiving an LOI, the Captain of the 
Port issues a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as to the suitability of 
the waterway for LNG marine traffic to the appropriate jurisdictional 
authorities. The LOR is based on a series of factors listed in 33 CFR 
127.009 that relate to the physical nature of the affected waterway and 
issues of safety and security associated with LNG marine traffic on the 
affected waterway.

III. Information Requested

    On January 29, 2018, Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. (SPLNG), located in 
Cameron Parish, LA, submitted an LOI and Preliminary WSA regarding the 
company's proposed plans to develop a new marine berth and expand the 
number of vessels calling on the facility each year from approximately 
400 to 580. The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comments on 
the proposed increase in LNG marine traffic on the Sabine-Neches 
Waterway. The Coast Guard believes that public input may be useful to 
the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur (COTP) with 
respect to validating the information provided in SPLNG's Preliminary 
WSA and development of the LOR. A brief summary of SPLNG's proposal is 
available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.
    On January 24, 2011, the Coast Guard published Navigation and 
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-2011, titled ``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. The

[[Page 31764]]

Coast Guard will refer to NVIC 01-2011 for process information and 
guidance in evaluating SPLNG's WSA. NVIC 01-2011 is available in the 
docket where indicated under ADDRESSES and also on the Coast Guard's 
website at https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/5p/5ps/NVIC/2011/NVIC%2001-2011%20Final.pdf.

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal portal at 
http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using 
http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions. In your submission, please include the docket number for 
this notice of inquiry and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Documents mentioned in this notice of inquiry as being available in 
the docket, and all public comments, will be in our online docket at 
http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that 
website's instructions.
    This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552 (a).

    Dated: July 2, 2018.
Jacqueline Twomey,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port 
Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2018-14596 Filed 7-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P