[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12451-12452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04310]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 127

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0102]


Waterway Suitability Assessment for Operations of Liquefied 
Hazardous Gas Terminal; Beaumont, TX

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 (WSA) we received from 
Martin Midstream Partners proposing to modify its existing Neches 
Terminal in Beaumont, Texas to handle additional liquefied hazardous 
gas (LHG). The terminal currently handles Ammonia which is classified 
as a LHG and the projects currently being evaluated would modify 
existing operations at the terminal by adding additional LHG products 
and increasing the number of LHG vessels from 24 ships per year to up 
to 350 LHG barge and ship visits per year. The additional LHG products 
include butane, propane, ethane, ethylene and propylene. The Coast 
Guard is notifying the public of this proposed increase in LHG marine 
traffic on the Sabine-Neches Waterway and is soliciting comments 
relevant to the Coast Guard's preparation of a Letter of Recommendation 
(LOR) for issuance to the federal, state, or local agency with 
jurisdiction over the proposed facility.

DATES: Your comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on 
or before April 2, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2020-0102 using the Federal portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See 
the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section 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 LHG, or an owner or operator planning new 
construction to expand or modify marine terminal operations in an 
existing facility handling LHG, where the construction, expansion, or 
modification would result in an increase in the size and/or frequency 
of LHG 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 WSA that addresses the proposed 
increase in LHG marine traffic in the associated waterway.
    Under 33 CFR 127.009, after receiving an LOI, the Captain of the 
Port issues a LOR as to the suitability of the waterway for LHG 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 LHG marine traffic on the affected waterway.

III. Information Requested

    On September 16, 2019, Martin Midstream Partners submitted an LOI 
and Preliminary WSA. The company's proposed plans include the addition 
of LHGs to its operations at the facility and an increase in the 
estimated annual LHG barge and ship visits to the facility. The

[[Page 12452]]

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 public input may be useful to the Captain of the 
Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur with respect to validating the 
information provided in Martin Midstream Partner's LOI and WSA and the 
development of the Coast Guard's LOR. A brief summary of Martin 
Midstream Partner'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 Coast Guard will refer to NVIC 01-2011 
for process information and guidance in evaluating Martin Midstream 
Partner's Preliminary 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 
https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using 
https://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 https://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit https://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 
https://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: February 26, 2020.
Jacqueline Twomey,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port 
Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2020-04310 Filed 3-2-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P