[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 231 (Tuesday, December 1, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 77093-77095]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24821]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0630]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Bahia de Ponce, Ponce, PR

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a permanment safety 
zone for certain waters of the Bahia de Ponce, Ponce, Puerto Rico. This 
action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these 
navigable waters during ship-to-ship liquefied natural gas transfer 
operations between liquefied gas carriers. This proposed rulemaking 
would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone when 
activated unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a 
designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed 
rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before December 31, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2020-0630 using the Federal eRulemaking 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 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant Natallia Lopez, Sector 
San Juan Prevention Department, Waterways Management Division, U.S. 
Coast Guard; telephone 787-729-2380, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
LG Liquefied Gas
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
PR Puerto Rico
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

[[Page 77094]]

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On April 20, 2020, New Fortress Energy submitted arequest to begin 
conducting ship-to-ship liquefied natural gas (LNG) transfer operations 
in the approximate location of three nautical miles south of Ponce, 
Puerto Rico (PR). Coast Guard Sector San Juan engaged with local 
stakeholders and determined the proposed location could accommodate 
regular anchoring and ship-to-ship LNG transfer operations between 
liquefied gas (LG) carriers. The Captain of the Port San Juan (COTP) 
has determined that potential hazards associated with ship-to-ship LNG 
transfer operations between LG carriers would be a safety concern for 
anyone within 100-yards of the location of the transfer operations.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish a permanent safety 
zone to ensure the safety of vessels and the navigable waters during 
ship-to-ship LNG transfer operations between LG carriers. The Coast 
Guard is proposing this rulemaking under authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP is proposing to establish a permanent safety zone in Bahia 
de Ponce, Ponce, PR where New Fortress Energy would be conducting ship-
to-ship LNG transfer operations. The proposed rule would consist of a 
100-yard safety zone in a location approximately three nautical miles 
south of Ponce, PR, while LNG transfer operations are being conducted. 
No vessel or person would be permitted to enter the safety zone when 
activated without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated 
representative. The regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end 
of this document.

IV. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on a number of these statutes and Executive orders, and 
we discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This NPRM has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, duration and restrictions of the safety zone. The safety zone 
required for these operations is 100 yards, making the safety zone 
limited in size. The safety zone is limited to a location approximately 
three nautical miles south of Ponce, PR, making the zone limited in 
location. Additionally, the safety zone will be enforced only while LNG 
transfer operations are being conducted, making it limited in duration. 
Vessels will be permitted to enter the safety zone when ship-to-ship 
transfer operations are not being conducted, limiting the restrictions 
associated with the safety zone.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as 
amended, requires Federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on small entities during rulemaking. The term ``small 
entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations 
that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their 
fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section 
IV.A above, this proposed rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on any vessel owner or operator.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have 
a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see 
ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what 
degree this rule would economically affect it.
    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this proposed rule. If the proposed rule 
would affect your small business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or 
options for compliance, please call or email the person listed in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. The Coast Guard will not 
retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this 
proposed rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

C. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would not call for a new collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

    A proposed rule has implications for federalism under Executive 
Order 13132 (Federalism), if it has a substantial direct effect on the 
States, on the relationship between the National Government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. We have analyzed this proposed rule under 
that Order and have determined that it is consistent with the 
fundamental federalism principles and preemption requirements described 
in Executive Order 13132.
    Also, this proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments) because it would not have a substantial direct effect on 
one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes. If 
you believe this proposed rule has implications for federalism or 
Indian tribes, please call or email the person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for 
inflation) or more in any one year. Though this proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Directive 023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing 
instructions, and Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 (series), 
which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy

[[Page 77095]]

Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have made a preliminary 
determination that this action is one of a category of actions that do 
not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This proposed rule involves a safety zone during ship-to-
ship LNG transfer operations lasting approximately 24 hours that would 
prohibit entry within 100 yards of the proposed location of the 
transfer operations. Normally such actions are categorically excluded 
from further review under paragraph L60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of 
DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A preliminary Record of 
Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available 
in the docket. For instructions on locating the docket, see the 
ADDRESSES section of this preamble. We seek any comments or information 
that may lead to the discovery of a significant environmental impact 
from this proposed rule.

G. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to call or email the person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so 
that your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or 
security of people, places, or vessels.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If 
you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the person 
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for 
alternate instructions.
    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 
submissions in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking System 
of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).
    Documents mentioned in this NPRM 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. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard is 
proposing to amend 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-
6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.788 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.788   Safety Zone; Bahia de San Juan, Ponce, Puerto Rico.

    (a) Regulated area. A safety zone is established in the following 
area: The waters around liquefied gas carriers conducting ship-to-ship 
liquefied natural gas transfer operations in an area 100-yards around 
each vessel in the approximate position 17[deg]54'20'' N, 
066[deg]35'6'' W. All coordinates are North American Datum 1983.
    (b) Regulations. (1) No person or vessel may enter, transit or 
remain in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, 
San Juan, Puerto Rico, or a designated Coast Guard commissioned, 
warrant, or petty officer. Those in the safety zone must comply with 
all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or the 
designated Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer.
    (2) Vessels encountering emergencies, which require transit through 
the safety zone, should contact the Coast Guard patrol craft or Duty 
Officer on VHF Channel 16. In the event of an emergency, the Coast 
Guard patrol craft may authorize a vessel to transit through the safety 
zone with a Coast Guard designated escort.
    (3) The Captain of the Port and the Duty Officer at Sector San 
Juan, Puerto Rico, can be contacted at telephone number 787-289-2041. 
The Coast Guard Patrol Commander enforcing the safety zone can be 
contacted on VHF-FM channels 16 and 22A.
    (4) Coast Guard Sector San Juan will, when necessary and 
practicable, notify the maritime community of periods during which the 
safety zones will be in effect by providing advance notice of scheduled 
ship-to-ship liquefied natural gas transfer operations of liquefied gas 
carriers via a Marine Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
    (5) All persons and vessels must comply with the instructions of 
on-scene patrol personnel. On-scene patrol personnel include 
commissioned, warrant, or petty officers of the U.S. Coast Guard. Coast 
Guard Auxiliary and local or state officials may be present to inform 
vessel operators of the requirements of this section, and other 
applicable laws.

    Dated: November 3, 2020.
G.H. Magee,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port San Juan.
[FR Doc. 2020-24821 Filed 11-30-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P