[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
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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]
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