Notice2023-04743
Waterway Suitability Assessment for Operation of Liquified Hazardous Gas Terminal; Orange, TX
Primary source
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Published
March 8, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, Enterprise Products has submitted a Letter of Intent and Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Port Arthur, TX (COTP) regarding the company's plans to handle and transport Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) at the Enterprise Products East docks located in Orange, TX. 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 issue to the Federal, State or local agency with jurisdiction over the proposed facility.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14382-14383]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04743]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket Number USCG-2023-0111]
Waterway Suitability Assessment for Operation of Liquified
Hazardous Gas Terminal; Orange, TX
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, Enterprise
Products has submitted a Letter of Intent and Preliminary Waterway
Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Port
Arthur, TX (COTP) regarding the company's plans to handle and transport
Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) at the Enterprise Products East docks
located in Orange, TX. 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 issue to the Federal, State or
local agency with jurisdiction over the proposed facility.
DATES: Comments and related material must be received on or before
April 7, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2023-0111 using the Federal Decision Making portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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 Scott Whalen, U.S. Coast Guard;
telephone 409-719-5086, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9be8f8f4efefb5f0b5ecf3faf7fef5dbeee8f8fcb5f6f2f7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d6a5b5b9a2a2f8bdf8a1beb7bab3b896a3a5b5b1f8bbbfba">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
LHG Liquified Hazardous Gas
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background and Purpose
Under 33 CFR 127.007(a), an owner or operator planning to build a
new facility handling Liquefied Hazardous Gas (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 COTP 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 LHG marine
traffic in the associated waterway.
Under 33 CFR 127.009, after receiving an LOI, the COTP issues a LOR
as to the suitability of the waterway for LNG or 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.
[[Page 14383]]
III. Discussion
Enterprise Products LLC, located in Orange, TX, submitted an LOI
and WSA on August 15, 2022 regarding the company's proposed plans to
handle and transport LHG at the Port of Port Arthur, TX facility.
The 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 input from the public may be useful to
the COTP with respect to validating the information provided in
Enterprise Products' WSA and development of the LOR.
The goal of this input will be to gather information to help the
COTP assess the suitability of the associated waterway for increased
LHG marine traffic as it relates to navigational safety and maritime
security. In addition to the other documents referenced in this notice,
a brief summation of Enterprise Products' proposal is available for
viewing in the public docket for this notice. Additionally, the Coast
Guard will request comments and recommendations from the Area Maritime
Security Committee, Port Arthur, TX. In late 2022, the Southeast Texas
Waterways Advisory Council (SETWAC) Navigation Subcommittee met to
assess the safety and security of Enterprise Products plan. On November
21, 2022, SETWAC submitted a letter of no objection to the COTP.
On January 24, 2011, the Coast Guard published Navigation and
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-2011, ``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. While NVIC 01-2011 is specific to LNG, it
provides useful process information and guidance for owners and
operators seeking approval to build and operate LHG facilities as well.
The Coast Guard will refer to NVIC 01-2011 for process information and
guidance in evaluating Enterprise Products' WSA. A copy of NVIC 01-2011
is available for viewing on the Coast Guard's website at <a href="https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/NVIC/Year/2010">https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/NVIC/Year/2010</a>.
IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments in response to this request for
comments through the Federal Decision Making portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. To do so, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type
USCG-2023-0111 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Next, look
for this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then
click on the Comment option. In your submission, please include the
docket number for this notice of inquiry and provide a reason for each
suggestion or recommendation. If your material cannot be submitted
using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, contact the person in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate
instructions.
To view documents mentioned in this request for comments as being
available in the docket, find the docket as described in the previous
paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & Related Material'' in the
Document Type column. Public comments will also be placed in our online
docket and can be viewed by following instructions on the <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> Frequently Asked Questions web page. We review all
comments received, but we may choose not to post off-topic,
inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive.
We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> 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).
This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: March 3, 2023.
Molly. A. Wike,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Marine Safety Zone Port
Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2023-04743 Filed 3-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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