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[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 45013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19048]

[[Page 45013]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Maritime Administration

Deepwater Port License: Amendment of the Neptune LNG LLC 
Deepwater Port License and Temporary Suspension of Operations at the 
Neptune LNG Deepwater Port

AGENCY: Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Secretary of Transportation may, on petition of the 
licensee, amend a deepwater port license issued under the of the 
Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended. For purposes of this notice, 
the Maritime Administration (MARAD) provides public notice of its 
decision to approve the request of Neptune LNG LLC (Neptune) for 
continuation of the suspension of port operations at the Neptune 
Deepwater Port (Neptune Port) by amending the Neptune Deepwater Port 
License (License).

ADDRESSES: The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket 
for this project. The docket may be viewed electronically at http://www.regulations.gov under docket number USCG-2005-22611.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about the 
Neptune Deepwater Port License Amendment and suspension of port 
operations, please contact Ms. Yvette M. Fields, Director, Office of 
Deepwater Ports and Offshore Activities at (202) 366-0926 or 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the Docket, 
please contact Docket Operations at (202) 493-3024.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 2017, MARAD received a 
written request from Neptune for authorization to temporarily suspend 
operations at the Neptune Port, located approximately 22 miles 
northeast of Boston, Massachusetts. In the request, Neptune indicated 
that conditions within the Northeast region's natural gas market 
continue to impact the Neptune Port's ability to import liquefied 
natural gas (LNG). As a result, the Neptune Port has remained inactive 
over the past several years and will likely remain inactive for the 
foreseeable future. For these reasons, Neptune requested MARAD's 
authorization to formally suspend port operations for a period of four 
years.
    After conducting a thorough evaluation and consultation with 
various Federal agencies, MARAD has determined that the amendment of 
the license is consistent with the requirements of 33 U.S.C. chapter 29 
and has accepted Neptune's request and authorized amendment of the 
License to provide an additional four-year suspension of port 
operations. The amendment is applicable only to Articles 2, 6, and 19 
of the License. All other terms, conditions, and obligations of the 
License will remain in effect during and after the suspension period. 
The suspension period became effective June 26, 2018, and will extend 
for a period of four years, to be measured in calendar days.
    In order to resume operations prior to expiration of the four-year 
suspension period, Neptune must petition MARAD for approval to resume 
port operations. The petition must be submitted at least six months 
prior to the proposed re-start date, and certify that Neptune is in 
receipt of all applicable Federal and State permits, approvals, and 
authorizations. Should Neptune request an extension of the suspension 
period, such request must be submitted to MARAD no less than one 
hundred eighty (180) calendar days prior to the expiration date of the 
suspension period. Thereafter, MARAD will evaluate, in consultation 
with the relevant Federal agencies, the appropriateness of such an 
extension. The final determination on any extension will be rendered by 
the Maritime Administrator or a designee acting on behalf of the 
Maritime Administrator.
    Additional information pertaining to this public notice may be 
found in the public docket regarding the Neptune Deepwater Port License 
online at www.regulations.gov, under docket number USCG-2005-22611 (see 
ADDRESSES).

    Authority:  49 CFR 1.93.

    Dated: August 28, 2018.

    By Order of the Maritime Administrator.
T. Mitchell Hudson, Jr.
Secretary, Maritime Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-19048 Filed 8-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-81-P
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