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###### Department of Homeland Security

###### Office of the Secretary 

# AGENCY:

Office of the Secretary, DHS. 

# ACTION:

Notice. 

The combined effect of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina is one of the largest natural disasters to ever strike the United States. The hurricanes have significantly disrupted production of oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico, have caused many Gulf Coast oil refineries to go out of service because of flooding, lack of electric power or other reasons, and have significantly disrupted the pipeline transportation of oil and refined products from the Gulf Coast States. These production losses, outages, and disruptions have caused increases in the price of oil, gasoline and other refined products. The Department of Homeland Security has received reports of threatened or actual shortages of gasoline, jet fuel, and/or other refined products as a result of the hurricanes. 

Companies that produce and/or ship petroleum and/or refined petroleum products have submitted to the Department requests for waivers of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (the “Jones Act”). See, 46 U.S.C. App. section 1; 46 U.S.C. App. section 883. This and related laws are generally referred to as the “coastwise laws.” These laws provide, among other things, that only vessels built and owned by citizens of the United States and flagged in the United States can carry merchandise between U.S. ports. 

                    The Secretary of Homeland Security is vested with the authority and discretion to waive the coastwise laws “to such extent and in such manner and upon such terms as he may prescribe, either upon his own initiative or upon the written recommendation of the head of any other Government agency, whenever he deems that such action is necessary in the interest of national defense.” In consultation with and upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Energy, I have determined that such a waiver, in accordance with the terms set forth below, is in the interest of the national defense.                           ( print page 57612)    

The catastrophic destruction brought about by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina has dramatically impeded, and in some places in the affected region stopped altogether, production and transportation or transmission of oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, and electricity. Much of the lost oil production is from producing areas in the Gulf of Mexico which have been leased pursuant to programs of the Department of the Interior. This lost production, refining, and transportation capacity has resulted in the actual or threatened unavailability of gasoline, jet fuel and other refined products, and threatens the Nation's economic and national security. I believe that waiver of the coastwise laws would facilitate the transportation of oil and refined petroleum products in and from portions of the United States affected by the hurricanes, and to other regions affected by the disruptions that have occurred in the Gulf Coast area. 

Therefore, I am exercising my discretion and authority to waive the coastwise laws generally for the transportation of petroleum and refined petroleum products for the period until 12:01 a.m., October 24, 2005. On September 1, 2005, I exercised my discretion and authority to waive the coastwise laws generally for the transportation of petroleum released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, whether pursuant to an exchange, sale or otherwise, undertaken in response to the circumstances arising from Hurricane Katrina. I am today exercising my discretion and authority to extend that waiver of the coastwise laws generally for the transportation of petroleum released from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, whether pursuant to an exchange, sale, or otherwise, undertaken in response to the circumstances arising from Hurricane Rita. I find, for the reasons set forth above, that such waivers are necessary in the interest of national defense. 

Executed this 26th day of September, 2005. 

Michael Chertoff, 

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 05-19820 Filed 9-29-05; 1:23 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4410-10-P