[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3185-3186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-947]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 156

[CGD 93-081]
RIN 2115-AE90]


Designation of Lightering Zones

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces a public meeting on February 16, 
1995, in the New Orleans, Louisiana, area to [[Page 3186]] provide the 
public an opportunity to comment on its proposal to establish three 
lightering zones in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed zones are more 
than 60 miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the 
United States is measured and will allow single hull tankers using 
these zones to conduct lightering operations until the year 2015. The 
views presented at this meeting together with written comments on the 
proposal will be considered by the Coast Guard in formulating a final 
rule.

DATES: The meeting will be held February 16, 1995, from 9 a.m. to 3 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Best Western Landmark Hotel, 
Mardi Gras Ballroom, 2601 Severn Avenue, Metairie, LA. Comments become 
part of this docket (CGD 93-081) and are available for inspection or 
copying at room 3406, Coast Guard Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 3 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LCDR Stephen Kantz, Oil Pollution Act (OPA 90) Staff (G-MS-A), U.S. 
Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593, telephone 
(202) 267-6740. This telephone is equipped to record messages on a 24-
hour basis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    In November 1993, the Coast Guard received several requests to 
establish lightering zoned in the Gulf of Mexico. On December 2, 1993, 
the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register a notice of these 
petitions for rulemaking and request for comment (58 FR 63544).
    Currently, 33 CFR part 156 provides that the Coast Guard will 
consider various factors in designating lightering zones--traditional 
use of the area for lightering; weather and sea conditions; water 
depth; proximity to shipping lanes, vessel traffic schemes, anchorages, 
fixed structures, designated marine sanctuaries, fishing areas, and 
designated units of the National Park System, National Wild and Scenic 
Rivers System, National Wilderness Preservation System, properties 
included on the National Register of Historic Places and National 
Registry of Natural Landmarks, and National Wildlife Refuge System; and 
other relevant safety, environmental, or economic data (33 CFR 
156.230).
    On December 16, 1993, the Coast Guard published in the Federal 
Register a notice of public meeting to solicit opinions on whether 
lightering zones should be established and, if so, where they should be 
located and what operating conditions should be mandated (58 FR 65683). 
A public meeting was held in Houston, Texas, on January 18, 1994. At 
that time, the Oil Spill Coordinator from the State of Louisiana 
requested that a public meeting be held in Louisiana after there was an 
opportunity to review any proposal by the Coast Guard to designate 
lightering zones.
    On January 5, 1995, the Coast Guard published the notice of 
proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (60 FR 1958). The 
coordinates of the three lightering zones proposed to be established 
are set forth in the proposed rulemaking.

Summary of the Rulemaking

    By using these proposed designated lightering zones more than 60 
miles from the baseline, single hull tank vessels contracted for after 
June 20, 1990, and older single hull tank vessels phased out by OPA 90, 
would be able to lighter in the U.S. Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) 
until January 1, 2015. In addition to establishing the first lightering 
zones designated by the Coast Guard, the proposed rulemaking would also 
incorporate the use of recognized industry guidelines, impose certain 
weather and sea state restrictions, and require compliance with U.S. 
work hour limitations. It would also designate three other areas within 
the vicinity of the ecologically sensitive Flower Garden Banks National 
Marine Sanctuary in which all lightering will be prohibited.
    In the NPRM, the Coast Guard specifically requested comments on the 
practicality of also designating a smaller northern area as an 
additional, fourth lightering zone. The boundaries of this northern 
area, which would be called ``South Sabine Point,'' would consist of 
the waters bounded by a line connecting the following points beginning 
at:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Latitude N.                         Longitude W.        
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28 deg.30'00''............................  92 deg.38'00'', thence to   
28 deg.44'00''............................  93 deg.24'00'', thence to   
28 deg.33'00''............................  94 deg.00'00'', thence to   
28 deg.18'00''............................  94 deg.00'00'', thence to   
28 deg.18'00''............................  92 deg.38'00'', and thence  
                                             to the point of beginning. 
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    This rulemaking has been determined to be a significant regulatory 
action under established criteria of the Department of Transportation 
and the Office of Management and Budget.

Meeting Procedure

    Members of the public planning to make oral presentations during 
the meeting should call the number listed in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT no later than the day before the meeting, and state their 
intention to speak about docket number 93-081, provide their name, and 
the approximate duration of their presentation. Persons making oral 
presentations are also encouraged to submit a copy of their remarks in 
writing during the meeting.

    Dated: January 9, 1994.
J.C. Card,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Marine Safety, Security 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 95-947 Filed 1-12-95; 8:45 am]
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