Document ID: USCG-2019-0615-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Waterway Suitability Assessment for Operations of Liquefied Hazardous Gas Terminal; Nederland, TX
Posted Date: 2019-10-07T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53352-53353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21625]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 127

[Docket Number USCG-2019-0615]

Waterway Suitability Assessment for Operations of Liquefied 
Hazardous Gas Terminal; Nederland, 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 we received from Sunoco 
Partners Marketing & Terminals to expand their existing liquefied 
hazardous gas (LHG) operations by increasing the number of liquefied 
propane and butane ship visits from approximately 120 per year to 432 
ship visits per year. Additionally, they intend to expand operations to 
include 120 liquefied ethane ship visits per year. 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 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 November 6, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0615 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 Scott.K.Whalen@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

[[Page 53353]]

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 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 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 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 Captain of the 
Port issues a Letter of Recommendation (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 March 11, 2013, Sunoco Partners Marketing and Terminals, located 
in Nederland, TX, submitted an LOI and Preliminary WSA indicating the 
company's proposed plans to expand operations of an existing dock to 
handle liquefied hazardous gas, specifically propane and butane, with 
an estimated 132 vessels calling on the facility each year. On July 14, 
2019, the COTP received a new LOI and an Addendum to the original WSA. 
The purpose of this notice is to solicit public comments on the 
proposed increase in LNG 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 (COTP) with respect to 
validating the information provided in Sunoco's LOI and WSA Addendum 
and the development of the Coast Guard's LOR. A brief summary of 
Sunoco'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 Sunoco's WSA 
Addendum. 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: September 30, 2019.
Jacqueline Twomey,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port 
Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2019-21625 Filed 10-4-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P