Coast Guard September 9, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the requirements in 33 CFR 127.009, the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Portland, Oregon is preparing a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as to the suitability of the Columbia River for liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine traffic. This LOR will encompass the marine safety and security aspects associated with the proposed Northern Star Natural Gas LLC (Northern Star) LNG facility. The LOR is in response to a Letter of Intent (LOI) submitted by Northern Star to operate an LNG facility in Bradwood, Clatsop County, Oregon. Because the proposed LNG facility would be located in state waters, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is the lead Federal agency for this proposed project. The COTP Portland, OR is soliciting written comments and related material, and will join FERC in holding a public meeting seeking comments, pertaining specifically to maritime safety and security aspects of the proposed LNG facility. In preparation for issuance of an LOR and the completion of certain other regulatory mandates, the COTP Portland, OR, will consider comments received from the public as input into a formalized risk assessment process. This process will assess the safety and security aspects of the facility, adjacent port areas, and navigable waterways.

On September 2, 2005, the Coast Guard published a notice and requested comments on a proposed change to regulations governing the operation of the SR 1 (West Larose) vertical lift bridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, mile 35.6 west of Harvey Lock, at Larose, Louisiana. The proposed rule would change the bridge's schedule so that it would remain closed to navigation at various times on weekdays during the school year to facilitate the safe, efficient movement of staff, students and other residents within the parish. That notice was issued August 26, 2005, before Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and caused that city to be flooded. We have changed the address and docket number where comments on the proposed rule should be sent because of flood conditions in New Orleans.