Department of State June 20, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of State (hereinafter, ``State'' or ``the Department'') is amending its debt collection regulations to permit debt notices to be sent by electronic mail to certain debtors and to reflect a change in federal law, which authorizes the offset of Federal non-tax payments to collect delinquent federal debt without regard to the amount of time the debt has been delinquent.

NuStar Logistics, L.P. (NuStar) has applied to the U.S. Department of State (Department) for a Presidential Permit to replace a 2003 Presidential Permit issued to Valero Logistics Operations L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline facilities (the Dos Laredos Pipeline) crossing the international border between the United States and Mexico at a location on the Rio Grande River known as ``La Bota,'' approximately six miles northwest of downtown Laredo, Texas. Specifically, NuStar requests a Presidential Permit that: (1) Reflects NuStar's name change from Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. to NuStar Logistics, L.P., as the owner and operator of the Dos Laredos Pipeline crossing the international boundary; and (2) expands the types of products that may be transported through the pipeline. The 2003 Presidential Permit only allows shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while NuStar now proposes to transport other specifically defined petroleum products, including diesel. On December 30, 2003, the Department issued a ``Finding of No Significant Impact and Summary Environmental Assessment; Valero Logistics LP Pipeline in Webb County, TX,'' applicable to the Dos Laredos Pipeline (the 2003 Environmental Finding). In the 2003 Environmental Finding, the Department described the proposed Dos Laredos Pipeline as being designed to transport up to 32,400 barrels (1.36 million gallons) of LPG daily from the United States to Mexico. The Department concluded that issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing the proposed Dos Laredos Pipeline would have no significant impact on the quality of the human environment within the United States, and further determined that granting a Presidential Permit for the Dos Laredos Pipeline would serve the national interest. In accordance with the 2003 Environmental Finding and the 2003 Presidential Permit, the Dos Laredos Pipeline was constructed and went into service in 2004. The owner, Valero Logistics Operations, L.P., changed its name to NuStar Logistics, L.P. on April 1, 2007. In June 2011, NuStar temporarily suspended transportation of LPG on the Dos Laredos Pipeline. NuStar has continued to maintain the pipeline with the intent to place the pipeline back into active service in 2014. On December 4, 2013, NuStar submitted an application to the Department requesting a new Presidential Permit for the Dos Laredos Pipeline. The Department has concluded, consistent with NEPA, that it will prepare a Supplemental EA to determine whether the proposed action may have a significant impact on the human environment. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to inform the public about the proposed action, announce plans for determining the scope of the review, invite public participation in the scoping process, and solicit public comments for consideration in establishing the scope and content of the Supplemental EA.