Maritime Administration January 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket MARAD 2009 0004 at https://www.regulations.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR Part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR Part 388.

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket MARAD-2009 0002 at https://www.regulations.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with 46 U.S.C. 12121 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR Part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR Part 388.

The Maritime Administration announces that the Coast Guard, in coordination with the Maritime Administration, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of this license application. The application describes a project that would be located approximately 30 statute miles southeast of Freeport, Brazoria County, Texas. Publication of this notice begins a scoping process that will help identify and determine the scope of environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process and provides information on how to participate.

On January 9, 2009, the Maritime Administration published a notice of intent for the Atlantic Sea Island Group LLC, Safe Harbor Energy Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port, with request for comments in the Federal Register, which included locations and times of open houses and public meetings. Subsequent events have required a change in the location of the open house and public meeting to be held on January 29, 2009. This notice provides the information on the new location. Change: The Federal Register published on January 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 6, pages 982-984) indicated that the open house and public meeting on January 29, 2009 would be held at the Jackson by the Beach Hotel in Long Beach, New York. The location has been changed and the open house and public meeting on January 29, 2009 will be held at: Long Beach Public Library, 111 West Park Avenue, Long Beach, NY 11561; 516- 432-7200. The date, location, and time for the public meeting and open house in Eatontown, New Jersey remains as originally announced.

The Maritime Administration announces that the Coast Guard, in coordination with the Maritime Administration, will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of the environmental review of this license application. The application describes a project that would be located approximately 13.5 miles south of the City of Long Beach, New York, 19 miles east of Highlands, New Jersey, and 23 miles southeast of the Ports of New York and New Jersey. The proposed port would consist of a 60.5 acre island at the surface, 116 to 140 acres at its base and constructed in approximately 60 to 70 feet of water covering the area known as Cholera Bank. The EIS will be prepared with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) as a cooperating agency in the environmental review with the Coast Guard. The EIS will meet the requirements of both the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). In addition, the Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration will be working with appropriate state agency representatives from New Jersey to ensure potential impacts and concerns of New Jersey are addressed in the EIS. Publication of this notice begins a 30 day scoping process that will assist in the identification and determination of the environmental issues to be addressed in the EIS. This notice requests public participation in the scoping process and provides information regarding how to participate in the process. It announces a public meeting to be held in connection with the EIS; requests for public comment on the scope of the EIS; and also serves as a notice of public scoping sessions as provided for under SEQRA, 6 NYCRR Sec. 617.8. At least one public meeting will take place in each adjacent coastal state. For purposes of the Deepwater Port Act (Act), New York and New Jersey are adjacent coastal states for this application.