[Federal Register: June 8, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 109)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 33351-33352]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08jn05-12]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Parts 148, 149, and 150
[USCG-1998-3884]
RIN 1625-AA20 (formerly RIN 2115-AF63)
Deepwater Ports; Voluntary Guidelines
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Navigation and
Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC), providing voluntary guidelines in
connection with the regulation of deepwater oil and natural gas ports
pursuant to the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended. The NVIC
guidelines relate to the design, plan review, fabrication,
installation, inspection, maintenance, and oversight of these deepwater
ports. Compliance with the NVIC is voluntary and no new legal
requirements are imposed.
DATES: The Coast Guard issued NVIC 03-05 on May 16, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of NVIC 03-05 from U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters (G-MSO-5), Room 1508, 2100 2nd Street SW., Washington DC
20593. The NVIC is available on the Internet at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/nvic/.
It is also available in the public docket (USCG-1998-
3884) and is available for inspection or copying at the Docket
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-402,
400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also find this
public docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
call LCDR Kevin Tone, Deepwater Port Standards Division, Coast Guard,
telephone 202-267-0226, e-mail: ktone@comdt.uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing the docket, call Andrea M. Jenkins, Program
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone: 202-366-0271.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as
amended, 33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq., a deepwater port is a fixed or
floating manmade structure other than a vessel, or a group of
structures, located beyond State seaward boundaries and used or
intended for use as a port or terminal for the transportation, storage,
and further handling of oil or natural gas for
[[Page 33352]]
transportation to any State. The Coast Guard regulates the licensing of
deepwater ports, in 33 CFR parts 148, 149, and 150, under a temporary
interim rule issued in 2004 (69 FR 724, Jan. 6, 2004).
On May 16, 2005, the Coast Guard issued Navigation and Vessel
Inspection Circular No. 03-05 (NVIC 03-05). NVIC 03-05 provides
guidance to deepwater port license applicants and operators, to the
Coast Guard, and to ``certifying entities'' that perform certification
work on behalf of the Coast Guard. This guidance relates to the design,
plan review, fabrication, installation, maintenance, and oversight of
deepwater ports. NVIC 03-05 encourages voluntary compliance, but is not
intended to and does not impose legally binding requirements on any
person.
The ADDRESSES section of this notice tells how to view or obtain a
copy of NVIC 03-05. The Coast Guard is issuing this notice of
availability in accordance with the commitment we made in our temporary
interim rule, at 69 FR 726, to keep the public informed of Coast Guard
policies interpreting the deepwater port regulations. We will issue
additional notices of availability, should we modify or supplement NVIC
03-05 in the future.
Dated: May 31, 2005.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety, Security, and
Environmental Protection, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 05-11318 Filed 6-7-05; 8:45 am]
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