Public Comment

Public Comment for Four New Deepwater EAs

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today announced that public comment is invited with respect to four Environmental Assessments (EA) for Exploration Plans (EP). The EPs involve deepwater activity in the Gulf of Mexico and were completed in accordance with new safety and environmental standards implemented since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. A new feature has been added to increase accessibility for the public to submit comments on the bureau's homepage at: www.boemre.gov   Consistent with federal regulations, an EP is deemed “submitted” once all supporting materials and documentation has been provided. Once a plan is deemed submitted, BOEMRE has 30 calendar days to analyze and evaluate it. The 30-day time frame for review includes a 10-day public comment period to allow an opportunity to review and comment on the issues that should be considered by BOEMRE in preparing the EA for the plan. The four plans will be available for comment by the end of the business day today.   The four plans include one Initial EP and three Revised EPs. The first plan is an Initial EP received from Hess Corporation and includes three proposed exploratory wells in 1,600 feet water depth, approximately 80 miles offshore Louisiana. The second and third plans received are two Revised EPs from Cobalt International Energy LP

Amendments to Pending Exploration Plans

On April 22, BOEMRE called for public comment to inform new deepwater environmental assessment. Statoil, Inc. and BHP Billiton Petroleum Americas have provided amendments to their exploration plans (EP). The amended plans have been deemed submitted on April 28, and the 30-day review of the proposed activities has re-started.   There are currently four deepwater EPs that have been deemed submitted. Shell Offshore, Inc.'s supplemental EP was amended and deemed submitted on April 12, 2011

USACE Seeks Comment on Gulfport Harbor Navigation Project

The US Army Corps of Engineers is seeking public comment on its Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) relating to the Federal Gulfport Harbor Navigation Project in Harrison County, Mississippi. Comments should be submitted by April 2. Source: HK Law

MarAd Port Dolphin Energy LNG DWP License Application

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) issued a notice stating that the US Coast Guard intends to prepare an environmental impact statement as part of the environmental review of the application submitted by Port Dolphin Energy LLC for a license to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port (DWP). If approved, the LNG DWP would be located in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico approximately 28 miles off the west coast of Florida

Discussion of New Ferry Service in Berkeley

If you are interested in a new ferry service in Berkeley, please join the discussion at the Berkeley City Council meeting on May 5 at 7:00 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA. WETA will be presenting a summary of the findings of the Draft Environmental Impact Report/Statement (EIR/S) on a proposed ferry terminal in Berkeley or Albany and listening to Commission, Council, and public comments on the project and the Draft EIR/S

Advisory to Owners or Operators of Ocean-Going Vessels Visiting California Ports

Amendments to the California Regulation on Fuel Sulfur and Other Operational Requirements for Ocean-Going Vessels within California Waters and 24 Nautical Miles of the California Baseline (“OGV Fuel Regulation” or “regulation”) The purpose of this advisory is to notify owners and operators of ocean-going vessels (OGVs) of amendments to the OGV Fuel Regulation. Amendments to the regulation were endorsed by the California Air Resources Board on June 23, 2011

Ports Extend Public Comment Period Deadline

The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles are extending the public comment period for the San Pedro Bay Clean Air Action Plan by 30 days, to August 28, to ensure adequate time is allowed for the public to thoroughly review, evaluate and develop constructive comments to increase the effectiveness of the strategies outlined in the Plan. Because of the deadline extension, the final Plan will not be completed until October. So, the Ports are pushing back adoption of the Plan

Coast Guard Establishes Mariner Physical Exam Requirements

The Coast Guard recently published two Federal Register notices relating to physical examination requirements for merchant mariners, based on National Transportation Safety Board recommendations issued following the catastrophic 2003 Staten Island ferry marine casualty in New York Harbor. The first notice announces and seeks public comment on a draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular on medical and physical evaluation guidelines for merchant mariner credentials

Comment on Revisions to Tonnage NVIC

The Coast Guard is seeking public comment on a possible revision to the Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 11-93 Applicability of Tonnage Measurement Systems to U.S. flagged vessels for the purpose of updating it and improving its usefulness to their customers in both the public and private sectors.  The proposed draft includes language to consider the inclusion of additional guidance on implications of gross/net tonnage changes that result from: (1) vessel alterations

Port of LA, USACE Address Container Terminal Expansion

The Port of Los Angeles and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report (EIS/EIR) for the Berths 302-306 APL Container Terminal Project that involves the improvement and expansion of the existing 291-acre terminal by 56 acres. APL operates the second largest container terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. The proposed project calls for the development of 1250 feet of new wharf and 41 acres of backland with planned state-of-the-art infrastructure