Seeks Comments News

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Thursday identified a Draft Wind Energy Area (WEA) in the Gulf of Maine, opening a 30-day public review and comment period. The Draft WEA covers approximately 3,519,067 acres offshore Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, ranging from approximately 23 - 120 miles off the coast. “BOEM will continue to prioritize a robust and transparent planning process, including engagement with Tribal governments, federal and state agencies, the fishing community and other ocean users,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein.

“Until every employee, and every midshipman, and cadet, and every trainee trusts the system and until all allegations are handled properly, abuse will continue to occur, it will continue to go unreported, and people will continue to suffer alone—and that is simply intolerable,” said Lucinda Lessley, Acting Maritime Administrator, presenting at the Connecticut Maritime Association Shipping Expo and Conference, in February.On March 30, the Maritime Administration (MARAD) released…

Hydrogen as fuel was in the spotlight during the last two weeks. The Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on February 10 looking at H challenges in the transportation, utility, industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.A week later, the US House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology held a hearing titled "H2Success: Research and Development to Advance a Clean Hydrogen Future."Also, of note, the US Department of Energy published two hydrogen RFIs - "requests for information." One on "Clean Hydrogen Manufacturing…

The U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it is seeking public comment on a proposal to expand regulations on vessel financial responsibility for all tank vessels greater than 100 gross tons as required by statute, and to make other amendments that clarify and update reporting requirements, reflect current practice and remove unnecessary regulations.The proposed rule would ensure that the Coast Guard has current information when there are significant changes in a vessel’s operation…

When it comes to the EPA’s recent proposed delay to implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines ‘in certain high-speed commercial vessels,’ where you stand probably depends on where you sit.On September 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection agency (EPA) proposed to delay implementation of Tier 4 marine diesel engines “in certain high-speed commercial vessels.” Specifically; EPA mentions three kinds of vessels: lobster boats, pilot boats and a third, more open-ended reference to “other high-speed vessels,” possibly including hovercraft.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seeks comments on proposed changes to its draft Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing. Comments must be received by 30 March. 81 Fed. Reg. 14095 [located at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2016-03-16/pdf/2016-05886.pdf] (3/16/16).   (Source: Bryant's Maritime Blog - http://brymar-consulting.com)

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking comments on the agency’s proposed policy to accept, evaluate and process license applications for the construction and operation of offshore deepwater export facilities. The agency is proposing to use the existing Deepwater Port License regulations, found in 33 CFR Parts 148, 149 and 150, for such purposes. However, due to the considerable technical, operational, and environmental differences between import and export operations for natural gas or oil projects, a separate and complete license application, conforming to all licensing requirements and regulations, is required for export applications. The Federal Register Notice may be viewed at https://federalregister.gov/a/2014-24609

U.S. The U.S. Coast Guard Monday, April 14, 2014, announced the publication of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking involving the possible expansion of its maritime safety training requirements to cover all persons other than crew working on offshore supply vessels and mobile offshore units. These vessels are defined as the OSVs and MOUs engaged in activities on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf, regardless of flag. This regulatory action aims to enhance personnel preparedness for persons other than crew (U.S. and foreign) when responding to emergencies such as fire, personal injury and abandon ship situations in hazardous environments.

The U.S. Coast Guard, in the Code of Federal Regulations, has called for public comment on a petition that requests the Coast Guard to initiate a rulemaking to address the problem of overhead clearance (air-draft) accidents. In its petition, which calls for vessel masters to be provided with accurate vertical air draft information, a maritime organization has described 16 overhead clearance accidents that it says were avoidable and that resulted in damage to or destruction of waterway infrastructure and inconvenienced the public. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received in response to this notification in determining whether or not to initiate the requested rulemaking.

The U.S. Coast Guard herald the publication of an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to publicize regulations requiring vessels engaged in outer continental shelf activities  to develop, implement and maintain a vessel-specific safety and environmental management system. The safety and environmental management system incorporates the management program and principles of American Petroleum Institute’s Recommended Practice for Development of a Safety and Environmental Management Program for Offshore Operations and Facilities, Third Edition, May 2004 (API RP 75).

Public Hearings Scheduled to provide opportunities for public input. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has completed a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), providing updated environmental and socioeconomic analysis to support two proposed lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 233 is tentatively scheduled for 2013 in the Western Planning Area (WPA), offshore Texas; and Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 231 is scheduled for 2014 in the Central Planning Area (CPA), offshore the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. BOEM will hold public hearings to provide an opportunity for interested citizens and organizations to comment on the environmental impact statement. Comments will be used to prepare the final SEIS.

NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is seeking public comment on a request by the U.S. Navy to operate its Low Frequency Active Sonar on the world's open oceans. The Navy's Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System Low Frequency Active Sonar uses an underwater sound source to locate submarines, and the agency wants to ensure the operation of the system has a negligible impact on marine mammals. Unique to this proposal, NOAA Fisheries and the Navy are proposing to establish "Offshore Biologically Important Areas (OBIAs)" in which the SURTASS LFA sonar ships would not operate. OBIAs are areas of the world's oceans where marine mammals congregate in high numbers to feed, migrate, breed and calve. To date, the U.S.

In the August 6, 2002, Federal Register, the Coast Guard seeks comments on proposed assessment criteria to be used by Designated Examiners when evaluating candidates for licenses as officers of towing vessels, specifically when evaluating mariners' execution of certain prescribed tasks. These standards appear on the Department of Transportation's website. To access them, (1) go to http://dms.dot.gov/; (2) click on "Simple Search" on the bottom of the page; (3) type "12973" in the search box next to "Docket Number," (4) hit "Enter" on your keyboard. You will then see a page from which you can access the four (4) sets of Performance Assessment Criteria for Towing Officer Assessment Records ("TOAR") tasks. Once on the proper D.O.T.

MarAd is soliciting public comment concerning whether MarAd should amend its cargo preference regulations governing the carriage of agricultural exports. Comments are welcome on the questions listed in this notice or on any other aspect of MarAd's oversight of other governmental agencies' ocean shipping activities under the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, as amended by the Food Security Act of 1985. Present regulations and policies remain in force. This docket does not address the carriage of military cargoes. The USCG proposes to amend the Anchorage Regulations for the Atlantic Ocean off Miami and Miami Beach, Fla. The amendment is needed…

The USCG is seeking feedback on its revision of 46 CFR part 151, the regulations for barges carrying bulk liquid hazardous materials. A starting point is a package of recommendations made by the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) in 1993. CTAC recommended modifying the regulations to address construction changes, venting and gauging arrangements, cargo classification (especially toxic cargo classifcation) and grandfathering provisions. The USCG is also seeking feedback on the need for revised cargo identification signs on barges carrying hazardous liquid cargoes, as recommended by the Louisiana Governor's Maritime Task Force.

The USCG is seeking feedback on its revision of 46 CFR part 151, the regulations for barges carrying bulk liquid hazardous materials. A starting point is a package of recommendations made by the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) in 1993. CTAC recommended modifying the regulations to address construction changes, venting and gauging arrangements, cargo classification (especially toxic cargo classifcation) and grandfathering provisions. The USCG is also seeking feedback on the need for revised cargo identification signs on barges carrying hazardous liquid cargoes, as recommended by the Louisiana Governor's Maritime Task Force.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) is seeking comments on the impact on the Maritime Security Program (MSP) of the proposed acquisition of CP Ships Limited by TUI AG. CP Ships Limited is a Canadian company and the parent of CP Ships USA, LLC, which is a participant in the MSP. TUI AG is a German corporation and the parent of Hapag-Lloyd, a German vessel operator, neither of which have any present connection with MSP. Comments must be received by September 23. 70 Fed. Reg. 54102 (HK Law).