Issues Notice News

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has issued a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed update to the Santa Clara Unit Development and Production Plan, which includes the use of hydraulic fracturing on 16 existing wells at Platform Gilda, located 8.8 miles offshore Ventura County, California.BOEM has deemed the plan complete and is launching an environmental review under the Department of the Interior’s “Alternative Arrangements for NEPA Compliance During a National Energy Emergency,” published on the April 23, 2025.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System as amended a Planned Outage at Lock 7.Mariners are advised of a revision to the preplanned closure at Lock 7 for the replacement of Gates 1 and 2. Due to environmental conditions, the closure will begin one day later. The details are as follows:Dates: January 6, 7, 8 and 9, 2025Time: 08:00 to 18:00 each day (10-hour window)During these periods, the lock will be unavailable for transit.Any deviation from the above schedule will be communicated via major delay communication.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is aware that passenger cruise lines that called Cuba have amended itineraries to comply with amendments made to the Cuban Assets Control Regulations announced in the Federal Register on June 5, 2019.Passengers with questions related to a voyage they have booked should contact their travel agent and/or cruise line directly.Cruise passengers should always carefully read their ticket contract, which states the cruise line’s obligations with respect to canceled voyages.

On January 8, the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) issued the notice to proceed to VINCI Construction Grands Projets to build a bridge on the Atlantic side of the Canal. The company has 1,274 construction days to complete the bridge. The contract was awarded in October 2012. VINCI Construction Grands Projets, a French company, offered the lowest price, below the official budget, in a public tender. The Brazilian-Korean joint venture Odebrecht – Hyundai and the Spanish-Mexican consortium Acciona – TRADECO also participated in the tender process. All the documentation presented was thoroughly analyzed by an evaluating committee formed by Canal specialists. They reviewed the technical aspects and previous experience, as well as the financial capacity of the winning company.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice stating that an item has been added to the schedule for the closed portion of the FMC meeting on January 30, 2002. The Commission has added consideration of an application of the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. to approve a revised escrow agreement for its passenger vessel certificate of financial responsibility. Source: HK Law

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a notice stating that it is extending the period in which comments may be submitted in regards to the investigation of shipping restrictions, requirements, and practices of the People's Republic of China. The FMC is extending the comment date to June 27, 2002.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) issued a notice that a complaint has been filed with that agency alleging that the Puerto Rico Port Authority violated the Shipping Act of 1984 in connection with negotiating and entering into maritime terminal leases and agreements. Source: HK Law

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that the regulations issued on April 23, 2002 establishing a special load line regime for river barges operating on certain Lake Michigan routes came into effect on June 20, 2002. Owners or operators of dry cargo river barges desiring to operate on those Lake Michigan routes must submit barge information to the Coast Guard in order to qualify for the special regime.

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a notice stating that meetings to receive public comment on the planned Clearwater Port liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port (DWP) will be conducted in Oxnard (October 3) and Santa Clarita (October 4). Written comments should be submitted by October 18. Source: HK Law

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a notice stating that, effective June 1, refiners will begin producing low-sulfur diesel fuel for use in ships. Initially, the sulfur content may not exceed 500 parts per million (ppm). The eventual goal is a maximum sulfur content of 15 ppm. Source: HK Law

The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that it has made available the Final Report on Tank Level or Pressure Monitoring Devices. The study indicates that the costs and performance expectations of current or reasonably available technology are negative as regards methods to detect leaks of moderate amounts of cargo oil from a single-hull tank vessel underway in a dynamic maritime environment. Note: the USCG’s OPA 90 Staff reached a similar conclusion for tank level or pressure monitoring devices back in 1994. Litigation and legislation ensured. The physics and economics never changed. 71 Fed. Reg. 66960 Source: HK Law

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a notice stating that it is proposing a variety of regulatory amendments relating to maritime communications. It proposes to cease authorizing INMARSAT-E emergency position indicating radiobeacons (EPIRBs), due to the planned cessation of such service by Inmarsat. It seeks comment on whether to require Global Positioning System (GPS) capability in VHF-DSC handset units. It requests comment on whether to require carriage of at least one VHF handheld marine radio transceiver on all small passenger vessels that do not have a reserve power supply. It seeks comment on whether there is a need to make additional spectrum available for ship station facsimile communications, or to permit transmission of data on VHF maritime voice channels.

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) issued a notice stating that the final environmental impact statement for the Northeast Gateway Energy Bridge liquefied natural gas (LNG) deepwater port (DWP) license application is available for review. The application is for a project that would be located in federal waters of Massachusetts Bay approximately 13 miles south-southeast of Gloucester. Meetings to receive public comments will be held in Gloucester (November 8) and Salem (November 9). Written comments must be submitted by November 25. Source: HK Law

The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that it has drafted revised guidelines on medical and physical examinations for merchant mariner credentials. Comments on the draft guidelines should be submitted by November 27. 71 Fed. Reg. 56998 Source: HK Law

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Notice stating that a draft environmental impact statement has been prepared for the Calhoun LNG project. The project proposes construction and operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal at Point Comfort, Texas. Source: HK Law

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) issued a Notice advising owners, operators, masters, and crew of the latest guidance from the IMO on preventing and suppressing acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, as well as the Australian Ship Reporting System for use by Australian ships. Source: HK Law

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) issued a Notice stating that the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed Main Pass Energy Hub deepwater port (DWP) liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility is available for review and comment. Public meetings will be held in Grand Bay, Alabama (March 21); Pascagoula, Mississippi (March 22); and New Orleans, Louisiana (March 23). Written comments should be submitted by April 24. Source: HK Law

The Washington State Department of Ecology has cited the US Army Corps of Engineers for spilling approximately 50 gallons of hydraulic oil into the Columbia River from a dredge on October 17, 2005. The Notice of Violation also states that the Corps waited 90 minutes before notifying the agency of the spill. source: HK Law

– draft programmatic environmental assessment The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice seeking comments on the draft programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) on its proposal to clarify and set new response time requirements for salvage and marine firefighting requirements in vessel response plans (VRP) for oil spills. Comments should be submitted by February 17. 71 Fed. Reg. 125 Source: HK Law

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that it intends to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) as part of the environmental planning process for the Nationwide Automatic Identification System (NAIS) project. The Coast Guard will conduct a public meeting in Washington, DC on December 22. Written comments on the project should be submitted by December 23. 70 Fed. Reg. 70862 Source: HK Law

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued a notice modifying the delivery instructions for receipt of applications under the Operation Safe Commerce Cooperative Agreement Program. The ports of LA/LB, Seattle/Tacoma, and New York/New Jersey have been invited to submit proposals for funding consideration under this initiative. Applications must be received on or before 4 p.m., March 20, 2003. Entities planning to submit applications under this program should read the notice carefully. 68 Fed. Reg. 783 Source: HK Law

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) published a Notice stating that it received an application from owners of the ASPHALT COMMANDER to utilize the vessel in the cabotage trade for a period of six months. The U.S.-flag vessel was built with the aid of construction-differential subsidy and is barred from the cabotage trade without special permission. Comments on the application must be submitted by March 27, 2003. 68 Fed. Reg. 13755

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission adopted a final rule requiring potential developers of new liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals to initiate pre-filing procedures at least six months prior to filing a formal application with the Commission. Initiating the rulemaking was the Commission’s first formal action under the recently enacted Energy Policy Act of 2005. The new law requires the Commission to issue within 60 days of the law’s August 8, 2005, enactment rules mandating the Commission’s previously voluntary pre-filing process for LNG facility proposals. Commission Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher said: “Congress set a lot of ambitious targets for implementation of the Energy Policy Act.