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National
United States Regulations
33 CFR PART 148—DEEPWATER PORTS: GENERAL






Title 33: Navigation and Navigable Waters

PART 148—DEEPWATER PORTS: GENERAL



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Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1504; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1 (75).

Source: USCG–1998–3884, 69 FR 748, Jan. 6, 2004, unless otherwise noted.

Effective Date Note: By USCG–1998–3884, 69 FR 746, Jan. 6, 2004, subchapter NN, consisting of parts 148, 149, and 150, was revised, effective Jan. 6, 2004 until Oct. 1, 2006.

Subpart A—General
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§ 148.1 What is the purpose of this subchapter?
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This subchapter prescribes regulations for the licensing, construction, design, equipment, and operation of deepwater ports under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1501–1524) (the Act).

§ 148.2 Who is responsible for carrying out this subchapter?
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Unless otherwise specified, the owner of a deepwater port must ensure that the requirements of this subchapter are carried out at that port.

§ 148.3 What Federal agencies are responsible for carrying out the Deepwater Port Act?
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Under delegations from the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Transportation, the Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) coordinate with each other in processing applications for the issuance, transfer, or amendment of a license for the construction and operation of a deepwater port. MARAD is responsible for issuing, revoking, and reinstating deepwater port licenses. MARAD also has authority over the approval of fees charged by adjacent coastal States and certain matters relating to international policy, civil actions, and suspension or termination of licenses. The Secretary of Transportation has delegated authority over pipeline matters to the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA).

§ 148.5 How are terms used in this subchapter defined?
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As used in this subchapter:

Act means the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1501–1524).

Adjacent coastal State means any “coastal State” that

(1) Would be directly connected by pipeline to a “deepwater port”;

(2) Would be located within 15 miles of a “deepwater port”; or

(3) Is designated as an “adjacent coastal State” by the Administrator of the Maritime Administration under 33 U.S.C. 1508(a)(2).

Administrator of the Maritime Administration means the Associate Administrator, Port, Intermodal and Environmental Activities, Maritime Administration, or that individual's authorized representative, at 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590, telephone 202–366–4721.

Affiliate means a “person”:

(1) That has an ownership interest, direct or indirect, of more than 3 percent in an “applicant”;

(2) That offers to finance, manage, construct, or operate the “applicant's” “deepwater port” to any significant degree;

(3) That owns or “controls” an “applicant” or an entity under paragraphs (1) or (2) of this definition; or

(4) That is owned or “controlled” by, or under common ownership with, an “applicant” or an entity under paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of this definition.

Applicant means a “person” that is the owner of a proposed deepwater port and that is applying for a license under this part for that port.

Application means an application submitted under this part for a license to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port.

Approval series means the first six digits of a number assigned by the Coast Guard to approved equipment. Where approval is based on a subpart of 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter Q, the approval series corresponds to the number of the subpart. A list of approved equipment, including all of the approval series, is available at http://cgmix.uscg.mil/Equipment.

Approved means approved by the “Commandant (G-M)”.

Area to be avoided means a routing measure comprising an area within defined limits in which either navigation is particularly hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid casualties and which should be avoided by all ships or certain classes of ships. An area to be avoided may be either mandatory, where navigation is prohibited or subject to conditions imposed by competent authority, or recommendatory, in which ships should navigate with caution in light of the specially hazardous conditions presented. In either case, the nature of the area (whether mandatory or recommendatory) will be identified to mariners.

Barrel means 42 U.S. gallons (159 liters) at atmospheric pressure and 60 °Fahrenheit (15.56 °Celsius).

Captain of the Port or COTP means a Coast Guard officer who commands a Captain of the Port zone described in part 3 of this chapter and who is immediately responsible for enforcing port safety and security and marine environmental protection regulations within that area.

Certified Industrial Hygienist means an industrial hygienist who is certified by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.

Certified Marine Chemist means a marine chemist who is certified by the National Fire Protection Association.

Citizen of the United States means:

(1) Any person who is a United States citizen by law, birth, or naturalization;

(2) Any state, any agency of a State or a group of States; or

(3) Any corporation, partnership, or other association:

(i) That is organized under the laws of any State;

(ii) Whose president, and chairman of the board of directors, and general partners or their equivalents, are persons described in paragraph (1) of this definition; and

(iii) That has no more of its directors who are not persons described in paragraph (1) of this definition than constitute a minority of the number required for a quorum to conduct the business of the board of directors.

Coastal environment means the coastal waters (including the lands in and under those waters), internal waters, and the adjacent shorelines (including waters in and under those shorelines). The term includes, but is not limited to, transitional and intertidal areas, bays, lagoons, salt marshes, estuaries, and beaches; fish, wildlife, and other living resources of those waters and lands; and the recreational and scenic values of those lands, waters, and resources.

Coastal State means a State of the United States in or bordering on the Atlantic, Pacific, or Arctic Oceans or the Gulf of Mexico.

Commandant (G-M) means the Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, or that individual's authorized representative, at Commandant (G-M), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593–0001.

Confined space means a space that may contain a dangerous atmosphere, including a space that:

(1) Has poor natural ventilation, such as a space with limited openings (e.g., cofferdam, double bottom tank); or

(2) Is not designed for continuous occupancy by personnel.

Construction means the supervising, inspection, actual building and all other activities incidental to the building, repairing, or expanding of a “deepwater port” or any of its components. The term includes, but is not limited to, fabrication, laying of pipe, pile driving and bulk heading and alterations, modifications, or additions to the “deepwater port”.

Control means the power, directly or indirectly, to determine the policy, business practices, or decision-making process of another “person”, whether by stock or other ownership interest, by representation on a board of directors or similar body, by contract or other agreement with stockholders or others, or by other means.

Crude oil means a mixture of hydrocarbons that exist in the liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities and includes:

(1) Liquids technically defined as crude oil;

(2) Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in the gaseous phase in natural underground reservoirs but are liquid at atmospheric pressure after being recovered from oil well (casing head) gas in lease separators; and

(3) Small amounts of non-hydrocarbons produced with the oil.

Dangerous atmosphere means an atmosphere that may expose personnel to the risk of death, incapacitation, injury, or acute illness or may impair ability to escape from the atmosphere unaided.

Deepwater port means any fixed or floating manmade structures other than a vessel, or any group of structures, located beyond State seaward boundaries and that are used or intended for use as a port or terminal for the transportation, storage, or further handling of oil or natural gas for transportation to any State, except as otherwise provided in the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended, and for other uses not inconsistent with the purposes of that Act, including transportation of oil or natural gas from the United States outer continental shelf. The term includes all components and equipment, including pipelines, pumping stations, service platforms, buoys, mooring lines, and similar facilities to the extent they are located seaward of the high water mark. In the case of natural gas, the term includes all components and equipment, including pipelines, pumping or compressor stations, service platforms, buoys, mooring lines, and similar facilities which are proposed and/or approved for construction and operation as part of the deepwater port, to the extent that they are located seaward of the high water mark and do not include interconnecting facilities. A deepwater port shall be considered a “new source” for purposes of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.), and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).

District Commander means an officer who commands a Coast Guard District described in part 3 of this chapter or that individual's authorized representative.

Emergency medical technician (EMT) means a person trained and certified to appraise and initiate the administration of emergency care for victims of trauma or acute illness before or during transportation of the victims to a health care facility via ambulance, aircraft or vessel.

Engineering hydrographic survey means a detailed geological analysis of seabed soil samples performed to determine the physical composition (e.g., mineral content, etc.) and structural integrity for the installation of offshore components and structures.

Governor means the Governor of a “State” or the “person” designated by State law to exercise the powers granted to the Governor under the Act.

Gross under-keel clearance means the distance between the keel of a tanker and the ocean bottom when the tanker is moored or anchored in calm water free of wind, current, or tide conditions that would cause the tanker to move.

Hose string means the part of a “single point mooring oil or natural gas transfer connection” made out of flexible hose of the floating or float/sink type that connects the tanker's manifold to the “single point mooring”.

Hot work means work that produces heat or fire, such as riveting, welding, burning, or other fire or spark producing operations.

Lease block means an area established either by the Secretary of the Interior under section 5 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1334) or by a State under section 3 of the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1311).

License means a license issued under this part to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port.

Licensee means a citizen of the United States holding a valid license for the ownership, construction, and operation of a deepwater port that was issued, transferred, or renewed under this subchapter.

Marine environment includes the “coastal environment,” waters of the contiguous zone, the exclusive economic zone, and the high seas; fish, wildlife, and other living resources of those waters; and the recreational and scenic values of those waters and resources.

Marine site means the area in which the deepwater port is located, and includes the safety zone, attendant ships' routes, anchorages and all areas seaward of the high water mark in which associated components and equipment of the deepwater port are located.

Maritime Administration (or MARAD) means the Administrator of the Maritime Administration or that person's designees.

Metering platform means a manned or unmanned platform consisting of either a fixed or floating structure that serves as an interchange site for controlling the rate of transfer of natural gas from vessel to pipeline.

Natural gas means either natural gas unmixed, or any mixture of natural or artificial gas, including compressed or liquefied natural gas.

Net under-keel clearance means the distance between the keel of a tanker and the ocean bottom when the tanker is underway, anchored, or moored and subject to actual wind, waves, current, and tide motion.

No anchoring area means a routing measure comprising an area within defined limits where anchoring is unsafe, unstable, or particularly hazardous or could result in unacceptable damage to the marine environment. Anchoring should be avoided by all ships or certain classes of ships in a no anchoring area.

Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, or OCMI means an individual who commands a Marine Inspection Zone described in part 3 of this chapter and who is immediately responsible for the performance of duties with respect to inspections, enforcement, and administration of regulations governing a deepwater port.

Offshore competent person means an individual trained and designated by his or her employer in matters relating to confined-space pre-entry testing and certification at a deepwater port, prior to entry. An offshore competent person should demonstrate proficiency in the following criteria—

(1) Hazard description and recognition;

(2) Hazard evaluation and measurement;

(3) Hazard prevention;

(4) Control and elimination; and

(5) Practical application simulation.

Oil means petroleum, crude oil, and any substance refined from petroleum or crude oil.

Operator means the person who is licensed under 33 U.S.C. 1503 to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port, or that person's designee.

Person means an individual, a public or private corporation, a partnership or other association, or a government entity.

Personnel means individuals who are employed by licensees, operators, contractors, or subcontractors and who are on a deepwater port by reason of their employment.

Pipeline end manifold means the pipeline end manifold at a “single point mooring.”

Platform means a fixed structure that rests on or is embedded in the seabed and that has floors or decks where an activity or specific function may be carried out.

Pumping platform complex means a “platform” or a series of interconnected “platforms”, exclusive of a deepwater port, consisting of one or more single point moorings (SPM) or submerged turret loading buoys (STL) that can pump oil or natural gas and that has one or more of the following features or capabilities:

(1) Can handle the mooring and loading of small “vessels”;

(2) Has berthing and messing facilities; and

(3) Has a landing area for helicopters.

Reconnaissance hydrographic survey means a scientific study of fresh and salt-water bodies, currents and water content, cultural resources and seabed soils. A visual representation of the survey findings is normally depicted on a chart of the examined area.

Routing measures means any system of one or more vessel routes or routing schemes aimed at reducing the risk of casualties. It includes traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, areas to be avoided, inshore traffic zones, roundabouts, and deepwater routes.

Safety zone means the safety zone established around a deepwater port under part 150, subpart J, of this chapter.

Single point mooring (SPM) means an offshore berth that links an undersea pipeline to a tanker moored to the mooring and allows for the transfer of oil or natural gas between the tanker and the pipeline.

Single point mooring-oil transfer system (SPM-OTS) or single point mooring-natural gas transfer system (SPM-NGTS) means the part of the oil or natural gas transfer system from the “pipeline end manifold” to the end of the “hose string” that connects to the tanker's manifold.

State includes each of the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the territories and possessions of the United States.

Support vessel means a vessel working for a licensee at a deepwater port or cleared by a licensee to service a tanker calling at a deepwater port, and includes a:

(1) Tug;

(2) Line-handling boat;

(3) Crew boat;

(4) Supply vessel;

(5) Bunkering vessel;

(6) Barge; or

(7) Other similar vessel.

Survival craft means a craft capable of sustaining the lives of persons in distress after abandoning a deepwater port. The term includes lifeboats, life rafts, buoyant apparatus, and survival capsules. The term does not include rescue boats, unless the rescue boats are also “approved” as lifeboats.

Tanker means a vessel that calls at a “deepwater port” to unload oil or natural gas.

Vessel means every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used, or capable of being used, as a means of transportation on or through the water.

Subpart B—Application for a License
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§ 148.100 What is the purpose of this subpart?
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This subpart describes how to apply for a license to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port.

§ 148.105 What must I include in my application?
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Your application must include the information required by paragraphs (a) through (cc) of this section.

(a) For each applicant, affiliate, and consultant:

(1) The name, address, telephone number, citizenship, and principal business activity of the applicant and its affiliates;

(2) The name, address, and principal business activity of each subsidiary or division of the applicant or its affiliates that participated in the decision to apply for a license to build a deepwater port;

(3) A description of how each affiliate is associated with the applicant and of the ownership interest each affiliate has in the applicant;

(4) A list of corporate officers and directors of the applicant and each affiliate that participated in the decision to apply for a license to build a deepwater port;

(5) A statement on the applicant's and each affiliate's history for the last 5 years, including:

(i) Any bankruptcy filing, their dates, and statuses in the event the activity results in reorganization;

(ii) Any violations of State or Federal laws; and

(iii) Outstanding litigation that relates to, or could materially affect, information in the license application; and

(6) A declaration regarding lobbying activities on behalf of either the applicant or an affiliate under 31 U.S.C. 1352.

(b) Experience in matters relating to deepwater ports. (1) A description of the experience of the applicant, its affiliates, and its consultants in offshore operations, particularly operations involving the transfer and storage of liquid cargo and the loading and unloading of vessels.

(2) For each affiliate with which the applicant has made a significant contract for the construction of any part of the deepwater port, a description of that affiliate's experience in construction of marine terminal facilities, offshore structures, underwater pipelines, and seabed foundations and a description of other experiences that would bear on the affiliate's qualification to participate in the construction of a deepwater port.

(c) The identity of each engineering firm, if known, that will design the deepwater port or a portion of the port. The firm's:

(1) Name;

(2) Address;

(3) Citizenship;

(4) Telephone number; and

(5) Qualifications.

(d) United States citizenship. (1) As used in this paragraph (d) the terms “president,” “chairman,” “directors,” and “board of directors” (or “board”) refer to those officers and boards or their equivalents by whatever means they may be known. References to “charters,” “certificates,” or other documents refer to legally sufficient documents by those names or their equivalents.

(2) If the applicant is an individual citizen of the United States by law, birth, or naturalization, or a group of such individuals, submit an affidavit of U.S. citizenship from each individual.

(3) If the applicant is a State agency of a State, or a group of states, submit the law or laws authorizing the applicant to undertake the operations detailed in the application.

(4) If the applicant is a private corporation, submit its current charter or certificate of incorporation; its current by-laws; and affidavits of citizenship (U.S. or foreign) from its president, chairman of the board of directors and each director.

(5) If the applicant is a partnership or association not formed or owned solely by individual citizens of the United States, submit its certificate of formation; its partnership agreement or articles of association; its current by-laws; the minutes of its first board meeting; and affidavits of citizenship (U.S. or foreign) from the president and each director.

(e) Address for service of documents. The name and address of one individual who may be served with documents in case a formal hearing is held concerning the application, and the name and address of one individual who may receive other documents.

(f) Location and use. The proposed location and capacity of the deepwater port and a general description of the anticipated use of the port.

(g) Financial information. (1) For the applicant and each affiliate with an ownership interest in the applicant of greater than 3 percent, and affiliates which have a direct contractual relationship with the deepwater port:

(i) Annual financial statements, audited by an independent certified public accountant, for the previous 3 years, including, but not limited to, an income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement with footnote disclosures prepared according to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; provided, however, that the Commandant (G-M), in coordination with MARAD, may waive this requirement upon finding that the affiliate does not in the normal course of business produce audited statements and is part of a larger corporate group whose audited statement provides sufficient information to support an adequate assessment of the affiliate's relationship with and impact on the applicant; and

(ii) Interim income statements and balance sheets for each quarter that ends at least 30 days before submission of the application, unless it is included in the most recent annual financial statement.

(2) An estimate of construction costs, including:

(i) A phase-by-phase breakdown of costs;

(ii) The estimated completion dates for each phase; and

(iii) A detailed estimate of the cost of removing all of the marine components of the deepwater port, other than pipelines that lie beneath the seabed, when operations at the port cease.

(3) Annualized projections or estimates of each of the following, along with the underlying assumptions, for the next 5 years and at reasonable intervals throughout the life of the deepwater port:

(i) Total oil or natural gas throughput and subtotals showing throughput owned by the applicant and its affiliates and throughput owned by others;

(ii) Projected financial statements, including a balance sheet and income statement; and

(iii) Annual operating expenses, showing separately any payment made to an affiliate for any management duties carried out in connection with the operation of the deepwater port.

(4) A copy of all proposals or agreements concerning the management and financing of the deepwater port, including agreements relating to throughputs, capital contributions, loans, guarantees, commitments, charters, and leases.

(5) The throughput reports for the calendar year preceding the date of the application for the applicant and each of the applicant's affiliates engaged in producing, refining, or marketing oil or natural gas, along with a copy of each existing or proposed throughput agreement. Each throughput report must list the throughput of the following products:

(i) Crude oil. If crude oil is the only product the port is designed to transport, the throughput report may be limited to reporting crude oil;

(ii) Gasoline;

(iii) Jet aviation fuel;

(iv) Distillate fuel oils;

(v) Other refinery products; and

(vi) Natural gas.

(h) Construction contracts and construction-related studies. (1) A copy of each contract that the applicant made for the construction of any component of the deepwater port or for the operation of the port.

(2) A listing and abstract of:

(i) All completed or ongoing studies on deepwater ports conducted by or for the applicant; and

(ii) All other construction-related studies used by the applicant.

(3) The identity of each contractor, if known, that will construct or install the deepwater port or a portion of the port, including each firm's:

(i) Name;

(ii) Address;

(iii) Citizenship;

(iv) Telephone number; and

(v) Qualifications.

(i) Compliance with Federal water pollution requirements. (1) Evidence, to the extent available, that the requirements of section 401(a)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1341(a)(1), will be satisfied. If complete information is not available by the time MARAD must either approve or deny the application under 33 U.S.C. 1504(i)(1), the license for the deepwater port is conditioned upon the applicant demonstrating that the requirements of section 401(a)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 1341(a)(1), will be satisfied.

(2) In those cases where certification under 33 U.S.C. 1341(a)(1) must be obtained from the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the request for certification, and pertinent information (e.g., plume modeling) related to the certification.

(j) Coastal zone management. A request for each certification required by section 307 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1456).

(k) Identification of lease block. (1) Identification of each lease block where any part of the proposed deepwater port or its approaches is located. This identification must be made on Official Outer Continental Shelf Leasing Maps or Protraction diagrams, where they are available. For each lease block, provide the following:

(i) A description of each pipeline, or other right-of-way crossing, in enough detail to allow plotting of the rights-of-way to the nearest one-tenth of a second in latitude and longitude; and

(ii) The identity of the lessee of each pipeline or other right-of-way.

(2) Detailed information concerning any interest that anyone, including the applicant, has in each block.

(3) Detailed information concerning the present and planned use of each block.

(l) Overall site plan. Single-line drawings showing the location and type of each component of the proposed deepwater port and its necessary facilities, including:

(1) Floating structures;

(2) Fixed structures;

(3) Aids to navigation;

(4) Manifold systems; and

(5) Onshore storage areas, pipelines, and refineries.

(m) Site plan for marine components. A site plan consisting of the following:

(1) The proposed size and location of all:

(i) Fixed and floating structures and associated components seaward of the high water mark only, if the proposal does not involve a connected action (i.e., installation of new pipeline extending in shore of the state boundary line);

(ii) Recommended ships' routing measures and proposed vessel traffic patterns in the port area, including aids to navigation;

(iii) Recommended anchorage areas and, for support vessels, mooring areas; and

(2) A reconnaissance hydrographic survey of the proposed marine site. This survey should provide data on the water depth, prevailing currents, cultural resources, and a general characterization of the sea bottom. A requirement to submit an engineering hydrographic survey of the final marine site will be imposed as a condition in the license. The latter survey will require more extensive analysis of the soil and detailed study to determine its physical composition (i.e., minerals), and if the sea bottom can support fixed components comprising a deepwater port. The applicant may submit existing data, gathered within the previous 2 years, but it must be supplemented by field data for the specific locations in which a high degree of variability exists.

(n) Soil data. An analysis of the general character and condition of the ocean bottom, sub-bottom, and upland soils throughout the marine site. The applicant may use existing data, so long as it was collected within the last 2 years and continues to provide accurate information about conditions throughout the site. If not, a new survey must be completed to provide supplemental data. The analysis must include an opinion by a registered professional engineer specializing in soil mechanics concerning:

(1) The suitability of the soil to accommodate the anticipated design load of each marine component that will be fixed to or supported on the ocean floor; and

(2) The stability of the seabed when exposed to the environmental forces resulting from severe storms or lesser forces that occur over time, including any history of accretion or erosion of the coastline near the marine site.

(o) Archeological information. An analysis of the information from the reconnaissance hydrographic survey by a qualified underwater archeologist to determine the historical or other significance of the area where the site evaluation and pre-construction testing activities were conducted. This analysis must meet standards established by the Mineral Management Service for activities on the Outer Continental Shelf and include the areas potentially affected by the deepwater port, other associated platforms, and its pipeline routes.

(p) Vessel operational information. Description of information, to be provided in the operations manual, pertaining to vessel operations, vessel characteristics and weather forecasting.

(q) Information on floating components. (1) A description and preliminary design drawing of each floating component, including the hoses, anchoring or securing structure, and navigation lights if the component is a mooring buoy.

(2) The design criteria, developed under part 149 of this chapter, to which each floating component will be designed and built.

(3) The design standards and codes to be used.

(4) The title of each recommended engineering practice to be followed.

(5) A description of safety, fire-fighting, and pollution prevention equipment to be used on each floating component.

(6) A description of lighting to be used on floating hoses for night detection.

(r) Information on fixed offshore components. (1) A description and preliminary design drawing for each fixed offshore component.

(2) The design criteria, developed under part 149 of this chapter, to which each fixed offshore component will be designed and built.

(3) The design standards and codes to be used.

(4) The title of each recommended engineering practice to be followed.

(5) A description of the following equipment to be installed:

(i) Navigational lighting;

(ii) Safety equipment;

(iii) Lifesaving equipment;

(iv) Firefighting equipment;

(v) Pollution prevention equipment (response equipment will be outlined in the facility response plan); and

(vi) Waste treatment equipment.

(6) A description and preliminary design drawing of the following:

(i) The cargo pumping equipment;

(ii) The cargo piping system;

(iii) The control and instrumentation system; and

(iv) Any associated equipment, including oil or natural gas-throughput-measuring equipment, leak-detection equipment, emergency-shutdown equipment, and the alarm system.

(7) The personnel capacity of each deepwater port pumping platform complex.

(s) Information on offshore pipelines. (1) A description and preliminary design drawing of the marine pipeline, including:

(i) Size;

(ii) Throughput capacity;

(iii) Length;

(iv) Depth of cover; and

(v) Protective devices.

(2) The design criteria to which the marine pipeline will be designed and built.

(3) The design standards and codes to be used.

(4) The title of each recommended engineering practice to be followed.

(5) A description of the metering system to be used to measure flow rate.

(6) Information concerning all submerged or buried pipelines that will be crossed by the offshore pipeline and how each crossing will be made.

(t) Information on onshore components. The information required by paragraphs (t)(1) through (t)(3) must be supplied to the extent known by the applicant.

(1) A description of the location, capacity, and ownership of all planned and existing onshore pipelines, storage facilities, refineries, petrochemical facilities, and transshipment facilities that will be served by the deepwater port. Crude oil or natural gas gathering lines and lines wholly within a deepwater port must be included in data on onshore components only if specifically required. Entry points and major connections between lines and with bulk purchasers must be included.

(2) A chart showing the location of all planned and existing facilities that will be served by the port, including:

(i) Onshore pipelines;

(ii) Storage facilities;

(iii) Refineries;

(iv) Petrochemical facilities; and

(v) Transshipment facilities.

(3) A copy of all proposals or agreements with existing and proposed refineries that will receive oil transported through the deepwater port, the location and capacity of each such refinery and the anticipated volume of such oil to be refined by each such refinery to the extent known by the applicant.

(u) Information on miscellaneous components. (1) A description of each radio station or other communications facility to be used during construction and operation of the deepwater port and their proposed concept of operation.

(2) A description of the radar navigation system to be used in operation of the deepwater port outlined in the operations manual.

(3) A description of the method to be used for bunkering vessels using the deepwater port.

(4) A brief description of the type, size, and number of vessels to be used in bunkering, mooring, and servicing the vessels using the deepwater port.

(5) A description and location of shore-based support facilities, if any, to be provided for vessels described in paragraph (u)(4) of this section; or that serve as offices or facilities in support of the deepwater port operations.

(6) A copy of the actual radio station license, or if not available, the application sent to the Federal Communications Commission.

(v) Construction procedures. A description of the method and procedures to be used in constructing each component of the deepwater port (e.g., shore-side fabrication, assembly and support), including anticipated dates of completion for each specific component during each phase of construction.

(w) Operations manual. A draft of the operations manual for the proposed port containing the information under §150.15 of this chapter must demonstrate the applicant's ability to operate the port safely and effectively. To the extent circumstances are similar, this demonstration can be in the form of evidence, appended to the draft operations manual, of the applicant's participation in the safe and effective management or operation of other offshore facilities (for example, evidence of compliance with Mineral Management Service requirements for those facilities). If the information required for the manual is not available, state why it is not and when it will be available.

(x) Environmental evaluation. An analysis, sufficient to meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act, and as outlined in subpart G of this part, of the potential for impacts on the natural and human environments, including sufficient information to comply with all applicable Federal, tribal, and state requirements for the protection of the environment.

(y) Aids to navigation. (1) For each proposed aid to navigation, the proposed position of the aid described by latitude and longitude coordinates to the nearest second or tenth of a second as determined from the largest scale chart of the area in which the aid is to be located. Specify latitude and longitude to a level obtained by visual interpolation between the finest graduation of the latitude and longitude scales on the chart.

(2) For each proposed obstruction light and rotating lighted beacon:

(i) Color;

(ii) Characteristic;

(iii) Effective intensity;

(iv) Height above water; and

(v) General description of illumination apparatus.

(3) For each proposed sound signal on a structure, a general description of the apparatus.

(4) For each proposed buoy:

(i) Shape;

(ii) Color;

(iii) Number or letter;

(iv) Depth of water in which located; and

(v) General description of any light or sound signal apparatus on the buoy.

(5) For the proposed radar beacon (RACON), height above water and a general description of the apparatus.

(z) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). To the extent available, the information prescribed by, and submitted on, the NPDES Application for Permit to Discharge, Short Form D, for applying for a discharge permit from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). If complete information is not available by the time MARAD must either approve or deny the application for a designated application area under 33 U.S.C. 1504(i)(1), the license for the deepwater port is conditioned upon the applicant receiving the required discharge permit from the EPA before the start of any discharge requiring such a permit. The issuance of the permit demonstrates that all potential water discharges have been satisfactorily analyzed and water quality control measures implemented to mitigate discharges to meet NPDES.

(aa) Placement of structures and the discharge of dredged or fill material. The information required to obtain a Department of Army permit for placement of structures and the discharge of dredged or fill material.

(bb) Additional Federal authorizations. All other applications for Federal authorizations not listed elsewhere in this subpart that are required for ownership, construction, and operation of a deepwater port.

(cc) A statement that the information in the application is true. This statement must be placed at the end of the application, sworn to before a notary public, and signed by a responsible official of the applicant.

§ 148.107 What additional information may be required?
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(a) The Commandant (G-M), in coordination with MARAD, may require the applicant or the applicant's affiliates to file, as a supplement to the application, any analysis, explanation, or detailing of information in the application or any other information the Commandant (G-M) deems necessary.

(b) The Commandant (G-M) may require the applicant or the applicant's affiliates to make available for Coast Guard examination, under oath or for interview, persons having, or believed to have, necessary information.

(c) The Commandant (G-M) may set a deadline for receiving the information. If the applicant states that the required information is not yet available but will be at a later date, the Commandant (G-M) may specify a later deadline. If a requirement is not met by a deadline fixed under this paragraph, the Commandant (G-M), in coordination with MARAD, may determine whether compliance with the requirement is important to processing the application within the time prescribed by the Act. If the requirement is important to processing the application within the time limit set by the Act, the Commandant (G-M) may recommend to the Administrator of the Maritime Administration that the Administrator either not approve the application or suspend it indefinitely. The deadline for the Administrator's review under the Act is extended for a period of time equal to the time of the suspension.

§ 148.108 What if a Federal or State agency or other interested party requests additional information?
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(a) Any Federal or State agency or other interested person may recommend that the applicant provide information in addition to that required to be in the application.

(b) Recommendations must include a brief statement of why the information is needed.

(c) The Commandant (G-M) must receive the request within 30 days after publication of the notice of application in the Federal Register. The request is considered before any final determination is made.

(d) Commandant (G-M) will consider whether:

(1) The information requested is essential for processing the license application; and

(2) The time and effort required by the applicant in gathering the information will result in an undue delay in the application process.

(e) Commandant (G-M) may consult with the applicant prior to issuing a determination on the request for additional information.

§ 148.110 How do I prepare my application?
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(a) Any person may confer with the Commandant (G-M) concerning requirements contained in this rule for the preparation of an application or the requirements of this subchapter.

(b) The applicant may incorporate, by clear and specific reference in the application, the following:

(1) Standard reference material that the applicant relied on and that is readily available to Federal and State agencies;

(2) Current information contained in previous applications or reports that the applicant has submitted to the application staff; or

(3) Current information contained in a tariff, report, or other document previously filed for public record with the Surface Transportation Board or the Securities and Exchange Commission, if:

(i) A certified true and complete copy of the document is attached to each copy of the application required by §148.115(a);

(ii) The date of filing and the document number or other locator are on the cover of the document; and

(iii) Any verification or certification required for the original filing (other than from auditors or other independent persons) is dated no earlier than 30 days before the date of the application.

§ 148.115 How many copies of the application must I send and where must I send them?
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Send copies of the application as described in paragraphs (a) through (c).

(a) Six printed copies (and an electronic version), to the Commandant (G-MSO), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593–0001.

(b) One copy to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers District Office having jurisdiction over the proposed port. For the address, see http://www.usace.army.mil/.

(c) The Commandant (G-MSO) may require the applicant to supply additional printed copies for distribution to Federal, tribal, and state regulatory agencies involved in reviewing the application.

§ 148.125 What are the application fees?
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(a) The applicant must submit to the Commandant (G-M) a nonrefundable application fee of $350,000 with each application for a license. If additional information is necessary to make an application complete, no additional application fee is required.

(b) The costs incurred by the Federal Government in processing an application will be charged to the application fee until it is exhausted. If the fee is exhausted and the Federal Government incurs further processing costs, the applicant will be charged the additional costs. Commandant (G-M) will periodically advise the applicant of the status of expenses incurred during the application process.

(c) Additional costs attributable to efforts to process a deepwater port license application will be paid by the applicant. These additional costs must be submitted to the Commandant (G-M) when they are assessed.

(d) Application fees and additional costs assessed under this section must be made payable to the “United States Treasury.”

Subpart C—Processing Applications
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General
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§ 148.200 What is the purpose of this subpart?
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This subpart prescribes the requirements for processing an application for a deepwater port license. It includes the procedures for maintaining the docket, designating adjacent coastal States, holding informal and formal public hearings, and approving or denying an application.

§ 148.205 How are documents related to the application maintained?
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(a) The Commandant (G-M) maintains the docket for each application.

(b) The docket contains a copy of all documents filed or issued as part of the application process.

(c) Recommendations submitted by Federal departments and agencies under 33 U.S.C. 1504(e)(2) are docketed when they are received. Copies of applicable NEPA documents prepared under 33 U.S.C. 1504(f) are docketed when they are sent to the Environmental Protection Agency.

(d) For a document designated as protected from disclosure under 33 U.S.C. 1513(b), the Commandant (G-M):

(1) Prevents the information in the document from being disclosed, unless the Commandant (G-M) states that the disclosure is not inconsistent with 33 U.S.C. 1513(b); and

(2) Keeps a record of all individuals who have a copy of the document.

§ 148.207 How and where can I view docketed documents?
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(a) All material in a docket under §148.205 is available to the public for inspection and copying at Commandant (G-M) at the address under “Commandant (G-M)” in §148.5, except for:

(1) Contracts under 33 U.S.C. 1504(c)(2)(B) for the construction or operation of a deepwater port; and

(2) Material designated under paragraph (b) of this section as a trade secret or commercial or financial information that is claimed to be privileged or confidential.

(b) A person submitting material that contains either a trade secret or commercial or financial information under paragraph (a)(2) of this section must designate those portions of the material that are privileged or confidential. Section 148.221 contains procedures for objecting to these claims.

§ 148.209 How is the application processed?
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The Commandant (G-M) processes each application and publishes the notice of application under 33 U.S.C. 1504(c) in the Federal Register. Upon publication of a notice of application, the Commandant (G-M) delivers copies of the application to:

(a) Each Federal agency with jurisdiction over any aspect of ownership, construction, or operation of deepwater ports. These include the Environmental Protection Agency, the Departments of Commerce, Defense, Energy, Interior and State, and relevant State environmental and natural resources protection agencies.

(b) Each adjacent coastal State.

§ 148.211 What must I do if I need to change my application?
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If at any time before the Secretary approves or denies an application, the information in it changes or becomes incomplete, the applicant must promptly submit the changes or additional information in the manner set forth in 148.115 of this part.

§ 148.213 How do I withdraw my application?
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The applicant may withdraw an application at any time before the proceeding is terminated by delivering or mailing notice of withdrawal to the Commandant (G-M) for docketing.

§ 148.215 What if a port has plans for a deep draft channel and harbor?
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If a port of a State that will be directly connected by pipeline with a proposed deepwater port has existing plans for a deep draft channel and harbor, a representative of the port may request a determination under 33 U.S.C. 1503(d). The request must be sent, in writing, to Commandant (G-M) within 30 days after the date that the notice of application for the deepwater port is published in the Federal Register. The request must contain the information required in paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section.

(a) Signature of the highest official of the port submitting the request;

(b) A copy of the existing plans for the construction of a deep draft channel and harbor;

(c) Certification that the port has an active study by the Secretary of the Army for the construction of a deep draft channel and harbor or that the port has pending an application for a permit under 33 U.S.C. 403 for the construction;

(d) Any available documentation on:

(1) Initial costs (by phases, if development is staged) for the proposed onshore project, including dredging, ship terminal, and attendant facilities;

(2) Estimated annual operating expenses (by phases, if development is staged), including labor, for 30 years for all elements of the project;

(3) Estimated time of completion of all elements of the project;

(4) Estimated volume of ship traffic and volume and variety of the tonnage;

(5) Potential traffic congestion conditions in the port and the port's capability to control vessel traffic as a result of the proposed dredging project;

(6) Estimated economic benefits of the project, including:

(i) Economic contribution to the local and regional area;

(ii) Induced industrial development;

(iii) Increased employment; and

(iv) Increases in tax revenues;

(7) Environmental and social impact of the project on elements of the local and regional community; and

(8) An estimate of the economic impact that granting a deepwater port license will have on the proposed project.

(e) A statement whether the port seeks a determination that the port best serves the national interest.

§ 148.217 How can a State be designated as an adjacent coastal State?
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(a) Adjacent coastal States are named in the notice of application published in the Federal Register. However,a State not named as an adjacent coastal State in the notice may request to be designated as one if the environmental risks to it are equal to or greater than the risks posed to a State directly connected by pipeline to the proposed deepwater port. (continued)