§127.007. Letter of intent and waterway suitability assessment for waterfront facilities handling LNG or LHG. — Inbound Citations

(e) Waterway Suitability Assessment (WSA) means a document used by the U.S. Coast Guard in assessing the suitability of a waterway for LNG marine traffic pursuant to 33 CFR 127.007. The Preliminary WSA initiates the process of analyzing the safety and security risks posed by proposed LNG tanker operations to a port and waterways, and the Follow-On WSA provides a detailed analysis of the same issues.

(1) The prospective applicant must make a filing containing the material identified in paragraph (d) of this section and concurrently file a Letter of Intent pursuant to 33 CFR 127.007, and a Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment (WSA) with the U.S. Coast Guard (Captain of the Port/Federal Maritime Security Coordinator). The latest information concerning the documents to be filed with the Coast Guard should be requested from the U.S. Coast Guard. For modifications to an existing or approved LNG terminal, this requirement can be satisfied by the prospective applicant's certifying that the U.S. Coast Guard did not require such information.

(a) An owner or operator intending to build a new LNG fuel facility, modify construction of any LNG fuel facility, or reactivate an inactive LNG fuel facility electing to complete an operational risk assessment (ORA) in lieu of a WSA as outlined in § 127.007, must submit an LOI and ORA to the COTP of the zone in which the LNG fuel facility is or will be located at least 1 year prior to the start of LNG transfer operations.

(a) After the COTP receives the information and analyses required by § 127.007 or § 127.008, the COTP issues a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as to the suitability of the waterway for LNG or LHG marine traffic or the operational safety and security of the LNG fuel facility to the Federal, State, or local government agencies having jurisdiction for siting, construction, and operation, and, at the same time, sends a copy to the owner or operator, based on the—

(1) Information submitted under § 127.007 or § 127.008;

(2) Density and character of marine traffic in the waterway;

(3) Locks, bridges, or other man-made obstructions in the waterway;

(i) Depths of the water;

(ii) Tidal range;

(iii) Protection from high seas;

(iv) Natural hazards, including reefs, rocks, and sandbars;

(v) Underwater pipelines and cables;

(vi) Distance of berthed vessel from the channel and the width of the channel; and

(5) Any other issues affecting the safety and security of the waterway and considered relevant by the Captain of the Port.

(a) After the COTP receives the information and analyses required by § 127.007 or § 127.008, the COTP issues a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as to the suitability of the waterway for LNG or LHG marine traffic or the operational safety and security of the LNG fuel facility to the Federal, State, or local government agencies having jurisdiction for siting, construction, and operation, and, at the same time, sends a copy to the owner or operator, based on the—

(1) Information submitted under § 127.007 or § 127.008;

(2) Density and character of marine traffic in the waterway;

(3) Locks, bridges, or other man-made obstructions in the waterway;

(i) Depths of the water;

(ii) Tidal range;

(iii) Protection from high seas;

(iv) Natural hazards, including reefs, rocks, and sandbars;

(v) Underwater pipelines and cables;

(vi) Distance of berthed vessel from the channel and the width of the channel; and

(5) Any other issues affecting the safety and security of the waterway and considered relevant by the Captain of the Port.

(c) Sections 127.007(b), (c), and (d), and 127.019(b) of subpart A of this part apply to the marine transfer area for LNG of each inactive facility.

(a) After the COTP receives the information and analyses required by § 127.007 or § 127.008, the COTP issues a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) as to the suitability of the waterway for LNG or LHG marine traffic or the operational safety and security of the LNG fuel facility to the Federal, State, or local government agencies having jurisdiction for siting, construction, and operation, and, at the same time, sends a copy to the owner or operator, based on the—

(1) Information submitted under § 127.007 or § 127.008;

(2) Density and character of marine traffic in the waterway;

(3) Locks, bridges, or other man-made obstructions in the waterway;

(i) Depths of the water;

(ii) Tidal range;

(iii) Protection from high seas;

(iv) Natural hazards, including reefs, rocks, and sandbars;

(v) Underwater pipelines and cables;

(vi) Distance of berthed vessel from the channel and the width of the channel; and

(5) Any other issues affecting the safety and security of the waterway and considered relevant by the Captain of the Port.

(c) Sections 127.007(b), (c), and (d), and 127.019(b) of subpart A of this part apply to the marine transfer area for LNG of each inactive facility.

(1) There is any change in the information submitted under paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(7) of this section; or

(b) Each LOI must contain the information in § 127.007(c)(1) through (c)(5).

(1) There is any change in the information submitted under paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(7) of this section; or

(b) Each LOI must contain the information in § 127.007(c)(1) through (c)(5).

(1) There is any change in the information submitted under paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(7) of this section; or

(b) Each LOI must contain the information in § 127.007(c)(1) through (c)(5).

(1) There is any change in the information submitted under paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(7) of this section; or

(b) Each LOI must contain the information in § 127.007(c)(1) through (c)(5).

(1) There is any change in the information submitted under paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(7) of this section; or

(b) Each LOI must contain the information in § 127.007(c)(1) through (c)(5).

(1) There is any change in the information submitted under paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(7) of this section; or

(1) There is any change in the information submitted under paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(7) of this section; or

(c) Sections 127.007(b), (c), and (d), and 127.019(b) of subpart A of this part apply to the marine transfer area for LNG of each inactive facility.

(2) Contain a detailed analysis of the elements listed in §§ 127.007(f)(2), 127.009(d), and 127.009(e) of this part.