80 FR 44910 - Safety Zone; Turritella FPSO, Walker Ridge 551, Outer Continental Shelf on the Gulf of Mexico

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 144 (July 28, 2015)

The Coast Guard proposes a safety zone around the Turritella FPSO system, Walker Ridge 551 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of the safety zone is to protect the facility from all vessels operating outside the normal shipping channels and fairways that are not providing services to or working with the facility. Placing a safety zone around the facility will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 144 (Tuesday, July 28, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44910-44913]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-18397]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 147

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0318]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Turritella FPSO, Walker Ridge 551, Outer Continental 
Shelf on the Gulf of Mexico

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes a safety zone around the Turritella 
FPSO system, Walker Ridge 551 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in 
the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of the safety zone is to protect the 
facility from all vessels operating outside the normal shipping 
channels and fairways that are not providing services to or working 
with the facility. Placing a safety zone around the facility will 
significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security 
breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the 
safety of life, property, and the environment.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before August 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2015-0318 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these 
four methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed 
rule, call or email Mr. Rusty Wright, U.S. Coast Guard, District Eight 
Waterways Management Branch; telephone 504-671-2138, 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Cheryl F. Collins, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

[[Page 44911]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Acronyms

DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
FPSO Floating Production Storage Offloading Vessel
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
OCS Outer Continental Shelf
USCG United States Coast Guard

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

1. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online, it 
will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully 
transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, 
it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when 
it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number [USCG-2015-0318] in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with 
this rulemaking.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period and may change the rule 
based on your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2015-0318) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with 
this rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in 
Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

3. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008 issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

4. Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one by using one of the methods specified under ADDRESSES. 
Please explain why you believe a public meeting would be beneficial. If 
we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a 
time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

B. Basis and Purpose

    Under the authority provided in 14 U.S.C. 85, 43 U.S.C. 1333, and 
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, Title 33, CFR 
part 147 permits the establishment of safety zones for facilities 
located on the OCS for the purpose of protecting life, property and the 
marine environment.
    Shell Exploration & Production Company requested that the Coast 
Guard establish a safety zone around the Turritella FPSO, which is a 
ship-shaped offshore production facility that stores crude oil in tanks 
located in its hull. It will attach to a moored turret buoy and move in 
a 360 degree arc around the position 26[deg]25'38.74'' N., 
90[deg]48'45.34'' W. The turret buoy is detachable which allows the 
FPSO to disconnect while the buoy and turret drop below the water's 
surface to a predetermined depth. The FPSO has a capacity for storing 
900,000 barrels of produced oil and is expected to be offloaded on a 
weekly basis via a floating hose that connects the FPSO to a shuttle 
tanker. During offloading operations, a shuttle tanker will connect its 
bow to the Turritella FPSO and its stern to an attendant tug that will 
assist with safety spacing and stability of the operations. The 
facility is manned with a crew of 120 people.
    The request for the safety zone was made due to safety concerns for 
both the personnel aboard the facility and the environment. Shell 
Exploration & Production Company indicated that it is highly likely 
that any allision with the facility would result in a catastrophic 
event. In evaluating this request, the Coast Guard explored relevant 
safety factors and considered several criteria, including but not 
limited to: (1) The level of shipping activity around the facility; (2) 
safety concerns for personnel aboard the facility; (3) concerns for the 
environment; (4) the likeliness that an allision would result in a 
catastrophic event based on proximity to shipping fairways, offloading 
operations, production levels, and size of the crew; (5) the volume of 
traffic in the vicinity of the proposed area; (6) the types of vessels 
navigating in the vicinity of the proposed area; and, (7) the 
structural configuration of the facility. For the purpose of safety 
zones established under 33 CFR part 147, the deepwater area is 
considered to be waters of 304.8 meters (1,000 feet) or greater depth 
extending to the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) contiguous 
to the territorial sea of the United States and extending to a distance 
up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of 
the sea is measured. Navigation in the vicinity of the safety zone 
primarily consists of large commercial shipping vessels, fishing 
vessels, cruise ships, tugs with tows and the occasional recreational 
vessel. The deepwater area also includes an extensive system of 
fairways.
    Results from a thorough and comprehensive examination of the 
criteria, IMO guidelines, and existing regulations warrant the 
establishment of the proposed safety zone. The proposed regulation 
would reduce significantly the threat of allisions, oil spills, and 
releases of natural gas and increase the safety of life, property, and 
the environment in the Gulf of Mexico by prohibiting entry into the 
zone unless specifically authorized by the Commander, Eighth Coast 
Guard District.

C. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    Shell Exploration & Production Company requested a safety zone of 
500 meters (1640.4 feet) around the stern of the FPSO when it is moored 
to the turret buoy. The FPSO can swing in a 360

[[Page 44912]]

degree arc around the center point at 26[deg]25'38.74'' N., 
90[deg]48'45.34'' W. If the FPSO detaches from the turret buoy, the 
safety zone of 500 meters (1640.4 feet) will be measured from the 
center point of the turret buoy. The request for the safety zone was 
made due to safety concerns for life and property on the facilities, 
their appurtenances, attending vessels and the environment. Shell 
Exploration & Production Company indicated that it is highly likely 
that any allision with the facility would result in a catastrophic 
event. In evaluating this request, the Coast Guard explored relevant 
safety factors and considered several criteria, including but not 
limited to, (1) the level of shipping activity around the facility, (2) 
safety concerns for personnel aboard the facility, (3) concerns for the 
environment, (4) the likeliness that an allision would result in a 
catastrophic event based on proximity to shipping fairways, offloading 
operations, production levels, and size of the crew, (5) the volume of 
traffic in the vicinity of the proposed area, (6) the types of vessels 
navigating in the vicinity of the proposed area, both related and 
unrelated to facility operations, and (7) the structural configuration 
of the facility.
    Results from a thorough and comprehensive examination of the 
criteria, IMO guidelines, and existing regulations warrant the 
establishment of a safety zone of 500 meters (1640.4 feet) around the 
facility. The proposed safety zone would restrict all vessels from 
entering into, transiting through, remaining in, or anchoring in the 
safety zone area. Vessels attending to, servicing, or working with the 
facility would be exempt from the restrictions in this proposed rule. 
This proposed safety measure reduces significantly the threat of 
allisions, collisions, oil spills, and releases of natural gas and 
increases the safety of life, property, and the environment in the Gulf 
of Mexico. Authorization to deviate from this proposed rule and transit 
through the safety zone may be requested from the Commander, Eighth 
Coast Guard District or a designated representative. Such deviation 
requests would be considered on a case-by-case basis.

D. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on a number of these statutes or executive orders.

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 
as supplemented by Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and 
Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential 
costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866 or 
under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and 
Budget has not reviewed it under those Orders.
    This rulemaking is not a significant regulatory action due to the 
location of the Turritella FPSO--on the Outer Continental Shelf--and 
its distance from both land and safety fairways. Additionally, the area 
covered by this proposed safety zone is limited in scope as it would 
encompass only the waters within 500 meters (1640.4 feet) around the 
stern of the FPSO when it is moored to the turret buoy. The FPSO can 
swing in a 360 degree arc around the center point at 26[deg]25'38.74'' 
N., 90[deg]48'45.34'' W. If the FPSO detaches from the turret buoy, the 
safety zone of 500 meters (1640.4 feet) will be measured from the 
center point of the turret buoy. This is the area where the FPSO vessel 
operates and vessels servicing the FPSO transit and maneuver, 
presenting the area most vulnerable to risk of allusion or collision. 
Vessels traversing waters near the proposed safety zone will be able to 
safely travel around the zone using alternate routes. Exceptions to 
this proposed rule include vessels measuring less than 100 feet in 
length overall and not engaged in towing. Deviation to transit through 
the proposed safety zone may be requested. Such requests will be 
considered on a case-by-case basis and may be authorized by the 
Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District or a designated representative.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as 
amended, requires federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on small entities during rulemaking. The term ``small 
entities'' comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations 
that are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their 
fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this 
proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    This proposed rule would affect the following entities, some of 
which might be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels 
intending to transit or anchor within the area extending 500 meters 
(1640.4 feet) from the outermost edges of the Turritella FPSO system 
located in Walker Ridge 551 on the OCS.
    This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact or a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: Vessel 
traffic can pass safely around the safety zone using alternate routes. 
Based on the limited scope of the safety zone, any delay resulting from 
using an alternate route is expected to be minimal depending on vessel 
traffic and speed in the area. Deviation to transit through the 
proposed safety zone may be requested. Such requests will be considered 
on a case-by-case basis and may be authorized by the Commander, Eighth 
Coast Guard District or a designated representative.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have 
a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see 
ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what 
degree this rule would economically affect it.

3. Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this proposed rule. If the proposed rule 
would affect your small business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or 
options for compliance, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) 
explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what degree this 
rule would economically affect it. The Coast Guard will not retaliate 
against small entities that question or complain about this proposed 
rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

4. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

5. Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. We have

[[Page 44913]]

analyzed this proposed rule under that Order and have determined that 
it does not have implications for federalism.

6. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that 
your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or 
security of people, places or vessels.

7. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted for 
inflation) or more in any one year. Though this proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

8. Taking of Private Property

    This proposed rule would not cause a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, 
Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected 
Property Rights.

9. Civil Justice Reform

    This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

10. Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13045, 
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks. This proposed rule is not economically significant and would not 
create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 
disproportionately affect children.

11. Indian Tribal Governments

    This proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, because it would not have a substantial direct effect on 
one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

12. Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13211, 
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use.

13. Technical Standards

    This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we 
did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

14. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction 
M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) 42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have 
made a preliminary determination that this action is one of a category 
of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant 
effect on the human environment. This proposed rule involves the 
establishment of a safety zone around an OCS facility to protect life, 
property and the marine environment. This proposed rule is categorical 
excluded from further review, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of 
the Commandant Instruction. A preliminary environmental analysis 
checklist supporting this determination and the Categorical Exclusion 
Determination are available in the docket where indicated under 
ADDRESSES. We seek any comments or information that may lead to the 
discovery of a significant environmental impact from this proposed 
rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 147

    Continental shelf, Marine safety, Navigation (water).

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 147 as follows:

PART 147--SAFETY ZONES

0
1. The authority citation for part 147 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 14 U.S.C. 85; 43 U.S.C. 1333; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
0
2. Add Sec.  147.863 to read as follows:


Sec.  147.863  Turritella FPSO System Safety Zone.

    (a) Description. The Turritella, a Floating Production, Storage and 
Offloading (FPSO) system is proposed to be installed in the deepwater 
area of the Gulf of Mexico at Walker Ridge 551. The FPSO can swing in a 
360 degree arc around the center point of the turret buoy's swing 
circle at 26[deg]25'38.74'' N, 90[deg]48'45.34'' W, and the area within 
500 meters (1640.4 feet) around the stern of the FPSO when it is moored 
to the turret buoy is a safety zone. If the FPSO detaches from the 
turret buoy, the area within 500 meters (1640.4 feet) around the center 
point at 26[deg]25'38.74'' N, 90[deg]48'45.34'' W is a safety zone.
    (b) Regulation. No vessel may enter or remain in this safety zone 
except the following:
    (1) An attending vessel;
    (2) A vessel under 100 feet in length overall not engaged in 
towing; or
    (3) A vessel authorized by the Commander, Eighth Coast Guard 
District.

    Dated: June 7, 2015.
David R. Callahan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-18397 Filed 7-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P