CORPS OF ENGINEERING
November 26, 2018 Agency Notice – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Rock Island and Chicago Districts, have developed “the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Interbasin Study (GLMRIS)—Brandon Road Integrated Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)—Will County, Illinois,” (Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS). The Final GLMRIS-Brandon Road Report & EIS presents a plan that could prevent aquatic nuisance species (ANS) transfer from the Mississippi River Basin to the Great Lakes Basin through an aquatic connection in the Chicago Area Waterway System. The purpose of the Study was to evaluate structural and nonstructural options and technologies near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam to prevent the upstream transfer of ANS while minimizing impacts to existing waterways uses and users. USACE analyzed and evaluated available controls to address ANS of concern and formulated alternatives specifically for the Brandon Road site. 83 FR 60412, (November 26, 2018).
CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
November 29, 2018 Agency Notice (Final Rule) – The document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to update provisions relating to the declaration, entry and dutiable status of repair expenditures made abroad for certain vessels to reflect the port of New Orleans, Louisiana as the only Vessel Repair Unit (VRU) location. The amendment will improve the efficiency of vessel repair entry processing, ensure the proper assessment and collection of duties, and make the regulations more transparent. 83 FR 61318, (November 29, 2018).
December 14, 2018 Agency Notice – The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the ICR entitled “Visa Waiver Program Carrier Agreement” to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments accepted. 83 FR 56860, (November 14, 2018).
December 14, 2018 Agency Notice – The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the ICR entitled “Passenger List/Crew List” to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments accepted. 83 FR 56861, (November 14, 2018).
January 22, 2019 Agency Notice – The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the ICR entitled “Vessel Entrance or Clearance Statement” to the Office Management and Budget for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments accepted. 83 FR 58589, (November 20, 2018).
ENERGY DEPARTMENT
December 28, 2018 Agency Notice – The Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) gives notice of receipt of an application (Application), filed on September 27, 2018, by Energia Costa Azul S. de R.L. de C.V (Energia Costa Azul), a subsidiary of Infrastructura Energetica Nova, S.A.B. de C.V. (IEnova) and IEnova’s subsidiaries. The Application requests long-term, multi-contract authorization to export domestically produced natural gas to Mexico in a volume up to 545 billion cub feet per year, and to re-export a portion of this natural gas as liquefied natural gas in a volume equivalent to 475 Bcf/yr of natural gas (1.3 Bcf per day). Comments accepted. 83 FR 54337, (October 29, 2018), (FE Docket No. 18-145-LNG).
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION
December 3, 2018 Agency Notice – The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Freeport LNG Train 4 Project (Project). Freeport LNG Development, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction 4, LLC (Freeport LNG), request authorization (FERC Docket No. CP17-470-000) to site, construct, and operate pipeline, natural gas liquefaction and export facilities near Freeport in Brazoria County, Texas. The Project would be constructed as an expansion of Freeport LNG’s existing Quintana Island Terminal (Terminal), as well as associated pretreatment and pipeline facilities, for the purpose of liquefying domestic natural gas for export. Comments accepted. Comments accepted. 83 FR 55880, (November 8, 2018), (Docket No. CP17-470-000).
December 3, 2018 Agency Notice – The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Rio Grande LNG Project (Project) proposed by Rio Grande LNG, LLC (RG LNG) and Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC (RB Pipeline) (collectively referred to as the RG Developers) in the above-referenced dockets. RG LNG requests authorization pursuant to section 3(a) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to construct and operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in Cameron County, Texas, and RB Pipeline requests a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity pursuant to section 7(c) of the NGA to construct, operate, and maintain a new pipeline system in Jim Wells, Kleberg, Kenedy, Willacy, and Cameron Counties, Texas. The draft EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the construction and operation of the Project in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FERC staff concludes that construction and operation of the Rio Grande LNG Project would result in some adverse environmental impacts, but these impacts would be reduced to less than significant levels. However, the Rio Grande LNG Project, combined with other projects within the geographic scope, would result in certain significant cumulative impacts. Three public comments sessions will be held. Comments accepted. 83 FR 52828, (October 18, 2018), (Docket Nos. CP16-454-000).
December 17, 2018 Agency Notice – The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Texas LNG Project, proposed by Texas LNG Brownsville, LLC (Texas LNG) in the docket. Texas LNG requests authorization to site, construct, modify, and operate liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities on the Brownsville Ship Channel in Cameron Country, Texas. The Texas LNG Project would include a new LNG export terminal capable of producing up to 4 million tonnes per annum of LNG for export. The terminal would receive natural gas to the export facilities from a third-party intrastate pipeline. Comments accepted. 83 FR 55156, (November 2, 2018), (Docket No. CP16-116-000).
January 7, 2019 Agency Notice – The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Plaquemines LNG and Gator Express Pipelines Project, proposed by Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC and Venture Global Gator Express, LLC (collectively Venture Global). Venture Global requests authorization to construct and operate a new LNG export terminal and associated facilities along the west bank of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (LNG Terminal) and to construct and operate two new 42-inch-diameter natural gas pipeline laterals that would connect to the LNG Terminal. The new liquefaction facilities would have a design production capacity of 20 million metric tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum. Comments accepted. 83 FR 58558, (November 20, 2018), (Docket No. CP17-66-000; CP17-67-000).
January 7, 2019 Agency Notice – The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Gulf LNG Liquefaction Project, proposed by Gulf LNG Liquefaction Company, LLC; Gulf LNG Energy, LLC; and Gulf LNG Pipeline, LLC, collectively (Gulf LNG). Gulf LNG requests authorization pursuant to sections 3(a) and 7 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) to construct and operate onshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) liquefaction and associated facilities to allow export of LNG, and to construct, own, operate, and maintain new interconnection and metering facilities for the existing Gulf LNG Pipeline in Jackson County, Mississippi. The proposed actions are referred to as the Gulf LNG Liquefaction Project (Project) and consist of the Gulf LNG Terminal Expansion (Terminal Expansion) and the GLP Pipeline Modifications. Comments accepted. 83 FR 59375, (November 23, 2018), (Docket No. CP15-521-000).
January 7, 2019 Agency Notice – The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Jacksonville Project, proposed by Eagle LNG Partners Jacksonville, LLC (Eagle LNG). Eagle LNG requests authorization to construct and operate a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility on the north bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. Eagle LNG’s Jacksonville Project would consist of an LNG terminal on about 81.1 acres of a 193.4-acre parcel of land and would produce a nominal capacity of about 1.0 million (metric) tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG. The LNG terminal would receive natural gas from a new 120-foot-long non-jurisdictional natural gas pipeline constructed by Peoples Gas’ (a subsidiary of TECO Energy, Inc.), connected to its existing local gas distribution transmission pipeline, which is immediately adjacent to the proposed terminal site. Comments accepted. 83 FR 60414, (November 26, 2018), (CP17-41-000).
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT
January 16, 2019 Agency Notice (Meeting) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces the 2019 Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) public meeting. The meeting serves as a forum for HHS/CDC to present clarifications to the 2018 VSP Operations Manual and Construction Guidelines and the proposed fee schedule for fiscal year 2020. HHS/CDC is also opening a public docket so that additional comments and materials may be submitted. The official record of the meeting will remain open through February 22, 2019, so that materials or additional comments related to the matters discussed at the meeting may be submitted and made part of the record. The meeting will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Ballroom at the DoubleTree Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay, 1717 North Bayshore Drive, Miami, FL. 83 FR 54754, (October 31, 2019), (Docket No. CDC-2018-0101).
February 22, 2019 Agency Notice – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces the 2019 Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) public meeting. The meeting serves as a forum for HHS/CDC to present clarifications to the 2018 VSP Operations Manual and Construction Guidelines and the proposed fee schedule for fiscal year 2020. HHS/CDC is also opening a public docket so that additional comments and materials may be submitted. The official record of the meeting will remain open through February 22, 2019, so that materials or additional comments related to the matters discussed at the meeting may be submitted and made part of the record. Comments accepted. 83 FR 54754, (October 31, 2019), (Docket No. CDC-2018-0101).
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT
November 16, 2018 Agency Notice – The regulatory agenda is a semiannual summary of project regulations, existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components. The agenda provides the public with information about DHS’s regulatory and deregulatory activity. DHS expects that this information will enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in, the Department’s regulatory and deregulatory activity. 83 FR 58032,
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
December 10, 2018 Agency Notice – OSHA is inviting interested persons to submit nominations for membership on the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. Nominations accepted. 83 FR 54147, (October 26, 2018), (OSHA-2017-0004).
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
December 10, 2018 Agency Notice (Meeting) – On October 16, 2018, the United States Trade Representative notified Congress of the Administration’s intention to enter into negotiations with Japan for a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement. The aim in negotiations with Japan is to address both tariff and non-tariff barriers and to achieve fairer, more balanced trade. In addition to seeking comments the United States Trade Representative (USTR) will hold a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. in the main hearing room of the U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC. 83 FR 54164, (October 26, 2018), (USTR-2018-0034).
PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS
November 13, 2018 Agency Notice – The President issued a Memorandum for the Secretary of State[,] the Secretary of the Treasury[,] the Secretary of Defense[,] the Secretary of Commerce[, and] the Director of National Intelligence stating “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, I hereby delegate to the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Director of National Intelligence, the authority to submit to the Congress the certification required by section 1244 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (Public Law 115-232). The delegation in this memorandum shall apply to any provision of any future public law that is the same or substantially the same as the provision referenced in this memorandum. The Secretary of State is authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register.” 83 FR 56697, (November 13, 2018).