Coast Guard Rejects Fall River’s Request for Exclusion Zones

The Coast Guard has rejected the request of Fall River, Massachusetts to issue regulations establishing thermal and vapor dispersion exclusion zones for marine spills of LNG.  Noting that other similar industries do not use exclusion zones as tools to minimize risks and a one-size-fits-all solution is inappropriate, the Coast Guard emphasized the importance of the new Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 05-05, which “establishes a comprehensive process for a Waterway Suitability Assessment to be completed … reviewed … and validated by the Coast Guard, in conjunction with stakeholders at the port.”  The letter is dated December 27, 2005, but posted to the Coast Guard docket, USCG-2004-19615, on January 19.

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