Regulatory Factors : 



SPM: A single point mooring system requires numerous federal 

 permits and certificates associated with the location of a facility in 

 navigable waters; dredge and fill; and pipelines. State and local 

 permits are also required for associated landfall facilities. 



Typically an SPM will be associated with a "deep-water port" or 

 transshipment facility located outside the three mile (or marine league) 

 limit of state jurisdiction. These facilities are governed by 

 comprehensive federal legislation adopted by Congress as the Deep Water 

 Port Act of 1974. 



The Department of Transportation is the lead agency in licensing 

 these facilities, including associated SPM systems. The Coast Guard 

 manages the program. The Act sets up an "adjacent state" identification 

 procedure and states identified through the procedure have statutory 

 rights to advise and comment on the licensing process. 



Associated facilities located nearshore or inshore are subject to 

 the multiple jurisdictions described under "pipelines," (Section 2.2.4). 

 The Corps of Engineers, Materials Transportation Bureau* and EPA are the 

 primary agencies for the management of federal interests in construction 

 and operation of these facilities. 



Tankers: The Coast Guard maintains a surveillance and enforcement 

 system for tanker operations in U.S. waters. These are defined in 

 considerable detail in the Code of Federal Regulations, Volume 33, Part 

 155, and Volume 46, Chapter 1. United States flag vessels and foreign 

 flag vessels in U.S. domestic trade are included under these provisions 

 if they exceed a threshhold of 150 tons. 



Oil spills from tankers fall under the Comprehensive Oil Pollution 

 Liability and Compensation Act of 1975 which establishes a basis for 

 liability for owners and operators of tankers and sets specific maximum 

 amounts for liability. 



Development Strategy 



SPM's offer advantages over conventional deepwater port facilities. 

 SPM's minimize mooring forces, can be adapted to a wide range of water 

 depths, different bottom conditions and other varying environmental 

 considerations. The initial cost of construction and installation time 

 is considerably less than deepwater harbors or long piers. The need for 

 dredging and related spoil disposal activities are eliminated and SPM's 



The FPC licenses interstate gas pipelines. 



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