Bryant’s Maritime Blog – 8 July 2010

Headlines: Philadelphia – sightseeing boat and barge collide, two people missing; NIC – new oil spill response website; St. Lawrence Seaway – grounded laker refloated; DOS – biometric visa program; NOAA – incidental takes during Arctic Ocean seismic survey; Senate – bill introduced re closing of Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal; House – bill introduced to require royalty payments for discharged oil; House – bill introduced to require emergency relief wells; House – bill introduced to improve spill response and oversight; House – bill introduced to review threat of terrorist attack; House – bill introduced to prohibit leasing in North Atlantic Planning Area; House – bill introduced re whistleblower protection; House – bill introduced to provide tax benefits to oil spill victims; House – bill introduced to require oil spill containment plans; New Zealand – ship and craft stores; Panama Canal – Safe Boarding Week; and EC – Chinese garlic smugglers sniffed out.

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Philadelphia – sightseeing boat and barge collide, two people missing

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that a sightseeing boat (a DUKW-type amphibious vessel) and a barge collided in the Delaware River at Philadelphia. Two people are missing and six passengers have incurred injuries. The search for the missing continues. The incident is under investigation. The river has been closed to navigation in the vicinity of the search. (7/7/10).

NIC – new oil spill response website

The National Incident Command (NIC) issued a news release stating that it launched a new web portal – RestoreTheGulf.gov – dedicated to providing clear and accessible information and resources related to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill response and recovery. (7/7/10).

St. Lawrence Seaway – grounded laker refloated

The US Coast Guard issued a news release stating that the laker that grounded in the St. Lawrence Seaway has been refloated with the assistance of two tugs. There were no injuries and no pollution. The incident is under investigation. (7/7/10).

DOS – biometric visa program

The US Department of State (DOS) has amended its biometric visa program to require capture of scans from all ten fingers, rather than from two fingers, when a person applies for a US visa. The expanded fingerscan is in addition to the photo image, which is also captured. Both the fingerscans and the photo image are entered into the federal database and compared with the individual entering the country at a port of entry. The change is effective immediately. 75 Fed. Reg. 39323 (July 8, 2010). Note: Don’t attempt to enter the United States without all ten fingers – and your face.

NOAA – incidental takes during Arctic Ocean seismic survey

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has received an application from the US Geological Survey for an Incidental Harassment Authorization (IHA) to take small numbers of marine mammals by harassment incidental to conducting a marine seismic survey in the Arctic Ocean during August to September 2010. Comments on this application should be submitted by August 9. 75 Fed. Reg. 39335 (July 8, 2010).

Senate – bill introduced re closing of Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal

Senator Stabenow (D-MI) introduced the Permanent Prevention of Asian Carp Act of 2010 (S. 3553) to require the Secretary of the Army to study the feasibility of the hydrological separation of the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins. Official text of the bill is not yet available. (6/30/10).

House – bill introduced to require royalty payments for discharged oil

Representative Polis (D-CO) introduced the Oil Pollution Taxpayer and Environment Protection Act (H.R. 5661) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require the making of royalty and other payments for oil that is removed under an offshore oil and gas lease under that Act and discharged into waters of the United States or ocean waters, and for other purposes. (7/1/10).

House – bill introduced to require emergency relief wells

Representative Grayson (D-FL) introduced the Emergency Relief Well Act (H.R. 5666) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require the drilling of emergency relief wells, and for other purposes. (7/1/10).

House – bill introduced to improve spill response and oversight

Representative Young (R-FL) introduced the Secure All Facilities to Effectively Guard the United States Against and Respond to Dangerous Spills Act of 2010 (SAFEGUARDS Act of 2010) (H.R. 5677) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to modernize and enhance the Federal Government's response to oil spills, to improve oversight and regulation of offshore drilling, and for other purposes. (7/1/10).

House – bill introduced to review threat of terrorist attack

Representative Cao (R-LA) introduced the Maritime Infrastructure Security and Counterterrorism Act (H.R. 5684) to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to commission an independent review of the threat of a terrorist attack posed to offshore energy infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, the vulnerabilities of such infrastructure to such attacks, and the consequences of such attacks, and for other purposes. (7/1/10).

House – bill introduced to prohibit leasing in North Atlantic Planning Area

Representative Markey (D-MA) introduced a bill (H.R. 5697) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit leasing in the North Atlantic Planning Area. (7/1/10).

House – bill introduced re whistleblower protection

Representative Melancon (D-LA) introduced a bill (H.R. 5698) to amend Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect employees from retaliation for notifying government officials of violations of those Acts, and for other purposes. (7/1/10).

House – bill introduced to provide tax benefits to oil spill victims

Representative Miller (R-FL) introduced the Gulf Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2010 (H.R. 5699) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax benefits for certain areas affected by the discharge of oil by reason of the explosion on, and sinking of, the mobile offshore drilling unit Deepwater Horizon, and for other purposes. (7/1/10).

House – bill introduced to require oil spill containment plans

Representative Tsongas (D-MA) introduced the Oil Spill Preparation and Protection Act (H.R. 5709) to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to require, as a condition and term of any exploration plan or development and production plan submitted under that Act, that the applicant for the plan must submit an oil spill containment and clean-up plan capable of handling a worst-case scenario oil spill, and for other purposes. (7/1/10).

New Zealand – ship and craft stores

The New Zealand Customs Service issued a notice reminding visiting vessels of requirements related to the reporting of ship stores prior to entry and the loading of stores in New Zealand for subsequent export. (7/7/10).

Panama Canal – Safe Boarding Week

The Panama Canal Authority issued an Advisory notifying owners, operators, and masters that July 12-16 is Safe Boarding Week. The goal is to emphasize and encourage safe boarding practices on all vessels arriving at the waterway. A Safe Boarding Checklist has been developed to assist masters in addressing safe boarding issues. (7/6/10).

EC – Chinese garlic smugglers sniffed out

The European Commission (EC) issued a press release stating that a lorry containing 28 tonnes of smuggled fresh garlic has been intercepted in Sweden. (7/7/10). Police later said that something just didn’t smell right.

If you have questions regarding the above items, please contact the editor:

Dennis L. Bryant

Bryant’s Maritime Consulting

4845 SW 91^st Way
Gainesville, FL 32608-8135

USA

1-352-692-5493
dennis.l.bryant@gmail.com

http://brymar-consulting.com

© Dennis L. Bryant – July 2010

Redistribution permitted with attribution