Withdrawn Applications, Denied Applications and Surrendered Licenses

To date, eighteen Deepwater Port License Applications have been filed for approval. Sixteen applications were filed for licenses to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and two applications were filed for licenses to import oil.

Eight applications have been approved; of the eight applications that have been approved, seven licenses have been issued to import both LNG and oil and one license is pending for a LNG port proposed for construction and operation in the Gulf of Mexico.  Of the seven licenses issued, two have been surrendered.

One application has been denied; eight applications have been withdrawn; and one application is currently under review.

Beacon Port (ConocoPhillips)

Beacon Port, LLC filed an application on January 19, 2005.  The application received was initially deemed incomplete, but was later determined to be complete on May 10, 2005.  The proposed Liquefied Natural Gas facility would have consisted of two Gravity Based Structures (GBS) in the Gulf of Mexico, located 29 miles southeast and 56 miles southwest of Johnson's Bayou, LA.

On November 3, 2006, the applicant informed the Maritime Administration and the Coast Guard that it was withdrawing the Beacon Port LLC Liquefied Natural Gas Deepwater Port License application.  In its withdrawal notification, the applicant indicated that it may determine at some future date to resubmit the Beacon Port license application (either modified or a new application for this location).  In that event, the Environmental Impact Statement may be used as the basis for any additional or updated National Environment Policy Act documentation that would be necessary should the application be resubmitted. To date, the applicant has not resubmitted a modified or new application.

Link to the Federal Docket for Beacon Port (Docket Number: USCG-2005-21232)

Calypso LNG (Suez LNG N.A.)

Calypso LNG LLC filed an application on March 2, 2006, for a liquefied natural gas facility 12 miles off the coast of Port Everglades, FL.  However, the application was initially deemed incomplete and a revised application was later resubmitted for processing.  On October 13, 2006, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard deemed the revised application complete.  Public scoping meetings were held on November 27, 2007 and November 28, 2007.  The second public meeting was held in 2008 and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published in July 2008. 

On February 25, 2009, Calypso LNG LLC submitted a letter to the Maritime Administration to withdraw their application for the Calypso project.

Link to the Federal Docket for Calypso LNG (Docket Number USCG-2006-26009)

Clearwater Port (NorthernStar Natural Gas Inc. [Formerly Crystal Energy])

Clearwater Port filed an application on January 28, 2004, for a liquefied natural gas facility 12.6 miles off the coast of Ventura County, California. The proposed facility would have converted an existing off-shore oil drilling platform into a liquefied natural gas receiving terminal. Public scoping meetings were held in Oxnard, CA & Santa Clarita, CA, on October 3, 2007 and October 4, 2007, respectively, with the public comment period ending on October 18, 2007. On October 23, 2007, the regulatory timeline for processing the application was suspended for applicants to gather data essential to the project. Work continued on the application until October 2008, when Clearwater Port requested that the state of California, the Coast Guard and the Maritime Administration suspend work on the joint Environmental Impact Statement and Environmental Impact Report. 

On March 10, 2010, the California State Lands Commission issued a formal notice to Clearwater Port LLC indicating that Clearwater Port LLC’s application for a General Lease-Right of Way Use permit has been terminated. 

Since Clearwater Port LLC has not provided any additional information or initiated any dialogue with regard to the application for a deepwater port license since late 2008, the Maritime Administration terminated NorthernStar’s application for a deepwater port license on May 7, 2010.

Link to the Federal Docket for Clearwater Port (Docket Number USCG-2007-28676)

Compass Port (ConocoPhillips)

Compass Port, LLC filed a deepwater port application on March 29, 2004, which was deemed complete on May 20, 2004.  The proposed Gravity Based Structure facility would have been located off the coasts of Alabama and Mississippi.  Scoping meetings were held in Alabama and Mississippi on July 12 - 14, 2004.

On June 8, 2006, ConocoPhillips advised the Maritime Administration of its withdrawal of the Compass Port application.

Link to the Federal Docket for Compass Port (Docket Number: USCG-2004-17659)

Oceanway Secure Energy (Woodside Natural Gas, Inc.)

Woodside Natural Gas filed an application with the Maritime Administration for a license under the Deepwater Port Act, to build, own and operate a liquefied natural gas facility on August 18, 2006.  On July 30, 2007, Woodside and the Maritime Administration announced an agreement to register two vessels under the U.S. flag and to employ American officers and crews in the operation of the proposed Oceanway facility.  A public scoping meeting was held in Los Angeles on September 26, 2007 and the public comment period was extended until October 31, 2007 due to public interest and delays due to the transition from the Department of Transportation's Docket Management System to the Federal Docket Management System. 

On January 15, 2009, Woodside officially suspended work on the Oceanway Secure Energy project and withdrew its application for a Deepwater Port License.  On January 26, 2009, the Maritime Administration acknowledged the withdrawal of Woodside’s application.

Link to the Federal Docket for Oceanway Secure Energy (Docket Number USCG-2007-26844)

Pearl Crossing (ExxonMobil)

Pearl Crossing filed an application on May 25, 2004, for a concrete Gravity Based Structure to be built in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles south of the Louisiana coast.  The application was deemed complete on July 8, 2004, and a Federal Register Notice of Application was issued on July 21, 2004.  

On October 19, 2005, ExxonMobil withdrew the deepwater port license application for Pearl Crossing and terminated the project.  The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice of Cancellation on December 8, 2005, stating that the applicant cancelled all actions related to processing the Pearl Crossing deepwater port license application.

Link to the Federal Docket for Pearl Crossing (Docket Number USCG-2004-18474)

Safe Harbor Energy (Atlantic Sea Island Group LLC)
On September 16, 2006, the Atlantic Sea Island Group LLC (ASIG) filed an application with the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard for a license under the Deepwater Port Act, to construct, own and operate a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receiving, storage and regasification deepwater port facility, known as Safe Harbor Energy.  The proposed Safe Harbor Energy deepwater port would consist of a 60.5 acre man made island to be located 13.5 miles south of the city of Long Beach, New York, and 19 miles east of Highlands, New Jersey.  The proposed facility would interconnect with the Transco pipeline natural gas system -- to service both New York and New Jersey. Since the filing of ASIG's Safe Harbor Energy proposal, the Federal statutory timeline for processing the application has remained in a suspension status due primarily to the need for additional environmental and technical data essential for evaluating and determining impacts associated with the proposed project.  

On June 29, 2010, ASIG advised the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard of their intention to cancel work on the Safe Harbor Energy project for an indefinite period of time.  By letter dated July 23, 2010, the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard acknowledged the withdrawal of ASIG's Safe Harbor Energy deepwater port license application and have terminated all Federal processing activities.  MARAD and the USCG will retain all relevant information and materials for future use in the event the applicant decides to resubmit its application.

Website: Atlantic Sea Island Group
Link to the Federal Docket for Safe Harbor Energy (Docket Number: USCG-2007-28535)

Texas Offshore Port System

On December 8, 2008, the Texas Offshore Port System partnership filed an application with the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard seeking approval to build, own, and operate a crude oil deepwater port facility 30 miles off the coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico.  On January 5, 2009, the application was deemed complete and four days later, on January 9, 2009, a Notice of Application was published in the Federal Register.  On March 13, 2009, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a letter to the Texas Offshore Port System suspending the regulatory timeline for processing the application due to the need for additional environmental and financial data.  On April 21, 2009, two of the three companies composing the Texas Offshore Port System partnership formally announced their dissociation, or exit, from the proposed project.  However, the remaining company (Oiltanking) agreed to continue the TOPS project. 

On April 12, 2010, Oiltanking submitted a letter to the Maritime Administration to withdraw their application for a deepwater port license for the TOPS project.

Link to the Federal Docket for the Texas Offshore Port System (Docket Number: USCG-2008-1239)

Cabrillo Port (BHP Billiton LNG International)

Cabrillo Port filed an application on September 3, 2003, for a proposed LNG gravity based structure site to be located 14 miles off the coast of Ventura County, California.  The initial application was determined to be complete on January 27, 2004.

By letter dated May 18, 2007, the Governor of California indicated his disapproval of the project, citing concerns that the project as proposed would result in significant and unmitigated environmental impacts to air quality and marine life.  Consequently, a Record of Decision disapproving the project was issued on June 5, 2007 by the Maritime Administration.

Link to the Federal Docket for Cabrillo Port (Docket Number: USCG-2004-16877)

Gulf Landing (U.S. Gas & Oil, LLC)

Gulf Landing, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell U.S. Gas & Oil, LLC, filed an application on November 3, 2003.  The proposed facility was a Gravity Based Structure to have been located thirty-eight miles offshore of Louisiana.  The Record of Decision was issued on February 16, 2005 and the license was issued on April 29, 2005.  The Fifth Circuit court upheld the Maritime Administration's decision to issue a license to Gulf Landing.  In March of 2007, Gulf Landing announced its intent to indefinitely defer further activity and ultimately, construction of this project.

On April 30, 2009, Gulf Landing LLC surrendered its deepwater port license.  A License Surrender Announcement was published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2009. (71 FR 31479)

Link to the Federal Docket for Gulf Landing (Docket Number: USCG-2004-16860)

Port Pelican (Port Pelican, LLC)

Port Pelican, LLC (Port Pelican), an affiliate of ChevronTexaco Corporation, submitted an application for a deepwater port license on November 25, 2002 to construct an LNG gravity based structure facility off the coast of Louisiana.  The Port Pelican Deepwater Port License was issued on January 20, 2004.  The Port Pelican Deepwater Port License was the first deepwater port license issued in over 25 years.

On July 11, 2005, Port Pelican LLC provided a letter to the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard that it formally announced plans to defer further environmental studies for the construction site, thereby placing the project on hold indefinitely. On October 4, 2005, a Notice of Cancellation was published in the Federal Register.  

On October 28, 2009, the Maritime Administration received notification from Port Pelican LLC of the relinquishment of its License.  In response,  the Maritime Administration, in the December 9, 2009 Federal Register, announced the cancellation of all actions related to the License.

Link to the Federal Docket for Port Pelican (Docket Number: USCG-2002-14134)