Designation of Lightering Zones

The Coast Guard is designating four lightering zones in the Gulf of Mexico, each more than 60 miles from the baseline from which the territorial sea of the United States is measured. By using these lightering zones, single hull tank vessels contracted for after June 30, 1990, and older single hull tank vessels phased out by the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, will be permitted to offload oil in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) until January 1, 2015 for transshipment to U.S. ports. This rule establishes the first lightering zones designated by the Coast Guard. It also establishes three areas in the Gulf of Mexico where all lightering will be prohibited.