The U.S. Department of Transportation is directing the Maritime Administration (MARAD) has to assume control of deepwater port licensing from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG).
The decision falls in line with the White House’s efforts to cut red tape and streamline the permitting process, empowering industries to break ground on projects without being bogged down by the bureaucratic process. MARAD will oversee National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and environmental compliance review for deepwater port operations.
The transition of responsibilities coincides with the confirmation of the administration’s NEPA deregulation initiatives. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) rescinded the agency’s NEPA regulation implementation powers last year, recently reaffirming and finalizing the decision to streamline permitting processes across the board.
With the rule rescinded, federal agencies will now be able to reform their own NEPA procedures to simplify and accelerate the review process. The CEQ will provide advisory and guidance services to assist other agencies as they revise their NEPA procedures to comply with updated policies and requirements.
With MARAD now overseeing deepwater port licensing, the agency will implement greater freedom and flexibility when it comes to environmental reviews, ultimately streamlining the holistic process, accelerate license approvals and lower domestic energy costs. The USCG will continue to operate as a collaborating agency and maintain control over deepwater port facility safety, design, construction and operations.
Reforming the government’s regulatory frameworks has been a top priority for the administration since they took office. The government has cited these changes as an opportunity to achieve energy dominance and guarantee clean air, water and land for residents.
Since 1975, 31 deepwater port license applications have been filed for approval and often became mired in legislation and paperwork for extended periods of time. The federal government has already began making process on freeing these opportunities, taking the initiative to issue a Record of Decision on Feb. 13, 2025, to a company to build and operate a deepwater port to export domestically produced crude oil.
Photo by Albin Berlin from Pexels
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