[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11978]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 17, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 94-045]

 

Differential Global Positioning System, Northeast Atlantic 
Region; Environmental Assessment.

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has prepared a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for 
implementing a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) Service in 
the Northeast Atlantic Region of the United States. The EA concluded 
that there will be no significant impact on the environment and that 
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement will not be necessary. 
This notice announces the availability of the EA and FONSI and solicits 
comments on them.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 16, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 3406 at the same 
address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477.
    Copies of the EA and FONSI may be obtained by contacting LTJG Randy 
Navarro at (202) 267-1058 or faxing a request at (202) 267-4427. A copy 
of the EA (less enclosures) is also available on the Electronic 
Bulletin Board System (BBS) at the GPS Information Center (GPSIC) in 
Alexandria, VA, (703) 313-5910. For information on the BBS, call the 
GPSIC watchstander at (703) 313-5900.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LTJG Randy Navarro, Radionavigation Division, (202) 267-1058.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    Copies of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) and 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are available as described 
under ADDRESSES. The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to 
comment on these documents. The Coast Guard may revise these documents 
in view of the comments. If revisions are warranted, availability of 
the revised documents will be announced by a later notice in the 
Federal Register.

Background

    As required by Congress, the Coast Guard is preparing to install 
the equipment necessary to implement the Differential Global 
Positioning System (DGPS) service in the northeastern United States. 
DGPS is a new radionavigation service that improves upon the 100 meter 
accuracy of the existing Global Position System (GPS) to provide an 
accuracy of better than 10 meters. For vessels, this degree of accuracy 
is critical for precise electronic navigation in harbors and harbor 
approaches and will reduce the number of vessel groundings, collisions, 
personal injuries, fatalities, and potential hazardous cargo spills 
resulting from such incidents.
    After extensive study, the Coast Guard has selected six sites along 
the northeast Atlantic coastline for the DGPS equipment. The sites are 
in the vicinity of Bass Harbor Head, ME; Portsmouth Harbor, NH; 
Chatham, MA; Montauk Point, NY; Sandy Hook, NJ; and Cape Henlopen, DE. 
The sites are used already for radionavigational purposes and were 
chosen, in part, because their proposed use is consistent with their 
past and present use, thus minimizing further impact on the 
environment. DGPS signal transmissions will be broadcast in the marine 
radiobeacon frequency band (283.5 to 325 KHz) using less than 25 watts 
(effective radiated power). Signal transmissions at these low frequency 
and power levels have not been found to be harmful to the surrounding 
environment.

Proposed Installations at Each Site

(a) Radiobeacon Antenna

    The Coast Guard proposes to use either an existing antenna or 
install a 90 foot guyed antenna with an accompanying ground plane. A 
ground plane for this 90 foot antenna consists of approximately 120 
copper radials (6 gauge copper wire) installed 6 inches (or less) 
beneath the soil and projecting outward from the antenna base. The 
optimum radial length is 300 feet, but this length may be shortened to 
fit within property boundaries. Whenever possible, a cable plow method 
will be used in the radial installation to minimize soil disturbance. 
Installation of the ground plane may require some clearing of trees and 
bushes on the site.

(b) DGPS Antennas

    Each site will require two 10 foot masts to support four small (4 
inches by 18 inches diameter) receiving antennas. The masts will be 
installed on a concrete foundation measuring approximately 3 feet by 3 
feet by 15 inches. The antennas support the primary and backup 
reference receivers and integrity monitors. The location of the two 
masts will be in the vicinity of the electronic equipment building or 
hut, but at least 50 feet to 100 feet from existing structures. At 
Portsmouth Harbor, NH, and Cape Henlopen, DE, mast height must be 
increased to approximately 40 feet to ensure that the visibility of 
satellites is not blocked by existing structures.

(c) Equipment Shelter

    Existing radiobeacon equipment shelters will be used to house the 
DGPS equipment.

(d) Utilities

    The Coast Guard proposes to use available commercial power as the 
primary source for the electronic equipment. However, existing diesel 
generators are available at each of the proposed sites, if backup power 
is needed. A telephone line will be required at each site for remote 
monitoring and operation.

Description of Each Site

    The Bass Harbor Head, ME, site is located in the vicinity of the 
Acadia National Park. In the course of data collection, significant 
questions were raised on this site concerning the impact on visitors to 
the Acadia National Park and land ownership. The Coast Guard determined 
that additional study is needed to examine these issues. Therefore, a 
separate environmental analysis concerning site selection will be 
developed.
    The Portsmouth Harbor, NH, site is located at the Portsmouth Harbor 
lighthouse, situated near the town of New Castle, NH. The Portsmouth 
Harbor lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic 
Places. The Coast Guard and NH State Historic Preservation Officer 
(SHPO) agree that the proposed project will have no effect on the 
historic property. There is an existing radiobeacon in operation at 
this site that has been modified as a prototype DGPS site for test and 
evaluation purposes. DGPS electronic equipment will be housed in an 
existing structure. The existing radiobeacon antenna will be used.
    The Chatham, MA, site is located at the Chatham lighthouse, 
situated near the town of Chatham, MA. The Chatham lighthouse is listed 
in the National Register of Historic Places. The Coast Guard and MA 
SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no adverse effect on the 
historic property. There is an existing radiobeacon in operation at 
this site. DGPS electronic equipment will be housed in the existing 
structure. The existing radiobeacon antenna will be used.
    The Montauk Point, NY, site is adjacent to the Montauk Point 
lighthouse, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places 
and is located at the northeast point of Long Island. The Coast Guard 
and NY SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no effect on the 
historic property. There is an existing radiobeacon in operation at 
this site that has been modified as a prototype DGPS site for test and 
evaluation purposes. DGPS electronic equipment will be housed in the 
existing equipment hut. The existing radiobeacon antenna will be used.
    The Sandy Hook, NJ, site is located approximately 5 miles north of 
Highland, NJ, at USCG Group Sandy Hook. The site is in the Fort Hancock 
and Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic Landmark District. The Coast 
Guard and NJ SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no effect 
on the historic property. This site has been used for navigational 
operations in the past and, as a result, has much of the infrastructure 
in place. The DGPS transmitting equipment will be housed in an existing 
equipment building. The 90 foot guyed transmit antenna and ground plane 
will be erected on the site of a previous antenna.
    The Cape Henlopen, DE, site is located within the Cape Henlopen 
State Park near the towns of Lewes and North Shores, DE. The Coast 
Guard and DE SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no adverse 
effect on possible historic WWII Army bunkers at the site. There is an 
existing radiobeacon in operation at this site that has been modified 
as a prototype DGPS site for test and evaluation purposes. DGPS 
electronic equipment will be housed in the existing equipment hut. The 
existing whip antenna will be replaced with a 90 foot guyed antenna and 
ground plane.
    Implementation of a DGPS service in the Northeast Atlantic Region 
is determined to have no significant effect on the quality of the human 
environment or require preparation of an Environmental Impact 
Statement.

    Dated: May 11, 1994.
R.C. Houle,
Acting Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 94-11978 Filed 5-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M