[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 157 (Tuesday, August 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20026]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 94-058]

 

Differential Global Positioning System, St. Marys River/Lake 
Huron Corridor 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 St. Marys River/Lake Huron Corridor 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 September 15, 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 LCDR 
George Privon at (202) 267-0297 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: LCDR George Privon, Radionavigation 
Division, (202) 267-0297.

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 a Differential Global Positioning 
System (DGPS) service in the St. Marys River/Lake Huron Corridor area 
of the United States. DGPS is a new radionavigation service that 
improves upon the 100 meter accuracy of the existing Global Positioning 
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 five sties 
along the St. Marys River/Lake Huron Corridor for the DGPS equipment. 
The sites are in the vicinity of Detroit, MI: Saginaw Bay, MI; 
Cheboygan, MI; Neebish Island, MI; and Whitefish Point, MI. The sites 
are used already for related 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 50 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 install a 90 
foot guyed antenna with an accompanying ground plane except at 
Whitefish Point where the existing whip antenna will be used. A ground 
plane for these antenna's consists of approximately 120 copper radials 
(6 guage copper wire) installed 6 inches (or less) beneath the soil and 
projecting outward from the antenna base. The optimum radial length is 
between 200-300 feet, but this length may be shortened to fit within 
property boundaries.
    Wherever 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. These masts are needed to 
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.
    (c) Equipment shelter--A 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut will be 
needed to house the DGPS equipment at each site except at Whitefish 
Point, where the existing equipment building will be used.
    (d) Utilities--The Coast Guard proposes to use available commercial 
power as the primary source for the electronic equipment. However, an 
existing diesel generator is available at the Whitefish Point site and 
may be utilized if backup power is needed. A telephone line will be 
required at each site for remote monitoring and operation.

Description of Each Site

    The Detroit, MI site is located on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
boat yard property, which is located adjacent to Fort Wayne. The site 
will require installation of a 90 foot guyed transmit antenna. In 
addition, a 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut will be installed to house 
the DGPS electronic equipment.
    The Saginaw Bay, MI site is located on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
field office property, which is located near Essexville, MI. The site 
will require installation of a 90 foot guyed transmit antenna and a 10 
foot by 16 foot equipment hut to house the DGPS electronic equipment.
    The Cheboygan, MI site is located on U.S. Coast Guard property in 
the city of Cheboygan, MI near the intersection of Western Avenue and 
Lincoln Avenue. The site will require installation of a 90 foot guyed 
transmit antenna and a 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut to house the 
DGPS electronic equipment.
    The Neebish Island, MI site is located on the north end of the 
island, at the Neebish Cell Dock, and within U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers property. The site will require installation of a 60 foot 
guyed antenna and a 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut to house the DGPS 
electronic equipment.
    The Whitefish Point Light Station, MI site is located on the upper 
peninsula approximately 35 miles northeast of Sault Ste Marie. The 
existing radiobeacon has already been partially upgraded and is 
transmitting prototype DGPS signals for test and evaluation purposes. 
The existing radiobeacon transmit antenna will be used and the DGPS 
equipment will be housed in the existing equipment hut. The light is 
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Coast Guard and 
MI State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) agree that the proposed 
project will have no effect on the historic property.
    Implementation of a DGPS service in the St. Marys River/Lake Huron 
Corridor Region is determined to have no significant effect on the 
quality of the human environment or require preparation of an 
Environmental Impact Statement.

    Dated: August 8, 1994.
R.C. Houle,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Office of Navigation Safety 
and Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 94-20026 Filed 8-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M