[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-20786]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 94-061]

 

Differential Global Positioning System, Lake Michigan 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 Lake Michigan 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 23, 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 Lake Michigan 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 two sites along 
the Lake Michigan Corridor for the DGPS equipment. The sites are in the 
vicinity of Sturgeon Bay Canal, WI and U.S. Coast Guard Base Milwaukee, 
WI. 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 at the Sturgeon 
Bay site and a 60 ft guyed antenna with an accompanying ground plane at 
the Milwaukee site. A ground plane for these antennas 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 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.
    (d) Utilities--The Coast Guard proposes to use available commercial 
power as the primary source for the electronic equipment. A telephone 
line will be required at each site for remote monitoring and operation.

Description of Each Site

    The Sturgeon Bay Canal site is located within U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers property adjacent to Coast Guard Station Sturgeon Bay. The 
site will require installation of a 90 foot guyed antenna and a 10 foot 
by 16 foot equipment hut to house the DGPS electronic equipment.
    The Coast Guard Base Milwaukee site is located on South Lincoln 
Memorial Drive in southeast Milwaukee, WI. The site will require the 
installation of a 60 foot guyed antenna and a 10 foot by 16 foot 
equipment hut to house the DGPS electronic equipment.
    Implementation of a DGPS service in the Lake Michigan 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 18, 1994.
G.A. Penington,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and 
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 94-20786 Filed 8-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M