[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: 94-20787]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: August 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 94-062]

 

Differential Global Positioning System, Lake Superior 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 Superior 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 Superior 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 Superior Corridor for the DGPS equipment. The sites are in the 
vicinity of the Upper Keweenaw Radiobeacon, MI and Wisconsin Point, 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 rediobeacon 
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 at the Upper Keweenaw Radiobeacon. Radiobeacon 
service had been previously discontinued and the existing 120 foot 
radiobeacon antenna removed. The existing ground plane will be adapted 
to the new antenna. At the Wisconsin Point site a 75 foot whip antenna 
with an accompanying ground plane will be installed. A ground plane for 
this antenna consists of approximately 120 copper radials (6 gauge 
cooper 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 the Wisconsin Point site while 
the existing equipment hut will be used at the Upper Keweenaw 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 Upper Keweenaw radiobeacon site is located on the Michigan 
upper peninsula approximately 5 miles north of Hancock, MI and is an 
existing marine radiobeacon site. The site will require installation of 
a 90 foot guyed antenna.
    The Wisconsin Point site is located on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
property at the Superior entry to Lake Superior Harbor. The site will 
require the installation of a 75 foot whip antenna and a 10 foot by 16 
foot equipment hut to house the DGPS electronic equipment.
    Implementation of a DGPS service in the Lake Superior 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. 94-20787 Filed 8-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M