[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26314]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: October 24, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 94-066]

 

Differential Global Positioning System, Pacific 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 Pacific 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 November 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 Navigation Information Service (NIS) 
in Alexandria, VA (703) 313-5910. For information on the BBS, call the 
NIS 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 Pacific 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 sites 
along the Pacific Corridor coastline for the DGPS equipment. The sites 
are in the vicinity of Point Loma, CA; Point Arguello, CA; Pigeon 
Point, CA; Point Blunt, CA; and Cape Mendocino, CA. The sites are 
currently used for related purposes and were chosen, in part, because 
their proposed future 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 to325 KHz) using less than 50 watts (effective radiated 
power). Signal transmissions at these low frequencies 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 
80 foot whip antenna or install a 90 foot guyed antenna with an 
accompanying ground plane. A ground plane for these antenna's 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 also 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--For each site, except at Point Blunt, where 
the existing fog signal building will be used, a 10 foot by 16 foot 
equipment hut will be needed 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 the Point Loma and Point 
Arguello sites 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 Point Loma Light Station, CA site is located at the entrance to 
San Diego Bay. This site is currently being used for radiobeacon 
operations and, as a result, has much of the infrastructure in place. 
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 Coast Guard and CA State 
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) agree that the proposed project 
will have no effect on the nearby light station.
    The Point Arguello, CA, site is near the city of Lompoc and 
adjacent to Vandenburg AFB. This site is currently being used for 
radiobeacon operations and, as a result, has much of the infrastructure 
in place. 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 Pigeon Point, CA site is located north of the city of Santa 
Cruz near Pescadero, CA. This site is currently being used for 
radiobeacon operations and, as a result, has much of the needed 
infrastructure in place. 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 Coast Guard and CA State 
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) agree that the proposed project 
will have no effect on the adjacent light station.
    The Point Blunt, CA site is located on Angel Island within San 
Francisco Bay. This site performed related operations in the past, as a 
result, has much of the needed infrastructure in place. The site will 
require installation of an 80 foot whip antenna. DGPS equipment will be 
housed in the existing fog signal building.
    The Cape Mendocino, CA site is located south of Eureka near 
Capetown, CA. 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 Coast Guard and CA State Historic 
Preservation Officer (SHPO) agree that the proposed project will have 
no effect on the adjacent lightstation.
    Implementation of a DGPS service in the Pacific 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: October 19, 1994.
G.A. Penington,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and 
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 94-26314 Filed 10-21-94; 8:45 am]
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