[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 222 (Friday, November 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28580]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: November 18, 1994]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 94-098]
Differential Global Positioning System, Hawaii Region;
Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 Hawaiian 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 December 19, 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 Hawaiian region 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 in
Hawaii for the DGPS equipment. The sites are in the vicinity of Upolu
Point, HI and Kokole Point, HI. The sites are used already for related
purposes and were chosen, in part, because their proposed use as
consistent with their past and present use, thus minimizing further
impact on the environment. The Upolu Point site was the location of a
Loran transmitting station until the station was closed on December 31,
1992. The Kokole Point site is on an existing antenna field at the
Pacific Missile Range. DGPS signal transmissions will be broadcast in
the marine radiobeacon frequency band (283.5 to 325 KHz) using less
than 230 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 Upolu Point
site. At the Kokole Point site a 150 foot guyed antenna with an
accompanying ground plane will be installed. A ground plane for this
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.
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 bushes on the site.
(b) DGPS Antennas--Each site will require two 10 foot to 20 foot
masts to support four small (4 inches by 18 inches diameter) receiving
antennas. The masts will be installed on a concrete foundation. 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 Upolu Point site while an
existing equipment building will be used at the Kokole Point 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 Upolu Point site is located approximately 20 miles northwest of
Kamuela on the island of Hawaii. Until December 1922, the Coast Guard
operated a Long Range Aid to Navigation (LORAN) station at this site.
As a result, the site contains much of the infrastructure required for
DGPW. 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 Kokole Point site is located on the U.S. Navy Barking Sands
Pacific Missile Range on the island of Kauai. This is the site of an
existing antenna field. Due to existing operations, most of the needed
infrastructure for DGPS is already in place. The site will require the
installation of a 150 foot guyed antenna.
Implementation of a DGPS service in the Hawaiian Region is
determined to have no significant effect on the quality of the human
environment or require preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement.
Dated: November 14, 1994.
R.C. Houle,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard Acting Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 94-28580 Filed 11-17-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M