[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]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 94-098]

 

Differential Global Positioning System, Hawaii 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 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