[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5454-5455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2091]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 95-005]


Area To Be Avoided Off the Washington Coast

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will conduct a public meeting to obtain 
information on whether the applicability of an area to be avoided 
(ATBA) off the Washington Coast should be expanded to include vessels 
and barges other than those carrying cargoes of oil or hazardous 
materials.

[[Page 5455]] DATES: The meeting will be held February 23, 1995, from 
9:00 a.m. until the last speaker is heard. Written comments must be 
received not later than March 3, 1995.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the North Auditorium on the 
fourth floor of the Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 
98174. Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, 
Marine Safety Council (G-LRA), U.S. Coast Guard, 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. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at room 3406, Coast Guard 
Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday, through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Margie G. Hegy, Project Manager, Vessel Traffic Services Division, 
phone (202) 267-0415. This telephone is equipped to take messages on a 
24-hour basis.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An ATBA is a defined area that all ships or 
certain classes of ships are encouraged to avoid because navigation is 
particularly hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid 
casualties within the area. On December 7, 1994, the Maritime Safety 
Committee of the International Maritime Organization adopted an ATBA 
proposed by the U.S. off the Washington coast in the vicinity of the 
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The ATBA will go into effect 
on June 7, 1995.
    In order to reduce the risk of marine casualty and resulting 
pollution and damage to the environment of the Olympic Coast National 
Marine Sanctuary, all vessels, including barges, carrying cargoes 
classified by the United States as hazardous materials (e.g., oil or 
chemicals) should avoid the area bounded by a line connecting the 
following points:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       Latitude                             Longitude   
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(1) 48 deg.23.3'N.....................................  124 deg.38.2' W 
(2) 48 deg.23.5'N.....................................  124 deg.38.2' W 
(3) 48 deg.25.3'N.....................................  124 deg.46.9' W 
(4) 47 deg.51.7'N.....................................  125 deg.15.5' W 
(5) 47 deg.07.7'N.....................................  124 deg.47.5' W 
(6) 47 deg.07.7'N.....................................  124 deg.11.0' W 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because of concerns raised shortly before IMO considered the U.S. 
proposal, the U.S. delegation informed the Committee that the issue of 
spending this ATBA to include other categories of commercial vessels 
would be considered further at the national level and, if appropriate, 
an amendment would be submitted for IMO consideration. This meeting 
will give the public an opportunity to provide information and 
documentation as we reconsider this issue.
    In addition to information you wish to provide, the Coast Guard is 
also interested in your response to the following questions:

1. What interest or industry group do you represent?
2. If an Agent, do you represent U.S. or foreign flag vessels?
3. Do you currently own, operate, or charter commercial vessels that 
have occasion to operate within the Marine Sanctuary? If yes, please 
describe number, type, length, gross tons, amounts of bunker fuel 
carried, and type/quantity of cargo.
4. What measure (e.g., length, gross tonnage, barrels of product and/or 
bunker carried) do you recommend be used to establish applicability for 
the ATBA? Why?
5. Are there products/cargo other than petroleum that should be 
included in the applicability? If so, why and how should they be 
classified/identified? What threat do they pose to the sanctuary 
resources?
6. It has been suggested that the applicability of the ATBA be expanded 
to include all vessels greater than 500 gross tons regardless of the 
quantity or type of cargo carried. What impact (e.g., economic, extra 
steaming time, safety) would this have on your business/industry?
7. If you have a specific proposal to expand the applicability, 
quantify the benefit to the environment that would result. What is your 
proposal based on? Why should these vessels be included?
8. How many vessels (or vessel transits) per year are potentially 
affected by the current ATBA applicability? How many by expanding the 
applicability to include the vessels as suggested in number 6 or 7 
above?
9. Prior to creation of the ATBA, where have your vessels historically 
transited during coastal transits (i.e., how many miles offshore)? If 
you call on a coastal port within the Sanctuary, describe your 
approach/track line to the port.
10. Are there industry or company policies which establish vessel 
routes? If so, what are they?

    Attendance is open to the public. With advance notice, and as time 
permits, members of the public may make oral presentations during the 
meeting. Persons wishing to make oral presentations should notify the 
person listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than 
two days before the meeting. Written material may be submitted prior 
to, during, or after the meeting.

    Dated: January 23, 1995.
G.A. Penington,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and 
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 95-2091 Filed 1-26-95; 8:45 am]
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