[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5453-5454]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2093]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 95-004]


Differential Global Positioning System, Atlantic Intercoastal 
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 Atlantic Intercoastal 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 February 27, 1995.

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 Center (NIC) 
in Alexandria, VA, (703) 313-5910. For information on the BBS, call the 
NIC 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 Atlantic Intercoastal 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 Atlantic Intercoastal Corridor coastline for the DGPS 
equipment. The sites are in the vicinity of Charleston, SC; Cape Henry, 
VA; Fort Macon, NC; Cape Canaveral, FL; and Miami, FL. The sites are 
already used 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 radiobeacon 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 use an 
existing antenna or install a 90 foot guyed antenna with an 
accompanying ground plane for sites as follows:

At Cape Henry, VA, the existing antenna and ground plane will be used.
At Miami, FL, the existing 74 foot antenna and ground plane will be 
used.
At Cape Canaveral, FL, the existing ground plane will need to be 
upgraded and the 74 foot antenna will be replaced with a 90 foot model 
at the same location.
At Fort Macon, NC, and Charleston, SC the existing antenna and ground 
plane will be used.
A ground plane for these antennas 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, but this length may be shortened to fit within 
property boundaries. Wherever possible, a very effective cable plow 
method will be utilized in the radial installation to minimize soil 
disturbance. Installation of the ground plane may first require some 
clearing of trees and bushes.
    (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 concrete foundations. 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 
[[Page 5454]] 50 feet to 100 feet from existing structures.
    (c) Equipment shelter--DGPS transmitting equipment will be housed 
in existing equipment facilities with the possible exception of Fort 
Macon, NC, which may require upgrading the structure to hold the 
additional electronic equipment.
    (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 to allow for remote monitoring and 
operation.

Description of Each Site

    Charleston, SC--The site is co-located at the Charleston Light 
Station, which is on Sullivans island.
    Cape Canaveral, FL--Located approximately 10 miles Northeast of 
Cocoa Beach on the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
    Miami, FL--Located approximately 12 miles Northeast of Coral Gables 
on the Virginia Key island.
    Cape Henry, VA--This site is located on the Fort Story Military 
Reservation, which is adjacent to the Cape Henry Light. The light is 
listed on the National Register. The Coast Guard and VA SHPO agree the 
proposed project will have no adverse effect on the historic property. 
The radiobeacon equipment has already been partially upgraded and is 
transmitting prototype DGPS signals for test and evaluation purposes.
    Fort Macon, NC--The site is co-located at the USCG Base Fort Macon, 
which is near the historic Fort Macon. The Coast Guard and NC SHPO 
agree that the proposed project will have no adverse effect on the 
historic property.
    Implementation of a DGPS service in the Atlantic Intercoastal 
Regional is determined to have no significant effect on the quality of 
the human environment or require preparation of an Environmental Impact 
Statement.

    Dated: January 19, 1995.
G.A. Penington,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and 
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 95-2093 Filed 1-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M