[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29786-29787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-14865]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 96-028]


Differential Global Positioning System; Geiger Key, Florida: 
Environmental Assessment and Finding

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EO) 
and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for its 
activating of a broadcast site of the Differential Global Positioning 
System (DGPS) service at Geiger Key, Florida. The EA concludes 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 proposed FONSI and 
solicits comments on them.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 12, 1996.

ADDRESS: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LCDR Gene Schlechte, United States Coast Guard Navigation Center, at 
(703) 313-5888. Copies of the EA and proposed FONSI may be obtained by 
calling Mr. Schlechte, or by faxing him at (703) 313-5920. Copies of 
the EA--without enclosures--are also available on the Electronic 
Bulletin Board System (BBS) at the Navigation Information Service (NIS) 
in Alexandria, Virginia, at (703) 313-5910. For information on the BBS, 
call the watchstander of NIS at (703) 313-5900.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    Copies of the EA and proposed FONSI are available for the address 
given in ADDRESS and from the numbers given in
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Coast Guard encourages interested 
persons to submit comments on these documents. It may revise these 
documents in view of the comments. If it does, it will announce their 
availability in revised form 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 the Differential Global 
Positioning System (DGPS) service in the southeastern 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 8 to 20 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 a preferred 
alternative at Geiger Key, Monroe County, FL. Significant concerns were 
raised about siting DGPS equipment at the alternative site at U.S. 
Coast Guard Base Key West, Monroe County, FL. The close proximity to 
the docking facilities to the transmitting antenna has the potential to 
adversely affect CG and Naval vessels carrying ordnance. The RF 
radiation of the antenna also has the potential of interfering with 
Group Key West communications adjacent to the proposed project area. In 
addition, the density of existing structures and the planned growth 
(new construction) of the base has the potential to create satellite 
signal reception errors due to multipath distortion from the buildings, 
vessels, and vehicles. Such reception errors will adversely effect the 
performance and safety function of the DGPS service provided. DGPS 
signal transmissions will be broadcast in the marine radiobeacon 
frequency band (283.5 to 325 KHz) using less than 35 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 Installation at Geiger Key, FL

    (a) Site--The Geiger Key, FL, site is located on the U.S. Naval Air 
Station (NAS) Key West, FL. The site is located on Geiger Key lying and 
being in the County of Monroe, State of Florida being more particularly 
described as follows: Lot 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, Block 16 
of ``Boca Chica Ocean Shores'' as recorded in Plat Book 5 at Page 49 of 
Public Records of Monroe County, Florida.
    (b) Radiobeacon Antenna--The Coast Guard will install a 74 foot 
self supporting whip antenna with an accompanying ground plane. A 
ground plane for this 90 foot antenna consists of approximately 120 
copper radials (6 gauge copper wire) installed 6 inches (or less) 
beneath soil and projecting outward from the antenna base. The

[[Page 29787]]

optimum radial length is 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.
    (c) DGPS Antennas--Two 30 foot masts to support six small (4 inches 
by 18 inches diameter) receiving antennas will be required. The masts 
will be installed on concrete foundations. The antennas support the 
primary and backup reference receivers and integrity monitors.
    (d) Equipment shelter--DGPS transmitting equipment will be housed 
in a 10 foot 8 inch by 16 foot 8 inch shelter.
    (e) Ultilities--The Coast Guard proposes to use available 
commercial power as the primary source for the electronic equipment 
with battery power as a backup. A telephone line and modem will be 
required at each site for remote monitoring and operation.

Proposed Finding

    Implementation of a DGPS service at Geiger Key, FL, is determined 
to have no significant effect on the quality of the human environment 
or require preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.

    Dated: June 6, 1996.
N.T. Saunders,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Operations.
[FR Doc. 96-14865 Filed 6-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M