[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 203 (Tuesday, October 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54680-54681]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27746]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 97-044]


Port Access Routes; Approaches to the Mississippi River via 
Southwest Pass, South Pass, Tiger Pass Including the Mississippi River 
Gulf Outlet

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is conducting a study to evaluate the need for 
vessel routing or other traffic management measures in the Mississippi 
River. The Coast Guard will conduct two public meetings to obtain 
information from members of the regulated community and the general 
public on impediments that interfere with their mobility on the 
waterway. The information will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of 
existing traffic management measures as well as identify other safety 
concerns.

DATES: The meetings will be held Wednesday, November 12, 1997 from 7

[[Page 54681]]

p.m. to 10 p.m. and on Thursday, November 13, 1997, from 1 p.m. to 4 
p.m. Written material must be received not later than November 20, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: The November 12, 1997, meeting will be held in the Buras 
Auditorium, 111 Auditorium Drive, Buras, LA. The November 13, 1997, 
meeting will be held in the Basement Conference Room, Hale Boggs 
Federal Building, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA. Written 
comments may be mailed to Commander (mov-1), Eighth Coast Guard 
District, Hale Boggs Federal Building, 501 Magazine Street, New 
Orleans, LA 70130-3396, or may be delivered to room 1341 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 1341, Eighth Coast Guard 
District office, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Monty Ledet, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District (m), Room 1341, 
Hale Boggs Federal Building, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 
70130-3396, telephone (504) 589-4686.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Coast Guard initiated a port access 
route study because of safety concerns raised by the Associated Branch 
Pilots and the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in New Orleans, LA. The 
study was announced in the Federal Register on August 21, 1997 (62 FR 
44428). The notice of study explained in detail the various traffic 
management measures, i.e., traffic separation scheme, two-way route, 
precautionary area, that may be used to address any safety problems in 
the study area.
    The study area encompasses the approaches to the Mississippi River, 
the Mississippi Gulf Outlet as well as the area offshore of southeast 
Louisiana used by commercial vessels transiting to and between these 
ports. The Coast Guard is trying to determine the scope of any safety 
problems associated with vessel transit in this area.
    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 
the day before the meeting. The meetings will be workshops to identify 
and prioritize the impediments which interfere with mobility on the 
waterway. Written material may be submitted prior to, during, or after 
the meetings.

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, 
contact Mr. Monty Ledet at (504) 589-4686 as soon as possible.

    Dated: October 10, 1997.
T.H. Gilmour,
Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 97-27746 Filed 10-20-97; 8:45 am]
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