[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6502-6504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-3188]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 167

[USCG-98-3385]


Port Access Routes; Prince William Sound via Cape Hinchinbrook 
Entrance and Passages Within the Sound Between Port Valdez and Cape 
Hinchinbrook

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Port Access Route study; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is conducting a port access route study to 
evaluate the need for modifications to current vessel routing and 
traffic management measures in the approaches to and departures from 
Prince William Sound and within Prince William Sound. This study is 
being conducted because of comments received from commercial vessels 
which operate in the area and the results of the Prince William Sound 
Risk Assessment. This port access route study will determine what, if 
any, changes to the existing traffic separation scheme (TSS) in the 
approaches to Prince William

[[Page 6503]]

Sound are needed. As a result of this study, a new or modified TSS and/
or precautionary areas, or other vessel operating requirements may be 
proposed in the Federal Register.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 11, 1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Docket Management Facility, 
(USCG 98-3385), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 400 Seventh 
Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001, or deliver them to room PL-401, 
located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same address 
between 10 a.m. and 5 pm., Monday through Friday, except holidays. 
Comments may also be hand delivered to this address.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this 
notice. Comments, and documents as indicated in this preamble, will 
become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or 
copying at room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif 
Building at the above address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also electronically 
access the public docket for this notice on the Internet at http://
dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public docket, 
contact Carol Kelley, Coast Guard Dockets team Leader or Paulette 
Twine, Chief, Documentary Services Division, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, telephone 202-366-9329; for information concerning the 
notice of study, contact Commander K. Hamblett, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District (907) 463-2264, Commander R. Morris, Project Officer, Captain 
of the Port, Valdez (907) 835-7210, Lieutenant C. Holmes, VTS Valdez 
(907) 835-7209, or Ms. M. Hegy, Project Manager, U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, Waterways Management Staff (G-M-2), (202) 267-0415.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this study by submitting written data, views, or arguments. Persons 
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify 
this notice (USCG-98-3385) and the specific section of this document to 
which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. 
Please submit one copy of all comments and attachments in an unbound 
format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and 
electronic filing to the DOT Docket Management Facility at the address 
under ADDRESSES. If you want acknowledgment of receipt of your comment, 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed post card or envelope.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period. The comments will be considered in the study and in 
developing any regulatory proposals.
    The Coast Guard intends to hold at least one public meeting to 
listen to the commercial and recreational users of the waters in the 
study area. Our goal is to reduce the risk of collisions and groundings 
both within Prince William Sound and outside Cape Hinchinbrook. Details 
of the meeting will be announced in a separate notice in the Federal 
Register as well as locally.
    The Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office, Valdez, AK, in consultation 
with the Seventeenth Coast Guard District Juneau, AK, will conduct the 
study and develop recommendations. Commander R.J. Morris, Captain of 
the Port, Valdez, AK (907) 835-7209 is the project officer responsible 
for the study.

Background and Purpose

    The 1978 amendments to the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA), 
33 U.S.C. 1223(c), require that a port access route study be conducted 
prior to establishing or adjusting fairways or TSS's. The Coast Guard 
is undertaking a port access route study to determine the effect of 
amending the TSS on vessel traffic safety in the study area.
    The approaches to/and areas within Prince William Sound were last 
studied in 1981, and the results were published on December 14, 1981 
(46 FR61049). The current TSS stems from that study.
    This study continues the effort to evaluate navigation risk in the 
study area. On December 15, 1996, the Prince William Sound Risk 
Assessment was completed. An addendum to the study found that removal 
of the southern dogleg in the existing TSS would result in a minor 
overall reduction in risk, due to less transit time required by 
participating vessels. In addition, improved traffic management will be 
realized.

Definitions

    The following definitions are provided to assist reviewers and 
commenters in reviewing docket materials and making recommendations.
    An internationally recognized vessel routing system is one or more 
routes or routing measures aimed at reducing the risk of casualties. A 
system may include TSS's, two-way routes, recommended tracks, areas to 
be avoided, inshore traffic zones, roundabouts, precautionary areas, 
and deep-water routes.
    A TSS is a routing measure that minimizes the risk of collision by 
separating vessels into opposing streams of traffic through the 
establishment of traffic lanes.
    A two-way route is a route within defined limits inside which two-
way traffic is established, aimed at providing safe passage of ships 
through waters where navigation is difficult or dangerous.
    A recommended track is a route which has been specially examined to 
ensure so far as possible that it is free of dangers and along which 
ships are advised to navigate.
    An area to be avoided is a routing measure comprising an area 
within defined limits in which either navigation is particularly 
hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid casualties and 
should be avoided by all ships, or certain classes of ships.
    An inshore traffic zone comprises a designated area between the 
landward boundary of a TSS and the adjacent coast and is used in 
accordance with rule 10(d) of the 72 COLREGS.
    A roundabout is a routing measure compromising a separation point 
or circular separation zone and a circular traffic lane within defined 
limits. Traffic moves in a counterclockwise direction around the 
separation point or zone in a roundabout.
    A precautionary area is a defined area where ships must navigate 
with particular caution and within which the direction of traffic flow 
may be recommended.
    A deep-water route is a route within defined limits, which has been 
accurately surveyed for clearance of sea bottom and submerged obstacles 
as indicated on nautical charts.

Study Area

    The study area is defined as navigable waters of the U.S., north of 
a line drawn from Cape Hinchinbrook Light to Schooner Rock Light, 
comprising that portion of Prince William Sound between 146-30'W, 147-
20'W and includes Valdez Arm, Valdez Narrows, and Port Valdez. The 
offshore area is bounded by a line connecting the following geographic 
positions:


Latitude                             Longitude                          
                                                                        
60 deg.03'N                          147 deg.20'W                       
59 deg.40'N                          147 deg.20'W                       
59 deg.40'N                          146 deg.00'W                       
60 deg.23'N                          146 deg.00'W                       
                                                                        

The study area includes a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), shipping 
safety fairway and a regulated navigation area (RNA).

[[Page 6504]]

Issues

    The goal of this study is to reduce maritime risk within Prince 
William Sound while allowing for increased efficiency of traffic 
management. The study may result in a finding that no changes are 
needed, or if warranted, one of the following or some other change: (1) 
Modify the TSS to allow vessels less restrictive access to the center 
of the channel (ie. reduce or eliminate the separation zone; (2) 
establish a precautionary area at the Pilot Station abeam of Bligh 
Reef; (3) remove the southern dogleg to provide a straight traffic lane 
between the Pilot Station and Cape Hinchinbrook; (4) establish a TSS in 
place of the safety fairway from Cape Hinchinbrook; or (5) establish a 
precautionary area and traffic lane in the vicinity of Cape 
Hinchinbrook.

Procedural Requirements

    In order to provide safe access routes for movement of vessel 
traffic proceeding to and from U.S. ports, the PWSA directs that the 
Secretary designate necessary fairways and TSS's in which the paramount 
right of navigation over all other uses shall be recognized. Before a 
designation can be made, the Coast Guard is required to undertake a 
study of potential traffic density and the need for safe access routes.
    During the study, the Coast Guard is directed to consult with 
federal and state agencies and to consider the views of representatives 
of the maritime community, port and harbor authorities or association, 
environmental groups, and other parties who may be affected by the 
proposed action.
    In accordance with 33 U.S.C. 1223(c), the Coast Guard will, to the 
extent practicable, reconcile the need for safe access routes with the 
needs of all other reasonable uses of the area involved. The Coast 
Guard will also consider previous studies and experience in the areas 
of vessel traffic management, navigation, shiphandling, the affects of 
weather, and prior analysis of the traffic density in certain regions.
    The results of this study will be published in the Federal 
Register. If the Coast Guard determines that new routing measures or 
other regulatory action is needed, a notice of proposed rulemaking will 
be published. It is anticipated that the study will be completed by 
early Fall.

    Dated: February 2, 1998.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 98-3188 Filed 2-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M