[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12139-12141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6015]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 167

[USCS-1999-5198]


Port Access Route Study for Approaches to Los Angeles and Long 
Beach

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is conducting a study of port-access routes 
for the approaches to Los Angeles and Long Beach. The study will 
evaluate potential effects of recent port improvement projects on 
navigational safety and vessel traffic management efficiency in the 
study area and may recommend changes to existing vessel routing 
measures. The recommendations of the study may lead to future 
rulemaking. The Coast Guard asks for comments on the issued raised and 
questions listed in this document.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 10, 1999.

ADDRESSES: You may mail your comments to the Docket Management 
Facility, (USCG-1999-5198), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington DC 20590-0001, or deliver them 
to room PL-401 on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same 
address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket. 
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 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the same address 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. You may also access this docket on the Internet at http://
dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For questions on this notice, contact Lieutenant Brian Tetreault, 
Vessel Traffic Management Officer, Eleventh Coast Guard District, 
telephone 510-437-2951; or Mike Van Houten, Aids to Navigation Section 
Chief, Eleventh Coast Guard District, telephone 510-437-2968. For 
questions on viewing, or submitting material to the docket, contact 
Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone 
202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to respond to this 
notice by submitting written data, views, or arguments. Persons 
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify 
this notice (USCG-1999-5198) and the specific section of this document 
to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. 
Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ inches by 11 inches, suitable for copying and 
electronic filing to the Docket Management Facility at the address 
under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments 
should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period.
    The Coast Guard does not plan to hold a public meeting. Persons may 
request a public meeting by writing to the Docket Management Facility 
at the address under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons 
why a meeting would be beneficial. If we determine that the opportunity 
for oral

[[Page 12140]]

presentations will aid this study, we will hold a public meeting at a 
time and place announced in a later notice of the Federal Register.

Definitions

    The following International Maritime Organization (IMO) definition 
should help you review this notice and provide comments:
    1. Internationally recognized vessel routing system means any 
system of one or more routes or routing measures aimed at reducing the 
risk of casualties; it includes traffic separation schemes, two-way 
routes, recommended tracks, areas to be avoided, inshore traffic zones, 
roundabouts, precautionary areas, and deep-water routes.
    2. Traffic Separation Scheme or (TSS) means a routing measure aimed 
at the separation of opposing streams of traffic by appropriate means 
and by the establishment of traffic lanes.
    3. Traffic lane means an area within defined limits in which one-
way traffic is established.
    4. Separation zone or line means a zone or line separating the 
traffic lanes in which ships are proceeding in opposite or nearly 
opposite directions; or separating a traffic lane from the adjacent sea 
area; or separating traffic lanes designated for particular classes of 
ships proceeding in the same direction.
    5. Precautionary area means a routing measure comprising an area 
within defined limits where ships must navigate with particular caution 
and within which the direction of traffic flow may be recommended.
    6. Inshore traffic zone means a routing measure comprising a 
designated area between the landward boundary of a traffic separation 
scheme and the adjacent coast, to be used in accordance with the 
provision of Rule 10(d), as amended, of the International Regulations 
for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (Collision Regulations).
    7. Deep-water route means a route within defined limits which has 
been accurately surveyed for clearance of sea bottom and submerged 
obstacles as indicated on nautical charts.

Background and Purpose

    Port Access Route Studs Requirements. Under the Ports and Waterways 
Safety Act (PWSA) [33 U.S.C. 1223(c)], the Secretary of Transportation 
may designate necessary fairways and Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS's) 
to provide safe access routes for vessels proceeding to and from U.S. 
ports. The Secretary delegated this authority to the Commandant, U.S. 
Coast Guard, in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR ) 
Sec. 1.46. The designation of fairways and TSS's recognizes the 
paramount right of navigation over all other uses in the designate 
areas.
    The PWSA requires the Coast Guard to conduct a study of port-access 
routes before establishing or adjusting fairways or TSS's. Through the 
study process, we must coordinate with Federal, State, and foreign 
state agencies (as appropriate) and consider the views of maritime 
community representatives, environmental groups, and other interested 
stakeholders. A primary purpose of this coordination is, to the extent 
practicable, to reconcile the need for safe port-access routes with 
other reasonable waterway uses.
    Previous port access route studies. The Coast Guard announced an 
initial port access route study for the coast of California, including 
Los Angeles/Long Beach, in the Federal Register on June 24, 1982 (47 FR 
27430). The study recommended establishing a shipping safety fairway 
overlaying the Los Angeles/Long Beach precautionary area. This 
recommendation has not been implemented.
    The Coast Guard announced another port access route study for the 
coast of California in the Federal Register on August 24,1 993 (58 FR 
44634). this study evaluated the effects of oil tanker transits through 
the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the adequacy of vessel 
traffic management measures along the California cost from San 
Francisco to Los Angeles. The Coast Guard published study results in 
the Federal Register on October 25,1996 (62 FR 55249). The study did 
not recommend any changes to the Los Angeles/Long Beach TSS at that 
time.
    Why is a new port access route study necessary? A study of port-
access routes is needed to evaluate the potential effects of port 
improvement projects on navigational safety and vessel traffic 
management efficiency and recommend changes, if necessary, to existing 
routing measures.
    The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach began major port 
improvement projects in 1995. These projects should be completed soon 
(Long Breach--June 1999; Los Angeles--January 2000).
    Port improvements include the following:
     Lengthening of the Los Angeles Approach Channel to extend 
3.5 nautical miles beyond the Los Angeles breakwater.
     Deepening of the Los Angeles Approach Channel to a project 
depth of 81 feet.
     Slight eastward shift of the Long Beach Approach to a 355-
degree true inbound course.
     Deepening of the Long Beach Approach Channel to a project 
depth of 69 feet.
    Timeline, Study Area, and process of the new port access route 
study. The Coast Guard will begin the study immediately and should 
complete it by mid-May 1999.
    The study area includes the navigable waters of Los Angeles, and 
Long Beach Harbors, the Los Angeles/Long Beach TSS and all waters bound 
by the coastline and the following coordinates:


Latitude                             Longitude
 
33 deg.-47.00' N                     118 deg.-25.40' W
33 deg.-47.00' N                     118 deg.-38.60' W
33 deg.-15.50' N                     118 deg.-38.60' W
33 deg.-15.50' N                     117 deg.-52.70' W
33 deg.-35.30' N                     117'-52.70' W
 

    During the study, we will consult with Federal and State agencies 
and will consider the views of representatives of the maritime 
community, port and harbor authorities or associations, environmental 
groups and other interested parties. We will also consider previous 
studies and experience in the areas of vessel traffic management, 
navigation, ship handling, and the effects of weather, and review prior 
analyses of the traffic density. We encourage you to participate in the 
study process by submitting comments in response to this notice.
    We will publish the results of this port access route study in the 
Federal Register. It is possible that the study may validate continued 
applicability of existing vessel routing measures and conclude that no 
changes are necessary. It is also possible that the study may recommend 
one or more changes to enhance navigational safety and vessel traffic 
management efficiency. Study recommendations may lead to future 
rulemaking.

Questions

    To help us conduct the port access route study, we request comments 
on the following questions, although comments on related issues under 
the broad category of vessel routing are welcome.
    1. What navigational hazards do vessels operating in the study area 
face? Please describe (consider issues such as port and waterway 
configurations, variations in local geography, climate, and other 
similar factors). Will there be additional navigational hazards once 
port improvement projects are completed? If so, please describe.
    2. Are there strains on the current vessel routing system 
(increasing traffic density, for example)? If so, please describe. Will 
there be additional strains once port improvement projects are

[[Page 12141]]

completed? (We are particularly interested in information on vessel 
characteristics and trends, including traffic volume, the size and 
types of vessels involved, potential interference with the flow of 
commercial traffic, the presence of any unusual cargoes, etc.).
    3. Are modifications to existing vessel routing measures needed to 
address existing or future hazards and strains and improve traffic 
management efficiency in the study area? If so, please describe. What 
positive and negative impacts would changes to existing routing 
measures or new routing measures have on the study area (consider 
proximity of fishing grounds, oil and gas drilling and production 
operations, environmental impact, affect on local practices, or any 
other potential or actual conflicting activity)?
    4. Do you have any specific recommendations regarding aids to 
navigation design for the lengthened approach channels? If so, please 
describe.

    Dated: March 4, 1999.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 99-6015 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]
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