[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16971-16972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7626]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD13-01-003]


Thirteenth Coast Guard District; Relocation of Assets Along North 
Washington Coast and Closure of Station Quillayute River

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments; notice of intent to 
prepare environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Thirteenth Coast Guard District is holding a series of 
public meetings to discuss changes in the overall risk environment 
along the North Washington Coast and a proposed relocation of assets 
including the closure of Station Quillayute River. The Coast Guard 
announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to 
cover these proposed actions. The public meetings are meant to discuss, 
answer questions, and get feedback from the public about these proposed 
actions. The Coast Guard is also seeking written feedback.

DATES: The open meetings will be held on:

1. April 16, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in LaPush, Washington
2. April 17, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Forks, Washington
3. April 18, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Port Townsend, 
Washington
4. April 19, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Port Angeles, 
Washington
A public open house will be held before each meeting from 3:30 p.m. to 
5:30 p.m.

    Written material, including comments submitted via the Internet 
must reach the Coast Guard on or before April 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the following locations:
1. LaPush, Washington--Coast Guard Station; end of LaPush Road; LaPush, 
WA 98350

2. Forks, Washington--Forks New High School Commons; 411 South Spartan 
Avenue; Forks, WA 98331
3. Port Townsend, Washington--Pope Marine Building; 540 Water Street; 
Port Townsend, WA 98368
4. Port Angeles, Washington--City Council Chambers; 321 East Fifth 
Street; Port Angeles, WA 98362

    You may mail comments to the Chief, Resource Management Division, 
Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Room 3408, Jackson Federal Building, 
915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1067. You may also deliver written 
comments to the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 206-220-7130 
or 800-982-8813 extension 7130. You may also submit comments via the 
Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/D13.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this notice 
contact Commander Carl Bromund, Chief of Thirteenth Coast Guard 
District Resource Management Division, telephone 206-220-7130 or 800-
982-8813, extension 7130.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    The general population, number of registered boaters, and 
commercial vessel activity is increasing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca 
and Puget Sound Region causing an increase in demand for Coast Guard 
services. Along with these increases, there is an expanded need to 
counter drug smuggling activity and enforce laws for commercial and 
recreational fishing in the same region.
    The Search and Rescue workload at Station Quillayute River has been 
declining over the past five years. The station has responded to an 
annual average of less than 28 cases in the last four years, and has 
only responded to six cases where lives were at risk since 1993. On 
average, Coast Guard Stations in Washington and Oregon (including 
Station Quillayute River) respond to about 160 cases per year. In the 
past five months (between October 1, 2000 and February 28, 2001), the 
Station has only performed eight Search and Rescue cases. If the 
proposed relocation were to occur, the demand for Coast Guard services 
in the Quillayute River area will continue to be met by newer and 
faster vessels located at Grays Harbor and Neah Bay and the existing 
aircraft from Port Angeles.
    A Search and Rescue (SAR) Performance Model Evaluation was 
completed to analyze the mission impact of closing Station Quillayute 
River. The SAR Performance Model is a computer model used to quantify 
SAR system performance within the area of operations around a station. 
The results from that analysis showed no significant difference 
operating with Station Quillayute River open or closed with regards to 
the estimated number of lives saved, cases with response time greater 
than 2 hours, or 90% response time (90% of the cases are responded to 
within this time). An average increase of 9 minutes is predicted for 
the response time if the station were to be closed.
    The Coast Guard is proposing to move the people and boats assigned 
at Station

[[Page 16972]]

Quillayute River to Port Angeles and Port Townsend. In the last four 
years, on average, 89 cases per year have occurred in the waters 
adjacent to Port Angeles and Port Townsend. The Coast Guard has 
responded to these cases using helicopters stationed at Port Angeles. 
Additional boats and people at Port Angeles and Port Townsend would 
reduce the risk that lives and property would be lost in cases adjacent 
to those areas.
    The EA will be prepared in accordance with Coast Guard procedures 
and policies (Commandant Instruction M16475.1C) and section 102 (2)(c) 
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented 
by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
15068).

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages submission of written data, views, or 
arguments on this notice. Persons submitting comments should include 
their names and addresses, identify this notice (CGD13-01-003), the 
specific issue that each comment addresses, and the reason for the 
comment. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound 
format, no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches to the Coast Guard at the 
address under ADDRESSES. If you want acknowledgment of receipt of your 
comment, enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. Public 
comments can be submitted on the Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/D13. 
The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the comment 
period.

Agenda for Meeting

(1) 6:30 p.m.-6:40 p.m.: Introduction, Review of Agenda, Presentation 
of Background Information
(2) 6:40 p.m.-8:50 p.m.: Public Comments--opportunity for individuals 
to make oral presentations of 3-5 minutes each according to schedule 
developed through process described under Public Meeting
(3) 8:50 p.m.: Summary and Conclusion
(4) 9 p.m.: Adjourn

Public Meeting

    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 
Commander Carl Bromund listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no 
later than the day before the meeting. Written material may be 
submitted before, during, or after the meeting. Public comments can be 
submitted and more information on the proposal is available on the 
Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/D13. Persons unable to attend the 
public meetings are encouraged to submit written comments as outlined 
above.

Information on Service for Individuals with Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to request assistance at the meeting(s), contact 
Commander Carl Bromund at the address or phone number under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.

    Dated: March 21, 2001.
T.H. Gilmour,
Acting Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Thirteenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 01-7626 Filed 3-27-01; 8:45 am]
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