[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 242 (Monday, December 19, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75208-75209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7509]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[CGD08-05-053]


Implementation of Sector Houston-Galveston

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of organizational change.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the stand-up of Sector Houston-
Galveston. Sector Houston-Galveston is an internal reorganization to 
combine Group Galveston, Base Galveston, Vessel Traffic Service 
Houston-Galveston, Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston including 
Marine Safety Unit Galveston and Marine Safety Office Port Arthur 
including Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles into one command. The Coast 
Guard has established a continuity of operations order whereby all 
previous practices and procedures will remain in effect until 
superseded by an authorized Coast Guard official and/or document.

DATES: This organizational change is effective December 15, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket CGD08-05-053 and are available for 
inspection or copying at Commander (rpl), Eighth Coast Guard District, 
500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3310 between 7:30 a.m. 
and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Michael Roschel, Eighth 
District Planning Office at 504-589-6293.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion of Notice

    Sector Houston-Galveston is located at 9640 Clinton Dr., Houston, 
TX 77029 and contains a single Command Center. Sector Houston-Galveston 
is composed of a Response Department, Prevention Department, and 
Logistics Department. All existing missions and functions performed by 
Group Galveston, Base Galveston, Vessel Traffic Service Houston-
Galveston, Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston including Marine 
Safety Unit Galveston and Marine Safety Office Port Arthur including 
Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles will be performed by Sector Houston-
Galveston. Effective December 15, 2005, Group Galveston, Base 
Galveston, Vessel Traffic Service Houston-Galveston, Marine Safety 
Office Houston-Galveston and Marine Safety Office Port Arthur will no 
longer exist as organizational entities. However, Marine Safety Office 
Port Arthur is renamed a Marine Safety Unit and will report directly to 
the Sector Houston-Galveston Commander as will Marine Safety Unit 
Galveston. Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles will report directly to MSU 
Port Arthur. There will also be a Sector Field Office retained at 
Galveston to provide remote support to Sector sub-units and will report 
directly to the logistics department. Sector Houston-Galveston contains 
one sub-zone, which is the Port Arthur Sub-Zone; however, Sector 
Houston-Galveston is responsible for all Coast Guard missions within 
this sub-zone.
    Houston-Galveston Sector's primary zone starts at the intersection 
of the sea and 94[deg]23' W. longitude; thence proceeds north along 
94[deg]23' W. longitude to 30[deg]00' N. latitude; thence west along 
30[deg]00' N. latitude to the east bank of the Trinity River; thence 
northerly along the east bank of the Trinity River; thence 
northwesterly along the eastern shore of Lake Livingston; thence 
northwesterly along

[[Page 75209]]

the east bank of the Trinity River to the southern boundary of Dallas 
County, Texas; thence westerly along the southern boundary of Dallas 
County, Texas to 97[deg]00' W. longitude; thence north along 97[deg]00' 
W. longitude to the Texas-Oklahoma boundary; thence northwesterly along 
the Texas-Oklahoma boundary; thence north along the New Mexico-Oklahoma 
boundary; thence west along the New Mexico-Colorado boundary; thence 
south along the New Mexico-Arizona boundary; thence easterly along the 
southern boundary of New Mexico to the southeast corner of New Mexico 
at 32[deg]00' N. latitude; thence southeasterly to 29[deg]18' N. 
latitude, 96[deg]07' W. longitude on the east bank of the Colorado 
River; thence southerly along the east bank of the Colorado River to 
the sea; thence along a line bearing 140[deg] to the outermost extent 
of the EEZ; thence easterly along the outermost extent of the EEZ to 
93[deg]25' W. longitude; thence north to 27[deg]49' N. latitude, 
93[deg]25' W. longitude; thence northwesterly to 29[deg]30' N. 
latitude, 93[deg]48' W. longitude; thence westward following a line 
10.3 nautical miles from the coast to 29[deg]24' N. latitude, 
94[deg]20' W. longitude; thence northwesterly to the coast at 
94[deg]23' W. longitude.
    The Port Arthur Sub-Zone Starts at the intersection of the sea and 
92[deg]23' W. longitude; thence proceeds north along 92[deg]23' W. 
longitude to the northern boundary of Acadia Parish, thence westerly 
along the northern boundary of Acadia Parish; thence northwesterly 
along the northeastern boundaries of Allen, Vernon, Sabine, and De Soto 
Parishes; thence westerly along the northern boundary of De Soto Parish 
to the Louisiana-Texas boundary; thence northerly along the Louisiana-
Texas boundary to the Texas-Arkansas-Louisiana boundaries; thence 
westerly along the Texas-Arkansas boundary and the Texas-Oklahoma 
boundary to 97[deg]00' W. longitude; thence south along 97[deg]00' W. 
longitude to the southern boundary of Dallas County, Texas; thence 
easterly along the southern boundary of Dallas County, Texas, to the 
east bank of the Trinity River; thence southeasterly along the east 
bank of the Trinity River; thence southeasterly along the east shore of 
Lake Livingston; thence southerly along the east bank of the Trinity 
River to 30[deg]00' N. latitude, 93[deg]55' W. longitude; thence east 
along 30[deg]00' N. latitude to 94[deg]23' W. longitude; thence south 
along 94[deg]23' W. longitude to the sea; thence seaward to 29[deg]24' 
N. latitude, 94[deg]20' W. longitude; thence easterly following a line 
10.3 nautical miles from the coast to 29[deg]30' N. latitude, 
93[deg]48' W. longitude; thence southeasterly to 27[deg]49' N. 
latitude, 93[deg]25' W. longitude; thence south along 93[deg]25' W. 
longitude to the outermost extent of the EEZ; thence east along the 
outermost extent of the EEZ to 92[deg]23' W. longitude; thence north 
along 92[deg]23' W. longitude to the point or origin.
    The boundaries of Sector Houston-Galveston will be modified in the 
future upon the stand-up of adjoining sectors. Notice will be published 
in the Federal Register.
    The Sector Houston-Galveston Commander is vested with all the 
rights, responsibilities, duties, and authority of a Group Commander 
and Commanding Officer Marine Safety Office, as provided for in Coast 
Guard regulations, with the exception of specific authorities that 
shall be retained by MSU Port Arthur. Sector Houston-Galveston 
Commander is the successor in command to the Commanding Officers of 
Group Galveston, Base Galveston, Vessel Traffic Service Houston-
Galveston, Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston including Marine 
Safety Unit Galveston and Marine Safety Office Port Arthur including 
Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles. The Sector Houston-Galveston Commander 
is designated for the entire Sector as: (a) Federal On Scene 
Coordinator (FOSC), consistent with the National Contingency Plan; and 
(b) Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC). Also, the Sector 
Houston-Galveston Commander is designated for the entire Sector as: (a) 
Captain of the Port (COTP); (b) Federal Maritime Security Coordinator 
(FMSC); and (d) Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection (OCMI). The 
Deputy Sector Commander is designated alternate COTP, FMSC, FOSC, SMC 
and Acting OCMI.
    The Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur is 
designated for the entire MSU Port Arthur Sub-Zone as: (a) Captain of 
the Port (COTP); (b) Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC); (c) 
Federal On Scene Coordinator (FOSC) consistent with the National 
Contingency Plan; and (d) Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection 
(OCMI). The Executive Officer, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur is 
designated alternate COTP, FMSC, FOSC, and Acting OCMI.
    A continuity of operations order has been issued ensuring that all 
previous Group Galveston, Base Galveston, Vessel Traffic Service 
Houston-Galveston, Marine Safety Office Houston-Galveston including 
Marine Safety Unit Galveston and Marine Safety Office Port Arthur 
including Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles practices and procedures will 
remain in effect until superseded by Commander, Sector Houston-
Galveston or in MSU Port Arthur Sub-Zone until superseded by Commanding 
Officer, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur. This continuity of operations 
order addresses existing COTP regulations, orders, directives and 
policies.
    The following information is a list of updated command titles, 
addresses and points of contact to facilitate requests from the public 
and assist with entry into security or safety zones:
    Name: Sector Houston-Galveston
    Address: Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, 9640 
Clinton Dr., Houston, TX 77029.
    Contact: General Number, (713) 671-5100, Sector Commander: Captain 
Richard Kaser; Deputy Sector Commander: Captain Christine Balboni.
    Chief, Prevention Department: (713) 671-5184, Chief, Response 
Department: (713) 671-5104, Chief, Logistics Department: (713) 671-
5150.
    MSU Port Arthur General Number, (409) 723-6500.
    MSU Lake Charles General Number, (337) 491-7840.
    MSU Galveston General Number, (409) 766-5400.

    Dated: November 30, 2005.
Kevin L. Marshall,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, 8th Coast Guard District, Acting.
 [FR Doc. E5-7509 Filed 12-16-05; 8:45 am]
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