[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 66 (Wednesday, April 7, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17562-17564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7815]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 167

[USCG-2009-0765]


Port Access Route Study: In the Approaches to Los 
Angeles[dash]Long Beach and in the Santa Barbara Channel

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of study; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) 
to evaluate the continued applicability of and the need for 
modifications to current vessel routing in the approaches to Los 
Angeles[dash]Long Beach and in the Santa Barbara Channel. The goal of 
the study is to help reduce the risk of marine casualties and increase 
the efficiency of vessel traffic in the study area. The recommendations 
of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate 
international agreements.

DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted to our 
online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before June 7, 2010 
or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2009-0765 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329. To avoid duplication, please use only one of 
these four methods. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice 
of study, call or e-mail Lieutenant Morgan Barbieri, Project Officer, 
Eleventh Coast Guard District, telephone 510-437-2978; e-mail 
[email protected]; or George Detweiler, Office of Waterways 
Management, Coast Guard, telephone 202-372-1566, e-mail 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Renee K. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this study by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted, 
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.
    A. Submitting comments: If you submit comments, please include the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2009-0765), indicate the specific 
section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a 
reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your 
comments and material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. We recommend that you include your 
name and a mailing address, an e-mail address, or a telephone number in 
the body of your document so that we can contact you if we have 
questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become 
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu select 
``Notices'' and insert ``USCG-2009-0576'' in the ``Keyword'' box. Click 
``Search'' then click on the balloon shape in the ``Actions'' column. 
If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.
    B. Viewing the comments and documents: To view comments and 
documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, 
go to http://www.regulations.gov, click on the ``read comments'' box, 
which will then become highlighted in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box 
insert ``USCG-2009-0765'' and click ``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket 
Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. If you do not have access to the 
Internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket 
Management Facility in Room W12-140

[[Page 17563]]

on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an 
agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket 
Management Facility.
    C. Privacy Act: Anyone can search the electronic form of comments 
received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a 
Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in 
the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

II. Definitions

    The following definitions (except ``Regulated Navigation Area'') 
are from the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) publication 
``Ships' Routeing'' and should help you review this notice:
    Area to be avoided (ATBA) means 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 
which should be avoided by all vessels, or certain classes of vessels.
    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.
    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 
provisions of Rule 10(d), as amended, of the International Regulations 
for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGS).
    Precautionary area means a routing measure comprising an area 
within defined limits where vessels must navigate with particular 
caution and within which the direction of traffic flow may be 
recommended.
    Recommended route means a route of undefined width, for the 
convenience of vessels in transit, which is often marked by centerline 
buoys.
    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 
vessels are advised to navigate.
    Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) means a water area within a defined 
boundary for which regulations for vessels navigating within the area 
have been established under 33 CFR part 165.
    Roundabout means a routing measure comprising a separation point or 
circular separation zone and a circular traffic lane within defined 
limits. Traffic within the roundabout is separated by moving in a 
counterclockwise direction around the separation point or zone.
    Separation Zone or separation line means a zone or line separating 
the traffic lanes which vessels are proceeding in opposite or nearly 
opposite directions; or from the adjacent sea area; or separating 
traffic lanes designated for particular classes of vessels proceeding 
in the same direction.
    Traffic lane means an area within defined limits in which one-way 
traffic is established. Natural obstacles, including those forming 
separation zones, may constitute a boundary.
    Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) means a routing measure aimed at 
the separation of opposing streams of traffic by appropriate means and 
by the establishment of traffic lanes.
    Two-way route means 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.
    Vessel routing system means any system of one or more routes or 
routing measure aimed at reducing the risk of casualties; it includes 
traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, areas 
to be avoided, no anchoring areas, inshore traffic zones, roundabouts, 
precautionary areas, and deep-water routes.

III. Background and Purpose

    A. Requirement for port access route studies: Under the Ports and 
Waterways Safety Act (PWSA) (33 U.S.C. 1223(C)), the Commandant of the 
Coast Guard may designate necessary fairways and traffic separation 
schemes (TSSs) to provide safe access routes for vessels proceeding to 
and from United States ports. The designation of fairways and TSSs 
recognizes the paramount right of navigation over all other uses in the 
designated areas.
    The PWSA requires the Coast Guard to conduct a study of potential 
traffic density and the need for safe access routes for vessels before 
establishing or adjusting fairways or TSSs. 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 access routes with other 
reasonable waterway uses.
    B. Previous port access route studies: From 1993 through 1996, the 
Coast Guard conducted a port access route study to analyze vessel 
routing measures in the approaches to California ports. We published 
the study results in the Federal Register on October 25, 1996 (61 FR 
55248). The study recommended shifting the southern approach lanes of 
the existing TSS off San Francisco westward (seaward) and extending the 
existing TSS in the Santa Barbara Channel from Point Conception to 
Point Arguello. The study concluded that no changes to the TSS in the 
approaches to Los Angeles-Long Beach were necessary at that time.
    In 1995, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach initiated major 
port improvement projects. These projects are completed and included 
the following:
    Lengthening of the Los Angeles Approach Channel to extend 
approximately 3.5 nautical miles beyond the Los Angeles breakwater.
    Deepening of the Los Angeles Approach Channel to a project depth of 
81 feet.
    A slight shift of the Long Beach Approach to a 355 deg. True 
inbound course.
    Deepening of the Long Beach Approach Channel to a project depth of 
69 feet.
    The Coast Guard published a notice of study in the Federal Register 
(64 FR 12139, March 11, 1999) which announced that we would conduct a 
PARS for the approaches to Los Angeles-Long Beach. The Coast Guard 
published a notice of study results in the Federal Register on May 19, 
2000 (65 FR 31856). The PARS evaluated the potential effects of the 
port improvement projects on navigational safety and vessel traffic 
management efficiency. It concluded that modifications to the TSS in 
the approaches to Los Angeles-Long Beach and the Precautionary Area 
were necessary for the safety of the maritime community utilizing the 
Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
    C. Necessity for a new port access route study: The Coast Guard is 
always seeking ways to enhance the safety of life at sea. Increased 
vessel traffic has been observed bypassing the Santa Barbara Channel 
TSS and opting for routes south of San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa 
Cruz Islands approaching the San Pedro Channel. Vessels, which have 
traditionally utilized the established TSS in the Santa Barbara Channel 
to access ports in Los Angeles-Long Beach, have recently shifted to 
transit in the

[[Page 17564]]

area south of San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands.
    The Coast Guard has identified a potential safety enhancement by 
increasing predictability of vessel traffic patterns in this area with 
an established vessel routing system. When vessels follow predictable 
and charted routing measures such as a TSS, congestion may be reduced, 
and mariners may be better able to predict where vessel interactions 
may occur and act accordingly.
    This study will assess whether the creation of a vessel routing 
system is necessary to increase the predictability of vessel movements, 
which may decrease the potential for collisions, oil spills, and other 
events that could threaten the marine environment.

IV. Timeline, Study Area, and Process of This PARS

    The Eleventh Coast Guard District will conduct this PARS. The study 
will begin upon publication of this notice and should take 6 to 12 
months to complete.
    The study area will be the area with a northern boundary at 
34[deg]30[min] N; a western boundary 121[deg]00[min] W; a southern 
boundary at 33[deg]15[min] N; and an eastern boundary along the 
shoreline. This area encompasses the TSSs in the Santa Barbara Channel 
and in the approaches to Los Angeles-Long Beach and the approach to the 
San Pedro Channel from the Pacific Ocean, particularly the area south 
of San Miguel, Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands and north of San 
Nicholas, Santa Barbara, and Santa Catalina Islands where an increase 
in vessel traffic has been identified.
    As part of this study, we will analyze vessel traffic density, 
agency and stakeholder experience in vessel traffic management, 
navigation, ship handling, and effects of weather. We encourage you to 
participate in the study process by submitting comments in response to 
this notice.
    We will publish the results of the PARS in the Federal Register. It 
is possible that the study may validate 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 the efficiency of vessel traffic management. 
The recommendations may lead to future rulemakings or appropriate 
international agreements.

Possible Scope of the Recommendations

    We are attempting to determine the scope of any safety problems 
associated with vessel transits in the study area. We expect that 
information gathered during the study will help us identify any 
problems and appropriate solutions. The study may recommend that we--
     Maintain the current vessel routing measures,
     Modify the existing traffic separations schemes;
     Create one or more precautionary areas;
     Create one or more inshore traffic zones;
     Establish area(s) to be avoided;
     Create deep-draft routes;
     Establish a regulated navigation Area (RNA) with specific 
vessel operating requirements to ensure safe navigation near shallow 
water; and
     Identify any other appropriate ships' routing measures.

Questions

    To help us conduct the port access route study, we request 
information that will help answer the following questions, although 
comments on other issues addressed in this notice are also welcome. In 
responding to a question, please explain your reasons for each answer 
and follow the instructions under ``Public Participation and Request 
for Comments'' above.
    1. What navigational hazards do vessels operating in the study area 
face? Please describe.
    2. Are there strains on the current vessel routing system, such as 
increasing traffic density? Please describe.
    3. Are modifications to existing vessel routing measures needed to 
improve traffic management efficiency in the study area? If so, please 
describe.
    4. What costs and benefits are associated with the potential study 
recommendations listed above? What measures do you think are most cost-
effective?
    5. What impacts, both positive and negative, would changes to 
existing vessel routing measures or establishing new routing measures 
have on the study area?
    This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1223(c) and 5 
U.S.C. 552.

    Dated: March 11, 2010.
J.R. Castillo,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2010-7815 Filed 4-6-10; 8:45 am]
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