[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 215 (Monday, November 8, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68568-68570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28115]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

United States Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 167

[USCG-2010-0833]


Port Access Route Study: In the Bering Strait

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of study; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard (USCG) is conducting a Port Access Route Study 
(PARS) to evaluate: The continued applicability of and the need for 
modifications to current vessel routing measures; and the need for 
creation of new vessel routing measures in the Bering Strait. 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 May 9, 2011 
or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2010-0833 using any one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     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.
     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 Faith Reynolds, Project Officer, 
Seventeenth Coast Guard District, telephone 907-463-2270; e-mail 
[email protected]; or George Detweiler, Office of Waterways

[[Page 68569]]

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:

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.
    Submitting comments: If you submit comments, please include the 
docket number for this notice (USCG-2010-0833), 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-2010-0833'' 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.
    Viewing 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-2010-0833'' 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 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.
    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).

Definitions

    The following definitions (except ``Regulated Navigation Area'') 
are from the International Maritime Organization's (IMO's) publication 
``Ships' Routeing'' Tenth Edition 2010 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 ships, or certain classes of ships.
    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 the chart.
    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 ships 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 ships 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 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 
ship 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 measures 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.

Background and Purpose

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 U.S. 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.

[[Page 68570]]

Previous Port Access Route Studies

    A port access route study was announced in the Federal Register on 
April 16, 1979 (44 FR 22543) and modified on January 31, 1980 (45 FR 
7026) that studied the whole of Alaska's maritime coast. Notice of 
study results were published on December 14, 1981 (46 FR 61049). Only a 
portion of the current study area was included in the previous port 
access route study, as the previous study excluded all areas west of 
170 degrees West longitude and also did not consider areas north of the 
Bering Strait.

Necessity for a New Port Access Route Study

    The Coast Guard is always seeking ways to enhance the safety of 
life at sea. Since 2007's record minimum for summer sea ice cover in 
the Arctic, international attention has been focused on the region and 
its potential accessibility for shipping and natural resource 
exploration. One significant study released in April 2009 by the Arctic 
Council entitled ``Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment'' noted both the 
sparse nature of aids to navigation in the United States Arctic as well 
as the absence of vessel routing measures in the Bering Strait. 
According to the study, significant increases in shipping are not 
expected in the near term. However, the U.S. Coast Guard desires to 
begin its study process so that essential safeguards are in place in 
advance of any future shipping increase.
    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 advisable 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.
    There are numerous interested stakeholders with concerns regarding 
this region, and the U.S. Coast Guard is committed to ensuring that all 
viewpoints are obtained and considered prior to moving forward with any 
vessel routing measure implementation.
    Timeline, Study Area, and Process of this PARS: The Seventeenth 
Coast Guard District will conduct this PARS. The study will begin 
immediately upon publication of this notice and should take at least 24 
months to complete.
    The study area is described as an area bounded by a line connecting 
the following geographic positions:
     62[deg]30' N, 173[deg]00' W;
     62[deg]30' N, 167[deg]30' W;
     67[deg]30' N, 167[deg]30' W;
     67[deg]30' N, 168[deg]58'37'' W, thence following the 
Russian Federation/United States maritime boundary line to position
     63[deg]40' N, 173[deg]00' W, thence to the first 
geographical position.
    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 the status quo (no 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--
    [cir] Maintain current vessel routing measures, if any;
    [cir] Establish a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS);
    [cir] Create one or more precautionary areas;
    [cir] Create one or more inshore traffic zones;
    [cir] Create deep-draft routes;
    [cir] Establish area(s) to be avoided;
    [cir] Establish, disestablish, or modify anchorage grounds;
    [cir] Establish a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) with specific 
vessel operating requirements to ensure safe navigation near shallow 
water; and
    [cir] Identify any other appropriate ships' routing measures to be 
used.

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 document 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 
areas face? Please describe.
    2. Are there strains on safe navigation in the Bering Strait, such 
as increasing traffic density? If so, please describe.
    3. What are the benefits and drawbacks to establishing new routing 
measures? Please describe.
    4. What impacts, both positive and negative, would new routing 
measures have on the study area?
    5. What costs and benefits are associated with the potential study 
recommendations listed above? What measures do you think are most cost 
effective?
    This document is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1223(c) and 5 
U.S.C. 552.

    Dated: September 24, 2010.
Christopher C. Colvin,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2010-28115 Filed 11-5-10; 8:45 am]
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