[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76927-76929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31594]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 167

[USCG-2011-0351]


Port Access Route Study: The Atlantic Coast From Maine to Florida

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of study; reopening of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to 
further its outreach efforts and solicit additional comments concerning 
its Port Access Route Study being conducted along the Atlantic Coast 
from Maine to Florida.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management 
Facility on or before January 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-0351 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 contact George Detweiler, Office of Navigation Systems, Coast 
Guard, telephone (202) 372-1566, email [email protected] or 
submit questions to [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,

[[Page 76928]]

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 
rulemaking (USCG-2011-0351), 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 email 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 
``Notice'' and insert ``USCG-2011-0351'' 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 the 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-2011-0351'' 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.

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. Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register (76 FR 27288, May 
11, 2011) that it was conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to 
evaluate the continued applicability of, and the need for modifications 
to, current vessel routing measures off the Atlantic Coast from Maine 
to Florida. The original comment period closed on August 9, 2011. The 
initial announcement contains definitions and useful background 
information concerning the PARS. The public is encouraged to review the 
initial announcement.
    The data gathered during the Atlantic Coast PARS may result in 
establishment of one or more new vessel routing measures, modification 
of existing routing measures, or disestablishment of existing routing 
measures off the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. The goal of the 
Atlantic Coast PARS is to enhance navigational safety by examining 
existing shipping routes and waterway uses, and, to the extent 
practicable, reconciling the paramount right of navigation within 
designated port access routes with other reasonable waterway uses such 
as the leasing of outer continental shelf blocks for the construction 
and operation of offshore renewable energy facilities. The 
recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or 
appropriate international agreements.
    The Coast Guard received 26 comments to the docket. After review of 
the comments, the Coast Guard has determined that it needs to reopen 
the comment period to seek more information to ensure that the PARS is 
comprehensive in its data collection and analysis. Most of the comments 
received to date were applicable to the Mid-Atlantic region, including 
the approaches into Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay. Moreover, these 
comments were limited to issues relevant to oceangoing shipping and 
coastwise tug and barge traffic and did not include information from 
other stakeholders. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic region, the Coast 
Guard has become aware of private sector interest in developing wind 
energy and hydrokinetic installations off the coasts of Maine, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Therefore, it is 
important that the Coast Guard receive comments on the potential 
impacts to the maritime community in these locations as well.
    The Coast Guard is using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data 
as its primary means of determining routes or operating areas based on 
the density and track lines of AIS equipped vessels. However, it is 
important for the Coast Guard to also collect data on routes or 
operating areas that may not be reflected in the AIS data. This request 
for comments is the primary means for the Coast Guard to collect 
information from stakeholders who may not be represented in the AIS 
data or for which the number of transits in a given area are not 
substantial. These users may include commercial fishing vessels, small 
passenger vessels, sightseeing and eco-tour vessels, recreational and 
charter fishing vessels, yachts, and sailing vessels.

III. Questions

    The Coast Guard requests specific responses to the following 
questions, which are in addition to the questions posed in the initial 
notice.
    (1) How are your ocean going vessel coastwise routes affected by 
seasonal or episodic weather variations?
    (2) How are your near coastal tug and barge routes affected by 
seasonal or episodic weather variations?
    (3) Is there a regularly scheduled recreational event that uses the 
near coastal waters in your area? Recreational events would include 
offshore fishing tournaments, offshore power boat races, offshore 
sailing regattas, etc.
    (4) Do you regularly transit the near coastal area on recreational/
private yachts? If yes, how far offshore is your typical route? Does 
your route change seasonally or according to weather conditions?
    (5) Should coastwise routes be established along the Atlantic 
Seaboard similar to the ``M-95'' marine highway corridor designated by 
the Maritime Administration as part of ``America's Marine Highway 
Program''? For more information on this program, see America's Marine 
Highway Program--Report to Congress--April 2011 (http://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/MARAD_AMH_Report_to_Congress.pdf). If 
yes, where should they be located?
    (6) What are the pros and cons to the Coast Guard designating 
coastwise fairways or traffic separation schemes (TSSs)?
    (7) Could the creation of designated coastwise routes adversely 
impact watchstanding or other operational requirements? If so, please 
explain.

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    (8) If coastwise fairways were created, should separate fairways be 
created for different vessel types such as tug and barge vs. deep draft 
vessels?
    (9) Should there be separate lanes for vessels travelling in 
opposing directions?
    (10) Should participation in any coastwise traffic scheme be 
voluntary or mandatory for all or certain classes of vessels?
    (11) Given the potentially long transit times, varying sea state 
and weather conditions; what is an appropriate width for fairways to 
prevent degradation to navigational safety? Are there particular areas 
where the width could be smaller or should be larger?
    This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1223(c) and 5 
U.S.C. 552.

    Dated: October 31, 2011.
Robert C. Parker,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Atlantic Area.
[FR Doc. 2011-31594 Filed 12-8-11; 8:45 am]
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