[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 111 (Thursday, June 9, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37168-37170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13701]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[Docket Number USCG-2016-0132]
RIN 1625-AA01


Anchorage Grounds, Hudson River; Yonkers, NY to Kingston, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is considering establishing new anchorage 
grounds in the Hudson River from Yonkers, NY, to Kingston, NY. We are 
considering this action after receiving requests suggesting that 
anchorage grounds may improve navigation safety along an extended 
portion of the Hudson River, which currently has no anchorage grounds, 
allowing for a safer and more efficient flow of vessel traffic. The 
Coast Guard is seeking comments and information about the operational 
need for new anchorage grounds and what form possible regulations 
should take.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before September 7, 2016.
    Requests for public meetings must be received by the Coast Guard on 
or before June 30, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2016-0132 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
document, call or email Mr. Craig Lapiejko, Waterways Management Branch 
at Coast Guard First District, telephone 617-223-8351, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

ANPRM Advance notice of proposed rulemaking
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NAD 83 North American Datum of 1983

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comments can help shape the outcome of this possible 
rulemaking. If you submit a comment, please include the docket number 
for this rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to 
which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal 
Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal 
Register (70 FR 15086).
    Documents mentioned in this ANPRM as being available in the docket, 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that Web site's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted and if 
we publish rulemaking documents related to this ANPRM.

B. Regulatory History and Information

    Under title 33 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) 109.05, U.S. Coast 
Guard District Commanders are delegated the authority to establish 
anchorage grounds by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast 
Guard establishes Anchorage Grounds under the authority in Section 7 of 
the act of March 4, 1915, as amended (38 Stat. 1053; 33 U.S.C. 471), 
and places these regulations in title 33 CFR part 110, subpart B. 
Hudson River Anchorage Ground regulations were last amended by rules 
published on March 31, 2016, January 15, 2015, and on July 20, 1999; 
these are 81 FR 18494, 80 FR 2011, and 64 FR 38828, respectively. The 
Coast Guard is now considering a proposed rulemaking to establish new 
anchorage grounds in the Hudson River.

[[Page 37169]]

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis and authorities for this ANPRM are found in 33 
U.S.C. 471, 1221 through 1236, and 2071, as well as 33 CFR 1.05-1 and 
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, which 
collectively authorize the Coast Guard to propose, establish, and 
define regulatory anchorages. The Coast Guard is considering 
establishing new anchorage grounds.
    The Coast Guard received requests from the Maritime Association of 
the Port of NY/NJ Tug and Barge Committee, the Hudson River Port 
Pilot's Association, and the American Waterways Operators to consider 
establishing new anchorage grounds on the Hudson River. The purpose of 
this ANPRM is to solicit comments on potential proposed rulemakings to 
increase the available anchorage grounds on the Hudson River in areas 
which currently have no anchorages.

D. Discussion of Possible Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard is considering proposing to establish new anchorage 
grounds on the Hudson River. The anticipated users of the proposed 
anchorage grounds are commercial vessels and their attending tug, tow, 
or pushboats.
    The approximate depths of the proposed anchorage grounds range from 
21 feet to 65 feet, which would accommodate a variety of vessel types 
and configurations, and would not interfere with the areas where 
vessels have historically transited the Hudson River. Preliminary 
details describing these contemplated anchorage grounds are provided 
below using coordinates based on North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). 
Illustrations showing the locations of these anchorage grounds are 
available in the docket.

Contemplated Kingston Flats South Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Kingston Flats South Anchorage 
Ground would cover approximately 279 acres for up to three vessels with 
a draft of less than 22 feet for long term usage. It would provide a 
vessel swing radius of approximately 1,300 feet for one vessel and of 
approximately 1,800 feet for two vessels. The contemplated anchorage 
ground would encompass waters within lines connecting the following 
points: 41-56.79' N., 073-57.24' W.; thence to 41-56.78' N., 073-56.85' 
W.; thence to 41-55.81' N., 073-56.95' W.; thence to 41-55.81' N., 073-
57.42' W.; thence to the point of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Port Ewen Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Port Ewen Anchorage Ground 
would cover approximately 47 acres for one vessel with a draft of less 
than 30 feet for short term usage. It would provide a vessel swing 
radius of approximately 1,200 feet. The contemplated anchorage ground 
would encompass waters within lines connecting the following points: 
41-54.85' N., 073-57.85' W.; thence to 41-54.79' N., 073-57.59' W.; 
thence to 41-54.58' N., 073-57.64' W.; thence to 41-54.57' N., 073-
57.95' W.; thence to the point of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Big Rock Point Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Big Rock Point Anchorage Ground 
would cover approximately 208 acres for up to four vessels with a draft 
of less than 35 feet for long term usage. It would provide a vessel 
swing radius of approximately 1,200 feet for each vessel. The 
contemplated anchorage ground would encompass waters within lines 
connecting the following points: 41-54.25' N., 073-58.04' W.; thence to 
41-54.31' N., 073-57.76' W.; thence to 41-53.79' N., 073-57.55' W.; 
thence to 41-53.40' N., 073-57.25' W.; thence to 41-53.21' N., 073-
57.45' W.; thence to 41-53.68' N., 073-57.80' W.; thence to the point 
of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Roseton Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Roseton Anchorage Ground would 
cover approximately 305 acres for up to three vessels with a draft of 
less than 40 feet for long term usage. It would provide a vessel swing 
radius of approximately 1,700 feet for each vessel. The contemplated 
anchorage ground would encompass waters within lines connecting the 
following points: 41-33.46' N., 073-58.71' W.; thence to 41-33.41' N., 
073-58.27' W.; thence to 41-32.92' N., 073-58.77' W.; thence to 41-
32.41' N., 073-59.21' W.; thence to 41-32.65' N., 073-59.47' W.; thence 
to 41-33.12' N., 073-59.11' W.; thence to the point of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Milton Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Milton Anchorage Ground would 
cover approximately 74 acres for up to two vessels with a draft of less 
than 40 feet for long term usage. It would provide a vessel swing 
radius of approximately 1,200 feet for each vessel. The contemplated 
anchorage ground would encompass waters within lines connecting the 
following points: 41-38.56' N., 073-57.02' W.; thence to 41-38.64' N., 
073-56.72' W.; thence to 41-38.12' N., 073-56.79' W.; thence to 41-
37.93' N., 073-56.88' W.; thence to 41-38.19' N., 073-57.05' W.; thence 
to the point of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Marlboro Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Marlboro Anchorage Ground would 
cover approximately 154 acres for up to three vessels with a draft of 
less than 35 feet for long term usage. It would provide a vessel swing 
radius of approximately 1,800 feet for each vessel. The contemplated 
anchorage ground would encompass waters within lines connecting the 
following points: 41-36.68' N., 073-57.12' W.; thence to 41-38.82' N., 
073-57.76' W.; thence to 41-35.88' N., 073-57.21' W.; thence to 41-
35.87' N., 073-56.92' W.; thence to the point of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Newburgh Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Newburgh Anchorage Ground would 
cover approximately 445 acres for up to five vessels with a draft of 
less than 32 feet toward the northern end and less than 22 feet toward 
the southern end for long term usage. It would provide a vessel swing 
radius of approximately 1,800 feet for each vessel. The contemplated 
anchorage ground would encompass waters within lines connecting the 
following points: 41-29.75' N., 073-59.98' W.; thence to 41-29.96' N., 
073-59.48' W.; thence to 41-28.38' N., 073-59.94' W.; thence to 41-
28.29' N., 074-00.20' W.; thence to the point of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Tompkins Cove Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Tomkins Cove Anchorage Ground 
would cover approximately 98 acres for up to three vessels with a draft 
of less than 40 feet for long term usage. It would provide a vessel 
swing radius of approximately 1,200 feet for each vessel. The 
contemplated anchorage ground would encompass waters within lines 
connecting the following points: 41-15.91' N., 073-58.51' W.; thence to 
41-15.91' N., 073-58.21' W.; thence to 41-15.27' N., 073-58.38' W.; 
thence to 41-15.28' N., 073-58.65' W.; thence to the point of origin 
(NAD 83).

Contemplated Montrose Point Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Montrose Point Anchorage Ground 
would cover approximately 127 acres for up to three vessels with a 
draft of

[[Page 37170]]

less than 26 feet for long term usage. It would provide a vessel swing 
radius of approximately 1,400 feet for each vessel. The contemplated 
ground would encompass waters within lines connecting the following 
points: 41-14.02' N., 073-57.45' W.; thence to 41-14.09' N., 073-57.15' 
W.; thence to 41-31.10' N., 073-57.00' W.; thence to 41-13.18' N., 073-
56.60' W.; thence to the point of origin (NAD 83).

Contemplated Yonkers Extension Anchorage Ground

    We are considering proposing that a Yonkers Extension Anchorage 
Ground would cover approximately 715 acres for up to 16 vessels with a 
draft of less than 35 feet for long term usage. It would provide a 
vessel swing radius of approximately 1,200 feet for each vessel. The 
contemplated anchorage ground would encompass waters within lines 
connecting the following points: 41-00.60' N., 073-53.61' W.; thence to 
41-00.60' N., 073-53.31' W.; thence to 40-58.05' N., 073-53.96' W.; 
thence to 40-56.96' N., 073-54.39' W.; thence to 40-57.02' N., 073-
54.71' W.; thence to 40-58.11' N., 073-54.25' W.; thence to the point 
of origin (NAD 83).

E. Information Requested

    Public participation is requested to assist in determining the best 
way forward with respect to establishing new anchorage grounds on the 
Hudson River between Yonkers, NY, to Kingston, NY. To aid us in 
developing a possible proposed rule, we seek any comments, whether 
positive or negative, including but not limited to the impacts 
anchorage grounds may have on navigation safety and current vessel 
traffic in this area, the proposed number and size of vessels anchoring 
in each proposed anchorage ground, and the authorized duration for each 
vessel in each proposed anchorage ground. We are also seeking comments 
on any additional locations where anchorage grounds may be helpful on 
the Hudson River or any recommended alterations to the specific 
locations considered in this notice. Please submit any comments or 
concerns you may have in accordance with the ``Public Participation and 
Request for Comments'' section above.

L.L. Fagan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2016-13701 Filed 6-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P