[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11314-11319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-05730]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2019-0131]


Port Access Route Study: The Areas Offshore of Massachusetts and 
Rhode Island

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of study and public meetings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In order to provide safe access routes for the movement of 
vessel traffic offshore of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area of 
the United States for vessels proceeding to or from ports or places of 
the United States and transiting within the United States Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ), the Coast Guard is conducting a Massachusetts and 
Rhode Island Port Access Route Study (MARIPARS) to evaluate the need 
for establishing vessel routing measures. The information gathered 
during this MARIPARS may result in the establishment of one or more 
vessel routing measures. The goal of the MARIPARS is to enhance 
navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway 
uses. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking 
action or appropriate international agreements.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before May 28, 2019. Two public meetings will be held to 
provide an opportunity for comments about the MARIPARS on Tuesday, 
April 23, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Thursday, April 25, 2019, 
from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Written comments and related material may also be 
submitted to Coast Guard personnel at the meetings. All comments and 
related material submitted after the meetings must be received by the 
Coast Guard on or before May 28, 2019. Commenters should be aware that 
the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept 
comments after midnight Eastern Daylight Time on the last day of the 
comment period.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0131 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.
    The public meeting on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 9 
p.m., will be

[[Page 11315]]

held at Corless Auditorium (Watkins Laboratory Building), University of 
Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography at 215 South Ferry Road, 
Narragansett, RI 02882-1197.
    The public meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 9 
p.m., will be held at Flanagan Hall, Massachusetts Maritime Academy at 
101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice or study call or email the Project Officer, Mr. Edward G. 
LeBlanc, Chief of Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England Waterways 
Management Division, telephone (401) 435-2351; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this study by submitting 
comments and related materials to the online public docket or orally at 
the public meetings. 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 to the online public 
docket, please include the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-
2019-0131), indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. We accept anonymous comments.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
and insert ``USCG-2019-0131'' in the ``search box.'' Click ``Search''. 
Then click ``Comment Now.'' We will consider all comments and material 
received during the comment period.
    B. Public Meetings: We plan to hold two public meetings to receive 
oral comments on this notice. If you bring written comments to the 
public meeting, you may submit them to Mr. Edward G. LeBlanc. These 
comments will be added to our online public docket. 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. Attendance at the 
public meeting is not required. We will provide a written summary of 
the oral comments received and will place that summary in the docket.
    The first public meeting on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 
9 p.m., will be held at Corless Auditorium (Watkins Laboratory 
Building), University of Rhode Island, Graduate School of Oceanography, 
215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI 02882-1197.
    The second public meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2019, from 6 p.m. 
to 9 p.m., will be held at Flanagan Hall, Massachusetts Maritime 
Academy, 101 Academy Drive, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532.
    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meeting, 
contact Mr. Edward Leblanc at the telephone number or email address 
indicated under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
notice.
    C. 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-2019-0131'' and click ``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket 
Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column.
    D. 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) 
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2008/01/17/E8-785/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records.

II. Purpose and Background

    A. Requirement for Port Access Route Studies: Under 46 U.S.C. 70003 
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.
    Before establishing or adjusting fairways or TSSs, 46 U.S.C. 70003 
requires the Coast Guard to conduct a port access route study (PARS), 
i.e. a study of potential traffic density and the need for safe access 
routes for vessels. 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 such as 
construction and operation of renewable energy facilities and other 
uses of the Atlantic Ocean in the study area.
    B. Previous port access route studies: In 2011, the Coast Guard 
conducted a PARS which focused on the entire Atlantic Coast from Maine 
to Florida to analyze all vessel traffic proceeding to and from all 
Atlantic Coast ports and transiting through the United States Exclusive 
Economic Zone (EEZ). The Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study Final 
Report is available at the Coast Guard Navigation Center website 
https://navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/PARS/ACPARS_Final_Report_08Jul2015_Combined_Appendix_Enclosures_Final_After_LMI_Review.pdf.
    C. Necessity for a new port access route study: The Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management (BOEM) has leased seven adjacent areas of the outer 
continental shelf (OCS) south of Martha's Vineyard and east of Rhode 
Island that together constitute the MA/RI Wind Energy Area (WEA). 
Potentially seven distinct offshore renewable energy installations 
(``wind farms'') could be constructed, each with its own number, size, 
type of wind turbines, and distinct turbine layout. The topic of safe 
navigation routes to facilitate vessel transit through the MA/RI WEA 
has been discussed at various forums throughout southeastern New 
England. The forums have included participation by the Coast Guard, 
other federal, state, and local agencies, fishing industry 
representatives, and a myriad of stakeholders. Various different 
transit plans have been proposed through these different forums.
    In September 2018, the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management 
Fisheries Working Group offered a vessel transit layout as depicted at 
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/fisheries-working-group-on-offshore-wind-energy and below:

[[Page 11316]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26MR19.002

    In December 2018, the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance 
(RODA), https://www.rodafisheries.org/, offered an alternative layout 
for consideration by stakeholders:

[[Page 11317]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26MR19.003

    Though neither of these alternatives achieved consensus of all 
stakeholders, they serve as a basis for further discussion of the issue 
and are provided here for that purpose. Comments on these alternative 
proposals are welcome, but comments need not be limited to them.

III. This PARS: Timeline, Study Area, and Process

    The First Coast Guard District Waterways Management Division and 
Coast Guard Sector Southeastern New England Waterways Management 
Division will conduct this PARS. The study will begin upon publication 
of this notice and should take approximately six months to complete.
    The study area is described as an area bounded by a line connecting 
the following geographic positions:
     41[deg]20' N, 070[deg]00' W;
     40[deg]35' N, 070[deg]00' W;
     40[deg]35' N, 071[deg]15' W;
     41[deg]20' N, 071[deg]15' W.
    Below is an illustration showing the study area.

[[Page 11318]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN26MR19.004

    The Coast Guard will use the PARS process described in Appendix D 
to Commandant Instruction 16003.2A, Marine Planning to Operate and 
Maintain the National Marine Transportation System (MTS) and Implement 
National Policy, which is available in the docket or see https://
media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/15/

[[Page 11319]]

2001716995/-1/-1/0/CI_16003_2A.PDF, as a guide.

IV. Possible Scope of the Recommendations

    We are attempting to determine what, if any, navigational safety 
concerns exist with vessel transits in the study area. We expect that 
information gathered during the study will help us identify anticipated 
impacts to navigation that may be experienced by mariners intending to 
transit in, around and through the study area which includes the MA/RI 
Wind Energy Area (MA/RI WEA) which is an area of wind farm leases south 
of Martha's Vineyard. All leases are currently being studied for 
development including the construction of wind energy generating 
turbines affixed to the sea floor. These installations could impact 
routes used to access ports (e.g., transiting from Georges Bank through 
the MA/RI WEA to New Bedford; or from the vicinity of Montauk, NY/Point 
Judith, RI, to Georges Bank, etc.). Impacts could result from factors 
such as number, size, type, and layout of wind farm turbines and 
electric service platform(s), subsea cabling, increased vessel traffic, 
changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational 
difficulty. Comments should include or reference data (both empirical 
and anecdotal) where available, published studies (academic, 
government, or industry), and other supporting documentation.
    As part of this study, we may collect and analyze data and other 
information on vessel traffic characteristics and trends in an attempt 
to balance the needs of all waterway users.
    This MARIPARS includes the following objectives:
    1. Determine present vessel traffic types, patterns, and density;
    2. Determine potential vessel traffic types, patterns, and density;
    3. Determine if existing vessel routing measures are adequate;
    4. Determine if existing vessel routing measures require 
modifications;
    5. Determine the type of modifications;
    6. Define and justify the needs for new vessel routing measures;
    7. Determine the type of new vessel routing measures; and
    8. Determine if the usage of the vessel routing measures must be 
mandatory for specific classes of vessels.
    We will publish the results of the PARS in the Federal Register. It 
is possible the study may validate the status quo (no routing measures) 
and conclude that no changes are necessary. It is also possible 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.
    This notice is published under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 70004 and 
5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: March 21, 2019.
G. D. Case,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2019-05730 Filed 3-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P