[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107-109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28457]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2020-0278]


Port Access Route Study: Northern New York Bight

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability; final report.

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SUMMARY: The First Coast Guard District announces the completion of the 
Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study (NNYBPARS). The study 
was conducted to evaluate the adequacy of existing vessel routing 
measures and determine whether additional vessel routing measures are 
necessary for port approaches to New York and New Jersey and 
international and domestic transit areas in the First Coast Guard 
District's area of responsibility. To accomplish this goal, the First 
Coast Guard District has undertaken measures to determine whether 
existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve 
navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore 
development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, 
increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas, 
changing vessel traffic patterns, effects of weather, or navigational 
difficulty. The NNYBPARS final report is available for viewing and 
download from the Federal Register docket at http://www.regulations.gov 
or the Coast Guard Navigation Center website at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports.

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

I. Table of Abbreviations

DHS Department of Homeland Security
LNM Local Notice to Mariners
MSIB Marine Safety Information Bulletin
MTS Marine Transportation System
NAD 83 North American Datum of 1983
NNYB Northern New York Bight
PARS Port Access Route Study
PWSA Ports and Waterways Safety Act
TSS Traffic Separation Scheme
USCG United States Coast Guard

II. Background and Purpose

When did the Coast Guard conduct this Port Access Route Study (PARS)?

    We conducted this PARS following our announcement of the PARS in a 
notice published in the Federal Register on June 29, 2020, entitled 
``Port Access Route Study (PARS): Northern New York Bight,'' (85 FR 
38907). The public was afforded a 60-day comment period, and two 
virtual public meetings were held via teleconference and webinar to 
receive public input. The Coast Guard received 25 comments in response 
to our Federal Register Notice, public meetings and other outreach 
efforts, which included announcement via a Marine Safety Information 
Bulletin (MSIB), publication in the Local Notice to Mariners (LNM), and 
Facebook and Twitter posts. All comments and supporting documents to 
this document are available in a public docket and can be viewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov.

[[Page 108]]

    On April 12, 2021, we published a supplemental notice of study; 
request for comments entitled ``Port Access Route Study (PARS): 
Northern New York Bight'' in the Federal Register (86 FR 18996) seeking 
additional information. The public was afforded a 30-day comment 
period. The Coast Guard received five comments to this document in 
response to our Federal Register Notice, and other outreach efforts, 
which included an announcement via a MSIB, publication in the LNM, and 
Facebook and Twitter posts. All comments and supporting documents to 
this document are available in a public docket and can be viewed at 
http://www.regulations.gov.
    On July 15, 2021, we published a notice of availability of draft 
report and public meeting; request for comments, entitled ``Port Access 
Route Study (PARS): Northern New York Bight'' in the Federal Register 
(86 FR 37339) announcing the availability of the draft version of the 
study report. The public was initially afforded a 45-day comment 
period. On September 09, 2021, the comment period was re-opened for an 
additional 22 days.
    During the combined 67-day public comment period, the Coast Guard 
received 21 comments in response to our Federal Register Notice and 
other outreach, which included four public meetings (one virtual and 
three in person), announcements via MSIBs, publications in the LNM, and 
Facebook and Twitter posts. All comments and supporting documents are 
available in a public docket and can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov.
    A total of 51 comments were submitted by members of the public 
during the 157 days of open comment periods and 6 public meetings.
    A synopsis of the comments and copies of the First Coast Guard 
District's public outreach can be found in the report.

What is the study area?

    The New York Bight encompasses a very large area starting along the 
coasts of New York and New Jersey, from Montauk Point, NY, to Cape May, 
NJ, and then offshore to the outer edge of the Continental Shelf. The 
Northern New York Bight study area is described as an area bounded by a 
line connecting the following geographic positions:

40 18'00.0'' N 074 00'00.0'' W;
38 57'00.0'' N 071 16'00.0'' W;
39 47'24.0'' N 069 40'01.2'' W;
41 07'12.0'' N 071 34'33.6'' W;
41 04'15.6'' N 071 51'25.2'' W; and
thence along the coast line back to the origin. All geographic points 
are based on North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

    This area extends approximately 150 nautical miles seaward and 
covers approximately 25,000 square nautical miles including the 
offshore area of New Jersey and New York used by private, commercial, 
and public vessels transiting to and from these ports. An illustration 
showing the study area is below with additional illustrations available 
in the online public docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN03JA22.250


[[Page 109]]



Why did the Coast Guard conduct this PARS?

    The Coast Guard conducted the NNYBPARS to evaluate the adequacy of 
existing vessel routing measures and determine whether additional 
vessel routing measures are necessary for port approaches to New York 
and New Jersey and international and domestic transit areas in the 
First District area of responsibility. The NNYBPARS considered whether 
existing or additional routing measures were necessary to improve 
navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore 
development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, 
increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas, 
changing vessel traffic patterns, effects of weather, or navigational 
difficulty. Vessel routing measures, which include traffic separation 
schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes, 
precautionary areas, and areas to be avoided, are implemented to reduce 
the risk of marine casualties.
    PARS are conducted anytime the Coast Guard considers a need to 
recommend routing changes, within the territorial seas, for any port. 
The Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA) requires the Coast Guard to 
conduct a study before establishing new or adjusting existing fairways 
or Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). U.S. waterways support multiple 
uses, such as commercial shipping, tug and barge operations, commercial 
and recreational fishing, research vessels, offshore support vessels, 
military vessels, and aquaculture apparatus.

How did the First Coast Guard District conduct this PARS?

    The PARS was conducted in alignment with guidance outlined in Coast 
Guard Commandant Instruction 16003.2B, Marine Planning to Operate and 
Maintain the Marine Transportation System (MTS) and Implement National 
Policy which is available in the docket or see https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/15/2001716995/-1/-1/0/CI_16003_2A.PDF.

What were the objectives of the study?

    The objectives of the study were to;
    i. Determine present traffic density;
    ii. Determine potential traffic density;
    iii. Determine if existing vessel routing measures are adequate;
    iv. Determine if existing vessel routing measures require 
modifications;
    v. Determine the type of modifications;
    vi. Define and justify the needs for new vessel routing measures;
    vii. Determine the type of new vessel routing measures; and
    viii. Determine if the usage of the vessel routing measures must be 
mandatory for specific classes of vessels.

III. Viewing the Report

    The NNYBPARS report is available for viewing and download from the 
Federal Register docket at http://www.regulations.gov or the Coast 
Guard Navigation Center website at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports.
    To view the NNYBPARS report in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, and insert ``USCG-2020-0278'' in the ``search 
box.'' Click ``Search''. Then scroll down to the document entitled 
``FINAL REPORT Northern New York Bight PARS December 27, 2021'' under 
the document type ``Supporting & Related Material.''

IV. Conclusion

    As required by the March 15, 2019 Federal Register Notice of study; 
request for comments (84 FR 9541), the First Coast Guard District 
considered whether it should revise existing regulations to improve 
navigation safety in NNYB due to factors such as vessel traffic 
density, vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigation 
challenges in the study area. The First Coast Guard District analyzed 
all available sources of data relevant to this process, including 
existing and potential traffic patterns, existing regulations, public 
submissions, and other factors. The First Coast Guard District 
identified five different alternatives to consider within this study.
    As detailed in the final report, the First Coast Guard District 
recommends that multiple shipping safety fairways and one federal 
anchorage ground be established within the NNYBPARS study area. 
Shipping safety fairways may be utilized by mariners but are not 
mandatory for any specific class of vessel.
    The First Coast Guard District actively monitors all waterways 
subject to its jurisdiction to help ensure navigation safety. As such, 
the First Coast Guard District will continue to monitor the Northern 
New York Bight for changing conditions and consider appropriate 
actions, such as recommend vessel routes or more extensive use of 
electronic Aids to Navigation to promote waterway and user safety.
    This notice is published under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 70003, 
70004 and 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: December 27, 2021.
T. G. Allan Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2021-28457 Filed 12-30-21; 8:45 am]
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