[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 94 (Monday, May 16, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29756-29757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-10457]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0093]


Port Access Route Study: Seacoast of North Carolina Including 
Approaches to the Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability, final report.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the completion of the Port Access 
Route Study for the Seacoast of North Carolina including approaches to 
the Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina. The study 
examined existing shipping routes and waterway uses, to include the 
potential for offshore energy development, in the study area to 
evaluate the need for establishing or changing existing vessel routing 
measures. This notice summarizes the study's recommendations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice or study, call or email Mr. Matthew Creelman, Waterways Section 
Chief at Fifth Coast Guard District, telephone (757) 398-6230, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

ACPARS Atlantic Coast Ports Access Route Study
BOEM Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
IMO International Maritime Organization
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
OREI Offshore Renewable Energy Installation
PARS Port Access Route Study
SAR Search and Rescue
USCG United States Coast Guard

II. Background and Purpose

    We conducted this Port Access Route Study (PARS) following a Notice 
of Study, published in the Federal Register on March 18, 2020. There 
was a 60-day public comment period, as

[[Page 29757]]

well as other outreach efforts identified in Section C of the study. 
During the comment period the USCG received 2 discrete comments in 
response to the notice.
    On March 24, 2022, the Notice of Availability of the draft study 
was published in the Federal Register (87 FR 16758) with a 30-day 
public comment period and a request for public comment.
    During the 30-day public comment period, the USCG received 2 
comments in response to the draft study.
    All comments and supporting documents are available in the public 
docket and can be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov. To view 
documents, in the ``Search'' box insert ``USCG-2020-0093'' and click 
``Search''.

III. Study Recommendations

    The recommendations of this PARS are based on the data analysis for 
historical vessel traffic patterns, comments received to the docket, 
public outreach, and consultation with other government agencies and 
stakeholders. Recommendations in the study include:
    1. Submit a proposal to the IMO to create a precautionary area 
offshore from the entrance to the Cape Fear River at the terminus of 
the Traffic Separation Scheme.
    2. Establish two Cape Fear Approach Connector Fairways aligned to 
the Southeast and the Southwest of the proposed precautionary area.
    3. Establish the Beaufort Inlet Connector Fairway

IV. Summary of Changes

    No changes were recommended.

V. Future Actions

    The USCG will continue to serve as a NEPA cooperating agency to the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) environmental review of each 
proposed OREI project. In that role, the USCG will evaluate the 
navigational safety risks of each proposal on a case-by-case basis.
    The final study will be submitted to the Coast Guard's Office of 
Navigation Systems (CG-NAV-2) for consideration and to inform the Coast 
Guard's ongoing efforts to establish shipping safety fairways along the 
Atlantic Coast, which can be found at 85 FR 37034.
    The final study is available for viewing and download from the 
Federal Register docket at http://www.regulations.gov or the USCG 
Navigation Center website at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports.

    Dated: May 3, 2022.
Laura M. Dickey,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2022-10457 Filed 5-13-22; 8:45 am]
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