[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58591-58592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18444]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0351]


Consolidated Port Approaches Port Access Route Studies (CPAPARS) 
Final Notice

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notification.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard published a document on March 10, 2023, that 
announced the availability of the final Consolidated Port Approaches 
Port Access Route Studies. In addition, the Coast Guard requested 
comments concerning the final report. After a review of the comments 
received, the Coast Guard has determined that it is not necessary to 
revise the final report, and therefore considers it to be complete as 
published.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document 
call or email Maureen Kallgren, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1561, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 58592]]

Background and Purpose

    On April 5, 2017, the Coast Guard announced the completion of the 
Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study in the Federal Register (82 FR 
16510), which is available for viewing and download from the Coast 
Guard Navigation Center's website at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-studies.
    The ACPARS identified navigation safety corridors along the 
Atlantic Coast based on the predominant two-way vessel traffic and 
customary routes confirmed with AIS data for offshore deep draft and 
coastal seagoing tug/tow vessels. The study recommended using these 
corridor locations to establish shipping safety fairways or other 
appropriate vessel routing measures.
    Recognizing the ACPARS only analyzed coastal, longshore, and 
predominantly north/south vessel transit routes along the Atlantic 
Coast, the Coast Guard announced new studies focused on port approaches 
and international entry and departure areas along the Atlantic Coast to 
supplement the ACPARS on March 15, 2019 (84 FR 9541). On September 9, 
2022, the Coast Guard announced the availability of the Consolidated 
Port Approaches and International Entry and Departure Transit Areas 
Port Access Route Studies, (CPAPARS) (87 FR 55449). The CPAPARS 
summarizes the findings of four regional port access route studies: the 
Northern New York Bight; Seacoast of New Jersey Including Offshore 
Approaches to the Delaware Bay, Delaware; Approaches to the Chesapeake 
Bay, Virginia; and the Seacoast of North Carolina; as well as ongoing 
dialogue with the maritime industry.
    To provide continued engagement with stakeholders, the Coast Guard 
announced the availability of an updated CPAPARS report and provided a 
ninety-day comment period (88 FR 15055).

Discussion of Comments

    Comments were submitted by representatives of the maritime 
community, wind energy developers, a state government agency, and 
private citizens.
    Most comments were concerned with the recommended shipping safety 
fairways' proximity to and impact on potential offshore wind energy 
areas. To address these concerns, the Coast Guard has been working 
extensively with the Bureau of Ocean Energy management (BOEM) 
throughout the development of the incoming Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing fairways along the Atlantic Coast.\1\ The 
forthcoming NPRM will outline the adjustments that have been made to 
the fairway dimensions and the work we have done with BOEM to identify 
and resolve any conflicts.
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    \1\ https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202204&RIN=1625-AC57. Last visited July 20, 
2023.
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    One commenter urged the Coast Guard to consider underwater cables 
when designing the fairways. We have considered all known underwater 
cables and their potential impacts on the proposed fairways, TSS, and 
precautionary areas. None were found to restrict, endanger, or 
interfere with navigation.
    Another commenter asked us to consider the impacts on the fairways 
on the White House's offshore wind development goals. We do, and we 
believe that these goals are best served by the establishment of 
consistent and well-defined fairways.
    One commenter recommended that the Coast Guard coordinate with the 
Department of Defense to ensure that the fairways would have no impact 
on national security. We have and will continue to do so throughout the 
fairway establishment process.
    One commenter requested that the Coast Guard acknowledge that 
vessels in the U.S. EEZ are permitted to navigate through wind farms in 
contrast to Europe, where vessels must avoid wind energy areas 
wholesale. We acknowledge this but believe that protecting these wind 
energy areas from the hazards associated with navigating vessels is the 
best way to help The White House achieve its renewable energy goals.
    One commenter believed that the PARS methodology could be improved 
using a more granular approach and challenged the Coast Guard's use of 
the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC) 
methodology. The USCG uses the PIANC as a starting place to determine 
widths for historic shipping routes. Marine planners review and adjust 
the widths based on input from stakeholders, AIS data sets broken down 
by ship type, and through collaboration with other ocean users (e.g., 
renewable energy lessees). The final fairway widths are finalized based 
on this collaboration among all parties to ensure safe and equitable 
design of fairways on the OCS.
    This commenter also requested an explanation for the variability in 
fairway width. The fairways vary in width because they have been 
intentionally designed to accommodate OCS development. The fairways 
have been designed in coordination with BOEM and the relevant 
stakeholders and the variability is a result of this coordination.
    This notice is being issued under authority located in 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) as well as 46 U.S.C. 70003.

The Coast Guard.

    Dated: August 21, 2023.
Michael D. Emerson,
Director, Marine Transportation Systems, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2023-18444 Filed 8-25-23; 8:45 am]
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