[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 18 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5454-5455]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-2091]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
[CGD 95-005]
Area To Be Avoided Off the Washington Coast
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will conduct a public meeting to obtain
information on whether the applicability of an area to be avoided
(ATBA) off the Washington Coast should be expanded to include vessels
and barges other than those carrying cargoes of oil or hazardous
materials.
[[Page 5455]] DATES: The meeting will be held February 23, 1995, from
9:00 a.m. until the last speaker is heard. Written comments must be
received not later than March 3, 1995.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the North Auditorium on the
fourth floor of the Federal Building, 915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA
98174. Written comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary,
Marine Safety Council (G-LRA), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 Second Street SW,
Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may be delivered to room 3406 at the same
address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. Comments will become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at room 3406, Coast Guard
Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday, through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Margie G. Hegy, Project Manager, Vessel Traffic Services Division,
phone (202) 267-0415. This telephone is equipped to take messages on a
24-hour basis.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An ATBA is a defined area that all ships or
certain classes of ships are encouraged to avoid because navigation is
particularly hazardous or it is exceptionally important to avoid
casualties within the area. On December 7, 1994, the Maritime Safety
Committee of the International Maritime Organization adopted an ATBA
proposed by the U.S. off the Washington coast in the vicinity of the
Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary. The ATBA will go into effect
on June 7, 1995.
In order to reduce the risk of marine casualty and resulting
pollution and damage to the environment of the Olympic Coast National
Marine Sanctuary, all vessels, including barges, carrying cargoes
classified by the United States as hazardous materials (e.g., oil or
chemicals) should avoid the area bounded by a line connecting the
following points:
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Latitude Longitude
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(1) 48 deg.23.3'N..................................... 124 deg.38.2' W
(2) 48 deg.23.5'N..................................... 124 deg.38.2' W
(3) 48 deg.25.3'N..................................... 124 deg.46.9' W
(4) 47 deg.51.7'N..................................... 125 deg.15.5' W
(5) 47 deg.07.7'N..................................... 124 deg.47.5' W
(6) 47 deg.07.7'N..................................... 124 deg.11.0' W
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Because of concerns raised shortly before IMO considered the U.S.
proposal, the U.S. delegation informed the Committee that the issue of
spending this ATBA to include other categories of commercial vessels
would be considered further at the national level and, if appropriate,
an amendment would be submitted for IMO consideration. This meeting
will give the public an opportunity to provide information and
documentation as we reconsider this issue.
In addition to information you wish to provide, the Coast Guard is
also interested in your response to the following questions:
1. What interest or industry group do you represent?
2. If an Agent, do you represent U.S. or foreign flag vessels?
3. Do you currently own, operate, or charter commercial vessels that
have occasion to operate within the Marine Sanctuary? If yes, please
describe number, type, length, gross tons, amounts of bunker fuel
carried, and type/quantity of cargo.
4. What measure (e.g., length, gross tonnage, barrels of product and/or
bunker carried) do you recommend be used to establish applicability for
the ATBA? Why?
5. Are there products/cargo other than petroleum that should be
included in the applicability? If so, why and how should they be
classified/identified? What threat do they pose to the sanctuary
resources?
6. It has been suggested that the applicability of the ATBA be expanded
to include all vessels greater than 500 gross tons regardless of the
quantity or type of cargo carried. What impact (e.g., economic, extra
steaming time, safety) would this have on your business/industry?
7. If you have a specific proposal to expand the applicability,
quantify the benefit to the environment that would result. What is your
proposal based on? Why should these vessels be included?
8. How many vessels (or vessel transits) per year are potentially
affected by the current ATBA applicability? How many by expanding the
applicability to include the vessels as suggested in number 6 or 7
above?
9. Prior to creation of the ATBA, where have your vessels historically
transited during coastal transits (i.e., how many miles offshore)? If
you call on a coastal port within the Sanctuary, describe your
approach/track line to the port.
10. Are there industry or company policies which establish vessel
routes? If so, what are they?
Attendance is open to the public. With advance notice, and as time
permits, members of the public may make oral presentations during the
meeting. Persons wishing to make oral presentations should notify the
person listed above under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than
two days before the meeting. Written material may be submitted prior
to, during, or after the meeting.
Dated: January 23, 1995.
G.A. Penington,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 95-2091 Filed 1-26-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
