[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-26314]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: October 24, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 94-066]
Differential Global Positioning System, Pacific Corridor Region;
Environmental Assessment
agency: Coast Guard, DOT.
action: Notice of availability.
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summary: The Coast Guard has prepared a Programmatic Environmental
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for
implementing a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) Service in
the Pacific Corridor Region of the United States. The EA concluded that
there will be no significant impact on the environment and that
preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement will not be necessary.
This notice announces the availability of the EA and FONSI and solicits
comments on them.
dates: Comments must be received on or before November 23, 1994.
addresses: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine
Safety Council, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 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. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477.
Copies of the EA and FONSI may be obtained by contacting LCDR
George Privon at (202) 267-0297 or faxing a request at (202) 267-4427.
A copy of the EA (less enclosures) is also available on the Electronic
Bulletin Board System (BBS) at the Navigation Information Service (NIS)
in Alexandria, VA (703) 313-5910. For information on the BBS, call the
NIS watchstander at (703) 313-5900.
for further information contact: LCDR George Privon, Radionavigation
Division, (202) 267-0297.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
Copies of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment (EA) and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are available as described
under ADDRESSES. The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to
comment on these documents. The Coast Guard may revise these documents
in view of the comments. If revisions are warranted, availability of
the revised documents will be announced by a later notice in the
Federal Register.
Background
As required by Congress, the Coast Guard is preparing to install
the equipment necessary to implement a Differential Global Positioning
System (DGPS) service in the Pacific Corridor area of the United
States. DGPS is a new radionavigation service that improves upon the
100 meter accuracy of the existing Global Positioning System (GPS) to
provide an accuracy of better than 10 meters. For vessels, this degree
of accuracy is critical for precise electronic navigation in harbors
and harbor approaches and will reduce the number of vessel groundings,
collisions, personal injuries, fatalities, and potential hazardous
cargo spills resulting from such incidents.
After extensive study, the Coast Guard has selected five sites
along the Pacific Corridor coastline for the DGPS equipment. The sites
are in the vicinity of Point Loma, CA; Point Arguello, CA; Pigeon
Point, CA; Point Blunt, CA; and Cape Mendocino, CA. The sites are
currently used for related purposes and were chosen, in part, because
their proposed future use is consistent with their past and present
use, thus minimizing further impact on the environment. DGPS signal
transmissions will be broadcast in the marine radiobeacon frequency
band (283.5 to325 KHz) using less than 50 watts (effective radiated
power). Signal transmissions at these low frequencies and power levels
have not been found to be harmful to the surrounding environment.
Proposed Installations at Each Site
(a) Radiobeacon Antenna--The Coast Guard proposes to use either an
80 foot whip antenna or install a 90 foot guyed antenna with an
accompanying ground plane. A ground plane for these antenna's consists
of approximately 120 copper radials (6 gauge copper wire) installed 6
inches (or less) beneath the soil and projecting outward from the
antenna base. The optimum radial length is between 200-300 feet, but
this length may be shortened to fit within property boundaries.
Wherever possible, a cable plow method will be used in the radial
installation to minimize soil disturbance. Installation of the ground
plane may require some clearing of trees and bushes on the site.
(b) DGPS Antennas--Each site will also require two 10 foot masts to
support four small (4 inches by 18 inches diameter) receiving antennas.
The masts will be installed on a concrete foundation measuring
approximately 3 feet by 3 feet by 15 inches. These masts are needed to
support the primary and backup reference receivers and integrity
monitors. The location of the two masts will be in the vicinity of the
electronic equipment building or hut, but at least 50 feet to 100 feet
from existing structures.
(c) Equipment shelter--For each site, except at Point Blunt, where
the existing fog signal building will be used, a 10 foot by 16 foot
equipment hut will be needed to house the DGPS equipment.
(d) Utilities--The Coast Guard proposes to use available commercial
power as the primary source for the electronic equipment. However,
existing diesel generators are available at the Point Loma and Point
Arguello sites and may be utilized if backup power is needed. A
telephone line will be required at each site for remote monitoring and
operation.
Description of Each Site
The Point Loma Light Station, CA site is located at the entrance to
San Diego Bay. This site is currently being used for radiobeacon
operations and, as a result, has much of the infrastructure in place.
The site will require installation of a 90 foot guyed transmit antenna.
In addition, a 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut will be installed to
house the DGPS electronic equipment. The Coast Guard and CA State
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) agree that the proposed project
will have no effect on the nearby light station.
The Point Arguello, CA, site is near the city of Lompoc and
adjacent to Vandenburg AFB. This site is currently being used for
radiobeacon operations and, as a result, has much of the infrastructure
in place. The site will require installation of a 90 foot guyed
transmit antenna and a 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut to house the
DGPS electronic equipment.
The Pigeon Point, CA site is located north of the city of Santa
Cruz near Pescadero, CA. This site is currently being used for
radiobeacon operations and, as a result, has much of the needed
infrastructure in place. The site will require installation of a 90
foot guyed transmit antenna and a 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut to
house the DGPS electronic equipment. The Coast Guard and CA State
Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) agree that the proposed project
will have no effect on the adjacent light station.
The Point Blunt, CA site is located on Angel Island within San
Francisco Bay. This site performed related operations in the past, as a
result, has much of the needed infrastructure in place. The site will
require installation of an 80 foot whip antenna. DGPS equipment will be
housed in the existing fog signal building.
The Cape Mendocino, CA site is located south of Eureka near
Capetown, CA. The site will require installation of a 90 foot guyed
transmit antenna and a 10 foot by 16 foot equipment hut to house the
DGPS electronic equipment. The Coast Guard and CA State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO) agree that the proposed project will have
no effect on the adjacent lightstation.
Implementation of a DGPS service in the Pacific Corridor Region is
determined to have no significant effect on the quality of the human
environment or require preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement.
Dated: October 19, 1994.
G.A. Penington,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 94-26314 Filed 10-21-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
