95-31376. Conformance of Uniform State Waterways Marking System and Western Rivers Marking System with the United States Aids to Navigation System and the Maritime Buoyage System of the International Association of Lighthouse Authorities  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 1995)]
    [Proposed Rules]
    [Pages 67345-67346]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-31376]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Coast Guard
    
    33 CFR Parts 62 and 66
    
    [CGD 94-091]
    RIN 2115-AF14
    
    
    Conformance of Uniform State Waterways Marking System and Western 
    Rivers Marking System with the United States Aids to Navigation System 
    and the Maritime Buoyage System of the International Association of 
    Lighthouse Authorities
    
    AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is considering changes that would bring the 
    Uniform State Waterways Marking System (USWMS) and the Western Rivers 
    Marking System (WRMS) more into conformance with the U.S. Aids to 
    Navigation System (USATONS) and the 
    
    [[Page 67346]]
    Maritime Buoyage System (MBS) of the International Association of 
    Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). These changes would help mariners avoid 
    misinterpreting signals they might see when transiting different bodies 
    of water now subject to different marking systems.
    
    DATES: Please submit comments on or before February 12, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
    Safety Council (G-LRA, Room 3406) [CGD 94-091], 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. to 3 p.m., 
    Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. the telephone number is 
    (202) 267-1477.
        The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this notice 
    and request for comments. Comments will become part of this docket and 
    will be available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast 
    Guard Headquarters, between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
    except Federal holidays.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    LTJG Chad Asplund, Division of Short Range Aids to Navigation, 
    Telephone: (202) 267-1386.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    
    Request for Comments
    
        The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
    this notice and request for comments by submitting written data, views, 
    or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include their names 
    and addresses, identify this rulemaking [CG 94-091] and the specific 
    section of this notice to which each comment applies, and give the 
    reason for each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and 
    attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8+ by 11 inches, 
    suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting 
    acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
    addressed postcards or envelopes.
    
    Background and Purpose
    
        In 1966 the USWMS was created to provide a system that would 
    adequately mark State waters. At its inception it was meant in part to 
    supplement the USATONS. It offered two types of aids to navigation, a 
    system of regulatory markers as well as a system to supplement the 
    USATONS. It features red and black buoys to mark lateral hazards.
        The WRMS was introduced to establish a system that would adequately 
    mark the dynamic waterways of the Mississippi River and its Western 
    counterparts. Some deviations from the USATONS were necessary to 
    adequately mark these waterways. The WRMS allowed for only a few light 
    characteristics to mark the waterways. As the number of users 
    increased, and as the number of aids increased, a need arose to 
    differentiate among the aids in the WRMS.
        In 1982, the United States, along with most of the world's other 
    maritime Nations, became a party to the agreement that established the 
    MBS of the IALA. In 1985 the United States began converting the USATONS 
    to harmonize with the MBS; if finished in 1991. Yet the systems that 
    mark the Uniform State Waterways and the Western Rivers are not fully 
    in conformance with the single system comprising MBS and USATONS.
        The purpose of this proposed change is to develop an approach to 
    adequately mark the Uniform State Waterways and Western Rivers while 
    minimizing the number of systems of aids to navigation.
        The Coast Guard is considering the following changes:
        1. Allowing the five existing flash characteristics authorized in 
    the USATONS to be used in the WRMS.
        2. Using non-lateral daymarks as crossing daymarks in the WRMS.
        3. Replacing the black buoys in the USWMS with green buoys.
        4. Removing cardinal marks from the USWMS.
        5. Marking hazards in the USWMS with the appropriate lateral marks 
    as in the USATONS.
    
    Early Participation
    
        The Coast Guard is consulting with the National Association of 
    State Boating-Law Administrators and with users in the Second Coast 
    Guard District, as well as with State maritime authorities, to gather 
    information required for this proposed change.
    
    Solicitation of Views
    
        The Coast Guard solicits comments from all segments of the marine 
    community and other interested persons on economic and other impacts 
    and [suggested alternatives related to aids to navigation system] to 
    adequately mark the Uniform State Waterways and the Western Rivers. 
    Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
    identify this docket [CG 94-091], identify their concern or concerns, 
    state what impacts may result from one or more of the alternatives 
    identified, suggest other alternatives, and provide reasons to support 
    the suggested alternatives. The Coast Guard is particularly interested 
    in receiving information, views, data, and reasons on the following 
    questions and areas of concern:
        1. WHAT WOULD BE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF A PROPOSED CHANGE IN 
    LIGHTING CHARACTERISTICS ON THE WESTERN RIVERS?
        Would users be adversely affected by having additional lighting 
    characteristics within the WRMS?
        What financial impact would this have?
        Who are the persons most affected?
        2. WHAT OTHER FACTORS AFFECT A PROPOSED CHANGE IN LIGHTING?
        Is there any other information that you feel may be helpful in 
    implementing this change with less impact on the affected persons?
        3. SHOULD CROSSING DAYBOARDS USED IN THE WRMS BE REPLACED BY THE 
    NON-LATERAL DAYBOARDS USED IN THE USATONS?
        Should the currently used single-color crossing dayboards be 
    replaced by the red-and-white or green-and-white non-lateral marks for 
    better visibility?
        4. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MARK OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE USWMS?
        Should cardinal marks be retained, or should the States adopt a 
    system similar to that of the USATONS?
        5. SHOULD THE MEANING OF THE RED-AND-WHITE STRIPED BUOYS IN THE 
    USWMS BE CHANGED SO SUCH BUOYS MARK SAFE WATER AS IN THE USATONS?
    
        Dated: December 20, 1995.
    Rudy K. Peschel,
    Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and 
    Waterway Services.
    [FR Doc. 95-31376 Filed 12-28-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
    
    

Document Information

Published:
12/29/1995
Department:
Coast Guard
Entry Type:
Proposed Rule
Action:
Advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.
Document Number:
95-31376
Dates:
Please submit comments on or before February 12, 1996.
Pages:
67345-67346 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CGD 94-091
RINs:
2115-AF14: U.S. ATON Systems: Western Rivers Marking System and Private Aids to Navigation (CGD 94-091)
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2115-AF14/u-s-aton-systems-western-rivers-marking-system-and-private-aids-to-navigation-cgd-94-091-
PDF File:
95-31376.pdf
CFR: (2)
33 CFR 62
33 CFR 66