[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 47 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12139-12141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-6015]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 167
[USCS-1999-5198]
Port Access Route Study for Approaches to Los Angeles and Long
Beach
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is conducting a study of port-access routes
for the approaches to Los Angeles and Long Beach. The study will
evaluate potential effects of recent port improvement projects on
navigational safety and vessel traffic management efficiency in the
study area and may recommend changes to existing vessel routing
measures. The recommendations of the study may lead to future
rulemaking. The Coast Guard asks for comments on the issued raised and
questions listed in this document.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 10, 1999.
ADDRESSES: You may mail your comments to the Docket Management
Facility, (USCG-1999-5198), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-
401, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington DC 20590-0001, or deliver them
to room PL-401 on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same
address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket.
Comments, and documents as indicated in this preamble, will become part
of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room
PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif Building at the same address
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. You may also access this docket on the Internet at http://
dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For questions on this notice, contact Lieutenant Brian Tetreault,
Vessel Traffic Management Officer, Eleventh Coast Guard District,
telephone 510-437-2951; or Mike Van Houten, Aids to Navigation Section
Chief, Eleventh Coast Guard District, telephone 510-437-2968. For
questions on viewing, or submitting material to the docket, contact
Dorothy Walker, Chief, Dockets, Department of Transportation, telephone
202-366-9329.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to respond to this
notice by submitting written data, views, or arguments. Persons
submitting comments should include their names and addresses, identify
this notice (USCG-1999-5198) and the specific section of this document
to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment.
Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no
larger than 8\1/2\ inches by 11 inches, suitable for copying and
electronic filing to the Docket Management Facility at the address
under ADDRESSES. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments
should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.
The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the
comment period.
The Coast Guard does not plan to hold a public meeting. Persons may
request a public meeting by writing to the Docket Management Facility
at the address under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons
why a meeting would be beneficial. If we determine that the opportunity
for oral
[[Page 12140]]
presentations will aid this study, we will hold a public meeting at a
time and place announced in a later notice of the Federal Register.
Definitions
The following International Maritime Organization (IMO) definition
should help you review this notice and provide comments:
1. Internationally recognized vessel routing system means any
system of one or more routes or routing measures aimed at reducing the
risk of casualties; it includes traffic separation schemes, two-way
routes, recommended tracks, areas to be avoided, inshore traffic zones,
roundabouts, precautionary areas, and deep-water routes.
2. Traffic Separation Scheme or (TSS) means a routing measure aimed
at the separation of opposing streams of traffic by appropriate means
and by the establishment of traffic lanes.
3. Traffic lane means an area within defined limits in which one-
way traffic is established.
4. Separation zone or line means a zone or line separating the
traffic lanes in which ships are proceeding in opposite or nearly
opposite directions; or separating a traffic lane from the adjacent sea
area; or separating traffic lanes designated for particular classes of
ships proceeding in the same direction.
5. Precautionary area means a routing measure comprising an area
within defined limits where ships must navigate with particular caution
and within which the direction of traffic flow may be recommended.
6. Inshore traffic zone means a routing measure comprising a
designated area between the landward boundary of a traffic separation
scheme and the adjacent coast, to be used in accordance with the
provision of Rule 10(d), as amended, of the International Regulations
for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (Collision Regulations).
7. Deep-water route means a route within defined limits which has
been accurately surveyed for clearance of sea bottom and submerged
obstacles as indicated on nautical charts.
Background and Purpose
Port Access Route Studs Requirements. Under the Ports and Waterways
Safety Act (PWSA) [33 U.S.C. 1223(c)], the Secretary of Transportation
may designate necessary fairways and Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS's)
to provide safe access routes for vessels proceeding to and from U.S.
ports. The Secretary delegated this authority to the Commandant, U.S.
Coast Guard, in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR )
Sec. 1.46. The designation of fairways and TSS's recognizes the
paramount right of navigation over all other uses in the designate
areas.
The PWSA requires the Coast Guard to conduct a study of port-access
routes before establishing or adjusting fairways or TSS's. Through the
study process, we must coordinate with Federal, State, and foreign
state agencies (as appropriate) and consider the views of maritime
community representatives, environmental groups, and other interested
stakeholders. A primary purpose of this coordination is, to the extent
practicable, to reconcile the need for safe port-access routes with
other reasonable waterway uses.
Previous port access route studies. The Coast Guard announced an
initial port access route study for the coast of California, including
Los Angeles/Long Beach, in the Federal Register on June 24, 1982 (47 FR
27430). The study recommended establishing a shipping safety fairway
overlaying the Los Angeles/Long Beach precautionary area. This
recommendation has not been implemented.
The Coast Guard announced another port access route study for the
coast of California in the Federal Register on August 24,1 993 (58 FR
44634). this study evaluated the effects of oil tanker transits through
the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and the adequacy of vessel
traffic management measures along the California cost from San
Francisco to Los Angeles. The Coast Guard published study results in
the Federal Register on October 25,1996 (62 FR 55249). The study did
not recommend any changes to the Los Angeles/Long Beach TSS at that
time.
Why is a new port access route study necessary? A study of port-
access routes is needed to evaluate the potential effects of port
improvement projects on navigational safety and vessel traffic
management efficiency and recommend changes, if necessary, to existing
routing measures.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach began major port
improvement projects in 1995. These projects should be completed soon
(Long Breach--June 1999; Los Angeles--January 2000).
Port improvements include the following:
Lengthening of the Los Angeles Approach Channel to extend
3.5 nautical miles beyond the Los Angeles breakwater.
Deepening of the Los Angeles Approach Channel to a project
depth of 81 feet.
Slight eastward shift of the Long Beach Approach to a 355-
degree true inbound course.
Deepening of the Long Beach Approach Channel to a project
depth of 69 feet.
Timeline, Study Area, and process of the new port access route
study. The Coast Guard will begin the study immediately and should
complete it by mid-May 1999.
The study area includes the navigable waters of Los Angeles, and
Long Beach Harbors, the Los Angeles/Long Beach TSS and all waters bound
by the coastline and the following coordinates:
Latitude Longitude
33 deg.-47.00' N 118 deg.-25.40' W
33 deg.-47.00' N 118 deg.-38.60' W
33 deg.-15.50' N 118 deg.-38.60' W
33 deg.-15.50' N 117 deg.-52.70' W
33 deg.-35.30' N 117'-52.70' W
During the study, we will consult with Federal and State agencies
and will consider the views of representatives of the maritime
community, port and harbor authorities or associations, environmental
groups and other interested parties. We will also consider previous
studies and experience in the areas of vessel traffic management,
navigation, ship handling, and the effects of weather, and review prior
analyses of the traffic density. We encourage you to participate in the
study process by submitting comments in response to this notice.
We will publish the results of this port access route study in the
Federal Register. It is possible that the study may validate continued
applicability of existing vessel routing measures and conclude that no
changes are necessary. It is also possible that the study may recommend
one or more changes to enhance navigational safety and vessel traffic
management efficiency. Study recommendations may lead to future
rulemaking.
Questions
To help us conduct the port access route study, we request comments
on the following questions, although comments on related issues under
the broad category of vessel routing are welcome.
1. What navigational hazards do vessels operating in the study area
face? Please describe (consider issues such as port and waterway
configurations, variations in local geography, climate, and other
similar factors). Will there be additional navigational hazards once
port improvement projects are completed? If so, please describe.
2. Are there strains on the current vessel routing system
(increasing traffic density, for example)? If so, please describe. Will
there be additional strains once port improvement projects are
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completed? (We are particularly interested in information on vessel
characteristics and trends, including traffic volume, the size and
types of vessels involved, potential interference with the flow of
commercial traffic, the presence of any unusual cargoes, etc.).
3. Are modifications to existing vessel routing measures needed to
address existing or future hazards and strains and improve traffic
management efficiency in the study area? If so, please describe. What
positive and negative impacts would changes to existing routing
measures or new routing measures have on the study area (consider
proximity of fishing grounds, oil and gas drilling and production
operations, environmental impact, affect on local practices, or any
other potential or actual conflicting activity)?
4. Do you have any specific recommendations regarding aids to
navigation design for the lengthened approach channels? If so, please
describe.
Dated: March 4, 1999.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 99-6015 Filed 3-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M
