[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 17, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-11978]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: May 17, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD 94-045]
Differential Global Positioning System, Northeast Atlantic
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 Northeast Atlantic 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 June 16, 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 LTJG Randy
Navarro at (202) 267-1058 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 GPS Information Center (GPSIC) in
Alexandria, VA, (703) 313-5910. For information on the BBS, call the
GPSIC watchstander at (703) 313-5900.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LTJG Randy Navarro, Radionavigation Division, (202) 267-1058.
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 the Differential Global
Positioning System (DGPS) service in the northeastern United States.
DGPS is a new radionavigation service that improves upon the 100 meter
accuracy of the existing Global Position 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 six sites along
the northeast Atlantic coastline for the DGPS equipment. The sites are
in the vicinity of Bass Harbor Head, ME; Portsmouth Harbor, NH;
Chatham, MA; Montauk Point, NY; Sandy Hook, NJ; and Cape Henlopen, DE.
The sites are used already for radionavigational purposes and were
chosen, in part, because their proposed 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 to 325 KHz) using less than 25 watts
(effective radiated power). Signal transmissions at these low frequency
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 existing antenna or
install a 90 foot guyed antenna with an accompanying ground plane. A
ground plane for this 90 foot antenna 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 300 feet, but this length may be shortened to
fit within property boundaries. Whenever 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 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. The antennas 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. At
Portsmouth Harbor, NH, and Cape Henlopen, DE, mast height must be
increased to approximately 40 feet to ensure that the visibility of
satellites is not blocked by existing structures.
(c) Equipment Shelter
Existing radiobeacon equipment shelters will be used 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 each of the proposed sites, if backup power
is needed. A telephone line will be required at each site for remote
monitoring and operation.
Description of Each Site
The Bass Harbor Head, ME, site is located in the vicinity of the
Acadia National Park. In the course of data collection, significant
questions were raised on this site concerning the impact on visitors to
the Acadia National Park and land ownership. The Coast Guard determined
that additional study is needed to examine these issues. Therefore, a
separate environmental analysis concerning site selection will be
developed.
The Portsmouth Harbor, NH, site is located at the Portsmouth Harbor
lighthouse, situated near the town of New Castle, NH. The Portsmouth
Harbor lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic
Places. The Coast Guard and NH State Historic Preservation Officer
(SHPO) agree that the proposed project will have no effect on the
historic property. There is an existing radiobeacon in operation at
this site that has been modified as a prototype DGPS site for test and
evaluation purposes. DGPS electronic equipment will be housed in an
existing structure. The existing radiobeacon antenna will be used.
The Chatham, MA, site is located at the Chatham lighthouse,
situated near the town of Chatham, MA. The Chatham lighthouse is listed
in the National Register of Historic Places. The Coast Guard and MA
SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no adverse effect on the
historic property. There is an existing radiobeacon in operation at
this site. DGPS electronic equipment will be housed in the existing
structure. The existing radiobeacon antenna will be used.
The Montauk Point, NY, site is adjacent to the Montauk Point
lighthouse, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
and is located at the northeast point of Long Island. The Coast Guard
and NY SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no effect on the
historic property. There is an existing radiobeacon in operation at
this site that has been modified as a prototype DGPS site for test and
evaluation purposes. DGPS electronic equipment will be housed in the
existing equipment hut. The existing radiobeacon antenna will be used.
The Sandy Hook, NJ, site is located approximately 5 miles north of
Highland, NJ, at USCG Group Sandy Hook. The site is in the Fort Hancock
and Sandy Hook Proving Ground Historic Landmark District. The Coast
Guard and NJ SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no effect
on the historic property. This site has been used for navigational
operations in the past and, as a result, has much of the infrastructure
in place. The DGPS transmitting equipment will be housed in an existing
equipment building. The 90 foot guyed transmit antenna and ground plane
will be erected on the site of a previous antenna.
The Cape Henlopen, DE, site is located within the Cape Henlopen
State Park near the towns of Lewes and North Shores, DE. The Coast
Guard and DE SHPO agree that the proposed project will have no adverse
effect on possible historic WWII Army bunkers at the site. There is an
existing radiobeacon in operation at this site that has been modified
as a prototype DGPS site for test and evaluation purposes. DGPS
electronic equipment will be housed in the existing equipment hut. The
existing whip antenna will be replaced with a 90 foot guyed antenna and
ground plane.
Implementation of a DGPS service in the Northeast Atlantic Region
is determined to have no significant effect on the quality of the human
environment or require preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement.
Dated: May 11, 1994.
R.C. Houle,
Acting Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 94-11978 Filed 5-16-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
