National Ocean Service, Office of Coast Survey, Marine Chart Division

Docket #: USCG–2012–0103 Based on the coordinates provided within the Federal Register (Vol. 77, No. 217, 33 CFR part 110, PP. 66942-45 ) for the Belmont and Bayou Goula anchorages, the Marine Chart Division, Office of Coast Survey, NOAA, has found there to be conflicts with regard to each of the two respective locations. Both, the proposed Belmont Anchorage and the proposed Bayou Goula Anchorage, encroach on “Revetment Area[s] § 207.200” (see uploaded file). According to 33 CFR Ch. 11 (7-1-12 Edition), § 207.200 states: “Except in case of great emergency, no vessel or craft shall anchor over revetted banks of the river, and no floating plant other than launches and similar small craft shall land against banks protected by revetment except at regular commercial landings. In all cases, every precaution to avoid damage to the revetment works shall be exercised. The construction of log rafts along mattressed or paved banks or the tying up and landing of log rafts against such banks shall be performed in such a manner as to cause no damage to the mattress work or bank paving. Generally, mattress work extends out into the river 600 feet from the low water line. Information as to the location of revetted areas may be obtained from, and will be published from time to time by, the District Engineers, Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee, and the President, Mississippi River Commission, Vicksburg, Mississippi. ” Furthermore, based on the coordinates provided in Vol. 77, No. 217, 33 CFR part 110, PP. 66942-45 of the Federal Register, the proposed Bayou Goula Anchorage also extends over two charted “Pipeline Area[s]” (see second uploaded file). NOAA recommends revising or relocating each of the proposed anchorages so that there are no conflicts with elements that may pose a danger to mariners and/or damage to USACE revetment works.