Notice2021-23103
Port Access Route Study: Approaches to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
October 22, 2021
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard announces the completion of the Port Access Route Study for the Approaches to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. The study was conducted to determine whether to recommend changes to enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses as offshore energy development matures and to evaluate the need for establishing or changing existing vessel routing measures. This notice summarizes the study's recommendation.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 202 (Friday, October 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58684-58685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23103]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2019-0862]
Port Access Route Study: Approaches to the Chesapeake Bay,
Virginia
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the completion of the Port Access
Route Study for the Approaches to the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. The
study was conducted to determine whether to recommend changes to
enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and
waterway uses as offshore energy development matures and to evaluate
the need for establishing or changing existing vessel routing measures.
This notice summarizes the study's recommendation.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document
call or email Matthew Creelman, Marine Planner at Fifth Coast Guard
District, telephone (757) 398-6225, email,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#014c6075756964762f4a2f427364646d6c606f3341747262662f6c686d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="efa28e9b9b878a98c1a4c1ac9d8a8a83828e81ddaf9a9c8c88c1828683">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
BOEM--Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Department of the
Interior
DELMARVA--Delaware, Maryland, Virginia peninsula (Eastern Shore)
FR--Federal Register
NEPA--National Environmental Policy Act
PARS--Port Access Route Study
TSS--Traffic Separation Scheme
USCG--United States Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security
II. Background and Purpose
We conducted this Port Access Route Study (PARS) following a Notice
of Study, published in the Federal Register on November 27, 2019 (84 FR
65398). There was a 60-day public comment period, as well as other
outreach efforts identified in Section C of the study. During the
comment period USCG received 11 comments in response to the notice.
[[Page 58685]]
On June 16, 2021, we published a Notice of Availability of the
draft study in the Federal Register (86 FR 32052) with a 30-day public
comment period with a request for public comment.
During the 30-day public comment period, the USCG received eleven
comments in response to our draft study, as well as other outreach
identified in Section G of the study.
All comments and supporting documents are available in the public
docket and can be viewed at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. To view
documents, in the ``Search'' box insert ``USCG-2019-0862'' and click
``Search.'' Then select ``Supporting & Related Material'' in the
Document Type column.
Comments have been addressed and summarized in section III.
The goal of the study is to enhance navigational safety in the
study area by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses. We
have undertaken measures to (1) determine what, if any, navigational
safety concerns exist with vessel transits in the study area; (2)
determine whether to recommend changes to enhance navigational safety
by examining existing shipping routes and all other waterway uses; and
(3) reconcile any other proposed changes with other reasonable waterway
uses.
III. Study Recommendations
The recommendations of this PARS are based on the data analysis for
historical vessel traffic patterns, comments received to the docket,
public outreach, and consultation with other government agencies and
stakeholders. Recommendations in the draft study include:
1. An expansion of the precautionary area between the two Traffic
Separation Schemes to preserve a naturally occurring deep draft slough
for future increases in vessel size.
2. Modifications to shipping safety fairways as proposed in the
Atlantic Coast Shipping Safety Fairways rulemaking, to include:
a. Re-orienting the ``Chesapeake Bay to Delaware Bay'' connector
fairway to allow space for an offshore anchorage in the approach to the
Delaware Bay.
b. Re-orienting the ``Cape Charles to Montauk Point'' fairway to
route closer to the DELMARVA peninsula.
c. Add one connector fairway from the offshore ``St. Lucie to New
York'' fairway and the Chesapeake Bay TSS, south of the Commercial
Virginia Offshore Wind project area, to facilitate safe transit of
commercial international vessels around future offshore energy
installations.
The final study considered several comments from port and industry
stakeholders regarding larger vessels calling on the Port of Virginia
in the future, suggesting an additional fairway connector from the
Atlantic Coast PARS would be required. These comments were well
supported and resulted in changes to the final recommendations.
IV. Summary of Changes
Section E was modified to address comments on fishing activity
within the study area and now contains calculations for recommended
safe transit widths based on fishing vessel transit data. Section F
changes resulted from public comments requesting addition of a
connector fairway north of the Commercial Virginia Offshore Wind lease
area. The comments supported the need to preserve a deep draft route to
support and promote navigation safety of larger vessels expected to
call more frequently on the Port of Virginia in the future. All changes
to the final study are indicated by italicized type.
V. Future Actions
The USCG will continue to serve as a NEPA cooperating agency to
BOEM's environmental review of any proposed project. In that role, the
USCG will evaluate the navigational safety risks of each proposal on a
case-by-case basis.
The final study will be submitted to the Office of Navigation
Systems (CG-NAV-2) for consideration and possible inclusion as part of
a future Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Shipping Safety Fairways
along the Atlantic Coast.
The final study is available for viewing and download from the
Federal Register docket at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a> or the USCG
Navigation Center website at <a href="https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports">https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports</a>.
Dated: October 19, 2021.
Richard E. Batson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Fifth Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 2021-23103 Filed 10-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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