Notice2021-28457
Port Access Route Study: Northern New York Bight
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
January 3, 2022
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The First Coast Guard District announces the completion of the Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study (NNYBPARS). The study was conducted to evaluate the adequacy of existing vessel routing measures and determine whether additional vessel routing measures are necessary for port approaches to New York and New Jersey and international and domestic transit areas in the First Coast Guard District's area of responsibility. To accomplish this goal, the First Coast Guard District has undertaken measures to determine whether existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas, changing vessel traffic patterns, effects of weather, or navigational difficulty. The NNYBPARS final report is available for viewing and download from the Federal Register docket at http://www.regulations.gov or the Coast Guard Navigation Center website at https:// www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 1 (Monday, January 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 1 (Monday, January 3, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 107-109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28457]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2020-0278]
Port Access Route Study: Northern New York Bight
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability; final report.
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SUMMARY: The First Coast Guard District announces the completion of the
Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study (NNYBPARS). The study
was conducted to evaluate the adequacy of existing vessel routing
measures and determine whether additional vessel routing measures are
necessary for port approaches to New York and New Jersey and
international and domestic transit areas in the First Coast Guard
District's area of responsibility. To accomplish this goal, the First
Coast Guard District has undertaken measures to determine whether
existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve
navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore
development, current port capabilities and planned improvements,
increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas,
changing vessel traffic patterns, effects of weather, or navigational
difficulty. The NNYBPARS final report 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 Coast Guard Navigation Center website at <a href="https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports">https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice,
contact Mr. Craig Lapiejko, Waterways Management at First Coast Guard
District, telephone (617) 223-8351, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#355647545c521b511b5954455c505f5e5a75404656521b585c59"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b4d7c6d5ddd39ad09ad8d5c4ddd1dedfdbf4c1c7d7d39ad9ddd8">[email protected]</span></a>.
I. Table of Abbreviations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
LNM Local Notice to Mariners
MSIB Marine Safety Information Bulletin
MTS Marine Transportation System
NAD 83 North American Datum of 1983
NNYB Northern New York Bight
PARS Port Access Route Study
PWSA Ports and Waterways Safety Act
TSS Traffic Separation Scheme
USCG United States Coast Guard
II. Background and Purpose
When did the Coast Guard conduct this Port Access Route Study (PARS)?
We conducted this PARS following our announcement of the PARS in a
notice published in the Federal Register on June 29, 2020, entitled
``Port Access Route Study (PARS): Northern New York Bight,'' (85 FR
38907). The public was afforded a 60-day comment period, and two
virtual public meetings were held via teleconference and webinar to
receive public input. The Coast Guard received 25 comments in response
to our Federal Register Notice, public meetings and other outreach
efforts, which included announcement via a Marine Safety Information
Bulletin (MSIB), publication in the Local Notice to Mariners (LNM), and
Facebook and Twitter posts. All comments and supporting documents to
this document are available in a public docket and can be viewed at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
[[Page 108]]
On April 12, 2021, we published a supplemental notice of study;
request for comments entitled ``Port Access Route Study (PARS):
Northern New York Bight'' in the Federal Register (86 FR 18996) seeking
additional information. The public was afforded a 30-day comment
period. The Coast Guard received five comments to this document in
response to our Federal Register Notice, and other outreach efforts,
which included an announcement via a MSIB, publication in the LNM, and
Facebook and Twitter posts. All comments and supporting documents to
this document are available in a public docket and can be viewed at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
On July 15, 2021, we published a notice of availability of draft
report and public meeting; request for comments, entitled ``Port Access
Route Study (PARS): Northern New York Bight'' in the Federal Register
(86 FR 37339) announcing the availability of the draft version of the
study report. The public was initially afforded a 45-day comment
period. On September 09, 2021, the comment period was re-opened for an
additional 22 days.
During the combined 67-day public comment period, the Coast Guard
received 21 comments in response to our Federal Register Notice and
other outreach, which included four public meetings (one virtual and
three in person), announcements via MSIBs, publications in the LNM, and
Facebook and Twitter posts. All comments and supporting documents are
available in a public docket and can be viewed at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>.
A total of 51 comments were submitted by members of the public
during the 157 days of open comment periods and 6 public meetings.
A synopsis of the comments and copies of the First Coast Guard
District's public outreach can be found in the report.
What is the study area?
The New York Bight encompasses a very large area starting along the
coasts of New York and New Jersey, from Montauk Point, NY, to Cape May,
NJ, and then offshore to the outer edge of the Continental Shelf. The
Northern New York Bight study area is described as an area bounded by a
line connecting the following geographic positions:
40 18'00.0'' N 074 00'00.0'' W;
38 57'00.0'' N 071 16'00.0'' W;
39 47'24.0'' N 069 40'01.2'' W;
41 07'12.0'' N 071 34'33.6'' W;
41 04'15.6'' N 071 51'25.2'' W; and
thence along the coast line back to the origin. All geographic points
are based on North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).
This area extends approximately 150 nautical miles seaward and
covers approximately 25,000 square nautical miles including the
offshore area of New Jersey and New York used by private, commercial,
and public vessels transiting to and from these ports. An illustration
showing the study area is below with additional illustrations available
in the online public docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN03JA22.250
[[Page 109]]
Why did the Coast Guard conduct this PARS?
The Coast Guard conducted the NNYBPARS to evaluate the adequacy of
existing vessel routing measures and determine whether additional
vessel routing measures are necessary for port approaches to New York
and New Jersey and international and domestic transit areas in the
First District area of responsibility. The NNYBPARS considered whether
existing or additional routing measures were necessary to improve
navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore
development, current port capabilities and planned improvements,
increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas,
changing vessel traffic patterns, effects of weather, or navigational
difficulty. Vessel routing measures, which include traffic separation
schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes,
precautionary areas, and areas to be avoided, are implemented to reduce
the risk of marine casualties.
PARS are conducted anytime the Coast Guard considers a need to
recommend routing changes, within the territorial seas, for any port.
The Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA) requires the Coast Guard to
conduct a study before establishing new or adjusting existing fairways
or Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS). U.S. waterways support multiple
uses, such as commercial shipping, tug and barge operations, commercial
and recreational fishing, research vessels, offshore support vessels,
military vessels, and aquaculture apparatus.
How did the First Coast Guard District conduct this PARS?
The PARS was conducted in alignment with guidance outlined in Coast
Guard Commandant Instruction 16003.2B, Marine Planning to Operate and
Maintain the Marine Transportation System (MTS) and Implement National
Policy which is available in the docket or see <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/15/2001716995/-1/-1/0/CI_16003_2A.PDF">https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/15/2001716995/-1/-1/0/CI_16003_2A.PDF</a>.
What were the objectives of the study?
The objectives of the study were to;
i. Determine present traffic density;
ii. Determine potential traffic density;
iii. Determine if existing vessel routing measures are adequate;
iv. Determine if existing vessel routing measures require
modifications;
v. Determine the type of modifications;
vi. Define and justify the needs for new vessel routing measures;
vii. Determine the type of new vessel routing measures; and
viii. Determine if the usage of the vessel routing measures must be
mandatory for specific classes of vessels.
III. Viewing the Report
The NNYBPARS report 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 Coast
Guard Navigation Center website at <a href="https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports">https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=PARSReports</a>.
To view the NNYBPARS report in the docket, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, and insert ``USCG-2020-0278'' in the ``search
box.'' Click ``Search''. Then scroll down to the document entitled
``FINAL REPORT Northern New York Bight PARS December 27, 2021'' under
the document type ``Supporting & Related Material.''
IV. Conclusion
As required by the March 15, 2019 Federal Register Notice of study;
request for comments (84 FR 9541), the First Coast Guard District
considered whether it should revise existing regulations to improve
navigation safety in NNYB due to factors such as vessel traffic
density, vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigation
challenges in the study area. The First Coast Guard District analyzed
all available sources of data relevant to this process, including
existing and potential traffic patterns, existing regulations, public
submissions, and other factors. The First Coast Guard District
identified five different alternatives to consider within this study.
As detailed in the final report, the First Coast Guard District
recommends that multiple shipping safety fairways and one federal
anchorage ground be established within the NNYBPARS study area.
Shipping safety fairways may be utilized by mariners but are not
mandatory for any specific class of vessel.
The First Coast Guard District actively monitors all waterways
subject to its jurisdiction to help ensure navigation safety. As such,
the First Coast Guard District will continue to monitor the Northern
New York Bight for changing conditions and consider appropriate
actions, such as recommend vessel routes or more extensive use of
electronic Aids to Navigation to promote waterway and user safety.
This notice is published under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 70003,
70004 and 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: December 27, 2021.
T. G. Allan Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2021-28457 Filed 12-30-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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