Notice2023-07148
Consolidation of Redundant Coast Guard Boat Stations
Primary source
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Published
April 6, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard requests public comments on the planned consolidation of three redundant, seasonally operated Coast Guard boat stations and the seasonalization of one Coast Guard boat station. As modern boat operating speeds rise and navigation technology improves, the Coast Guard can respond to incidents with multiple units significantly faster than when these boat stations were first established. The combination of significantly improved response times, along with an overall reduction in rescue calls due to boating safety improvements throughout the Nation, has resulted in a number of boat stations becoming redundant. This consolidation will result in a more robust response system by increasing staffing levels and capacity at select nearby boat stations. The seasonalization of a unit shifts the Coast Guard's response to Search and Rescue cases from a more robustly staffed nearby boat station during the winter months.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 66 (Thursday, April 6, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20546-20547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-07148]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket Number USCG-2023-0100]
Consolidation of Redundant Coast Guard Boat Stations
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard requests public comments on the planned
consolidation of three redundant, seasonally operated Coast Guard boat
stations and the seasonalization of one Coast Guard boat station. As
modern boat operating speeds rise and navigation technology improves,
the Coast Guard can respond to incidents with multiple units
significantly faster than when these boat stations were first
established. The combination of significantly improved response times,
along with an overall reduction in rescue calls due to boating safety
improvements throughout the Nation, has resulted in a number of boat
stations becoming redundant. This consolidation will result in a more
robust response system by increasing staffing levels and capacity at
select nearby boat stations. The seasonalization of a unit shifts the
Coast Guard's response to Search and Rescue cases from a more robustly
staffed nearby boat station during the winter months.
DATES: Written comments and related material may be submitted to the
Coast Guard personnel specified below. Your comments and related
material must reach the Coast Guard on or before June 4, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2023-0100 using the Federal rulemaking portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. See the ``Public Participation and Request for
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further
instructions on submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document,
please call or email Todd Aikins, Coast Guard Office of Boat Forces,
202-372-2463, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4d39222929633f632c242624233e0d383e2e2a63202421"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="1b6f747f7f3569357a72707275685b6e68787c35767277">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
GAO Government Accountability Office
II. Background and Purpose
In October of 2017, the GAO issued report GAO-18-9, titled
``Actions Needed to Close Stations Identified as Overlapping and
Unnecessarily Duplicative.'' This GAO report, a copy of which is in the
docket for this notice, recommends the consolidation of 18 boat
stations. Due to environmental and operational factors, the Coast Guard
is not considering all 18 boat stations identified in the GAO report
for consolidation this year. Instead, we anticipate consolidating three
stations, with implementation notionally scheduled for fiscal year
2023. These stations have been identified because there are other units
nearby capable of responding to cases in these areas, and because these
three stations respond to a low number of cases. We do not anticipate
any adverse effect on Coast Guard response capability. We expect
enhanced proficiency of boat operators as well as a less complicated
response system.
III. Discussion
The following seasonal stations have been identified for
consolidation with neighboring stations: Stations-Small Block Island,
RI; Ocracoke, NC; and Sackets Harbor, NY. These seasonal stations are
detached subunits of larger parent stations. In addition, Station-Small
East Moriches, NY, has been identified for seasonalization, which means
operating from this location during the peak boating season. This
station was historically operated seasonally but has been operating
year-round without appropriate resources. It will return to its
seasonal status.
These actions would create synergy and more opportunities for boat
operators to properly train instead of missing training opportunities
while standing ready to respond to calls that do not come.
Consolidation would allow the Coast Guard to operate more efficiently
by not pre-positioning boats and crews in areas that don't have a SAR
caseload in the winter months.
IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal portal at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. If your material cannot be submitted using
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate
instructions. In your submission, please include the docket number for
this notice and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation.
We will review all comments received, but we may choose not to post
off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive.
We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will include any personal information you have
provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226,
March 11, 2020).
[[Page 20547]]
Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the
docket, and public comments, will be in our online docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and can be viewed by following that website's
instructions.
Dated: March 31, 2023.
Jason C. Aleksak,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Boat Forces.
[FR Doc. 2023-07148 Filed 4-5-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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