Notice2023-18444
Consolidated Port Approaches Port Access Route Studies (CPAPARS) Final Notice
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
August 28, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard published a document on March 10, 2023, that announced the availability of the final Consolidated Port Approaches Port Access Route Studies. In addition, the Coast Guard requested comments concerning the final report. After a review of the comments received, the Coast Guard has determined that it is not necessary to revise the final report, and therefore considers it to be complete as published.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 165 (Monday, August 28, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 165 (Monday, August 28, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58591-58592]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18444]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2011-0351]
Consolidated Port Approaches Port Access Route Studies (CPAPARS)
Final Notice
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notification.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard published a document on March 10, 2023, that
announced the availability of the final Consolidated Port Approaches
Port Access Route Studies. In addition, the Coast Guard requested
comments concerning the final report. After a review of the comments
received, the Coast Guard has determined that it is not necessary to
revise the final report, and therefore considers it to be complete as
published.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document
call or email Maureen Kallgren, Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1561,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a1ccc0d4d3c4c4cf8fd38fcac0cdcdc6d3c4cf93e1d4d2c2c68fccc8cd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="137e72666176767d3d613d78727f7f7461767d2153666070743d7e7a7f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 58592]]
Background and Purpose
On April 5, 2017, the Coast Guard announced the completion of the
Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study in the Federal Register (82 FR
16510), which is available for viewing and download from the Coast
Guard Navigation Center's website at <a href="https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-studies">https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-studies</a>.
The ACPARS identified navigation safety corridors along the
Atlantic Coast based on the predominant two-way vessel traffic and
customary routes confirmed with AIS data for offshore deep draft and
coastal seagoing tug/tow vessels. The study recommended using these
corridor locations to establish shipping safety fairways or other
appropriate vessel routing measures.
Recognizing the ACPARS only analyzed coastal, longshore, and
predominantly north/south vessel transit routes along the Atlantic
Coast, the Coast Guard announced new studies focused on port approaches
and international entry and departure areas along the Atlantic Coast to
supplement the ACPARS on March 15, 2019 (84 FR 9541). On September 9,
2022, the Coast Guard announced the availability of the Consolidated
Port Approaches and International Entry and Departure Transit Areas
Port Access Route Studies, (CPAPARS) (87 FR 55449). The CPAPARS
summarizes the findings of four regional port access route studies: the
Northern New York Bight; Seacoast of New Jersey Including Offshore
Approaches to the Delaware Bay, Delaware; Approaches to the Chesapeake
Bay, Virginia; and the Seacoast of North Carolina; as well as ongoing
dialogue with the maritime industry.
To provide continued engagement with stakeholders, the Coast Guard
announced the availability of an updated CPAPARS report and provided a
ninety-day comment period (88 FR 15055).
Discussion of Comments
Comments were submitted by representatives of the maritime
community, wind energy developers, a state government agency, and
private citizens.
Most comments were concerned with the recommended shipping safety
fairways' proximity to and impact on potential offshore wind energy
areas. To address these concerns, the Coast Guard has been working
extensively with the Bureau of Ocean Energy management (BOEM)
throughout the development of the incoming Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing fairways along the Atlantic Coast.\1\ The
forthcoming NPRM will outline the adjustments that have been made to
the fairway dimensions and the work we have done with BOEM to identify
and resolve any conflicts.
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\1\ <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202204&RIN=1625-AC57">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=202204&RIN=1625-AC57</a>. Last visited July 20,
2023.
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One commenter urged the Coast Guard to consider underwater cables
when designing the fairways. We have considered all known underwater
cables and their potential impacts on the proposed fairways, TSS, and
precautionary areas. None were found to restrict, endanger, or
interfere with navigation.
Another commenter asked us to consider the impacts on the fairways
on the White House's offshore wind development goals. We do, and we
believe that these goals are best served by the establishment of
consistent and well-defined fairways.
One commenter recommended that the Coast Guard coordinate with the
Department of Defense to ensure that the fairways would have no impact
on national security. We have and will continue to do so throughout the
fairway establishment process.
One commenter requested that the Coast Guard acknowledge that
vessels in the U.S. EEZ are permitted to navigate through wind farms in
contrast to Europe, where vessels must avoid wind energy areas
wholesale. We acknowledge this but believe that protecting these wind
energy areas from the hazards associated with navigating vessels is the
best way to help The White House achieve its renewable energy goals.
One commenter believed that the PARS methodology could be improved
using a more granular approach and challenged the Coast Guard's use of
the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC)
methodology. The USCG uses the PIANC as a starting place to determine
widths for historic shipping routes. Marine planners review and adjust
the widths based on input from stakeholders, AIS data sets broken down
by ship type, and through collaboration with other ocean users (e.g.,
renewable energy lessees). The final fairway widths are finalized based
on this collaboration among all parties to ensure safe and equitable
design of fairways on the OCS.
This commenter also requested an explanation for the variability in
fairway width. The fairways vary in width because they have been
intentionally designed to accommodate OCS development. The fairways
have been designed in coordination with BOEM and the relevant
stakeholders and the variability is a result of this coordination.
This notice is being issued under authority located in 5 U.S.C.
552(a) as well as 46 U.S.C. 70003.
The Coast Guard.
Dated: August 21, 2023.
Michael D. Emerson,
Director, Marine Transportation Systems, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2023-18444 Filed 8-25-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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