Notice2026-16119
Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana
Primary source
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Published
August 7, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard Heartland District announces the completion of the Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana Port Access Route Study (PARS). 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 Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas, Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana, and international and domestic transit areas in the Heartland Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 151 (Friday, August 7, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 151 (Friday, August 7, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51177-51179]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-16119]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket Number USCG-2023-0063]
Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine
Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of availability; final report.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard Heartland District announces the completion of
the Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu
Pass, Louisiana Port Access Route Study (PARS). 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 Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas, Calcasieu
Pass, Louisiana, and international and domestic transit areas in the
Heartland Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR).
ADDRESSES: The PARS final report is available for viewing and download
from the docket by searching USCG-2023-0063 at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, or from the Coast Guard Navigation Center website
at <a href="https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-study-reports">https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-study-reports</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
notice, call or email Ms. Brandi Canada, Heartland Coast Guard District
(dpw), U.S. Coast Guard: telephone (504) 671-2107, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#12415f503f5a777360667e737c763f657366776065736b617f757f6652676171753c7f7b7e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="33607e711e7b565241475f525d571e445247564144524a405e545e4773464050541d5e5a5f">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
AOR Area of Responsibility
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
LNM Local Notice to Mariners
MSIB Marine Safety Information Bulletin
MTS Marine Transportation System
NAD 83 North American Datum of 1983
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 in a notice
published in the Federal Register (FR) on March 1, 2023, entitled
``Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass,
Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana,'' (88 FR 12966). The public was
afforded a 47-day comment period. On March 28, 2023, we published a
supplemental notice of study, to correct agency contact information and
extend the comment period an additional 10 days (88 FR 18326).
The Coast Guard received seven comments to this document in
response to our Federal Register notice. All comments and supporting
documents to this document are available in a public docket and can be
viewed by searching docket number USCG-2023-0063 at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. A synopsis of the comments and copies of the Coast
Guard Heartland District's public outreach can be found in the report.
What is the study area?
The study area includes the Gulf of America regions within the
Coast Guard Heartland District AOR encompassed by
[[Page 51178]]
a line connecting the following geographic points: beginning where the
coast intersects longitude 95[deg]25'00'' N; thence south to latitude
28[deg]16'00'' N, longitude 95[deg]25'00'' W; thence southeast to
latitude 28[deg]00'00'' N, longitude 94[deg]36'00'' W; thence east to
latitude 28[deg]00'00'' N, longitude 92[deg]37'00'' W; thence north
along latitude 92[deg]37'00'' W to the coast. This area extends
approximately 106 nautical miles seaward at its greatest distance and
covers approximately 13,100 square nautical miles. All geographic
points are based on North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). An
illustration showing the study area is below:
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN07AU26.000
Why did the Coast Guard conduct this PARS?
The United States Coast Guard Heartland District conducted the PARS
to examine the approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas,
Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana (TX/LAPARS), and the study area's
international and domestic transit routes. The purpose of this study
evaluates the efficiency of current vessel routing measures to
determine the need and applicability for modifications or the
establishment of new routing measures. In addition to determining the
need for adjusting or establishing new Traffic Separation Schemes
(TSSs) and shipping safety fairways, other measures, including two-way
routes, recommended routes, deep-water routes, precautionary areas, and
non-navigable waterways, were also considered.
PARS are conducted anytime the Coast Guard considers a need to
recommend routing changes, within the territorial seas, for any port.
According to 46 U.S.C. 70003, the Coast Guard must conduct a study of
port access routes before determining the need for establishing or
adjusting current fairways or TSSs. 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 Coast Guard Heartland District conduct this PARS?
The PARS was conducted in alignment with guidance outlined in Coast
Guard Commandant Instruction 16003.2C (series), Marine Planning of the
Marine Transportation System (MTS).
The objectives of the study were to:
i. Determine potential traffic density;
ii. Determine if existing vessel routing measures are adequate;
iii. Determine if existing vessel routing measures require
modifications;
iv. Determine the type of modifications;
v. Define and justify the need for new vessel routing measures;
vi. Determine the type of new vessel routing measures; and
vii. Determine if the usage of the vessel routing measures must
be mandatory for specific classes of vessels.
III. Viewing the Report
The PARS 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/port-access-route-study-reports">https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-study-reports</a>.
To view the PARS report in the docket, go to <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>, and insert ``USCG-2023-0063'' in the ``search
box.'' Click ``Search''. Then scroll down to the document entitled
``Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass,
Texas, and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana TX/LAPARS March 2026'' under the
document type ``Supporting & Related Material.''
IV. Conclusion
As described in the March 1, 2023 Federal Register Notice of study;
request for comments (88 FR 12966), the Heartland Coast Guard District
evaluated the adequacy of existing vessel routing measures and
determined whether additional vessel routing measures are necessary for
port approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas, Calcasieu
Pass, Louisiana, and international and domestic transit areas in the
Coast Guard Heartland District area of responsibility (AOR).
[[Page 51179]]
The Coast Guard Heartland District analyzed all available sources of
data relevant to this process, including existing and potential traffic
patterns, existing regulations, public submissions, and other factors.
As detailed in the final report, the United States Coast Guard
Heartland District determined that safety fairways within the study
area are adequate; however, the safety fairways cannot be widened as
recommended due to established infrastructure within the Gulf of
America. The PARS report does recommend implementing several new
fairway anchorages to provide vessels a safe waiting area as they await
clearance into port.
The United States Coast Guard Heartland District provided
recommendations for the siting and layout of potential offshore mineral
and non-mineral energy areas within the study area. It will continue to
serve as a cooperating agency to BOEM's environmental review of each
proposed project. In that role, the United States Coast Guard will
evaluate the navigational safety risk of each proposal on a case-by-
case basis.
This notice is published under the authority of 46 U.S.C. 70003 and
70004 and 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
W.E. Watson,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Heartland District.
[FR Doc. 2026-16119 Filed 8-6-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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