Port Access Route Study: The Atlantic Coast From Maine to Florida, 76927-76929 [2011-31594]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 237 / Friday, December 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules comply with the requirements of this part. (e) Physical safeguards. The HMIS Lead must implement physical measures, policies, and procedures to protect the HMIS. (f) Technical safeguards. The HMIS Lead must implement security standards establishing the technology that protects and controls access to protected electronic HMIS information, and outline the policy and procedures for its use. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS § 580.37 Data quality standards and management. (a) In general. The data quality standards ensure the completeness, accuracy, and consistency of the data in the HMIS. The Continuum of Care is responsible for the quality of the data produced. (b) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the term: (1) HMIS participating bed means a bed on which required information is collected in an HMIS and is disclosed at least once annually to the HMIS Lead in accordance with the requirements of this part. (2) Lodging project means a project that provides overnight accommodations. (3) Nonlodging project means a project that does not provide overnight accommodations. (c) Data quality benchmarks. HMIS Leads must set data quality benchmarks for CHOs. Benchmarks must include separate benchmarks for lodging and nonlodging projects. HMIS Leads must establish data quality benchmarks, including minimum bed coverage rates and service-volume coverage rates, for the Continuum(s) of Care. HMIS Leads may establish different benchmarks for different types of projects (e.g., emergency shelter projects, permanent housing projects) based on population. (1) For the purpose of data quality, the bed coverage rate measures the level of lodging project providers’ participation in a Continuum of Care’s HMIS. (i) The bed coverage rate is calculated by dividing the number of HMIS participating by the total number of year-round beds in the geographic area covered by the Continuum of Care. (ii) Bed coverage rates must be calculated separately for emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional housing, and permanent housing. (iii) Bed coverage rates must be calculated for each comparable database. (2) For the purpose of data quality, the service-volume coverage rate measures the level of nonlodging project participation in a Continuum of Care’s HMIS. VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:57 Dec 08, 2011 Jkt 226001 (i) Service-volume coverage is calculated for each HUD-defined category of dedicated homeless nonlodging projects, such as street outreach projects, based on population. (ii) The service-volume coverage rate is equal to the number of persons served annually by the projects that participate in the HMIS divided by the number of persons served annually by all Continuum of Care projects within the HUD-defined category. (iii) Service-volume rates must be calculated for each comparable database. (d) Data quality management. (1) Data quality plan. All HMIS Leads must develop and implement a data quality plan, as established by HUD in notice. (2) The HMIS must be capable of producing reports required by HUD to assist HMIS Leads in monitoring data quality. Subpart E—Maintaining and Archiving Data § 580.41 Maintaining and archiving data. (a) Maintaining data. Applicable program regulations establish the length of time that records must be maintained for inspection and monitoring to determine that the recipient has met the requirements of the program regulations. (b) Archiving data. Archiving data means the removal of data from an active transactional database for storage in another database for historical, analytical, and reporting purposes. The HMIS Lead must follow archiving data standards established by HUD in notice, as well as any applicable Federal, state, territorial, local, or data retention laws or ordinances. Subpart F—Sanctions § 580.51 The program regulations for the programs that fund the HMIS activities contain the sanctions for noncompliance with this part. Dated: November 4, 2011. ´ Mercedes Marquez, Assistant Secretary for Community, Planning and Development. [FR Doc. 2011–31634 Filed 12–8–11; 8:45 am] PO 00000 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 167 [USCG–2011–0351] Port Access Route Study: The Atlantic Coast From Maine to Florida Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of study; reopening of the comment period. AGENCY: ACTION: The U.S. Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to further its outreach efforts and solicit additional comments concerning its Port Access Route Study being conducted along the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before January 31, 2012. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG– 2011–0351 using any one of the following methods: (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. (2) Fax: (202) 493–2251. (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M–30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590– 0001. (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366–9329. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on submitting comments. SUMMARY: If you have questions on this notice of study contact George Detweiler, Office of Navigation Systems, Coast Guard, telephone (202) 372–1566, email George.H.Detweiler@uscg.mil or submit questions to ACPARS@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Renee K. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366–9826. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sanctions BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 76927 I. Public Participation and Request for Comments We encourage you to participate in this study by submitting comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted, without change, Frm 00023 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\09DEP1.SGM 09DEP1 76928 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 237 / Friday, December 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS A. Submitting Comments If you submit comments, please include the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG–2011–0351), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. We recommend that you include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission. To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, click on the ‘‘submit a comment’’ box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In the ‘‘Document Type’’ drop down menu select ‘‘Notice’’ and insert ‘‘USCG– 2011–0351’’ in the ‘‘Keyword’’ box. Click ‘‘Search’’ then click on the balloon shape in the ‘‘Actions’’ column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. B. Viewing the Comments and Documents To view the comments and documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, click on the ‘‘read comments’’ box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In the ‘‘Keyword’’ box insert ‘‘USCG–2011– 0351’’ and click ‘‘Search.’’ Click the ‘‘Open Docket Folder’’ in the ‘‘Actions’’ column. If you do not have access to the internet, you may view the docket online by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12–140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility. C. Privacy Act Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any of VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:57 Dec 08, 2011 Jkt 226001 our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act, system of records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316). II. Background and Purpose The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register (76 FR 27288, May 11, 2011) that it was conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to evaluate the continued applicability of, and the need for modifications to, current vessel routing measures off the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. The original comment period closed on August 9, 2011. The initial announcement contains definitions and useful background information concerning the PARS. The public is encouraged to review the initial announcement. The data gathered during the Atlantic Coast PARS may result in establishment of one or more new vessel routing measures, modification of existing routing measures, or disestablishment of existing routing measures off the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. The goal of the Atlantic Coast PARS is to enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses, and, to the extent practicable, reconciling the paramount right of navigation within designated port access routes with other reasonable waterway uses such as the leasing of outer continental shelf blocks for the construction and operation of offshore renewable energy facilities. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate international agreements. The Coast Guard received 26 comments to the docket. After review of the comments, the Coast Guard has determined that it needs to reopen the comment period to seek more information to ensure that the PARS is comprehensive in its data collection and analysis. Most of the comments received to date were applicable to the MidAtlantic region, including the approaches into Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay. Moreover, these comments were limited to issues relevant to oceangoing shipping and coastwise tug and barge traffic and did not include information from other stakeholders. In addition to the MidAtlantic region, the Coast Guard has become aware of private sector interest in developing wind energy and hydrokinetic installations off the coasts of Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 Therefore, it is important that the Coast Guard receive comments on the potential impacts to the maritime community in these locations as well. The Coast Guard is using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data as its primary means of determining routes or operating areas based on the density and track lines of AIS equipped vessels. However, it is important for the Coast Guard to also collect data on routes or operating areas that may not be reflected in the AIS data. This request for comments is the primary means for the Coast Guard to collect information from stakeholders who may not be represented in the AIS data or for which the number of transits in a given area are not substantial. These users may include commercial fishing vessels, small passenger vessels, sightseeing and eco-tour vessels, recreational and charter fishing vessels, yachts, and sailing vessels. III. Questions The Coast Guard requests specific responses to the following questions, which are in addition to the questions posed in the initial notice. (1) How are your ocean going vessel coastwise routes affected by seasonal or episodic weather variations? (2) How are your near coastal tug and barge routes affected by seasonal or episodic weather variations? (3) Is there a regularly scheduled recreational event that uses the near coastal waters in your area? Recreational events would include offshore fishing tournaments, offshore power boat races, offshore sailing regattas, etc. (4) Do you regularly transit the near coastal area on recreational/private yachts? If yes, how far offshore is your typical route? Does your route change seasonally or according to weather conditions? (5) Should coastwise routes be established along the Atlantic Seaboard similar to the ‘‘M–95’’ marine highway corridor designated by the Maritime Administration as part of ‘‘America’s Marine Highway Program’’? For more information on this program, see America’s Marine Highway Program— Report to Congress—April 2011 (https://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/ MARAD_AMH_Report_ to_Congress.pdf). If yes, where should they be located? (6) What are the pros and cons to the Coast Guard designating coastwise fairways or traffic separation schemes (TSSs)? (7) Could the creation of designated coastwise routes adversely impact watchstanding or other operational requirements? If so, please explain. E:\FR\FM\09DEP1.SGM 09DEP1 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 237 / Friday, December 9, 2011 / Proposed Rules (8) If coastwise fairways were created, should separate fairways be created for different vessel types such as tug and barge vs. deep draft vessels? (9) Should there be separate lanes for vessels travelling in opposing directions? (10) Should participation in any coastwise traffic scheme be voluntary or mandatory for all or certain classes of vessels? (11) Given the potentially long transit times, varying sea state and weather conditions; what is an appropriate width for fairways to prevent degradation to navigational safety? Are there particular areas where the width could be smaller or should be larger? This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1223(c) and 5 U.S.C. 552. Dated: October 31, 2011. Robert C. Parker, Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Atlantic Area. [FR Doc. 2011–31594 Filed 12–8–11; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 40 CFR Part 52 [EPA–R03–OAR–2011–0713; FRL–9504–9] Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania; Determinations of Attainment of the 1997 8-Hour Ozone Standard for the PhiladelphiaWilmington-Atlantic City Moderate Nonattainment Area and Withdrawal of Attainment Demonstration Proposed Disapprovals Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Proposed rule and withdrawal of proposed rule. AGENCY: EPA is proposing to make two determinations regarding the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE 8-hour ozone moderate nonattainment area (the Philadelphia Area). First, EPA is proposing to make a determination that the Philadelphia Area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). This proposed determination is based upon complete, quality assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data that show the area has monitored attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for the 2008–2010 monitoring period. If this proposal is made final, the requirement for the Philadelphia Area to submit certain planning srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS SUMMARY: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:57 Dec 08, 2011 Jkt 226001 requirements related to the attainment of the 1997 8-hours ozone NAAQS shall be suspended for so long as the area continues to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS. Although these requirements are suspended, EPA is not precluded from acting upon these elements at any time if submitted to EPA for review and approval. Second, EPA is also proposing to determine that the Philadelphia Area has attained the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS by its attainment date of June 15, 2011. Finally, EPA is withdrawing the May 8, 2009 proposed disapprovals of the attainment demonstrations for the Philadelphia Area, based on the ambient air quality monitoring data demonstrating attainment. These actions are being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA). DATES: Written comments must be received on or before January 9, 2012. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID Number EPA– R03–OAR–2011–0713 by one of the following methods: A. https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments. B. Email: fernandez.cristina@epa.gov C. Mail: EPA–R03–OAR–2011–0713, Cristina Fernandez, Associate Director, Office of Air Quality Planning, Mailcode 3AP30, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. D. Hand Delivery: At the previouslylisted EPA Region III address. Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket’s normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information. Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA–R03–OAR–2011– 0713. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change, and may be made available online at https:// www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through https:// www.regulations.gov or email. The https://www.regulations.gov Web site is an ‘‘anonymous access’’ system, which means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without going through https:// www.regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically captured PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 76929 and included as part of the comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD–ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. Docket: All documents in the electronic docket are listed in the https://www.regulations.gov index. Although listed in the index, some information is not publicly available, i.e., CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such as copyrighted material, is not placed on the Internet and will be publicly available only in hard copy form. Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically in https:// www.regulations.gov or in hard copy during normal business hours at the Air Protection Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region III, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions concerning EPA’s proposed action related to Delaware, Maryland or Pennsylvania, please contact Maria A. Pino (215) 814–2181, or by email at pino.maria@epa.gov. If you have questions concerning EPA’s proposed action related to New Jersey, please contact Paul Truchan (212) 637– 4249, or by email at truchan.paul@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For detailed information regarding this proposal, EPA prepared a Technical Support Document (TSD). The TSD can be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov. The following outline is provided to aid in locating information in this action. I. What is EPA proposing? II. What Proposed Rule is EPA withdrawing? III. What is the background for these actions? IV. What are the effects of these proposed actions? V. What is EPA’s analysis of the relevant air quality data? VI. Proposed Actions VII. Withdrawal Action VIII. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews I. What is EPA proposing? Pursuant to sections 181(b)(2)(A) and 179(c) of the CAA, EPA is proposing to determine that the Philadelphia Area E:\FR\FM\09DEP1.SGM 09DEP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 237 (Friday, December 9, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76927-76929]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31594]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 167

[USCG-2011-0351]


Port Access Route Study: The Atlantic Coast From Maine to Florida

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of study; reopening of the comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to 
further its outreach efforts and solicit additional comments concerning 
its Port Access Route Study being conducted along the Atlantic Coast 
from Maine to Florida.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management 
Facility on or before January 31, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2011-0351 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: (202) 493-2251.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is (202) 366-9329. To avoid duplication, please use only one of 
these four methods. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice 
of study contact George Detweiler, Office of Navigation Systems, Coast 
Guard, telephone (202) 372-1566, email George.H.Detweiler@uscg.mil or 
submit questions to ACPARS@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing 
or submitting material to the docket, call Ms. Renee K. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this study by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted, 
without change,

[[Page 76928]]

to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information 
you have provided.

A. Submitting Comments

    If you submit comments, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking (USCG-2011-0351), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material 
online, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only one of 
these means. We recommend that you include your name and a mailing 
address, an email address, or a telephone number in the body of your 
document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your 
submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, 
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become 
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu select 
``Notice'' and insert ``USCG-2011-0351'' in the ``Keyword'' box. Click 
``Search'' then click on the balloon shape in the ``Actions'' column. 
If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period.

B. Viewing the Comments and Documents

    To view the comments and documents mentioned in this preamble as 
being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, click 
on the ``read comments'' box, which will then become highlighted in 
blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2011-0351'' and click 
``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. 
If you do not have access to the internet, you may view the docket 
online by visiting the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on 
the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an 
agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket 
Management Facility.

C. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act, system of 
records notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, 
issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

II. Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register (76 FR 27288, May 
11, 2011) that it was conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to 
evaluate the continued applicability of, and the need for modifications 
to, current vessel routing measures off the Atlantic Coast from Maine 
to Florida. The original comment period closed on August 9, 2011. The 
initial announcement contains definitions and useful background 
information concerning the PARS. The public is encouraged to review the 
initial announcement.
    The data gathered during the Atlantic Coast PARS may result in 
establishment of one or more new vessel routing measures, modification 
of existing routing measures, or disestablishment of existing routing 
measures off the Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida. The goal of the 
Atlantic Coast PARS is to enhance navigational safety by examining 
existing shipping routes and waterway uses, and, to the extent 
practicable, reconciling the paramount right of navigation within 
designated port access routes with other reasonable waterway uses such 
as the leasing of outer continental shelf blocks for the construction 
and operation of offshore renewable energy facilities. The 
recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or 
appropriate international agreements.
    The Coast Guard received 26 comments to the docket. After review of 
the comments, the Coast Guard has determined that it needs to reopen 
the comment period to seek more information to ensure that the PARS is 
comprehensive in its data collection and analysis. Most of the comments 
received to date were applicable to the Mid-Atlantic region, including 
the approaches into Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay. Moreover, these 
comments were limited to issues relevant to oceangoing shipping and 
coastwise tug and barge traffic and did not include information from 
other stakeholders. In addition to the Mid-Atlantic region, the Coast 
Guard has become aware of private sector interest in developing wind 
energy and hydrokinetic installations off the coasts of Maine, North 
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Therefore, it is 
important that the Coast Guard receive comments on the potential 
impacts to the maritime community in these locations as well.
    The Coast Guard is using Automatic Identification System (AIS) data 
as its primary means of determining routes or operating areas based on 
the density and track lines of AIS equipped vessels. However, it is 
important for the Coast Guard to also collect data on routes or 
operating areas that may not be reflected in the AIS data. This request 
for comments is the primary means for the Coast Guard to collect 
information from stakeholders who may not be represented in the AIS 
data or for which the number of transits in a given area are not 
substantial. These users may include commercial fishing vessels, small 
passenger vessels, sightseeing and eco-tour vessels, recreational and 
charter fishing vessels, yachts, and sailing vessels.

III. Questions

    The Coast Guard requests specific responses to the following 
questions, which are in addition to the questions posed in the initial 
notice.
    (1) How are your ocean going vessel coastwise routes affected by 
seasonal or episodic weather variations?
    (2) How are your near coastal tug and barge routes affected by 
seasonal or episodic weather variations?
    (3) Is there a regularly scheduled recreational event that uses the 
near coastal waters in your area? Recreational events would include 
offshore fishing tournaments, offshore power boat races, offshore 
sailing regattas, etc.
    (4) Do you regularly transit the near coastal area on recreational/
private yachts? If yes, how far offshore is your typical route? Does 
your route change seasonally or according to weather conditions?
    (5) Should coastwise routes be established along the Atlantic 
Seaboard similar to the ``M-95'' marine highway corridor designated by 
the Maritime Administration as part of ``America's Marine Highway 
Program''? For more information on this program, see America's Marine 
Highway Program--Report to Congress--April 2011 (https://www.marad.dot.gov/documents/MARAD_AMH_Report_to_Congress.pdf). If 
yes, where should they be located?
    (6) What are the pros and cons to the Coast Guard designating 
coastwise fairways or traffic separation schemes (TSSs)?
    (7) Could the creation of designated coastwise routes adversely 
impact watchstanding or other operational requirements? If so, please 
explain.

[[Page 76929]]

    (8) If coastwise fairways were created, should separate fairways be 
created for different vessel types such as tug and barge vs. deep draft 
vessels?
    (9) Should there be separate lanes for vessels travelling in 
opposing directions?
    (10) Should participation in any coastwise traffic scheme be 
voluntary or mandatory for all or certain classes of vessels?
    (11) Given the potentially long transit times, varying sea state 
and weather conditions; what is an appropriate width for fairways to 
prevent degradation to navigational safety? Are there particular areas 
where the width could be smaller or should be larger?
    This notice is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1223(c) and 5 
U.S.C. 552.

    Dated: October 31, 2011.
Robert C. Parker,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Atlantic Area.
[FR Doc. 2011-31594 Filed 12-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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