Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana, 12966-12969 [2023-04207]

Download as PDF 12966 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 40 / Wednesday, March 1, 2023 / Notices that the test facility has met minimum standards. HHS does not allow IITFs to conduct oral fluid testing. HHS-Certified Laboratories Approved To Conduct Oral Fluid Drug Testing In accordance with the Mandatory Guidelines using Oral Fluid dated October 25, 2019 (84 FR 57554), the following HHS-certified laboratories meet the minimum standards to conduct drug and specimen validity tests on oral fluid specimens: At this time, there are no laboratories certified to conduct drug and specimen validity tests on oral fluid specimens. HHS-Certified Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities Approved To Conduct Urine Drug Testing In accordance with the Mandatory Guidelines using Urine dated January 23, 2017 (82 FR 7920), the following HHS-certified IITFs meet the minimum standards to conduct drug and specimen validity tests on urine specimens: Dynacare, 6628 50th Street NW, Edmonton, AB Canada T6B 2N7, 780– 784–1190, (Formerly: GammaDynacare Medical Laboratories) ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES HHS-Certified Laboratories Approved To Conduct Urine Drug Testing In accordance with the Mandatory Guidelines using Urine dated January 23, 2017 (82 FR 7920), the following HHS-certified laboratories meet the minimum standards to conduct drug and specimen validity tests on urine specimens: Alere Toxicology Services, 1111 Newton St., Gretna, LA 70053, 504–361–8989/ 800–433–3823, (Formerly: Kroll Laboratory Specialists, Inc., Laboratory Specialists, Inc.) Alere Toxicology Services, 450 Southlake Blvd., Richmond, VA 23236, 804–378–9130, (Formerly: Kroll Laboratory Specialists, Inc., Scientific Testing Laboratories, Inc.; Kroll Scientific Testing Laboratories, Inc.) Clinical Reference Laboratory, Inc., 8433 Quivira Road, Lenexa, KS 66215– 2802, 800–445–6917 Desert Tox, LLC, 5425 E Bell Rd, Suite 125, Scottsdale, AZ, 85254, 602–457– 5411/623–748–5045 DrugScan, Inc., 200 Precision Road, Suite 200, Horsham, PA 19044, 800– 235–4890 Dynacare, * 245 Pall Mall Street, London, ONT, Canada N6A 1P4, 519– 679–1630, (Formerly: GammaDynacare Medical Laboratories) ElSohly Laboratories, Inc., 5 Industrial Park Drive, Oxford, MS 38655, 662– 236–2609 VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Feb 28, 2023 Jkt 259001 Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, 7207 N Gessner Road, Houston, TX 77040, 713–856–8288/ 800–800–2387 Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, 69 First Ave., Raritan, NJ 08869, 908–526–2400/800–437–4986, (Formerly: Roche Biomedical Laboratories, Inc.) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, 1904 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, 919–572–6900/800–833–3984, (Formerly: LabCorp Occupational Testing Services, Inc., CompuChem Laboratories, Inc.; CompuChem Laboratories, Inc., A Subsidiary of Roche Biomedical Laboratory; Roche CompuChem Laboratories, Inc., A Member of the Roche Group) Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, 1120 Main Street, Southaven, MS 38671, 866–827–8042/ 800–233–6339, (Formerly: LabCorp Occupational Testing Services, Inc.; MedExpress/National Laboratory Center) LabOne, Inc. d/b/a Quest Diagnostics, 10101 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219, 913–888–3927/800–873–8845, (Formerly: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated; LabOne, Inc.; Center for Laboratory Services, a Division of LabOne, Inc.) Legacy Laboratory Services Toxicology, 1225 NE 2nd Ave., Portland, OR 97232, 503–413–5295/800–950–5295 MedTox Laboratories, Inc., 402 W County Road D, St. Paul, MN 55112, 651–636–7466/800–832–3244 Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Forensic Toxicology Laboratory, 1 Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, 612–725– 2088. Testing for Veterans Affairs (VA) Employees Only Pacific Toxicology Laboratories, 9348 DeSoto Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311, 800–328–6942, (Formerly: Centinela Hospital Airport Toxicology Laboratory) Phamatech, Inc., 15175 Innovation Drive, San Diego, CA 92128, 888– 635–5840 Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, 400 Egypt Road, Norristown, PA 19403, 610–631–4600/877–642–2216, (Formerly: SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories; SmithKline BioScience Laboratories) US Army Forensic Toxicology Drug Testing Laboratory, 2490 Wilson St., Fort George G. Meade, MD 20755– 5235, 301–677–7085, Testing for Department of Defense (DoD) Employees Only * The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) voted to end its Laboratory Accreditation Program for Substance PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Abuse (LAPSA) effective May 12, 1998. Laboratories certified through that program were accredited to conduct forensic urine drug testing as required by U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. As of that date, the certification of those accredited Canadian laboratories will continue under DOT authority. The responsibility for conducting quarterly performance testing plus periodic on-site inspections of those LAPSA-accredited laboratories was transferred to the U.S. HHS, with the HHS’ NLCP contractor continuing to have an active role in the performance testing and laboratory inspection processes. Other Canadian laboratories wishing to be considered for the NLCP may apply directly to the NLCP contractor just as U.S. laboratories do. Upon finding a Canadian laboratory to be qualified, HHS will recommend that DOT certify the laboratory (Federal Register, July 16, 1996) as meeting the minimum standards of the Mandatory Guidelines published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2017 (82 FR 7920). After receiving DOT certification, the laboratory will be included in the monthly list of HHS-certified laboratories and participate in the NLCP certification maintenance program. Anastasia Marie Donovan, Public Health Advisor, Division of Workplace Programs. [FR Doc. 2023–04121 Filed 2–28–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4162–20–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [Docket No. USCG–2023–0063] Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of study; request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) 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 Eighth Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR). The Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana PARS (TX/LAPARS) will consider whether existing or additional SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 40 / Wednesday, March 1, 2023 / Notices VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Feb 28, 2023 Jkt 259001 If you have questions about this notice of study, call or email Ms. Brandi Canada, Eighth Coast Guard District (dpw), U.S. Coast Guard: telephone (504) 671–2107, email SMB-D8NewOrleans-TXLAPARS@ uscg.mil. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: I. Table of Abbreviations AIS Automatic Identification System COMDTINST Commandant Instruction DHS Department of Homeland Security EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone TXPARS Approaches to Texas Port Access Route Study MTS Marine Transportation System PARS Port Access Route Study TSS Traffic Separation Scheme USCG United States Coast Guard II. Background and Purpose A. Requirements for Port Access Route Studies: Under section 70003 of title 46 of the United States Code, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard may designate necessary fairways and traffic separation schemes (TSSs) to provide safe access routes for vessels proceeding to and from U.S. ports. The designation of fairways and TSSs recognizes the paramount right of navigation over all other uses in the designated areas. Before establishing or adjusting fairways or TSSs, the Coast Guard must conduct a PARS, i.e., a study of PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4725 potential traffic density and the need for safe access routes for vessels. Through the study process, the Coast Guard must coordinate with Federal, State, Tribal, and foreign state agencies (where appropriate) and consider the views of maritime community representatives, environmental groups, and other stakeholders. The primary purpose of this coordination is, to the extent practicable, to reconcile the need for safe access routes with other reasonable waterway uses such as anchorages, construction, operation of renewable energy facilities, marine sanctuary operations, commercial and recreational activities, and other uses. In addition to aiding in the establishment of new or adjusting existing fairways or TSSs, this PARS may recommend establishing or amending other vessel routing measures. Examples of other routing measures include two-way routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes (for the benefit primarily of ships whose ability to maneuver is constrained by their draft), precautionary areas (where ships must navigate with particular caution), and areas to be avoided (for reasons of exceptional danger or especially sensitive ecological environmental factors). E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 EN01MR23.000</GPH> ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential wind energy offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, 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 risk of marine casualties. The recommendations of the study may subsequently be implemented through rulemakings or in accordance with international agreements. DATES: All comments and related material must be received on or before April 17, 2023. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal Docket Management System will not accept comments after midnight, Eastern Daylight Time, on the last day of the comment period. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG– 2023–0063 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (https:// www.regulations.gov). See the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on submitting comments. 12967 12968 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 40 / Wednesday, March 1, 2023 / Notices Charted vessel routing measures in study area B. Previous Port Access Route Studies within this Study Area: The Coast Guard established the TSS in the approaches to Galveston Bay, TX in 1983. It was redesignated in 1987 and 1989. There are no previous PARS within this study area. C. Need for a New Port Access Route Study: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has designated two areas in the Gulf of Mexico for the development of offshore wind projects. These Wind Energy Areas (WEA) would be the first in the Gulf of Mexico. One WEA is located approximately 24 nautical miles (nm) off the coast of Galveston, Texas and the other is located approximately 56 nm off the coast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Coast Guard has determined the need to conduct the TX/LAPARS to determine what impact, if any, the WEAs may have on existing users of the study area. III. Information Requested The purpose of this notice is to announce commencement of this PARS and to solicit public comments. We encourage you to participate in the study process by submitting comments in response to this notice. Comments should address impacts to navigation in the area of study resulting from factors such as offshore development, increased vessel traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational difficulty. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments We encourage you to participate in this study by submitting comments and related materials. A. Submitting Comments: To submit your comment online, go to https:// www.regulations.gov, and insert ‘‘USCG–2023–0063’’ in the ‘‘search box.’’ Click ‘‘Search’’. Then click ‘‘Comment.’’ The ‘‘Comment’’ button can be found on the following pages: • Docket Details page when a document within the docket is open for comment, VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:10 Feb 28, 2023 Jkt 259001 • Document Details page when the document is open for comment, and • Document Search Tab with all search results open for comment displaying a ‘‘Comment’’ button. Clicking ‘‘Comment’’ on any of the above pages will display the comment form. You can enter your comment on the form, attach files (maximum of 20 files up to 10MB each), and choose whether to identify yourself as an individual, an organization, or anonymously. Be sure to complete all required fields depending on which identity you have chosen. Once you have completed all required fields and chosen an identity, the ‘‘Submit Comment’’ button is enabled. Upon completion, you will receive a Comment Tracking Number for your comment. For additional step by step instructions, please see the Frequently Asked Questions page on https:// www.regulations.gov or by clicking https://www.regulations.gov/faq. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to https:// www.regulations.gov will include any personal information you have provided. We review all comments and materials received during the comment period, but we may choose not to post off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive. B. How do I find and browse for posted comments on Regulations.gov. On the previous version of Regulations.gov, users browsed for comments on the Docket Details page. However, since comments are made on individual documents, not dockets, new Regulations.gov organizes comments under their corresponding document. To access comments and documents submitted to this draft version of the study report go to https:// www.regulations.gov, and insert ‘‘USCG–2023–0063’’ in the ‘‘search box.’’ Click ‘‘Search.’’ Then scroll down to and click on the ‘‘notice’’ entitled ‘‘Port Access Route Study: Notice of availability of draft report and public information session; request for comments.’’ This will open to the PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ‘‘Document Details’’ page. Then click on the ‘‘Browse Comments’’ tab. On the comment tab, you can search and filter comments. Note: If no comments have been posted to a document, the ‘‘Comments’’ tab will not appear on the Document Details page. C. If you need additional help navigating the new Regulations.gov. For additional step by step instructions to submit a comment or to view submitted comments or other documents please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at https://www.regulations.gov/ faqs or call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions. D. 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 DHS’s eRulemaking in the March 11, 2020 issue of the Federal Register (85 FR 14226). V. TX/LAPARS: Timeline, Study Area, and Process The Eighth Coast Guard District will conduct this PARS. The study will commence upon publication of this notice and may take 12 months or more to complete. The study area will include the Gulf of Mexico regions within the Eighth Coast Guard District AOR encompassed by a line connecting the following geographic points: beginning where the coast intersects longitude 95°25′00″ N; thence south to latitude 28°16′00″ N, longitude 95°25′00″ W; thence southeast to latitude 28°00′00″ N, longitude 94°36′00″ W; thence east to latitude 28°00′00″ N, longitude 92°37′00″ W; thence north along latitude 92°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. An illustration showing the study area is below. E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 Chartlet showing the TX/LA PARS study area Analyses will be conducted in accordance with COMDTINST 16003.2B, Marine Planning to Operate and Maintain the Marine Transportation System (MTS) and Implement National Policy. Instruction is available at https://media.defense.gov/2019/Jul/10/ 2002155400/-1/-1/0/CI_16003_2B.PDF. We will publish the results of the PARS in the Federal Register. It is possible that the study may validate the status quo (no routing measures) and conclude that no changes are necessary. It is also possible that the study may recommend one or more changes to address navigational safety and the efficiency of vessel traffic management. The recommendations may lead to future rulemakings or appropriate international agreements. ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES In Person Public Meetings: Although the Coast Guard prefers and highly encourages all comments and related material be submitted directly to the electronic docket we do understand the value that in person public meetings will add to the study. Therefore, the Coast Guard intends to hold public meetings at various locations throughout the study area as the 2023 study process continues. For this initial comment period we ask that you make your comments directly to the docket, addressing impacts to navigation in the area of study resulting from factors such as offshore development, increased vessel traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational difficulty. We anticipate that these early comments will inform us as to prevalent concerns and how 18:10 Feb 28, 2023 Dated: February 24, 2023. R.V. Timme, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District. [FR Doc. 2023–04207 Filed 2–28–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Customs and Border Protection [1651–0117] Free Trade Agreements U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: 30-Day notice and request for comments; extension of an existing collection of information. AGENCY: VI. Future Actions VerDate Sep<11>2014 best to use our limited resources when scheduling meeting locations. Future public meetings will be announced by a notice in the Federal Register. This notice is published under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a). Jkt 259001 The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. DATES: Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than March 31, 2023) to be assured of consideration. ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 12969 contained in this notice should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/ PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or by using the search function. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional PRA information should be directed to Seth Renkema, Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229–1177, Telephone number 202–325–0056 or via email CBP_PRA@cbp.dhs.gov. Please note that the contact information provided here is solely for questions regarding this notice. Individuals seeking information about other CBP programs should contact the CBP National Customer Service Center at 877–227–5511, (TTY) 1–800–877–8339, or CBP website at https://www.cbp.gov/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the proposed and/or continuing information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (87 FR 77131) on December 16, 2022, allowing for a 60day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points: (1) whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 EN01MR23.001</GPH> Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 40 / Wednesday, March 1, 2023 / Notices

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 1, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12966-12969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04207]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2023-0063]


Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine 
Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of study; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) 
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 
Eighth Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR). The 
Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, 
Louisiana PARS (TX/LAPARS) will consider whether existing or additional

[[Page 12967]]

routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to 
factors such as planned or potential wind energy offshore development, 
current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel 
traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, 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 risk of marine casualties. The recommendations of the study 
may subsequently be implemented through rulemakings or in accordance 
with international agreements.

DATES: All comments and related material must be received on or before 
April 17, 2023. Commenters should be aware that the electronic Federal 
Docket Management System will not accept comments after midnight, 
Eastern Daylight Time, on the last day of the comment period.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2023-0063 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov). See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
notice of study, call or email Ms. Brandi Canada, Eighth Coast Guard 
District (dpw), U.S. Coast Guard: telephone (504) 671-2107, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

AIS Automatic Identification System
COMDTINST Commandant Instruction
DHS Department of Homeland Security
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone
TXPARS Approaches to Texas Port Access Route Study
MTS Marine Transportation System
PARS Port Access Route Study
TSS Traffic Separation Scheme
USCG United States Coast Guard

II. Background and Purpose

    A. Requirements for Port Access Route Studies: Under section 70003 
of title 46 of the United States Code, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast 
Guard may designate necessary fairways and traffic separation schemes 
(TSSs) to provide safe access routes for vessels proceeding to and from 
U.S. ports. The designation of fairways and TSSs recognizes the 
paramount right of navigation over all other uses in the designated 
areas.
    Before establishing or adjusting fairways or TSSs, the Coast Guard 
must conduct a PARS, i.e., a study of potential traffic density and the 
need for safe access routes for vessels. Through the study process, the 
Coast Guard must coordinate with Federal, State, Tribal, and foreign 
state agencies (where appropriate) and consider the views of maritime 
community representatives, environmental groups, and other 
stakeholders. The primary purpose of this coordination is, to the 
extent practicable, to reconcile the need for safe access routes with 
other reasonable waterway uses such as anchorages, construction, 
operation of renewable energy facilities, marine sanctuary operations, 
commercial and recreational activities, and other uses.
    In addition to aiding in the establishment of new or adjusting 
existing fairways or TSSs, this PARS may recommend establishing or 
amending other vessel routing measures. Examples of other routing 
measures include two-way routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes 
(for the benefit primarily of ships whose ability to maneuver is 
constrained by their draft), precautionary areas (where ships must 
navigate with particular caution), and areas to be avoided (for reasons 
of exceptional danger or especially sensitive ecological environmental 
factors).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01MR23.000


[[Page 12968]]


Charted vessel routing measures in study area

    B. Previous Port Access Route Studies within this Study Area: The 
Coast Guard established the TSS in the approaches to Galveston Bay, TX 
in 1983. It was redesignated in 1987 and 1989. There are no previous 
PARS within this study area.
    C. Need for a New Port Access Route Study: The Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management (BOEM) has designated two areas in the Gulf of Mexico 
for the development of offshore wind projects. These Wind Energy Areas 
(WEA) would be the first in the Gulf of Mexico. One WEA is located 
approximately 24 nautical miles (nm) off the coast of Galveston, Texas 
and the other is located approximately 56 nm off the coast of Lake 
Charles, Louisiana. The Coast Guard has determined the need to conduct 
the TX/LAPARS to determine what impact, if any, the WEAs may have on 
existing users of the study area.

III. Information Requested

    The purpose of this notice is to announce commencement of this PARS 
and to solicit public comments. We encourage you to participate in the 
study process by submitting comments in response to this notice. 
Comments should address impacts to navigation in the area of study 
resulting from factors such as offshore development, increased vessel 
traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or 
navigational difficulty.

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this study by submitting 
comments and related materials.
    A. Submitting Comments: To submit your comment online, go to https://www.regulations.gov, and insert ``USCG-2023-0063'' in the ``search 
box.'' Click ``Search''. Then click ``Comment.'' The ``Comment'' button 
can be found on the following pages:
     Docket Details page when a document within the docket is 
open for comment,
     Document Details page when the document is open for 
comment, and
     Document Search Tab with all search results open for 
comment displaying a ``Comment'' button.
    Clicking ``Comment'' on any of the above pages will display the 
comment form. You can enter your comment on the form, attach files 
(maximum of 20 files up to 10MB each), and choose whether to identify 
yourself as an individual, an organization, or anonymously. Be sure to 
complete all required fields depending on which identity you have 
chosen. Once you have completed all required fields and chosen an 
identity, the ``Submit Comment'' button is enabled. Upon completion, 
you will receive a Comment Tracking Number for your comment. For 
additional step by step instructions, please see the Frequently Asked 
Questions page on https://www.regulations.gov or by clicking https://www.regulations.gov/faq.
    We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal information you have 
provided.
    We review all comments and materials received during the comment 
period, but we may choose not to post off-topic, inappropriate, or 
duplicate comments that we receive.
    B. How do I find and browse for posted comments on Regulations.gov. 
On the previous version of Regulations.gov, users browsed for comments 
on the Docket Details page. However, since comments are made on 
individual documents, not dockets, new Regulations.gov organizes 
comments under their corresponding document. To access comments and 
documents submitted to this draft version of the study report go to 
https://www.regulations.gov, and insert ``USCG-2023-0063'' in the 
``search box.'' Click ``Search.'' Then scroll down to and click on the 
``notice'' entitled ``Port Access Route Study: Notice of availability 
of draft report and public information session; request for comments.'' 
This will open to the ``Document Details'' page. Then click on the 
``Browse Comments'' tab. On the comment tab, you can search and filter 
comments. Note: If no comments have been posted to a document, the 
``Comments'' tab will not appear on the Document Details page.
    C. If you need additional help navigating the new Regulations.gov. 
For additional step by step instructions to submit a comment or to view 
submitted comments or other documents please see the Frequently Asked 
Questions (FAQs) at https://www.regulations.gov/faqs or call or email 
the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
document for alternate instructions.
    D. 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 DHS's eRulemaking in 
the March 11, 2020 issue of the Federal Register (85 FR 14226).

V. TX/LAPARS: Timeline, Study Area, and Process

    The Eighth Coast Guard District will conduct this PARS. The study 
will commence upon publication of this notice and may take 12 months or 
more to complete. The study area will include the Gulf of Mexico 
regions within the Eighth Coast Guard District AOR encompassed by 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. An illustration 
showing the study area is below.

[[Page 12969]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN01MR23.001

Chartlet showing the TX/LA PARS study area

    Analyses will be conducted in accordance with COMDTINST 16003.2B, 
Marine Planning to Operate and Maintain the Marine Transportation 
System (MTS) and Implement National Policy. Instruction is available at 
https://media.defense.gov/2019/Jul/10/2002155400/-1/-1/0/CI_16003_2B.PDF.
    We will publish the results of the PARS in the Federal Register. It 
is possible that the study may validate the status quo (no routing 
measures) and conclude that no changes are necessary. It is also 
possible that the study may recommend one or more changes to address 
navigational safety and the efficiency of vessel traffic management. 
The recommendations may lead to future rulemakings or appropriate 
international agreements.

VI. Future Actions

    In Person Public Meetings: Although the Coast Guard prefers and 
highly encourages all comments and related material be submitted 
directly to the electronic docket we do understand the value that in 
person public meetings will add to the study. Therefore, the Coast 
Guard intends to hold public meetings at various locations throughout 
the study area as the 2023 study process continues. For this initial 
comment period we ask that you make your comments directly to the 
docket, addressing impacts to navigation in the area of study resulting 
from factors such as offshore development, increased vessel traffic, 
changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational 
difficulty. We anticipate that these early comments will inform us as 
to prevalent concerns and how best to use our limited resources when 
scheduling meeting locations.
    Future public meetings will be announced by a notice in the Federal 
Register.
    This notice is published under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: February 24, 2023.
R.V. Timme,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2023-04207 Filed 2-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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