Removal of Smith Point Traffic Separation Scheme From Nautical Charts, 56850-56851 [2023-17849]

Download as PDF 56850 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2023 / Notices amended, notice is hereby given of the following meeting. The meeting will be closed to the public in accordance with the provisions set forth in sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), title 5 U.S.C., as amended. The cooperative agreement applications and the discussions could disclose confidential trade secrets or commercial property such as patentable material, and personal information concerning individuals associated with the cooperative agreement applications, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Name of Committee: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences Special Emphasis Panel; NCATS CTSA UM1 Review Special Emphasis Panel. Date: October 19, 2023. Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate cooperative agreement applications. Place: National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Victor Henriquez, Ph.D., Scientific Review Officer, Office of Scientific Review, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Room 1080, Bethesda, MD 20892, (301) 435–0813, henriquv@mail.nih.gov. (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 93.859, Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry Research; 93.350, B—Cooperative Agreements; 93.859, Biomedical Research and Research Training, National Institutes of Health, HHS) Dated: August 16, 2023. Melanie J. Pantoja, Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy. [FR Doc. 2023–17969 Filed 8–18–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES National Institutes of Health ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 National Institute on Aging; Notice of Closed Meeting Pursuant to section 1009 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, notice is hereby given of the following meeting. The meeting will be closed to the public in accordance with the provisions set forth in sections 552b(c)(4) and 552b(c)(6), title 5 U.S.C., as amended. The grant applications and the discussions could disclose confidential trade secrets or commercial property such as patentable material, and personal information concerning VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Aug 18, 2023 Jkt 259001 individuals associated with the grant applications, the disclosure of which would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. Name of Committee: National Institute on Aging Special Emphasis Panel; Long Term Dementia Care in Nursing Homes. Date: September 18, 2023. Time: 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Agenda: To review and evaluate grant applications. Place: National Institute on Aging, Gateway Building, 7201 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20892 (Virtual Meeting). Contact Person: Sandhya Sanghi, Ph.D., Scientific Research Officer, 7201 Wisconsin Avenue (2N230), NIA/SRB, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 496–2879, sandhya.sanghi@ nih.gov. (Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance Program Nos. 93.866, Aging Research, National Institutes of Health, HHS) Dated: August 11, 2023. Miguelina Perez, Program Analyst, Office of Federal Advisory Committee Policy. [FR Doc. 2023–17962 Filed 8–18–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4140–01–P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [Docket Number USCG–2023–0330] Removal of Smith Point Traffic Separation Scheme From Nautical Charts Coast Guard, DHS. Notice of inquiry; request for comments AGENCY: ACTION: We, the Coast Guard, have received requests to remove a vessel traffic routing measure, which is known as the ‘‘Smith Point Traffic Separation Scheme’’ (TSS) and depicted on the nautical charts of the Chesapeake Bay. If there is no longer a need for this measure, we would request that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which produces the nation’s nautical charts, remove the TSS from these charts and take out language regarding the TSS from the applicable Coast Pilot. We would then make conforming changes to the buoy that marks the turning point in the separation zone of the TSS. We are seeking comments on whether there is any continued need for this vessel traffic routing measure before we do so. DATES: Your comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before November 20, 2023. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG– SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 2023–0330 using the Federal portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on submitting comments. If you have questions about this notice of inquiry, call or email, LTJG Carmel McAndrews, District Prevention Waterways Management Office, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone: 757–398–6298 or email at Carmel.M.McAndrews@ uscg.mil. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Table of Abbreviations CFR Code of Federal Regulations DHS Department of Homeland Security FR Federal Register TSS Traffic Separation Scheme U.S.C. United States Code II. Background and Purpose The Smith Point TSS was put in place in 1969, before the promulgation of any regulations governing formal Traffic Separation Schemes. It was never formally established by rule and exists only as a notation on the nautical charts. Lying at the mouth of the Potomac River, in the Chesapeake Bay, just south of the border between Maryland and Virginia, it has historically been used by vessel traffic that transits to and from destinations within the Lower Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac River, and the Upper Chesapeake Bay. In contrast to Offshore TSS’s, which are codified in 33 CFR part 167, and which are the only TSS’s that have been established by rule to date, the Smith Point TSS lies in the inland waters, as defined in 33 CFR 2.26. See Figure 1, contained in a ‘‘Figures’’ document separate from this Notice of Inquiry, for a graphical depiction of the Smith Point TSS. For instructions on locating the ‘‘Figures’’ document, see the ‘‘Public Participation and Request for Comments’’ portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. As nearby ports and indeed the maritime industry itself have grown over the fifty years since the Smith Point TSS was first charted, traffic patterns, traffic density, and vessel sizes have all changed considerably. Meanwhile, both the development and growth of the port community, and the growth in the size of the ships navigating these waters, appear to have rendered the Smith Point TSS obsolete. With the advent of the Global Positioning System, Automatic Identification System and overall improved navigation technology since E:\FR\FM\21AUN1.SGM 21AUN1 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 160 / Monday, August 21, 2023 / Notices ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1 1969, today’s maritime pilots have better communications and awareness of the locations of other vessels navigating in the vicinity of Smith Point. These pilots have safely coordinated large vessel traffic despite not being able to use the TSS as designed. Due to the increase in size and draft of typical cargo vessels since the Smith Point TSS was first identified on the charts in 1969, depths in the northbound and south-bound vessel traffic lanes are inadequate for modern deep draft vessels transiting through this area and today’s larger vessels can no longer use the routing measure as designed. The natural bottom contours of the Bay provide the greatest depths in the center of the southbound lane of the TSS. See Figures 2 & 3 in the Figures document in the docket. And while the Inland Navigational Rules (eCFR, 2023) provide that a vessel shall, so far as practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes, larger inbound vessels must use the opposing outbound lane of the Smith Point TSS to avoid the risk of grounding. This scenario leads to a traffic pattern contrary to the charted routing measure and not in accordance with Rule 10 of the Inland Rules, which may actually increase the risk of collisions. As the Smith Point TSS appears to be counterproductive today, we are seeking public comments regarding its continued need. If after consideration of the comments received we determine that the Smith Point TSS should be removed from nautical charts and publications, we will then reestablish the current Smith Point Fairway Lighted Buoy SP (LLNR 7490), which marks the turning point of the TSS separation zone, as the Smith Point Lighted Buoy SP, a white and red striped Safe Water Buoy. The light will change from yellow to white with Morse Code ‘‘A’’ flash characteristic. We also seek public comment from waterway users on the Coast Guard’s plan to change the signal and meaning of this buoy. III. Information Requested If you believe there is some reason the Smith Point TSS should be retained, please let us know that and provide us with your reasoning for wanting to keep it in place. Please include comments regarding the potential impacts of this possible change and any other concerns that you may have regarding the Smith Point TSS. IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments We encourage you to submit comments in response to this VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:17 Aug 18, 2023 Jkt 259001 notification of inquiry through the Federal Decision Making portal at https://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG–2023–0330 in the search box and click ‘‘Search.’’ Next, look for this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment option. In your submission, please include the docket number for this notification of inquiry and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. If your material cannot be submitted using https:// www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions. To view documents mentioned in this notification of inquiry as being available in the docket, find the docket as described in the previous paragraph, and then select ‘‘Supporting & Related Material’’ in the Document Type column. Public comments will also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following instructions on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked Questions web page. We 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 https:// www.regulations.gov 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). We do not plan to hold a public meeting to receive oral comments on this notification of inquiry; however, should the need arise, we will announce the date, time, and location in a separate document published in the Federal Register. If you have signed up for docket email alerts mentioned in the paragraph above, you will receive an email notice when the public meeting notice is published and placed in the docket. This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a). Dated: August 15, 2023. Mary Ellen J. Durley, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District. [FR Doc. 2023–17849 Filed 8–18–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110–04–P PO 00000 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement [Docket No. ICEB–2023–0003] RIN 1653–ZA40 Employment Authorization for Ukrainian F–1 Nonimmigrant Students Experiencing Severe Economic Hardship as a Direct Result of the Current Armed Conflict in Ukraine U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Department of Homeland Security. AGENCY: ACTION: Notice. This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is suspending certain regulatory requirements for F–1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Ukraine, regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Ukraine), and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current armed conflict in Ukraine. The Secretary is taking action to provide relief to these Ukrainian students who are in lawful F– 1 nonimmigrant student status, so the students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F–1 nonimmigrant student status. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will deem an F–1 nonimmigrant student granted employment authorization by means of this notice to be engaged in a ‘‘full course of study’’ for the duration of the employment authorization, if the nonimmigrant student satisfies the minimum course load requirement described in this notice. SUMMARY: This action is effective October 20, 2023, through April 19, 2025. DATES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Snyder, Unit Chief, Policy and Response Unit, Student and Exchange Visitor Program, MS 5600, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 500 12th Street SW, Washington, DC 20536–5600. email: sevp@ice.dhs.gov, telephone: (703) 603–3400. This is not a toll-free number. Program information can be found at https://www.ice.gov/ sevis/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Frm 00060 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56851 E:\FR\FM\21AUN1.SGM 21AUN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56850-56851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17849]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket Number USCG-2023-0330]


Removal of Smith Point Traffic Separation Scheme From Nautical 
Charts

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of inquiry; request for comments

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

SUMMARY: We, the Coast Guard, have received requests to remove a vessel 
traffic routing measure, which is known as the ``Smith Point Traffic 
Separation Scheme'' (TSS) and depicted on the nautical charts of the 
Chesapeake Bay. If there is no longer a need for this measure, we would 
request that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
(NOAA), which produces the nation's nautical charts, remove the TSS 
from these charts and take out language regarding the TSS from the 
applicable Coast Pilot. We would then make conforming changes to the 
buoy that marks the turning point in the separation zone of the TSS. We 
are seeking comments on whether there is any continued need for this 
vessel traffic routing measure before we do so.

DATES: Your comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on 
or before November 20, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2023-0330 using the Federal portal at 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 inquiry, call or email, LTJG Carmel McAndrews, District 
Prevention Waterways Management Office, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone: 
757-398-6298 or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
TSS Traffic Separation Scheme
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background and Purpose

    The Smith Point TSS was put in place in 1969, before the 
promulgation of any regulations governing formal Traffic Separation 
Schemes. It was never formally established by rule and exists only as a 
notation on the nautical charts. Lying at the mouth of the Potomac 
River, in the Chesapeake Bay, just south of the border between Maryland 
and Virginia, it has historically been used by vessel traffic that 
transits to and from destinations within the Lower Chesapeake Bay, the 
Potomac River, and the Upper Chesapeake Bay. In contrast to Offshore 
TSS's, which are codified in 33 CFR part 167, and which are the only 
TSS's that have been established by rule to date, the Smith Point TSS 
lies in the inland waters, as defined in 33 CFR 2.26.
    See Figure 1, contained in a ``Figures'' document separate from 
this Notice of Inquiry, for a graphical depiction of the Smith Point 
TSS. For instructions on locating the ``Figures'' document, see the 
``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
    As nearby ports and indeed the maritime industry itself have grown 
over the fifty years since the Smith Point TSS was first charted, 
traffic patterns, traffic density, and vessel sizes have all changed 
considerably. Meanwhile, both the development and growth of the port 
community, and the growth in the size of the ships navigating these 
waters, appear to have rendered the Smith Point TSS obsolete. With the 
advent of the Global Positioning System, Automatic Identification 
System and overall improved navigation technology since

[[Page 56851]]

1969, today's maritime pilots have better communications and awareness 
of the locations of other vessels navigating in the vicinity of Smith 
Point. These pilots have safely coordinated large vessel traffic 
despite not being able to use the TSS as designed.
    Due to the increase in size and draft of typical cargo vessels 
since the Smith Point TSS was first identified on the charts in 1969, 
depths in the north-bound and south-bound vessel traffic lanes are 
inadequate for modern deep draft vessels transiting through this area 
and today's larger vessels can no longer use the routing measure as 
designed. The natural bottom contours of the Bay provide the greatest 
depths in the center of the southbound lane of the TSS. See Figures 2 & 
3 in the Figures document in the docket. And while the Inland 
Navigational Rules (eCFR, 2023) provide that a vessel shall, so far as 
practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes, larger inbound vessels must 
use the opposing outbound lane of the Smith Point TSS to avoid the risk 
of grounding. This scenario leads to a traffic pattern contrary to the 
charted routing measure and not in accordance with Rule 10 of the 
Inland Rules, which may actually increase the risk of collisions. As 
the Smith Point TSS appears to be counterproductive today, we are 
seeking public comments regarding its continued need.
    If after consideration of the comments received we determine that 
the Smith Point TSS should be removed from nautical charts and 
publications, we will then reestablish the current Smith Point Fairway 
Lighted Buoy SP (LLNR 7490), which marks the turning point of the TSS 
separation zone, as the Smith Point Lighted Buoy SP, a white and red 
striped Safe Water Buoy. The light will change from yellow to white 
with Morse Code ``A'' flash characteristic. We also seek public comment 
from waterway users on the Coast Guard's plan to change the signal and 
meaning of this buoy.

III. Information Requested

    If you believe there is some reason the Smith Point TSS should be 
retained, please let us know that and provide us with your reasoning 
for wanting to keep it in place. Please include comments regarding the 
potential impacts of this possible change and any other concerns that 
you may have regarding the Smith Point TSS.

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments in response to this 
notification of inquiry through the Federal Decision Making portal at 
https://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2023-0330 in the search box and click 
``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the Search Results column, 
and click on it. Then click on the Comment option. In your submission, 
please include the docket number for this notification of inquiry and 
provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. If your 
material cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, contact 
the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this 
document for alternate instructions.
    To view documents mentioned in this notification of inquiry as 
being available in the docket, find the docket as described in the 
previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & Related Material'' 
in the Document Type column. Public comments will also be placed in our 
online docket and can be viewed by following instructions on the 
https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked Questions web page. We 
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 https://www.regulations.gov 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).
    We do not plan to hold a public meeting to receive oral comments on 
this notification of inquiry; however, should the need arise, we will 
announce the date, time, and location in a separate document published 
in the Federal Register. If you have signed up for docket email alerts 
mentioned in the paragraph above, you will receive an email notice when 
the public meeting notice is published and placed in the docket.
    This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: August 15, 2023.
Mary Ellen J. Durley,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Fifth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2023-17849 Filed 8-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.