Port Access Routes Study; Strait of Juan de Fuca and Adjacent Waters

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[USCG-1999-4974]

Port Access Routes Study; Strait of Juan de Fuca and Adjacent

Waters

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is announcing a public meeting to collect data

and information for the ongoing study of port-access routes for the

Strait of Juan de Fuca and adjacent waters. The meeting will focus on

the issues raised and questions listed in the Federal Register notice

announcing the study. The Coast Guard is also extending the comment

period to May 31, 1999 to allow additional time for public comment.

DATES: The meeting will be held on May 12, 1999 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility

on or before May 31, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the auditorium of Building 9,

NOAA Western Regional Center, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA

98115.

You may submit your written comments and related material by only

one of the following methods:

(1) By mail to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG-1999-4974),

U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401, 400 Seventh Street SW.,

Washington, DC 20590-001.

(2) By hand to room PL-401 on the Plaza level of the Nassif

Building, 400 Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5

p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone

number is 202-366-9329.

(3) By fax to the Docket Management Facility at 202-493-2251.

[[Page 18652]]

(4) Electronically through the Web Site for the Docket Management

System at http://dms.dot.gov.

The Docket Management Facility maintains the public docket for this

notice. Comments and documents, as indicated in this notice, will

become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or

copying at room PL-401 on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the

same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. You may electronically access the public docket for

this notice on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information concerning this notice

or public meeting, contact Mr. John Mikesell, Chief, Plans and Programs

Section, Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management Branch, Thirteenth

Coast Guard District, telephone (206) 220-7272, or Ms. Barbara Marx,

Office of Vessel Traffic Management, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters,

telephone (202) 267-0574. For questions on viewing, or submitting

material to the docket, contact Dorothy Walker, Chief, Documentary

Services Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, telephone 202-

366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages you to participate by submitting

comments and related material, and by attending the public meeting. If

you submit written comments, please include your name and address,

identify the docket number for this notice (USCG-1999-4974), indicate

the specific section of the Federal Register notice announcing the

study to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each

comment. You may submit your written comments and material by mail,

hand, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the

address under ADDRESSES; but please do not submit the same comment or

material by more than one means. If you submit them by mail or hand,

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 they were received, please enclose a stamped,

self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and

materials received during the comment period.

Information on Service for Individuals With Disabilities

For information on facilities or services for individuals with

disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meeting,

contact Mr. John Mikesell at the address or phone number under FOR

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.

Background and Purpose

The Coast Guard announced the port access routes study in the

Federal Register on January 20, 1999 (64 FR 3145). The purpose of the

study is to evaluate the continued applicably of and the need for

modifications to current vessel routing measures in and around the

Strait of Juan de Fuca and adjacent waters including Admiralty Inlet,

Rosario Strait, Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and the Strait of Georgia.

The goal of the study is to help reduce the risk of marine casualties

and increase vessel traffic management efficiency in the study area.

Study recommendations may lead to future rulemaking or appropriate

international agreements.

Dated: April 8, 1999.

Joseph J. Angelo,

Acting Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental

Protection.

[FR Doc. 99-9450 Filed 4-14-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-15-M