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Thirteenth Coast Guard District; Relocation of Assets Along North Washington Coast and Closure of Station Quillayute River

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 [Federal Register: March 28, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 60)]
[Notices]
[Page 16971-16972]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28mr01-96]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

[CGD13-01-003]


Thirteenth Coast Guard District; Relocation of Assets Along North
Washington Coast and Closure of Station Quillayute River

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of meeting; request for comments; notice of intent to
prepare environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Thirteenth Coast Guard District is holding a series of
public meetings to discuss changes in the overall risk environment
along the North Washington Coast and a proposed relocation of assets
including the closure of Station Quillayute River. The Coast Guard
announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) to
cover these proposed actions. The public meetings are meant to discuss,
answer questions, and get feedback from the public about these proposed
actions. The Coast Guard is also seeking written feedback.

DATES: The open meetings will be held on:

1. April 16, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in LaPush, Washington
2. April 17, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Forks, Washington
3. April 18, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Port Townsend,
Washington
4. April 19, 2001, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Port Angeles,
Washington
A public open house will be held before each meeting from 3:30 p.m. to
5:30 p.m.

    Written material, including comments submitted via the Internet
must reach the Coast Guard on or before April 23, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at the following locations:
1. LaPush, Washington--Coast Guard Station; end of LaPush Road; LaPush,
WA 98350

2. Forks, Washington--Forks New High School Commons; 411 South Spartan
Avenue; Forks, WA 98331
3. Port Townsend, Washington--Pope Marine Building; 540 Water Street;
Port Townsend, WA 98368
4. Port Angeles, Washington--City Council Chambers; 321 East Fifth
Street; Port Angeles, WA 98362

    You may mail comments to the Chief, Resource Management Division,
Thirteenth Coast Guard District, Room 3408, Jackson Federal Building,
915 Second Avenue, Seattle, WA 98174-1067. You may also deliver written
comments to the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 206-220-7130
or 800-982-8813 extension 7130. You may also submit comments via the
Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/D13.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information on this notice
contact Commander Carl Bromund, Chief of Thirteenth Coast Guard
District Resource Management Division, telephone 206-220-7130 or 800-
982-8813, extension 7130.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    The general population, number of registered boaters, and
commercial vessel activity is increasing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca
and Puget Sound Region causing an increase in demand for Coast Guard
services. Along with these increases, there is an expanded need to
counter drug smuggling activity and enforce laws for commercial and
recreational fishing in the same region.
    The Search and Rescue workload at Station Quillayute River has been
declining over the past five years. The station has responded to an
annual average of less than 28 cases in the last four years, and has
only responded to six cases where lives were at risk since 1993. On
average, Coast Guard Stations in Washington and Oregon (including
Station Quillayute River) respond to about 160 cases per year. In the
past five months (between October 1, 2000 and February 28, 2001), the
Station has only performed eight Search and Rescue cases. If the
proposed relocation were to occur, the demand for Coast Guard services
in the Quillayute River area will continue to be met by newer and
faster vessels located at Grays Harbor and Neah Bay and the existing
aircraft from Port Angeles.
    A Search and Rescue (SAR) Performance Model Evaluation was
completed to analyze the mission impact of closing Station Quillayute
River. The SAR Performance Model is a computer model used to quantify
SAR system performance within the area of operations around a station.
The results from that analysis showed no significant difference
operating with Station Quillayute River open or closed with regards to
the estimated number of lives saved, cases with response time greater
than 2 hours, or 90% response time (90% of the cases are responded to
within this time). An average increase of 9 minutes is predicted for
the response time if the station were to be closed.
    The Coast Guard is proposing to move the people and boats assigned
at Station

[[Page 16972]]

Quillayute River to Port Angeles and Port Townsend. In the last four
years, on average, 89 cases per year have occurred in the waters
adjacent to Port Angeles and Port Townsend. The Coast Guard has
responded to these cases using helicopters stationed at Port Angeles.
Additional boats and people at Port Angeles and Port Townsend would
reduce the risk that lives and property would be lost in cases adjacent
to those areas.
    The EA will be prepared in accordance with Coast Guard procedures
and policies (Commandant Instruction M16475.1C) and section 102 (2)(c)
of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as implemented
by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-
15068).

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages submission of written data, views, or
arguments on this notice. Persons submitting comments should include
their names and addresses, identify this notice (CGD13-01-003), the
specific issue that each comment addresses, and the reason for the
comment. Please submit all comments and attachments in an unbound
format, no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches to the Coast Guard at the
address under ADDRESSES. If you want acknowledgment of receipt of your
comment, enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. Public
comments can be submitted on the Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/D13.
The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the comment
period.

Agenda for Meeting

(1) 6:30 p.m.-6:40 p.m.: Introduction, Review of Agenda, Presentation
of Background Information
(2) 6:40 p.m.-8:50 p.m.: Public Comments--opportunity for individuals
to make oral presentations of 3-5 minutes each according to schedule
developed through process described under Public Meeting
(3) 8:50 p.m.: Summary and Conclusion
(4) 9 p.m.: Adjourn

Public Meeting

    Attendance is open to the public. With advance notice, and as time
permits, members of the public may make oral presentations during the
meeting. Persons wishing to make oral presentations should notify
Commander Carl Bromund listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no
later than the day before the meeting. Written material may be
submitted before, during, or after the meeting. Public comments can be
submitted and more information on the proposal is available on the
Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/D13. Persons unable to attend the
public meetings are encouraged to submit written comments as outlined
above.

Information on Service for Individuals with Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities, or to request assistance at the meeting(s), contact
Commander Carl Bromund at the address or phone number under FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.

    Dated: March 21, 2001.
T.H. Gilmour,
Acting Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Thirteenth Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 01-7626 Filed 3-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P

 
 

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