81 FR 43613 - Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS)
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Corps of Engineers Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 128 (July 5, 2016)
Coast Guard
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Army Corps of Engineers
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 128 (July 5, 2016)
| Page Range | 43613-43615 | |
| FR Document | 2016-15886 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 43613-43615] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-15886] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers [DOT-OST-2015-0105] Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) AGENCY: DHS--Coast Guard, DOT--Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology (OST-R), and DOD--U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of Engineering and Construction. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The United States Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) published a notice on August 18, 2015 seeking public comments on the proposed shutdown and decommissioning of 62 the then-existing 84 Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) sites. After a review of the comments received, we have reduced to 37 the number of NDGPS sites to be shutdown, 9 of which are USCG Maritime sites and 28 of which are DOT inland sites. As a result of this action, the NDGPS system will remain operational with a total of 46 USCG and USACE sites available to users in the maritime and coastal regions. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, contact CAPT Scott Smith, Coast Guard, telephone (202) 372-1545 or email [email protected]; or James Arnold, U.S. DOT OST-R, NDGPS Program Manager, telephone (202) 366-8422 or email [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background and Purpose The USCG began development of the Maritime Differential Global Positioning System (MDGPS) in the late 1980s. In 1994, the USCG published a Federal Register notice (59 FR 13757; March 23, 1994) discussing the accuracy limitations in the GPS system, and informing the public that the USCG's Differential GPS Service would be implemented for harbor and harbor approach areas by 1996. The USCG's Maritime DGPS system used land-based reference stations to enhance the accuracy of GPS to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) harbor approach standard for near-coastal maritime navigation. Through Presidential Decision Directive NSTC-6, U.S. Global Positioning System Policy, (March 28, 1996) the President designated the U.S. Department of Transportation as the Nation's ``lead agency for all Federal civil GPS matters.'' The Directive further required the USDOT to ``develop and implement U.S. Government augmentation to the basic GPS for transportation applications.'' The USCG's Maritime DGPS Service was established as an augmentation to GPS to aid maritime navigation in certain harbors and harbor approach areas. Enacted on October 27, 1997, Section 346 of the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998, Public Law 105-66, 111 Stat. 1425, authorized the USDOT to establish, operate and manage the NDGPS system. Furthermore, section 346 authorized the Secretary to integrate the USCG's existing Maritime DGPS reference stations with the NDGPS, and to ensure System compatibility with the Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) network, which had been independently established by the National Geodetic Survey. Pursuant to this statutory authority, the Secretary established 29 inland DGPS sites, which along with the USCG's Maritime DGPS sites, and seven sites established by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), collectively comprised the Nationwide DGPS (NDGPS) system. Pursuant to a 1999 delegation of authority from the Secretary of Transportation (64 FR 7813; February 17, 1999), the Commandant of the USCG was designated as lead for implementation, operation, and maintenance of the NDGPS service. The Secretary retained authority for System requirements and associated responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and assumed the role of NDGPS sponsor and chair of the multi- agency NDGPS Policy and Implementation Team (PIT), which directs the overall management of the NDGPS system. Since its establishment in the late 1990s, several factors have contributed to the stagnation of transportation-related use of NDGPS, including lack of a regulatory requirement for vessels to carry DGPS equipment within U.S. territorial waters, technological advances in GPS that have increased its accuracy, increased reliability of other GPS augmentation systems that do not require a second receiver, limited availability of consumer-grade DGPS radio beacon receivers, and the discontinuance of GPS Selective Availability. [[Page 43614]] On August 18, 2015, USCG, DOT, and USACE published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments on the proposed shutdown and decommissioning of 62 NDGPS sites on January 15, 2016 (see 80 FR 50018). The DHS, DOT, and USACE received 168 comments in response to the notice, several of which were duplicate entries. Due to the number and nature of comments received, the USCG, DOT, and USACE decided to postpone the proposed closing of the sites until the comments were thoroughly reviewed. As a result of our analysis of these comments, which is discussed below, we determined that only 37 of the 62 sites proposed will be shut down and decommissioned, leaving a total of 46 USCG and USACE sites that will continue to provide single-site coverage for the maritime areas currently covered by the USCG and USACE. Termination of the NDGPS broadcast at the sites listed below is planned to occur 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. Discussion of Comments Inland Coverage Several comments were received that addressed the inland portion on NDGPS but none identified a Federal transportation requirement. The determination to shut down 28 inland NDGPS sites reflects the lack of a federal transportation requirement to maintain a DGPS signal at these sites in response to the August 2015 Federal Register Notice and limited availability of consumer-grade NDGPS radiobeacon receivers. Continuously Operating Reference Station Comments Almost half of the received comments requested that particular sites remain open as a data source to support surveying, science, and natural resource management. Each of the NDGPS sites announced for closure in the August 2015 Notice also serves as a Continuously Operating Reference Station (CORS) data source. The CORS network contains approximately 2000 individual sites owned and operated by almost 200 different public and private entities. The CORS data is principally used by scientists, surveyors and engineers to improve the precision of GPS data. Additionally, natural resource agencies also rely on the CORS sites in the management and oversight of national parks, forestry and agriculture. Each CORS site provides data via the Internet to the National Geodetic Survey, which analyzes the data and then distributes it to the public free of charge. The science, land surveying and engineering professionals who utilize the CORS system to refine three-dimensional position data do not use the DGPS radio broadcast signal developed and operated for surface and maritime transportation purposes. The USCG will consider the transfer of ownership and or operational control of the below-listed NDGPS sites to private entities or other Federal, State, and/or local agencies interested in continuing to operate them as CORS sites. Questions about potential transfer of specific CORS sites should be directed to the individual(s) referenced in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above. Maritime Coverage Approximately one third of the comments received came from maritime users of the NDGPS system, including marine pilots, dredging companies and marine surveyors or hydrographers, who urged the USCG and USACE to retain the existing maritime sites. 58 of these maritime comments addressed specific maritime DGPS uses and advocated for retaining DGPS sites. 44 of the 58 comments expressed a need for enhanced precision for navigation provided by DGPS (e.g. piloting) and 14 of the 58 comments expressed a need for enhanced precision for positioning to support marine surveying and dredging. Commenting parties included regional and national associations of maritime pilots and professionals as well as both U.S. (USACE, NPA, NOAA) and foreign government agencies (Canada and United Kingdom). Based upon these comments, USACE elected to not close any of its DGPS sites. For similar reasons, the USCG determined that it will retain all but nine of its existing sites and will only close sites where another site already provides coverage or where no maritime users expressed a need to keep the site open. As a result, the USCG's maritime DGPS system will remain largely intact. However, certain locations will no longer have DGPS coverage from multiple sites. With the exception of Puerto Rico and Cold Bay, Alaska, where the USCG will no longer provide DGPS coverage due to a lack of expressed need, the remaining USCG system will provide single-site DGPS coverage for port and harbor approaches in all areas currently covered by single or multiple-site coverage. General Comments An additional 16 comments expressed a general interest in retaining the system without specifying a discrete use or application requiring the service to remain intact. Another 6 comments were provided on behalf of standards bodies and advocacy organizations regarding potential application of NDGPS infrastructure for future complementary positioning, navigation and timing systems (e.g. eLoran and R-Mode). After evaluating the feedback received, USCG and USACE will retain more sites than were originally proposed for retention in the August 2015 Federal Register Notice to continue providing DGPS coverage to maritime users, while reducing coverage redundancies and coverage to areas where no maritime interests expressed a need for continued operation. The reduced system will continue to provide DGPS services for precision maritime navigation, marine surveying, and dredging as we continue to research and assess DGPS use and alternatives based upon advances in GPS precision and augmentation technology. Sites To Be Disestablished Termination of the NDGPS broadcast at the following sites is planned to occur 30 days after the publication of this notice in the Federal Register. List of Maritime Sites To Be DisestablishedBrunswick, ME Cold Bay, AK Eglin, FL Isabela, PR Lompoc, CA Pickford, MI Saginaw Bay, MI Sturgeon Bay, WI Key West, FL List of Inland Sites To Be Disestablished Albuquerque, NM Austin, NV Bakersfield, CA Billings, MT Chico, CA Clark, SD Dandridge, TN Essex, CA Flagstaff, AZ Greensboro, NC Hackleburg, AL Hagerstown, MD Hartsville, TN Hawk Run, PA Klamath Falls, OR Macon, GA Medora, ND Myton, UT Pine River, MN Polson, MT Pueblo, CO Savannah, GA Seneca, OR Spokane, WA [[Page 43615]] St. Marys, WV Summerfield, TX Topeka, KS Whitney, NE Graphics depicting the proposed changes to NDGPS coverage are available at the USCG's NDGPS General Information Web site at: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=dgpsMain. For more information on the NDGPS Service, visit the USCG's Web site at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=dgpsMain. Additional information on GPS, NDGPS, and other GPS augmentation systems is also available in the 2014 Federal Radionavigation Plan, published by the Department of Defense, DHS, and DOT, which is also available at the USCG's Web site at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=pubsMain. Authority This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 14 U.S.C. 81, and 49 U.S.C. 301 (Pub. L. 105-66, section 346). Issued in Washington, DC, on June 21, 2016. CAPT David C. Barata, Director of Marine Transportation Systems, Acting U.S. Coast Guard. Mr. Gregory D. Winfree, Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology, U.S. Department of Transportation. James C. Dalton, Chief, Engineering and Construction, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. [FR Doc. 2016-15886 Filed 7-1-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 5, 2016 / Notices 43613
Number of Responses per Total Hours per
42 CFR Citation and Purpose Total hours
respondents respondent responses response
54a.8(b) Program participant notice to program bene- 1,460 1 ..................... 1,460 1 1,460
ficiaries of rights to referral to an alternative service
provider.
Part 54a—Subtotal ................................................ 1,505 ........................ 1,600 ........................ 1,478
Total ............................................................... 1,620 ........................ 2,077 ........................ 1,845
Written comments and Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) augmentation to GPS to aid maritime
recommendations concerning the published a notice on August 18, 2015 navigation in certain harbors and harbor
proposed information collection should seeking public comments on the approach areas. Enacted on October 27,
be sent by August 4, 2016 to the proposed shutdown and 1997, Section 346 of the Department of
SAMHSA Desk Officer at the Office of decommissioning of 62 the then-existing Transportation and Related Agencies
Information and Regulatory Affairs, 84 Nationwide Differential Global Appropriations Act of 1998, Public Law
Office of Management and Budget Positioning System (NDGPS) sites. After 105–66, 111 Stat. 1425, authorized the
(OMB). To ensure timely receipt of a review of the comments received, we USDOT to establish, operate and
comments, and to avoid potential delays have reduced to 37 the number of manage the NDGPS system.
in OMB’s receipt and processing of mail NDGPS sites to be shutdown, 9 of which Furthermore, section 346 authorized the
sent through the U.S. Postal Service, are USCG Maritime sites and 28 of Secretary to integrate the USCG’s
commenters are encouraged to submit which are DOT inland sites. As a result existing Maritime DGPS reference
their comments to OMB via email to: of this action, the NDGPS system will stations with the NDGPS, and to ensure
OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov. remain operational with a total of 46 System compatibility with the
Although commenters are encouraged to USCG and USACE sites available to Continuously Operating Reference
send their comments via email, users in the maritime and coastal Stations (CORS) network, which had
commenters may also fax their regions. been independently established by the
comments to: 202–395–7285. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If National Geodetic Survey.
Commenters may also mail them to: you have questions on this notice,
Office of Management and Budget, Pursuant to this statutory authority,
contact CAPT Scott Smith, Coast Guard, the Secretary established 29 inland
Office of Information and Regulatory telephone (202) 372–1545 or email
Affairs, New Executive Office Building, DGPS sites, which along with the
scott.j.smith2@uscg.mil; or James USCG’s Maritime DGPS sites, and seven
Room 10102, Washington, DC 20503. Arnold, U.S. DOT OST–R, NDGPS sites established by the U.S. Army Corps
Summer King, Program Manager, telephone (202) 366– of Engineers (USACE), collectively
Statistician. 8422 or email NDGPS@dot.gov.
comprised the Nationwide DGPS
[FR Doc. 2016–15816 Filed 7–1–16; 8:45 am] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: (NDGPS) system. Pursuant to a 1999
BILLING CODE 4162–20–P Background and Purpose delegation of authority from the
Secretary of Transportation (64 FR 7813;
The USCG began development of the
February 17, 1999), the Commandant of
Maritime Differential Global Positioning
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND System (MDGPS) in the late 1980s. In the USCG was designated as lead for
SECURITY 1994, the USCG published a Federal implementation, operation, and
Register notice (59 FR 13757; March 23, maintenance of the NDGPS service. The
Coast Guard Secretary retained authority for System
1994) discussing the accuracy
limitations in the GPS system, and requirements and associated
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION responsibilities under the National
informing the public that the USCG’s
Differential GPS Service would be Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and
Office of the Assistant Secretary for assumed the role of NDGPS sponsor and
implemented for harbor and harbor
Research and Technology chair of the multi-agency NDGPS Policy
approach areas by 1996. The USCG’s
Maritime DGPS system used land-based and Implementation Team (PIT), which
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE directs the overall management of the
reference stations to enhance the
accuracy of GPS to the International NDGPS system.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Maritime Organization (IMO) harbor Since its establishment in the late
[DOT–OST–2015–0105] approach standard for near-coastal 1990s, several factors have contributed
maritime navigation. Through to the stagnation of transportation-
Nationwide Differential Global Presidential Decision Directive NSTC–6, related use of NDGPS, including lack of
Positioning System (NDGPS) U.S. Global Positioning System Policy, a regulatory requirement for vessels to
AGENCY: DHS—Coast Guard, DOT— (March 28, 1996) the President carry DGPS equipment within U.S.
Office of the Assistant Secretary for designated the U.S. Department of territorial waters, technological
Transportation as the Nation’s ‘‘lead advances in GPS that have increased its
sradovich on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
Research and Technology (OST–R), and
DOD—U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, agency for all Federal civil GPS accuracy, increased reliability of other
Office of Engineering and Construction. matters.’’ The Directive further required GPS augmentation systems that do not
ACTION: Notice. the USDOT to ‘‘develop and implement require a second receiver, limited
U.S. Government augmentation to the availability of consumer-grade DGPS
SUMMARY: The United States Coast basic GPS for transportation radio beacon receivers, and the
Guard (USCG), U.S. Department of applications.’’ The USCG’s Maritime discontinuance of GPS Selective
Transportation (DOT), and United States DGPS Service was established as an Availability.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 128 / Tuesday, July 5, 2016 / Notices 43615
• St. Marys, WV in accordance with the Paperwork public record. In this document, CBP is
• Summerfield, TX Reduction Act: United States-Caribbean soliciting comments concerning the
• Topeka, KS Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA) following information collection:
• Whitney, NE (Form 450). CBP is proposing that this Title: United States-Caribbean Basin
Graphics depicting the proposed information collection be extended with
Trade Partnership Act.
changes to NDGPS coverage are a change to the burden hours. There is
no change to the information collected. OMB Number: 1651–0083.
available at the USCG’s NDGPS General
Information Web site at: http:// This document is published to obtain Form Number: CBP Form 450.
www.navcen.uscg.gov/ comments from the public and affected
Abstract: The provisions of the United
?pageName=dgpsMain. agencies.
States-Caribbean Basin Trade
For more information on the NDGPS DATES: Written comments should be
Partnership Act (CBTPA) were adopted
Service, visit the USCG’s Web site at received on or before September 6, 2016
by the U.S. with the enactment of the
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/ to be assured of consideration.
Trade and Development Act of 2000
?pageName=dgpsMain. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
(Pub. L. 106–200). The objective of the
Additional information on GPS, mailed to U.S. Customs and Border
CBTPA is to expand trade benefits to
NDGPS, and other GPS augmentation Protection, Attn: Paperwork Reduction
Act Officer, Regulations and Rulings, countries in the Caribbean Basin. For
systems is also available in the 2014 preferential duty treatment under
Federal Radionavigation Plan, Office of Trade, 90 K Street NE., 10th
Floor, Washington, DC 20229–1177. CBTPA, importers are required to have
published by the Department of
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
a CBTPA Certification of Origin (CBP
Defense, DHS, and DOT, which is also
Requests for additional information Form 450) in their possession at the
available at the USCG’s Web site at
should be directed to Paperwork time of the claim, and to provide it to
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/
?pageName=pubsMain. Reduction Act Officer, U.S. Customs CBP upon request. CBP Form 450
and Border Protection, Regulations and collects data such as contact
Authority Rulings, Office of Trade, 90 K Street information for the exporter, importer
This notice is issued under the NE., 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229– and producer, and information about
authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a), 14 U.S.C. 1177, or by telephone at 202–325–0123 the goods being claimed.
81, and 49 U.S.C. 301 (Pub. L. 105–66, (This is not a toll-free number. This collection of information is
section 346). Comments are not accepted via provided for by 19 CFR 10.224. CBP
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 21,
telephone message). Please note contact Form 450 is accessible at: http://
2016. information provided here is solely for forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_450.pdf.
CAPT David C. Barata,
questions regarding this notice.
Individuals seeking information about Current Actions: This submission is
Director of Marine Transportation Systems, being made to extend the expiration
other CBP programs please contact the
Acting U.S. Coast Guard. date and to revise the burden hours as
CBP National Customer Service Center
Mr. Gregory D. Winfree, a result of an increase in time estimated
at 877–227–5511, (TTY) 1–800–877–
Assistant Secretary for Research and 8339, or CBP Web site at https:// per response from 15 minutes to 2
Technology, U.S. Department of
www.cbp.gov/. For additional help: hours. There are no changes CBP Form
Transportation.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/home/ 450 or to the data collected on this form.
James C. Dalton,
search/1. Type of Review: Extension with a
Chief, Engineering and Construction, U.S.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP change to the burden hours.
Army Corps of Engineers.
invites the general public and other
[FR Doc. 2016–15886 Filed 7–1–16; 8:45 am]
Federal agencies to comment on Affected Public: Businesses.
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P Estimated Number of Respondents:
proposed and/or continuing information
collections pursuant to the Paperwork 15.
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13). Estimated Number of Responses per
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
The comments should address: (a) Respondent: 286.13.
SECURITY
Whether the collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of Estimated Total Annual Responses:
U.S. Customs and Border Protection 4,292.
the functions of the agency, including
[1651–0083] whether the information shall have Estimated Time per Response: 2
practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the hours.
Agency Information Collection
agency’s estimates of the burden of the Estimated Total Annual Burden
Activities: United States-Caribbean
collection of information; (c) ways to Hours: 8,584.
Basin Trade Partnership Act (CBTPA)
enhance the quality, utility, and clarity
AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border of the information to be collected; (d) Dated: June 29, 2016.
Protection, Department of Homeland ways to minimize the burden including Tracey Denning,
Security. the use of automated collection Agency Clearance Officer, U.S. Customs and
ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for techniques or the use of other forms of Border Protection.
comments; extension of an existing information technology; and (e) the [FR Doc. 2016–15785 Filed 7–1–16; 8:45 am]
annual cost burden to respondents or
sradovich on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
collection of information. BILLING CODE 9111–14–P
record keepers from the collection of
SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border information (total capital/startup costs
Protection (CBP) of the Department of and operations and maintenance costs).
Homeland Security will be submitting The comments that are submitted will
the following information collection be summarized and included in the CBP
request to the Office of Management and request for OMB approval. All
Budget (OMB) for review and approval comments will become a matter of
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Document Created: 2016-07-01 23:49:51
Document Modified: 2016-07-01 23:49:51
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Contact | If you have questions on this notice, contact CAPT Scott Smith, Coast Guard, telephone (202) 372-1545 or email [email protected]; or James Arnold, U.S. DOT OST-R, NDGPS Program Manager, telephone (202) 366-8422 or email [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 43613 |
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