Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana
The Coast Guard Heartland District announces the completion of the Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana Port Access Route Study (PARS...
The Coast Guard Heartland District announces the completion of the Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana Port Access Route Study (PARS). The study was conducted 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 Heartland Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR).
If you have questions about this notice, call or email Ms. Brandi Canada, Heartland Coast Guard District (dpw), U.S. Coast Guard: telephone (504) 671-2107, email
SMB-Heartland-waterwaysmgmt@uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
AOR Area of Responsibility
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
LNM Local Notice to Mariners
MSIB Marine Safety Information Bulletin
MTS Marine Transportation System
NAD 83 North American Datum of 1983
PARS Port Access Route Study
PWSA Ports and Waterways Safety Act
TSS Traffic Separation Scheme
USCG United States Coast Guard
II. Background and Purpose
When did the Coast Guard conduct this port access route study (PARS)?
We conducted this PARS following our announcement in a notice published in the
Federal Register
(FR) on March 1, 2023, entitled “Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana,” (88 FR 12966). The public was afforded a 47-day comment period. On March 28, 2023, we published a supplemental notice of study, to correct agency contact information and extend the comment period an additional 10 days (88 FR 18326).
The Coast Guard received seven comments to this document in response to our
Federal Register
notice. All comments and supporting documents to this document are available in a public docket and can be viewed by searching docket number USCG-2023-0063 at
www.regulations.gov.
A synopsis of the comments and copies of the Coast Guard Heartland District's public outreach can be found in the report.
What is the study area?
The study area includes the Gulf of America regions within the Coast Guard Heartland District AOR encompassed by
( printed page 51178)
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. All geographic points are based on North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83). An illustration showing the study area is below:
Why did the Coast Guard conduct this PARS?
The United States Coast Guard Heartland District conducted the PARS to examine the approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas, Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana (TX/LAPARS), and the study area's international and domestic transit routes. The purpose of this study evaluates the efficiency of current vessel routing measures to determine the need and applicability for modifications or the establishment of new routing measures. In addition to determining the need for adjusting or establishing new Traffic Separation Schemes (TSSs) and shipping safety fairways, other measures, including two-way routes, recommended routes, deep-water routes, precautionary areas, and non-navigable waterways, were also considered.
PARS are conducted anytime the Coast Guard considers a need to recommend routing changes, within the territorial seas, for any port. According to 46 U.S.C. 70003, the Coast Guard must conduct a study of port access routes before determining the need for establishing or adjusting current fairways or TSSs. U.S. waterways support multiple uses, such as commercial shipping, tug and barge operations, commercial and recreational fishing, research vessels, offshore support vessels, military vessels, and aquaculture apparatus.
How did the Coast Guard Heartland District conduct this PARS?
The PARS was conducted in alignment with guidance outlined in Coast Guard Commandant Instruction 16003.2C (series), Marine Planning of the Marine Transportation System (MTS).
The objectives of the study were to:
i. Determine potential traffic density;
ii. Determine if existing vessel routing measures are adequate;
iii. Determine if existing vessel routing measures require modifications;
iv. Determine the type of modifications;
v. Define and justify the need for new vessel routing measures;
vi. Determine the type of new vessel routing measures; and
vii. Determine if the usage of the vessel routing measures must be mandatory for specific classes of vessels.
To view the PARS report in the docket, go to
www.regulations.gov,
and insert “USCG-2023-0063” in the “search box.” Click “Search”. Then scroll down to the document entitled “Port Access Route Study: Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas, and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana TX/LAPARS March 2026” under the document type “Supporting & Related Material.”
IV. Conclusion
As described in the March 1, 2023
Federal Register
Notice of study; request for comments (88 FR 12966), the Heartland Coast Guard District evaluated the adequacy of existing vessel routing measures and determined 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 Coast Guard Heartland District area of responsibility (AOR).
( printed page 51179)
The Coast Guard Heartland District analyzed all available sources of data relevant to this process, including existing and potential traffic patterns, existing regulations, public submissions, and other factors.
As detailed in the final report, the United States Coast Guard Heartland District determined that safety fairways within the study area are adequate; however, the safety fairways cannot be widened as recommended due to established infrastructure within the Gulf of America. The PARS report does recommend implementing several new fairway anchorages to provide vessels a safe waiting area as they await clearance into port.
The United States Coast Guard Heartland District provided recommendations for the siting and layout of potential offshore mineral and non-mineral energy areas within the study area. It will continue to serve as a cooperating agency to BOEM's environmental review of each proposed project. In that role, the United States Coast Guard will evaluate the navigational safety risk of each proposal on a case-by-case basis.
www.regulations.gov
www.navcen.uscg.gov/port-access-route-study-reports
46 U.S.C. 70003