[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 250 (Friday, December 29, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67345-67346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-31376]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Parts 62 and 66

[CGD 94-091]
RIN 2115-AF14


Conformance of Uniform State Waterways Marking System and Western 
Rivers Marking System with the United States Aids to Navigation System 
and the Maritime Buoyage System of the International Association of 
Lighthouse Authorities

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is considering changes that would bring the 
Uniform State Waterways Marking System (USWMS) and the Western Rivers 
Marking System (WRMS) more into conformance with the U.S. Aids to 
Navigation System (USATONS) and the 

[[Page 67346]]
Maritime Buoyage System (MBS) of the International Association of 
Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). These changes would help mariners avoid 
misinterpreting signals they might see when transiting different bodies 
of water now subject to different marking systems.

DATES: Please submit comments on or before February 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA, Room 3406) [CGD 94-091], U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may 
be delivered to room 3406 at the same address between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. the telephone number is 
(202) 267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this notice 
and request for comments. Comments will become part of this docket and 
will be available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters, between 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LTJG Chad Asplund, Division of Short Range Aids to Navigation, 
Telephone: (202) 267-1386.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this notice and request for comments by submitting written data, views, 
or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include their names 
and addresses, identify this rulemaking [CG 94-091] and the specific 
section of this notice to which each comment applies, and give the 
reason for each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and 
attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8+ by 11 inches, 
suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting 
acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
addressed postcards or envelopes.

Background and Purpose

    In 1966 the USWMS was created to provide a system that would 
adequately mark State waters. At its inception it was meant in part to 
supplement the USATONS. It offered two types of aids to navigation, a 
system of regulatory markers as well as a system to supplement the 
USATONS. It features red and black buoys to mark lateral hazards.
    The WRMS was introduced to establish a system that would adequately 
mark the dynamic waterways of the Mississippi River and its Western 
counterparts. Some deviations from the USATONS were necessary to 
adequately mark these waterways. The WRMS allowed for only a few light 
characteristics to mark the waterways. As the number of users 
increased, and as the number of aids increased, a need arose to 
differentiate among the aids in the WRMS.
    In 1982, the United States, along with most of the world's other 
maritime Nations, became a party to the agreement that established the 
MBS of the IALA. In 1985 the United States began converting the USATONS 
to harmonize with the MBS; if finished in 1991. Yet the systems that 
mark the Uniform State Waterways and the Western Rivers are not fully 
in conformance with the single system comprising MBS and USATONS.
    The purpose of this proposed change is to develop an approach to 
adequately mark the Uniform State Waterways and Western Rivers while 
minimizing the number of systems of aids to navigation.
    The Coast Guard is considering the following changes:
    1. Allowing the five existing flash characteristics authorized in 
the USATONS to be used in the WRMS.
    2. Using non-lateral daymarks as crossing daymarks in the WRMS.
    3. Replacing the black buoys in the USWMS with green buoys.
    4. Removing cardinal marks from the USWMS.
    5. Marking hazards in the USWMS with the appropriate lateral marks 
as in the USATONS.

Early Participation

    The Coast Guard is consulting with the National Association of 
State Boating-Law Administrators and with users in the Second Coast 
Guard District, as well as with State maritime authorities, to gather 
information required for this proposed change.

Solicitation of Views

    The Coast Guard solicits comments from all segments of the marine 
community and other interested persons on economic and other impacts 
and [suggested alternatives related to aids to navigation system] to 
adequately mark the Uniform State Waterways and the Western Rivers. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this docket [CG 94-091], identify their concern or concerns, 
state what impacts may result from one or more of the alternatives 
identified, suggest other alternatives, and provide reasons to support 
the suggested alternatives. The Coast Guard is particularly interested 
in receiving information, views, data, and reasons on the following 
questions and areas of concern:
    1. WHAT WOULD BE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF A PROPOSED CHANGE IN 
LIGHTING CHARACTERISTICS ON THE WESTERN RIVERS?
    Would users be adversely affected by having additional lighting 
characteristics within the WRMS?
    What financial impact would this have?
    Who are the persons most affected?
    2. WHAT OTHER FACTORS AFFECT A PROPOSED CHANGE IN LIGHTING?
    Is there any other information that you feel may be helpful in 
implementing this change with less impact on the affected persons?
    3. SHOULD CROSSING DAYBOARDS USED IN THE WRMS BE REPLACED BY THE 
NON-LATERAL DAYBOARDS USED IN THE USATONS?
    Should the currently used single-color crossing dayboards be 
replaced by the red-and-white or green-and-white non-lateral marks for 
better visibility?
    4. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO MARK OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE USWMS?
    Should cardinal marks be retained, or should the States adopt a 
system similar to that of the USATONS?
    5. SHOULD THE MEANING OF THE RED-AND-WHITE STRIPED BUOYS IN THE 
USWMS BE CHANGED SO SUCH BUOYS MARK SAFE WATER AS IN THE USATONS?

    Dated: December 20, 1995.
Rudy K. Peschel,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Chief, Office of Navigation Safety and 
Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 95-31376 Filed 12-28-95; 8:45 am]
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