[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24837-24838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11854]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[USCG-1998-3797]


Office of Vessel Traffic Management

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is holding a public meeting to invite ideas, 
comments, questions, and interest by individuals and operations on the 
Port and Waterways Safety Systems (PAWSS) port risk analyses, Vessel 
Traffic Service (VTS) using Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), and 
public-private partnerships for operating VTS's. The first public 
meetings on these topics were held from January to March of 1997. This 
additional meeting is meant to discuss progress to date and future 
plans for the PAWSS project.

DATES: The meeting will be held on May 20, 1998, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 
however, the meeting may be concluded early if its business is 
finished. Anyone planning to attend the meeting and intending to 
express views is encouraged to arrive early and make that intention 
known to Mr. Mike Sollosi at the telephone number or address provided 
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Marine Board of the National 
Academy of Sciences, 2001 Wisconsin Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20007.

    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, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at 400 
Seventh Street SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001 between 10 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 PAWSS or VTS, contact Mr. Mike Sollosi, 
Coast Guard Office of Vessel Traffic Management, telephone 202-267-
1539. You may also contact Mr. Peter Johnson, Marine Board, National 
Academy of Sciences, about the meeting, telephone 202-334-3157. For 
questions on the public docket for this notice, contact Ms. Carol 
Kelly, Coast Guard Dockets Team Leader, or Ms. Paulette Twine, Chief, 
Documentary Services Division, Department of Transportation, telephone 
202-366-9329.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background Information

    As a part of its Ports and Waterways Safety System (PAWSS) project, 
the Coast Guard is developing a port risk assessment tool to determine 
which ports require a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) and to identify the 
minimum capabilities a VTS must have to meet the needs of a given port 
or waterway. This port analysis tool is intended to evaluate various 
risk criteria such as traffic density, prevailing weather, port 
geography, and environmental concerns. The tool will also evaluate the 
effectiveness of risk mitigation factors, such as VTS.
    The PAWSS project is based on a VTS that uses the automatic 
identification system (AIS) and that takes advantage of readily 
available, off-the-shelf and open architecture systems that are 
inexpensive and easy to build and operate. Further, the Coast Guard is 
developing a proposal for public-private partnerships in the VTS/Vessel 
Traffic Information Service arena. The Coast Guard is seeking 
stakeholder validation before this proposal is published in a notice of 
proposed rulemaking.

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 the 
persons listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT no later than the 
day before the meeting.

Information on Service for Individuals with Disabilities

    For information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
Mr. Mike Sollosi at the address or phone number under FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT as soon as possible.

[[Page 24838]]

    Dated: April 29, 1998.
R.C. North,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety 
and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 98-11854 Filed 5-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M