[Federal Register: August 8, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 151)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45607]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08au05-29]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 110
[CGD08-05-045]
RIN 1625-AA01
Anchorage Regulations; Mississippi River Below Baton Rouge, LA,
Including South and Southwest Passes
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
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SUMMARY: The United States Coast Guard will meet to discuss the
comments received relating to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
for Kenner Bend Anchorage as published in the Federal Register on
Wednesday April 27, 2005.
DATES: The meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 13, 2005, from 9
a.m. to 12 p.m. This meeting may adjourn early if all business is
finished.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the Basement Conference Room at
the Hale Boggs Federal Building, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans,
Louisiana. This notice is available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Melissa
Owens, Waterways Management Division, telephone (504) 589-6196
extension 396, fax (504) 589-4216.
Background
Runway 1-19 at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International
Airport is positioned in a north-south line running parallel to the
Airport Access Road. Aircraft approaching the runway from the south or
departing the runway from the north pass over the Lower Kenner Bend
Anchorage. Due to the close proximity of Runway 1-19 to Kenner Bend,
aircraft occasionally descend and ascend directly over vessels anchored
in the Lower Kenner Bend Anchorage, creating a potentially dangerous
situation that is of particular concern during periods of reduced
visibility. Aircraft approaching the runway from the south follow a
descending glide slope path with a minimum height of 311 feet above
mean sea level over the Kenner Bend Anchorage. Certain vessels with
cargo handling equipment such as cranes and boom are capable of
extending equipment to a height upwards of 300 feet above the
waterline. This amendment to the anchorage regulations for the
Mississippi River below Baton Rouge, LA, including South and Southwest
Passes is proposed to prohibit vessels that are anchored in the Lower
Kenner Bend Anchorage from engaging in cargo transfer operations or
exercising any shipboard equipment such as cranes and booms while at
anchor. This proposed revision is needed to increase safety at Kenner
Bend by reducing the potential for collision between aircraft and
vessels anchored in the Lower Kenner Bend Anchorage.
Discussion of Issues
The Coast Guard received three negative comments to the NPRM for
Kenner Bend Anchorage from the Maritime Navigation Safety Association
(MNSA), the Steamship Association of Louisiana (SALA), and the New
Orleans and Baton Rouge Port (NOBRA) Pilots. All three organizations
contend that the complete prohibition against using cargo-handling
equipment is excessive, and argue that some operations should be
allowed while at anchor. To better express their concerns, all parties
requested a public meeting be held. This meeting is open to the public.
Please note that the meeting may close early if all business is
finished.
Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities
For information on facilities or services for individuals with
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact
Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) Melissa Owens at the above phone numbers
as soon as possible.
Dated: July 26, 2005.
R. F. Duncan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 05-15566 Filed 8-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P