[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 76 (Monday, April 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21869-21870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-08205]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0042]


Consolidation of Redundant Coast Guard Boat Stations

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Request for comments; reopen comment period.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is reopening the comment period for the 
planned consolidation of redundant Coast Guard boat stations. In 
response to the request for comments we published February 14, 2020, an 
interested person asked that we extend the comment period.

DATES: The reopened comment period will close May 4, 2020. Your 
comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before 
May 4, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2020-0042 using the Federal rulemaking portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document, 
please call or email Todd Aikins, Coast Guard Office of Boat Forces, 
202-372-2463, todd.r.aikins@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

DHS Department of Homeland Security
GAO Government Accountability Office

[[Page 21870]]

II. Background and Purpose

    In the request for comments we published February 14, 2020 (85 FR 
8601), we stated that in October of 2017, the Government Accountability 
Office issued report GAO-18-9, titled ``Actions Needed to Close 
Stations Identified as Overlapping and Unnecessarily Duplicative.'' 
This GAO report recommended the consolidation of eighteen boat 
stations. Due to environmental and operational factors, the Coast Guard 
is not considering all eighteen boat stations identified in the GAO 
report for consolidation. Instead, we anticipate consolidating five 
stations, with implementation notionally scheduled for fiscal year 
2021. These stations have been identified because there are other units 
nearby capable of responding to cases in these areas, and because these 
five stations respond to a low number of cases. We do not anticipate 
any adverse effect on Coast Guard response capability. We expect an 
improvement to the proficiency of boat operators as well as a less 
complicated response system.

III. Discussion

    In response to a request from an interested person the Coast Guard 
has reopened the comment period to allow additional input from the 
public. The new due date for comments is close May 4, 2020. The 
following information was provided in our February 14 request for 
comments.
    Many stations were established at a time when boats lacked engines 
and were powered by oars and paddles. With modern boat operating speeds 
and improved direction finding technology, many calls for Coast Guard 
assistance can be responded to by multiple units significantly faster 
than when these boat stations were first established. The combination 
of significantly improved response times, along with an overall 
reduction in rescue calls due to boating safety improvements throughout 
the nation, has resulted in a number of boat stations becoming 
redundant. This consolidation will result in a more robust response 
system by increasing staffing levels and capacity at select nearby boat 
stations. Such a consolidation creates synergy and more opportunities 
for boat operators to properly train instead of missing training 
opportunities while standing ready to respond to calls that do not 
come. Station Oxford and Stations-Small Fishers Island, Shark River, 
Roosevelt Inlet, and Salem have been identified for consolidation with 
neighboring stations.

IV. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal portal at 
https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be submitted using 
https://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions. In your submission, please include the docket number for 
this notice and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and 
submissions in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking System 
of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).
    Documents mentioned in this notice as being available in the 
docket, and all public comments, will be in our online docket at 
https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that 
website's instructions.

    Dated: April 14, 2020.
Matthew W. Sibley,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Capability.
[FR Doc. 2020-08205 Filed 4-17-20; 8:45 am]
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