Saturday, October 23, 2021

NOAA opens Pandora's box.



The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for Proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary | Office National Marine Sanctuaries (noaa.gov)    has gotten the attention of several important agencies and organizations.  

“Due to the unique geography of the region, particularly in the St. Lawrence River, some diveable shipwreck sites are located on the bottom directly underneath active shipping lanes.”  Another passage from the DEIS about recreational diving in shipping channels appears on page 22. This passage reads, “To facilitate sustainable recreational access to shipwrecks, NOAA would develop a mooring program to install and maintain access at popular dive sites. These moorings would include buoys and other types of access infrastructure for sites where buoy placement is not advisable, such as in shipping channels.”

Essentially "Encouraging and facilitating recreational diving (and the necessary accompanying dive boats) in shipping lanes and other busy shipping areas along the St. Lawrence River" will expose diving  under the Seaway to a review of safety and economic impact!

Post your comments on the Clayton Divers Facebook Page!!!!!

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All 65 on-line Proposed LONMS comments can be found at:    https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NOS-2021-0050-0001/comment

The DEIS identified either no sanctuary or two location options:

(1) Alternative 1 (Eastern Lake Ontario and Thousand Islands)
(2) Alternative 2 (Eastern Lake Ontario)

1) DOT on NOAA Marine Sanctuary in Lake Ontario:      NOAA-NOS-2021-0050-0068_attachment_1.pdf - Google Drive

"The addition of a marine sanctuary in a busy international shipping channel such as the St. Lawrence River would add additional challenges to the safe and efficient oversight of navigation by multiple U.S. and Canadian entities. It has the potential make the Seaway a less reliable transportation route and could create future supply chain disruptions due to increased vessel incidents and delays."

2) US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)                       NOAA-NOS-2021-0050-0020_attachment_1.pdf - Google Drive

Recommend changing as follows (additions in ALL CAPS):
To ensure compatible use with commercial shipping and other activities, NOAA would exclude the ports and harbors ofOswego, Pultneyville, Little Sodus, Great Sodus, OGDENSBURG, MORRISTOWN, CAPE VINCENT, SACKETS HARBOR, and Port Ontario.
NOAA would also exclude the federal navigation channels AND approaches, FEDERAL NAVIGATION STRUCTUES, ON-GOING NAVIGATIONIMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AND STUDIES, designated open water dredge disposal areas, and federal anchorage areas from the proposed sanctuary
.

3) American Pilots' Association:                                          NOAA-NOS-2021-0050-0060_attachment_1.pdf - Google Drive

"We disagree with NOAA's conclusion that Alternatives 1 and 2 will have no impact on commercial shipping. First, we urge NOAA to exclude the St. Lawrence River from the sanctuary boundaries. U.S. portions of the river are part of the St. Lawrence Seaway"

4) Chamber of Marine Commerce:                                    NOAA-NOS-2021-0050-0056_attachment_1.pdf - Google Drive

"Given the binational importance of this commercial waterway, the increased risk to safety and the likelihood of other unintended consequences, we do not support Alternative 1."

5) Lake Carriers' Association                                              NOAA-NOS-2021-0050-0040_attachment_1.pdf - Google Drive

"Alternative 1 would have significant negative impacts to shipping as the section of the St. Lawrence River under consideration is a major through fare for large commercial vessels that depend on a clear and open navigation channel to safely move cargoes. The St. Lawrence River is already a constrained waterway with strong currents and adding further impediments to maritime navigation is a recipe for disaster."

6) American Great Lakes Ports Association:                      NOAA-NOS-2021-0050-0033_attachment_1.pdf - Google Drive

"We disagree with NOAA's conclusion that Alternatives 1 and 2 will have no impact on commercial shipping. First, we urge NOAA to exclude the St. Lawrence River from the sanctuary boundaries. U.S. portions of the river are part of the St. Lawrence Seaway"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, June 10, 2021

RE: Clayton Diving Club

I need more notice to be able to go and help so I cannot make it this time

 

From: Joe Dudiak [mailto:jdudiak@twcny.rr.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 9, 2021 7:21 AM
To: %Dennis %Kathi % McCarthy; a.beyer@earthlink.net; andrejohnson315@gmail.com; bobsherwood5016@yahoo.com; bruce.rippeteau@yahoo.com; cljsmooth@stny.rr.com; deltadivers.scuba@gmail.com; diveclayton.scuba@blogger.com; dlhammond05@gmail.com; frauhexe@aol.com; Heinz@frenchcreekmarina.com; jdudiak@twcny.rr.com; jkp@echoes.net; jskfrogboy@aol.com; lisagoodlin@gmail.com; margaretbrennen@yahoo.com; mcschnee@yahoo.com; mktopa@verizon.net; mlsppts@hotmail.com; mmhardy44@gmail.com; obxbleier1@aol.com; richard325@earthlink.net; rosettastone82@yahoo.com; scott@plansbydesign.us; skipcouch@diversguide.net; subman4050@aol.com; techace@nycap.rr.com; the_worldsastage@yahoo.com; tide@gisco.net; vincentckessler@yahoo.com
Subject: Clayton Diving Club

 

Ken Kozin completed repairs of the club shipwreck buoys and reinforced the light cages in an effort to avoid future damage of those cages.  The buoys are now all in place for the 2021 dive season.  This includes the Maggie L, the Natural Site at Eagle Wing, the A. E. Vickery and the Keystorm.

 

Alex Bay is doing another village cleanup this Saturday, June 12. They are asking if any divers would like to help out to meet at the village dock at 8 AM this Saturday.


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Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Clayton Diving Club

Ken Kozin completed repairs of the club shipwreck buoys and reinforced the light cages in an effort to avoid future damage of those cages.  The buoys are now all in place for the 2021 dive season.  This includes the Maggie L, the Natural Site at Eagle Wing, the A. E. Vickery and the Keystorm.

 

Alex Bay is doing another village cleanup this Saturday, June 12. They are asking if any divers would like to help out to meet at the village dock at 8 AM this Saturday.

Monday, April 19, 2021

Re: Clayton Dive Club - Cape Vincent dive

Dear Fellow Clayton Dive Club-ers,

        We are late arriving at the Cape from Lincoln NE this year (altho hopefully by May), so will not be able to come over and snorkel with you all on the St Louis on 24 April.

        Joe,  I am sending this below image that CV's Bill Gould took (and gave to me a copy in 2017 to share as I saw fit, but we all need to be sure to credit Bill) of the St Louis at our CV East End Park.

        Also, there is a new Village changing station and bathroom immediately adjacent to the entry area, although it may not be quite yet open.  Further, Dennis and Kathi have a LOT of St L documentation for the curious members.

                                            --Bruce (still in Lincoln)

Inline image

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On Monday, April 19, 2021, 05:57:17 AM CDT, Joe Dudiak <jdudiak@twcny.rr.com> wrote:
In the March meeting minutes it was mentioned that a club dive to begin the 2021 dive season was scheduled for April 24 on the wreck the St. Louis in Cape Vincent.   Due to other commitments, the club officers will not be attending.  Members are still welcome to make the dive as an informal event.  It would be a good opportunity to check out your equipment to start the dive season. 

Clayton Dive Club - Cape Vincent dive

In the March meeting minutes it was mentioned that a club dive to begin the 2021 dive season was scheduled for April 24 on the wreck the St. Louis in Cape Vincent.   Due to other commitments, the club officers will not be attending.  Members are still welcome to make the dive as an informal event.  It would be a good opportunity to check out your equipment to start the dive season.