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!
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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"
