Traffic Separation Schemes: In the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Its Approaches; in Puget Sound and Its Approaches; and in Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and the Strait of Georgia

In this interim rule with request for comments, the Coast Guard codifies traffic separation schemes in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its approaches, in Puget Sound and its approaches, and in Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and the Strait of Georgia. These traffic separation schemes (TSSs) were validated by a Port Access Route Study (PARS) conducted under the Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA), 33 U.S.C. 1221-1232 and were adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). They have been shown on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) charts since 2006, and are currently documented in the IMO publication "Ships' Routeing," Ninth Edition, 2008. Codifying these internationally recognized traffic separation schemes provides better routing order and predictability, increases maritime safety, and reduces the potential for collisions, groundings, and hazardous cargo spills. The Coast Guard is issuing this interim rule with a request for comments to permit the public to comment on changes made to some geographic positions located in Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and the Strait of Georgia that were made after the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).