Bills Introduced – 06-20-16

With the Senate in full session and the House meeting in pro forma yesterday there were 16 bills introduced. Only one of those may be of interest to readers of this blog:

• HR 5531 To amend title 46, United States Code, to improve maritime transportation, and for other purposes. Rep. Hunter, Duncan D. [R-CA-50]

This is the bill that I mentioned yesterday as being scheduled for markup on Thursday. In that post I suggested that the bill might include maritime security provisions. A draft copy of the proposed bill is available on the Committee web site. There are no maritime security provisions but there is a requirement for the Coast Guard to establish a land-based “land-based positioning, navigation, and timing system [emphasis added] to provide a complement to and backup for the Global Positioning System” {new 46 USC 80701(a)}. The current language does not mention the fact some SCADA systems use the GPS timing system for control system synchronization, it would be nice if that were specifically addressed in the bill.

DOT Request for Comments on Alternative Timing Services

The Department of Transportation published a request for comments in Monday’s (available on-line today) Federal Register (80 FR 15268-15269) about the possible use of an enhanced Long Range Navigation (eLoran) system as a complementary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability as an alternative to the current use of the GPS system.

In the event of a GPS system failure there is currently no backup for many of the services provided by that system. One of the systems under consideration for a backup is the eLORAN system. DOT is asking for feedback in the following areas:

∙ A brief description of your application(s) of positioning, navigation, and timing services;

∙ The positioning, navigation, and/or timing performance required for a complementary PNT capability during a disruption of GPS that could last for longer than a day;

∙ The availability and coverage area required for a complementary PNT capability;

∙ The willingness to equip with an eLoran receiver to reduce or prevent operational and/or economic consequences from a GPS disruption;

∙ The current and planned availability of e-Loran capable user equipment; and

∙ The other non-eLoran PNT technologies or operational procedures, currently available or planned, that could be used during a disruption of GPS for longer than a day.

Control system owners, vendors and integrators that use GPS for control system timing issues should consider submitting comments to DOT on this issue. Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (www.Regulations.gov; Docket # DOT-OST-2015-0053). Comments should be submitted by May 22^nd, 2015.