[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 1994)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 948-949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-267]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 7, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 165

[COTP Corpus Christi, Texas, Regulation 93-023]

 

Safety Zone Regulations; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Matagorda 
Bay

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone in the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway from mile marker 475 to mile marker 455. Shoaling 
into the center of the channel has occurred between green buoy 97 and 
green buoy 105. The safety zone is needed to prevent vessels from 
grounding on shoal areas near the narrowed channels. Entry into this 
zone is restricted to singlewide tows only. No oversize or doublewide 
tows are permitted to transit through the safety zone. All vessels are 
restricted to one way traffic, between green buoy 89 and green buoy 
115.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation becomes effective at 12 a.m., November 
30, 1993. It terminates at 12:01 a.m., February 15, 1994, or upon 
completion of dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers and termination 
by the Captain of the Port.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ENS S. Montoya at telephone number (512) 888-3195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed 
rulemaking was not published for this regulation and good cause exists 
for making it effective in less than 30 days after Federal Register 
publication. Publishing an NPRM and delaying its effective date would 
be contrary to the public interest since immediate action is needed to 
reduce the risk of vessel groundings and potential pollution incidents.

Drafting Information

    The drafters of this regulation are ENS S. Montoya, Chief, 
Waterways Management Section, and CAPT R.J. Reining, Commanding 
Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Corpus Christi, Texas, 
and CDR D. Dickman, project attorney, Eighth Coast Guard District, New 
Orleans, Louisiana.

Discussion of Regulation

    The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone in the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway from mile marker 475 to mile marker 455. Shoaling 
into the center of the channel has occurred between green buoy 97 and 
green buoy 105. The safety zone is needed to prevent vessels from 
grounding on shoal areas near the narrowed channels. Entry into this 
zone is restricted to singlewide tows only. No oversize or doublewide 
tows are permitted to transit through the safety zone. All vessels are 
restricted to one way traffic, between green buoy 89 and green buoy 
115.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Security measures, 
Waterways.

Regulation

    In consideration of the foregoing, subpart C of part 165 of title 
33, Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 
1.05-1(g), 6.04-1 and 160.5.

    2. A temporary section 165.T08-066 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 165.T08-066  Safety zone: Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

    (a) Safety zone. The waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from 
mile marker 475 to mile marker 455 including the entire width of the 
channel is a stationary safety zone.
    (b) Regulations. The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone in 
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from mile marker 475 to mile marker 455. 
Shoaling into the center of the channel has occurred between green buoy 
97 and green buoy 105. The safety zone is needed to prevent vessels 
from grounding on shoal areas near the narrowed channels. Entry into 
this zone is restricted to singlewide tows only. No oversize or 
doublewide tows are permitted to transit through the safety zone. All 
vessels are restricted to one way traffic, between green buoy 89 and 
green buoy 115.
    (c) Effective date. This regulation becomes effective at 12 a.m., 
November 30, 1993. It terminates at 12:01 a.m., February 15, 1994, or 
upon completion of dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers and 
termination by the Captain of the Port.

    Dated: November 30, 1993.
Robert J. Reining,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Corpus Christi, Texas.
[FR Doc. 94-267 Filed 1-6-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M