[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-3518]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: February 16, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[COTP St. Louis 94-003]
RIN 2115-AA97

 

Safety Zone; Illinois River

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the Illinois 
River. The regulation is needed to protect tank barges from the hazards 
associated with ice. The regulation will restrict general navigation in 
the regulated area for the safety of vessel traffic and the protection 
of life and property along the river.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This regulation is effective January 25, 1994 and will 
terminate on March 10, 1994 unless sooner terminated by the Captain of 
the Port.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LT Timothy Deal, Operations Officer, Captain of the Port, St. Louis, 
Missouri at (314) 539-3823.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Drafting Information

    The drafters of this regulation are MST1 Franz F. Karnuth, Project 
Officer, Marine Safety Office, St. Louis, Missouri and LCDR A. O. 
Denny, Project Attorney, Second Coast Guard District Legal Office.

Regulatory History

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rulemaking 
has not been published for this regulation and good cause exists for 
making it effective in less than 30 days from the date of publication. 
Following normal rulemaking procedures would have been impracticable. 
Specifically, severe weather conditions have developed hazardous icing 
conditions and insufficient time exists to publish a notice of proposed 
rulemaking. The Coast Guard deems it to be in the public's best 
interest to issue a regulation now as the conditions are presenting 
immediate hazards.

Background and Purpose

    The hazards associated with icing conditions require immediate 
response to insure safe navigation and to prevent tank barge hull 
failure. Recent surveys of the regulated area by industry and Coast 
Guard representatives has established the need to impose restrictions.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This regulation is not considered a significant regulatory action 
under Executive Order 12866 and is not significant under Department of 
Transportation Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11040; 
February 26, 1979), it will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities, and it contains no collection of 
information requirements.
    The Coast Guard expects the impact of this regulation to be so 
minimal that a Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. The imposed 
restrictions are anticipated to be of short duration. To avoid any 
unnecessary adverse economic impact on businesses which use the river 
for commercial purposes, Captain of the Port, St. Louis, Missouri will 
monitor the situation and will authorize entry into the closed area as 
conditions warrant. Changes will be announced by Marine Safety 
Information Radio Broadcast on VHF Marine Band Radio, Channel 22 (157.1 
MHZ). Mariners may also call the Port Operations Officer, Captain of 
the Port, St. Louis, Missouri at (314) 539-3823 for current 
information.

Federalism Assessment

    Under the principles and criteria of Executive Order 12612, this 
regulation does not raise sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal and concluded that, under section 2.B.2.g.[5] of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B, this proposal is categorically excluded from 
further environmental documentation as an action to protect public 
safety.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Records and 
recordkeeping, Security measures, Waterways.

Temporary Regulation

    In consideration of the foregoing, subpart C of part 165 of title 
33, Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:

PART 165--[AMENDED]

    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, 6.04-6, and 160.5.

    2. A temporary Sec. 165.T02-006 is added, to read as follows:


Sec. 165.T02-006  Safety zone: Upper Mississippi River.

    (a) Location. The Illinois River between mile 0.0 and 187.3 is 
established as a safety zone.
    (b) Effective dates. This regulation becomes effective on January 
25, 1994 and will terminate on March 10, 1994.
    (c) Regulations. The general regulations under Sec. 165.23 of this 
part which prohibit entry into the described zone without authority of 
the Captain of the Port apply. The Captain of the Port, St. Louis, 
Missouri will notify the maritime community of river conditions 
affecting the areas covered by this safety zone by Marine Safety 
Information Radio Broadcast on VHF Marine Band Radio, Channel 22 (157.1 
MHZ).

    Dated: January 25, 1994.
Scott P. Cooper,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, St. Louis, Missouri.
[FR Doc. 94-3518 Filed 2-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M