[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 8, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-5279]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 8, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 165
RIN 2115-AA97 
 

COTP Corpus Christi, TX 94-006 Safety Zone Regulation; 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 the shoal areas near the narrowed channels.
    Entry into this zone is restricted to single wide loaded tows, 
empty tows may transit through the safety zone double wide. All vessels 
are restricted to one way traffic between green buoy 89 and green buoy 
115.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This regulation becomes effective at 12:01 a.m., on 
February 15, 1994. It terminates at 12:01 a.m., April 15, 1994, or upon 
completion of dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers, whichever is 
earliest.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ENS S. Montoya at telephone number 
(512) 888-3195, or at United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, 
P.O. Box 1621, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78403.

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 Counsel, Eighth Coast Guard District, Legal 
Office, New Orleans.

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 the shoal areas near the narrowed channels. Entry into 
this zone is restricted to single wide loaded tows, empty tows may 
transit through the safety zone double wide. All vessels are restricted 
to one way traffic between green buoy 89 and green buoy 115.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This temporary final rule is not considered a significant 
regulatory action under Executive Order 12866 and is not significant 
under the ``Department of Transportation regulatory policies and 
procedures'' (44 FR 11034: February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects 
the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a full 
regulatory evaluation is unnecessary. This regulation will only be in 
effect for a short period of time, and the impacts on routine 
navigation are expected to be minimal.

Collection of Information

    This rule contains no collection of information requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that it 
does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal and concluded that under section 2.B.2. of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1 (series), this proposal is categorically excluded 
from further environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion 
Determination is available by contacting Commander (mps), Eighth Coast 
Guard District, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130-3396.
    This regulation is issued under to 33 U.S.C. 1225 and 1231, as set 
out in the authority citation for all of part 165.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, 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:

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; and 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 
6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

    2. A new Sec. 165.T08-006 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 165.T08-006  Safety Zone: Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Matagorda 
Bay.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: A safety zone 
exists in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway from mile marker 475 to mile 
marker 455, including the entire width of the channel.
    (b) Regulations. (1) The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between buoys 
89 and 115 is restricted to one way traffic. Before transiting between 
buoys 89 and 115, a vessel must establish radio communications with all 
other vessels in the area that are restricted to the maintained 
channel, to establish which vessel will transit through the safety 
zone. A vessel may not transit between buoys 89 and 115, without prior 
approval of the Captain of the Port, unless it has an agreement with 
the other vessels in the area.
    (i) No vessel may meet or pass another vessel between buoys 89 and 
115.
    (ii) Any vessel meeting another vessel, between buoys 89 and 115, 
that is restricted in its ability to maneuver outside the maintained 
channel, must either move to outside the maintained channel, if it is 
able, or back up until it is east or west of the buoys.
    (2) Between mile marker 455 and mile marker 475 of the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway:
    (i) A tow consisting of any loaded barges may only transit if made 
up in a single wide configuration.
    (ii) A tow consisting of only empty barges may transit if made up 
of either a single wide or double wide configuration.
    (3) Permission to deviate from these regulations may only be 
obtained from the Captain of the Port, Corpus Christi, Texas. 
Permission can be obtained by calling the Chief, Waterways Management 
Section, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Texas, at telephone 
number (512) 888-3162 or 3195.
    (c) Effective date. This section becomes effective at 12:01 a.m., 
on February 14, 1994. It terminates at 12:01 a.m., April 15, 1994, or 
upon completion of dredging by the Army Corps of Engineers, whichever 
is earliest.

    Dated: February 14, 1994.
Robert J. Reining,
Captain, Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Corpus Christi, Texas.
[FR Doc. 94-5279 Filed 3-7-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M