[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 218 (Monday, November 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28036]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 14, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 165

[CGD07-93-009]
RIN 2115-AE48

 

Regulated Navigation Area; Egmont Channel, Tampa Bay, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a one way traffic pattern in 
the Egmont Channel, Tampa Bay, from Egmont Channel lighted whistle buoy 
9 and lighted buoy 10 through Egmont Channel lighted whistle buoy 13 
and lighted buoy 14. This regulated navigation area is needed to 
protect vessels with a draft of greater than 36 feet from a safety 
hazard associated with shoaling within the marked channel.

EFFECTIVE DATE: December 14, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant Dirk Greene, Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Tampa, FL at 
(813) 228-2189.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 12, 1993, the Coast Guard 
published a notice of proposed rule making in the Federal Register for 
these regulations [58 FR 59975]. Interested persons were requested to 
submit comments, and one comment was received.

Drafting Information

    The drafters of these regulations are Chief Marine Science 
Technician W. L. Morse, project officer, Marine Safety Office Tampa, 
and Lieutenant J. M. Losego, project attorney, Seventh Coast Guard 
District Legal Office.

Discussion of Comments

    Marine Safety Office Tampa received one comment from the Tampa Bay 
Pilots on December 14, 1993. They are in agreement with the proposal. 
However, they recommended that the draft restriction be expanded to 
require one-way traffic in the area whenever a vessel has a draft 
greater than 23 feet to ensure there is no interaction or shearing 
between the vessel and the shoaling. This office does not concur with 
this recommendation, because it creates a more restrictive standard 
than is necessary for the shoaling conditions as they exist in Egmont 
Channel. The ``36 feet'' standard is sufficient to avoid interaction of 
shearing between vessels and the shoaling. Accordingly, the only change 
being made to the final rule is that ``\1/2\ hour'' has been amended to 
read ``30 minutes'' for clarification purposes.

Regulatory Evaluation

    These regulations are not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an 
assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of 
that order. It has been exempted from review by the Office of 
Management and Budget under that order. It is not significant under the 
regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation 
(DOT) (44 FR 11040; February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the 
economic impact of this proposal to be so minimal that a full 
Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies 
and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. This is based on the fact that 
the instances requiring one-way traffic are infrequent in nature and of 
brief duration.
    Since the impact of this is expected to be minimal, the Coast Guard 
certifies that it will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

Environmental Impact

    The U.S. Coast Guard, the lead federal agency for purposes of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), has determined this action to 
be categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. A 
Categorical Exclusion has been prepared in accordance with Section 
2.B.2.c. of COMDINST M16475.1B, NEPA Implementing Procedures.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

Final Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, 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, 6.04-6, and 160.5.

    2. Section 165.709 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 165.709  Egmont Channel, Tampa Bay, FL--regulated navigation area.

    (a) The following is a regulated navigation area: Waters within the 
boundaries of a line beginning at 27-36-37N, 082-48-43W; thence to 27-
36-15N, 082-52-10W; thence to 27-36-07N, 082-52-10W; thence to 27-36-
30N, 082-48-42W; and thence to the beginning point.
    (b) A vessel which requires use of the channel due to its draft 
shall not meet or overtake a vessel with a draft of 36 feet or greater 
within the regulated area.
    (c) A vessel with a draft of 36 feet or greater must make a 
security broadcast 30 minutes prior to entering the regulated area.

    Dated: November 7, 1994.
W.P. Leahy,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 94-28036 Filed 11-10-94; 8:45am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M