[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 240 (Thursday, December 15, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-30478]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: December 15, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[CDG11-94-005]
RIN 2115-AA98

 

Anchorage Ground; San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, Carquinez 
Strait, Suisun Bay, Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, and Connecting 
Waters, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This final rule amends informational notices indicating the 
VHF-FM radio frequencies monitored by the Vessel Traffic Service San 
Francisco applicable to vessels at anchor within San Francisco Bay. The 
purpose of this amendment is to conform the anchorage regulations to 
existing regulations designating VTS frequencies in use within San 
Francisco Bay. Recent changes in these existing regulations have made 
this amendment necessary.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation becomes effective on December 15, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant (junior grade) Sean Regan, Marine Safety Office San 
Francisco, California; (510) 437-3073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a Notice of 
Proposed Rulemaking was not published for the 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 because the designated 
frequencies referred to in this rulemaking are already in use, and 
because the amended ``Notes'' are published for informational purposes 
only and are being revised to conform to recently changed existing 
regulatory requirements.

Drafting Information

    The drafters of these regulations are Lieutenant (junior grade) 
Sean Regan, Marine Safety Office San Francisco, Project Officer, and 
Lieutenant Commander C. M. Juckniess, Eleventh Coast Guard District 
Legal Office, Project Attorney.

Discussion of Regulation

    Changes to regulations mandating procedures for Vessel Traffic 
Service (VTS) San Francisco have been published and will become 
effective on October 13, 1994 (33 CFR Part 161). The radio 
communications portion of these regulations provide for a change in the 
VTS San Francisco inshore working frequency to VHF-FM Channel 14 
(156.70 MHz). Vessels wishing to communicate with VTS should contact 
them on the appropriate channel. VTS will continue to monitor Channel 
13 (156.65 MHz), VHF-FM but vessels communicating with VTS on channel 
13 (156.65 MHz) will be instructed to switch to a working frequency.
    The ``NOTE'' section following 33 CFR 110.224(a)(15) currently 
reads that the VTS guards VHF-FM Channels 13 (156.65 MHz) and 16 (156.8 
MHz). VTS now monitors Channel 13 and 14 for inshore vessels.
    The ``Notes'' section (a), following 33 CFR Table 110.224(d)(1), 
currently requires specified vessels to maintain a continuous radio 
watch on Channels 13 and 16 when sustained winds are in excess of 25 
knots. Covered vessels should now maintain a continuous radio watch on 
Channels 13 and 14.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This regulation is 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 25, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the 
impact of this regulation to be so minimal that a full Regulatory 
Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and 
procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

Collection of Information

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

Federalism

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

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this 
regulation and concluded that under section 2.B.2. of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B it will have no significant environmental impact 
and it is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110

    Anchorage grounds.

    Regulation: In consideration of the foregoing, subpart B of part 
110 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:

PART 110--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 2030, 2035, and 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and 
33 CFR 1.05-1(g).

    2. In Section 110.224, the ``Note'' following paragraph (a)(15) and 
the ``Note'' labeled ``a'' following Table 110.224(d)(1) are revised to 
read as follows:


Sec. 110.224  San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, Carquinez Strait, 
Suisun Bay, Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, and connecting waters, 
CA.

    (a) * * *
    (15) * * *

    Note: Vessel Traffic Service guards VHF-FM Channel 13 (156.65 
MHz) and Channel 14 (156.70 MHz).
* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    Table 110.224(d)(1) * * *

    Notes: a. When sustained winds are in excess of 25 knots each 
vessel greater than 300 gross tons using this anchorage shall 
maintain a continuous radio watch on VHF channel 13 (156.65 MHz) and 
VHF channel 14 (156.70 MHz). This radio watch must be maintained by 
a person who fluently speaks the English language.
* * * * *
    Dated: October 19, 1994.
R.A. Applebaum,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 94-30478 Filed 12-14-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M