[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 12, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47271-47273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22532]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 165

[COTP Huntington 95-002]
RIN 2115-AA97


Safety Zone; Little Kanawha River, Mile 0.9 to 1.9, Worthington 
Creek Entrance, Wood County, WV

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the Little 
Kanawha River, at the entrance to Worthington Creek, Wood County, West 
Virginia, and all adjacent landside areas within a 500 foot radius of 
each specific explosive detonation site. This regulation is needed to 
control vessel traffic in the regulated area to prevent potential 
safety hazards for transiting vessels and the general public resulting 
from the demolition of the East Street Bridge at mile 1.4, Little 
Kanawha River, Parkersburg, West Virginia. Vessel movements within this 
safety zone are permitted under the criteria set forth in this 
regulation.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This regulation is effective at 6 a.m. EDT on September 
11, 1995. It terminates on November 11, 1995 at 8 p.m. EST, unless 
terminated sooner by the Captain of the Port Huntington.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LT Sean Moon, Chief of the Port Operations Department, Captain of the 
Port, Huntington, West Virginia at (304) 529-5524.

[[Page 47272]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Drafting Information

    The drafters of this regulation are LTJG Steven Frye, Project 
Officer, Marine Safety Office, Huntington, West Virginia and LT S. 
Moody, Project Attorney, Second Coast Guard District Legal Office.

Regulatory History

    In accordance with 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. 
Following normal rulemaking procedures would have been impracticable. 
Specifically, anticipated demolition operations, including explosive 
detonations, as part of a bridge removal project at mile 1.4, Little 
Kanawha River, Parkersburg, West Virginia, have created a situation 
which presents an immediate hazard to navigation, life, and property. 
As a result, the Coast Guard deems it to be in the public's best 
interest to issue a regulation immediately.

Background and Purpose

    The activity requiring this regulation is a bridge demolition 
undertaken as a part of the replacement of a bridge under United States 
Coast Guard Bridge Permit Number 3-95-2 dated March 29, 1995. The 
Captain of the Port Huntington received notice of the intended 
explosive and demolition operations August 14, 1995. The bridge permit 
included the requirement that the existing bridge be demolished before 
construction of the new bridge. Waterside demolition operations, 
involving the use of crane barges and explosives in and near the 
navigation channel, will begin on or about September 11, 1995 at mile 
1.4 on the Little Kanawha River. Completion of the bridge removal is 
expected to occur on or before November 11, 1995. Bridge spans and 
bridge piers will be removed in sections, one at a time, over a period 
of several months. In addition to the explosive hazard associated with 
several different detonations, the regular presence of a crane barge, 
tow boats and submerged steel will pose an obstructive hazard to 
waterborne traffic operating in the vicinity of the project work site. 
In order to provide for the safety of vessel traffic and the general 
public, the Captain of the Port Huntington intends to regulate vessel 
traffic in that portion of the Little Kanawha River where the 
explosives and steel removal operations will be taking place, and to 
work with local law enforcement officials to secure all landside areas 
within a 500 foot radius of each specific blast site until the hazard 
from the explosive detonations is mitigated.
    During critical phases of the demolition project, the affected 
portions of the Little Kanawha River, the entrance to Worthington 
Creek, and adjacent landside areas in proximity to the blast site will 
be subject to periodic closures. No vessels will be allowed to transit 
the affected waterway when blasting and steel removal operations will 
impede safe navigation. Additionally, local law enforcement officials 
will secure landside areas as appropriate to safeguard the general 
public from the explosive hazard during detonations.
    Notification of river and creek entrance closure will be made via 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners at periods 24 hours, 2 hours, and 5 
minutes prior to each blast. Notification will be via VHF radio channel 
16.
    During all river and creek entrance closures, two boats will be 
available for the security of the closed river area. The boats will be 
placed up and down the river of the blasting area. These boats will 
patrol and warn any recreational/commercial vessel traffic of the 
impending blast.
    No blasting will be permitted unless all river and creek traffic is 
removed to a safe location outside of the blasting area. No blasting 
will take place when there is restricted visibility (visibility must be 
at least \1/2\ mile). No blasting will take place unless the river 
stage is at or will be during operations no more than four feet above 
normal pool.
    Unless overtaken by circumstances, periodic river and creek 
closures will be less than 24 hours in duration. Closures of 
Worthington Creek entrance will be very abbreviated, during blasting 
operations only. Closures of the Little Kanawha River will be during 
blasting and clearing operations and will remain in effect until the 
river is cleared and the safety of transiting vessels is ensured. Local 
law enforcement officials will restrict access and secure landside 
areas as necessary to protect the public from explosive hazards. Road 
closures, evacuations, and other appropriate security measures will be 
imposed for abbreviated periods only.
    When the blasting and obstructive hazards have been mitigated, the 
Captain of the Port Huntington will reopen the river. Notification of 
the reopening of the river will be via VHF radio on channel 16. The 
entrance to Worthington Creek will be reopened to vessel traffic 
entering the Little Kanawha River upon the conclusion of each blasting 
operation. Vessels transiting to or from the Worthington Creek entrance 
must contact the on scene contractor's vessel for passing instructions 
to ensure safe operation within the safety zone. Local law enforcement 
officials will reopen landside areas immediately upon conclusion of 
blasting operations. Notice of this safety zone and updates on periodic 
closures will also be published in the Local Notice to Mariners.
    The establishment of this safety zone regulation helps to ensure 
that vessels will not transit the Little Kanawha River in the vicinity 
of the blasting area during explosive detonations or when the main 
channel is obstructed by submerged steel to eliminate attendant risks 
associated with these operations. The Captain of the Port will also 
work with local law enforcement officials to protect the safety of the 
general public in adjacent landside areas. The safety zone also helps 
to ensure that communication is established between the contractors and 
vessels transiting the waters within the safety zone during the 
noncritical phases of the demolition project. With proper communication 
between both parties, the contractor is assured of having ample time to 
comply with any request to relocate work boats temporarily to allow a 
vessel to navigate through the safety zone.

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 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 regulation to be so minimal that a full Regulatory 
Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and 
procedures of DOT is unnecessary, due to the limited duration of actual 
river closures.

Small Entities

    The Coast Guard finds that the impact on small entities is not 
substantial. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq) that this 
temporary rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

Collection of Information

    This rule contains no collection of information requirements under 
the 

[[Page 47273]]
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism Assessment

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this regulation under the principles 
and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that 
it 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 
regulation and concluded that, under section 2.B.2 of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B, (as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994) this 
regulation is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation. A Categorical Exclusion Determination is available in 
the docket for inspection.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

Temporary Regulation

    In consideration of the foregoing, subpart F 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; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 
6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46

    2. A temporary Sec. 165.T02-003 is added, to read as follows:


Sec. 165-T02-003  Safety Zone: Little Kanawha River, Worthington Creek 
Entrance

    (a) Location. The Little Kanawha River between miles 0.9 and 1.9, 
the entrance to Worthington Creek, Wood County, West Virginia is 
established as a safety zone.
    (b) Effective dates. This section is effective on September 11, 
1995 at 6 a.m. EDT. It terminates on November 11, 1995 at 8 p.m. EST, 
unless terminated sooner by the Captain of the Port Huntington.
    (c) Regulations. (1) All vessels must, except those vessels with 
explicit permission from the Captain of the Port:
    (i) Remain outside the safety zone during all periods of closure, 
as announced by Coast Guard Broadcast Notice to Mariners and as 
enforced on scene by personnel from the Coast Guard Marine Safety 
Office Huntington, WV.
    (ii) Communicate with the contract vessel M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT on 
channel 16 VHF-FM to arrange for safe passage through the safety zone 
at all other times, providing at least ten (10) minutes advance notice 
prior to transiting through the regulated area.
    (iii) Provide the contract vessel M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT at least 
ten (10) minutes advance notice to move/suspend operations in any case 
where the transiting vessel operator believes the safe passage of any 
vessel or tow is jeopardized by the presence/operation of the crane 
barge during operations not involving river closure.
    (2) Vessels involved with the East Street Bridge demolition 
operations must, except those vessels with explicit permission from the 
Captain of the Port:
    (i) M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT: Communicate with and arrange safe 
passage through the safety zone for all vessels not involved in the 
demolition project.
    (ii) M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT: Initiate appropriate broadcast notices 
to local mariners over channel 16 VHF-FM 24 hours, 2 hours, and 5 
minutes prior to initiation of blasting operations.
    (iii) M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT: Ensure that all vessel traffic is 
outside the area of the safety zone and the waterside blast area is 
secured prior to any explosive detonation, with that information 
effectively communicated to the contractors conducting the blasting.
    (iv) M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT: Monitor operations involving steel and 
debris removal after each detonation and, following clearance of the 
river, the conduct of subsequent subsurface sweeps of the main channel.
    (v) M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT: Notify the Coast Guard Captain of the 
Port Huntington once a successful sweep has determined that the Little 
Kanawha River main shipping channel is clear (a minimum underwater 
clearance of 15 feet below normal river pool), with no obstructions to 
impede the safe navigation of vessels.
    (vi) All other contract vessels: Relocate to a safe area prior to 
any blasting operations.
    (3) AMERICAN BRIDGE COMPANY must, except with explicit permission 
from the Captain of the Port:
    (i) Not detonate explosives if a vessel not involved with the 
blasting operation is inside the safety zone, or if any contract vessel 
has not relocated to a safe distance away from the blast area, as 
verified and communicated by the M/V WILLIAM H. ELLIOT.
    (ii) Not initiate any blasting operations until local law 
enforcement officials have verified and communicated that landside 
security is established and that landside portions of the safety zone 
are clear.
    (iii) Not initiate any blasting operations in periods of restricted 
visibility (operator must ensure there is clear bank-to-bank 
visibility).
    (iv) Not initiate any blasting operations in a period of forty-
eight (48) hours after it has been determined by the Captain of the 
Port that blasting operations have been suspended for the scheduled 
date and time to allow proper rescheduling of demolition operations 
with federal and state representatives, local authorities, and 
industry.
    (4) The Captain of the Port may, upon request, authorize a 
deviation from any rule in this section if he determines that the 
proposed operations can be done safely.
    (5) The Captain of the Port may direct the movement of any vessel 
within the safety zone as appropriate to ensure the safe navigation of 
vessels through the safety zone.

    Dated: August 22, 1995, 4:30 p.m. EDT.
G.H. Burns III,
Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, 
Huntington, WV.
[FR Doc. 95-22532 Filed 9-11-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M