[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47905-47907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22985]



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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 162

[CGD-94-026]
RIN 2115-AE78


Inland Waterways Navigation Regulations: Wrangell Narrows, Alaska

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to allow single barge tows of up to 
100 feet in width overall to transit Wrangell Narrows, Alaska. The 
current size restriction for single barge tows in Wrangell Narrows is 
80 feet in width overall. An increase in the maximum barge width in 
Wrangell Narrows will allow barge operators to carry more cargo on each 
barge to meet the increasing needs of their Alaskan consumers. 
Increasing the restriction to 100 feet in width overall will have no 
adverse effects on navigation and marine safety in Wrangell Narrows.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 14, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA/3406) (CGD 94-026), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may 
be delivered to Room 3406 at the above address 

[[Page 47906]]
between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Diane Schneider Appleby, Project 
Manager, (202) 267-0352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their name and address, 
identify this rulemaking (CGD 94-026) and the specific section of this 
proposal to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each 
comment. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at Room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received 
during the comment period. It may change this proposal in view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Marine Safety Council at the address 
under ADDRESSES. If it determines that the opportunity for oral 
presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a 
public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the 
Federal Register.

Drafting Information

    This principal persons involved in drafting this document are Diane 
Schneider Appleby, Project Manager, and C.G. Green, Project Counsel.
Background and Purpose

    Wrangell Narrows is a navigable waterway of the United States 
located in Southeast Alaska. It connects Frederick Sound on the north 
end to Sumner Strait on the south. It is approximately 24 miles long 
and narrows to 300 feet in five places. The longest of the 300 foot 
wide sections is approximately 5.5 nautical miles in length. The other 
four sections vary from approximately 600 yards to approximately 1.3 
nautical miles in length.
    The primary users of Wrangell Narrows are passenger ferries, log 
carriers, pleasure craft and container barges. Container barges are 
used to transport consumer goods throughout South East Alaska which is 
vital to the every day life of Alaskan citizens.
    The increased demand for consumer goods in Southeast Alaska has 
created a greater demand on providers of these goods. The current 
regulations limit the width of single barge tows allowed to transit 
Wrangell Narrows to no more than 80 feet in width overall. Increasing 
the maximum barge width which can transit Wrangell Narrows from 80 to 
100 feet would allow barge operators to carry more containers per 
transit and enable them to more efficiently meet the needs of their 
Alaskan customers.
    Approximately 95,000 containers are shipped through Southeast 
Alaska each year on approximately 200 transits of Wrangell Narrows. 
Consumer goods are the primary cargo.
    Barges larger than 80 feet in width overall, cannot transit 
Wrangell Narrows without a waiver of the size restriction. If they 
cannot use Wrangell Narrows, they must transit through Chatham Strait 
around Cape Decision which increases the transit distance to the Gulf 
of Alaska by over 170 miles. Inclement weather, common in Southeast 
Alaska, often causes delays of as many as two or three days while barge 
operators wait for better weather to make the passage around Cape 
Decision. The risk of a marine casualty increases when transporting 
cargo in severe weather.
    Wrangell Narrows is wide enough, even in its narrowest sections, to 
allow for the safe transit of 100 foot wide barges. Alaska Marine Lines 
has been safely operating 100 foot wide single barge tows on Wrangell 
Narrows with a Coast Guard waiver since May 1994, after expressing a 
written need for an increase in the maximum width of single barge tows. 
Southeast Alaska relies heavily upon container barges to deliver 
consumer goods essential to the every day life of its residents. 
Allowing 100 foot wide single barge tows in Wrangell Narrows would 
eliminate all current requests for waivers from the width restriction 
and would reduce unnecessary weather-related delays of consumer good 
shipments to Alaskan residents. It would also allow most single barge 
tows to operate in the protected waters of Wrangell Narrows during 
inclement weather.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposal is not a significant regulatory action under 
Executive Order 12866 and is not significant under the Department of 
Transportation Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11040; 
February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard has determined that a Regulatory 
Evaluation is unnecessary because of the minimal impact expected.

Small Entities

    Because it expects the impact of the proposal to be minimal, the 
Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposal, if 
adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. If, however, you think that your business 
qualifies as a small entity and that this proposal will have a 
significant economic impact on your business, please submit a comment 
(see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think your business qualifies and in 
what way and to what degree this proposal will economically affect your 
business.

Collection of Information

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

Federalism

    This proposed rule has been analyzed in accordance with Executive 
Order No. 12612 on Federalism (October 26, 1987), which requires 
Executive departments and agencies to be guided by certain fundamental 
federalism principles in formulating and implementing policies. These 
policies have been fully considered in the development of the proposed 
regulation. This proposal does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal and concluded that this action is Categorically Excluded in 
accordance with section 2.B.2.e(34)(g) of the NEPA Implementing 
Procedures, COMDTINST M16475.2B. A copy of the categorical exclusion 
determination is available in the docket for inspection or copying 
where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 162

    Navigation (water), Waterways.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR Part 162 as follows:

PART 162--INLAND WATERWAYS NAVIGATION REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 162 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 3 U.S.C. 1231; 49 CFR 1.46.

    2. In section 162.255, paragraph (e)(2) is revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 162.255  Wrangell Narrows, Alaska; use, administration, and 
navigation.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *

[[Page 47907]]

    (2) Raft and barge tows of more than one unit shall not exceed 65 
feet in width overall. Single barge tows shall not exceed 100 feet in 
width overall.
* * * * *
    Dated: September 7, 1995.
J.A. Creech,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Office of Navigation Safety 
and Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 95-22985 Filed 9-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M