[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 178 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48112-48113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23173]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army
Corps of Engineers

33 CFR Part 334


Cooper River and Tributaries, Charleston, South Carolina, Danger 
Zones and Restricted Areas

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Corps is proposing to amend the regulations which 
establish several danger zones and restricted areas in the waters of 
the Cooper River and its tributaries in the vicinity of Charleston, 
South Carolina by establishing a new danger zone for a small arms range 
at the Naval Weapons Station. The small arms firing range is to be used 
for training by the U.S. Border Patrol Training Academy. The Corps is 
also correcting a coordinate that defines the boundaries of an existing 
danger zone and making minor editorial amendments to the regulations to 
clarify that persons, as well as vessels, are not allowed within the 
danger zones and restricted areas. This clarification would not affect 
the size, location or further restrict the public's use of the areas. 
The danger zones and restricted areas continue to be essential to the 
safety and security of Government facilities, vessels and personnel and 
protect the public from the hazards associated with the operations at 
the Government facilities.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 15, 1996.

ADDRESS: HQUSACE, CECW-OR, Washington, D.C. 20314-1000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Ralph Eppard, Regulatory Branch, CECW-OR at (202) 761-1783, or Ms. 
Tina Hadden of the Charleston District at (803) 727-4607.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to its authorities in Section 7 of 
the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1917 (40 Stat. 266; 33 U.S.C. 1) and 
Chapter XIX of the Army Appropriations Act of 1919 (40 Stat. 892; 33 
U.S.C. 3), the Corps proposes to amend the regulations in 33 CFR Part 
334.460. The Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Station Charleston, 
South Carolina, has requested an amendment to the regulations in 33 CFR 
334.460(a)(2), to correct a coordinate which establishes a boundary of 
a danger zone in Foster Creek. The coordinate which presently reads 
``Latitude 31 59'17'' N'' is corrected to read ``32 59'16'' N''. The 
Navy has also requested that a new danger zone be established in an 
unnamed tributary and associated marsh of Back River and Foster Creek 
to prohibit public entry into the new area ((a)(13)), and to also 
prohibit entry into the existing danger zone (a)(12). The purpose of 
the danger zone is to protect the public from the dangers associated 
with a small arms firing range nearby and the potential for an errant 
round to impact into the water. It is not the intent of the Navy to use 
the waters of the danger zone as an impact area for the range. The Navy 
proposes to erect post-mounted signs at intervals across the marsh to 
identify the area as a danger zone. It is believed that closure of the 
water area for the new danger zone will have minimal impact or no 
impact on the public's use of the area which is described as a marsh 
area not navigable by conventional watercraft nor frequented by 
fishermen. We also propose an editorial change to clarify that these 
restricted area and danger zone regulations apply to personnel as well 
as vessels. Other minor changes to the regulations are editorial in 
nature and since the revisions do not change the boundaries or increase 
the restrictions on the public's use or entry into the designated 
areas, the changes will have practically no effect on the public. In 
addition to the publication of this proposed rule, the Corps Charleston 
District Engineer is concurrently soliciting public comment on these 
proposed changes to the danger zone rules by distribution of a public 
notice to all known interested parties.

Procedural Requirements

    a. Review under Executive Order 12866.
    This proposed rule is issued with respect to a military function of 
the Defense Department and the provisions of Executive Order 12866 do 
not apply.
    b. Review under the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    These proposed rules have been reviewed under the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (Pub. L. 96-354), which requires the preparation of a 
regulatory flexibility analysis for any regulation that will have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
(i.e., small businesses and small governments). The Corps expects that 
the economic impact of the changes to the danger zones would have 
practically no impact on the public, no anticipated navigational hazard 
or interference with existing waterway traffic and accordingly, 
certifies that this proposal if adopted, will have no significant 
economic impact on small entities.
    c. Review under the National Environmental Policy Act.
    An environmental assessment has been prepared for this action. We 
have concluded, based on the minor nature of the proposed additional 
danger zone and other editorial changes that these amendments to danger 
zones and restricted areas will not have a significant impact to the 
human environment, and preparation of an environmental impact statement 
is not required. The environmental assessment may be reviewed at the 
District Office listed at the end of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 
above.
    d. Unfunded Mandates Act
    This proposed rule does not impose an enforceable duty among the 
private sector and therefore, is not a Federal private sector mandate 
and is not subject to the requirements of Section 202 or 205 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Act. We have also found under Section 203 of the Act, 
that small governments will not be significantly and uniquely affected 
by this rulemaking.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 334

    Navigation (water), Transportation, Danger zones.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, we propose to amend 33 CFR 
part 334, as follows:

PART 334--DANGER ZONE AND RESTRICTED AREA REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 334 continues to read as 
follows:


[[Page 48113]]


    Authority: 40 Stat. 266; (33 U.S.C. 1) and 40 Stat. 892; (33 
U.S.C. 3).

    2. Section 334.460 is amended by revising paragraphs (a)(12), (b) 
(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (9), and (11), and adding a new 
paragraph at (a)(13), to read as follows:


Sec. 334.460  Cooper River and tributaries at Charleston, SC.

    (a) The areas:
    (12) Danger zone. That portion of Foster Creek beginning at the 
point of the southern shoreline of an unnamed tributary of Foster Creek 
at its intersection with Foster Creek at latitude 32 deg.59'16''N, 
longitude 79 deg.57'23''W; thence back proceeding along the eastern 
shoreline to the terminus of the tributary at latitude 32 deg.59'49''N, 
longitude 79 deg.57'29''W; thence back down the western shoreline of 
the unnamed tributary to latitude 32 deg.59'15''N, longitude 
79 deg.57'26''W. The waters and associated marshes in this danger zone 
area are subject to impact by rounds and ricochets originating from a 
small arms range when firing is in progress.
    (13) Danger zone. Those portions of unnamed tributaries and 
associated marshes of Back River and Foster Creek that are generally 
described as lying south of the main shoreline and extending southward 
to the northern shoreline of Big Island (U.S. Naval Reservation). 
Specifically, the area beginning at a point on the main shoreline which 
is the northern shore of an unnamed tributary of Back River at latitude 
32 deg.59'19''N, longitude 79 deg.56'52''W, southwesterly to a point on 
or near the northern shoreline of Big Island at latitude 
32 deg.59'11''N, longitude 79 deg.56'59''W; thence northwesterly to a 
point on the main shoreline, which is the northern shore of an unnamed 
tributary of Foster Creek, at latitude 32 deg.59'16''N, longitude 
79 deg.57'11''W; thence easterly along the main shoreline, which is the 
northern shore of the unnamed tributaries of Foster Creek and Back 
River, back to the point of beginning at latitude 32 deg.59'19''N, 
longitude 79 deg.56'52''W. The waters and associated marshes in this 
danger zone area are subject to impact by rounds and ricochets 
originating from a small arms range when firing is in progress.
    (b) The regulations:
    (1) Unauthorized personnel, vessels and other watercraft shall not 
enter the restricted areas described in paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(2), and 
(a)(4) of this section at any time.
    (2) Personnel, vessels and other watercraft entering the restricted 
area described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section, shall proceed at 
normal speed and under no circumstances anchor, fish, loiter, or 
photograph until clear of the restricted area.
    (3) Personnel, vessels and other watercraft may be restricted from 
using any or all of the area described in paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(6) 
of this section without first obtaining an escort or other approval 
from Commander, Naval Base, Charleston, when deemed necessary and 
appropriately noticed by him/her for security purposes or other 
military operations.
    (4) Personnel, vessels and other watercraft, other than those 
specifically authorized by Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Weapons 
Station, Charleston, SC, entering the restricted area described in 
paragraph (a)(8) of this section shall proceed at normal speed, and 
under no circumstances anchor, fish, loiter, or photograph in any way 
until clear of the restricted area.
    (5) Personnel, vessels and other watercraft, other than those 
specifically authorized by Commanding Officer, U.S. Naval Weapons 
Station, Charleston, SC, entering the areas described in paragraphs 
(a)(9) and (a)(10) of this section, are prohibited from entering within 
one-hundred (100) yards of the west bank of the Cooper River, in those 
portions devoid of any vessels or manmade structures. In those areas 
where vessels or man-made structures are present, the restricted area 
will be 100 yards from the shoreline or 50 yards beyond those vessels 
or other man-made structures, whichever is the greater. This includes 
the area in paragraph (a)(10) of this section.
    (6) In the interest of National Security, Commanding Officer, U.S. 
Naval Weapons Station, Charleston, SC, may at his/her discretion, 
restrict passage of persons, watercraft and vessels in the areas 
described in paragraphs (a)(7) and (a)(11) of this section until such 
time as he/she determines such restriction may be terminated.
    (7) All restricted areas and all danger zones and the approaches 
leading to the danger zones will be marked with suitable warning signs.
* * * * *
    (9) The regulations in this section for the danger zones described 
in paragraphs (a)(12) and (a)(13) of this section and the regulations 
described in paragraphs (b) (4), (5) and (6) of this section, shall be 
enforced by the Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Station Charleston, 
SC, and such agencies as he/she may designate.
* * * * *
    (11) The unauthorized entering or crossing of the danger zones 
described in paragraphs (a)(12) and (a)(13) of this section by all 
persons, watercraft and vessels is prohibited at all times unless 
specifically authorized by the Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval 
Weapons Station Charleston, SC.

    Dated: August 29, 1996.
John P. D'Aniello,
Deputy Director of Civil Works.
[FR Doc. 96-23173 Filed 9-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3710-92-M