[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 141 (Wednesday, July 23, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39445-39446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19405]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[CGD 05-97-058]
RIN 2115-AA97


Safety Zone: Delaware Bay, Delaware River

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the 
Delaware Bay and Delaware River between the Delaware Breakwater and 
Westville, New Jersey. This temporary safety zone is needed to protect 
vessels, the port community and the environment from potential safety 
and environmental hazards associated with the loading and transit of 
the T/V LINGEGAS while it is loaded with more than 2% of its cargo 
carrying capacity of Liquefied Hazardous Gas.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective from 11:59 p.m. July 12, 1997, 
and terminates at 11:59 p.m. July 25, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lt. S. A. Budka, Project Officer c/o U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the 
Port, 1 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19147-4395, Phone: (215) 
271-4889.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was not published for this regulation and 
good cause exists for making it effective in less than 30 days after 
Federal Register publication. The Coast Guard was informed by the 
owner/operator of the T/V LINGEGAS on July 9, 1997 of the intended 
transit of the T/V LINGEGAS along the Delaware River. Publishing a NPRM 
and delaying its effective date would be contrary to the public 
interest, since immediate action is needed to respond to protect the 
environment and vessel traffic against potential hazards associated 
with the transit of the T/V LINGEGAS while it is loaded with Liquefied 
Hazardous Gas.

Discussion of the Regulation

    This temporary rule establishes a safety zone in a specified area 
around the T/V LINGEGAS while underway in the loaded condition and 
during cargo operations. The safety zone will be in effect during the 
T/V LINGEGAS' transit of the Delaware Bay and Delaware River and during 
cargo operations at the Coastal Eagle Point Refinery on the Delaware 
River, at Westville, New Jersey. This temporary rule is intended to 
minimize the potential hazards associated with the transportation of 
Liquefied Hazardous Gas by a large tankship in heavily trafficked areas 
of the Delaware Bay and Delaware River as well as in the Ports of 
Philadelphia. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by 
the Captain of the Port, Philadelphia, PA. The Captain of the Port may 
impose certain restrictions on vessels allowed to enter the safety 
zone.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This temporary rule 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

[[Page 39446]]

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 CFR 11040; February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard 
expects the economic impact of this temporary rule 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

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

Federalism Assessment

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that it does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
temporary rule and concluded that under section 2.B.2.e(34) of 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1B (as revised by 59 FR 38654; July 29, 
1994), this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

Regulation

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR 
part 165 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. Section 165.T05-058 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 165.T05-058  Safety Zone: Delaware Bay and Delaware River from the 
Delaware Breakwater to Westville, NJ.

    (a) Location: The following area is a safety zone:
    (1) All waters within an area which extends 500 yards on either 
side and 1000 yards ahead and astern of the T/V LINEGAS while the 
vessel is in the loaded condition and underway in the area of the 
Delaware River and Delaware Bay bounded by the Coastal Eagle Point 
Refinery on the Delaware River, at Westville, NJ and the Delaware 
Breakwater.
    (2) All waters within a 200 yd radius of the T/V LINEGAS while it 
is moored at the Coastal Eagle Point Refinery on the Delaware River, at 
Westville, NJ.
    (b) Effective Dates: This rule is effective from 11:59 p.m. July 
12, 1997, and terminates at 11:59 p.m. July 25, 1997, unless terminated 
sooner by the Captain of the Port, Philadelphia.
    (c) Definitions:
    (1) Captain of the Port or COTP means the Captain of the Port 
Philadelphia or any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer 
authorized to act on his behalf.
    (2) Loaded Condition means loaded with LHG that exceeds 2% of the 
vessel's cargo carrying capacity.
    (d) No vessel may enter the safety zone unless its operator obtains 
permission of the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.
    (e) As a condition of entry, the COTP may order that:
    (1) All vessels operating within the safety zone must maintain a 
continuous radio guard on channels 13 and 16 VHF-FM while underway;
    (2) Overtaking may take place only under conditions where 
overtaking is to be completed well before any bends in the channel. 
Before any overtaking, the pilots, masters, and operators of both 
vessels must clearly agree on all factors including speeds, time, and 
location of overtaking.
    (3) Meeting situations on river bends shall be avoided to the 
maximum extent possible.
    (4) The operator of any vessel in the safety zone shall proceed as 
directed by the Captain of the Port or by his designated 
representative.
    (f) The senior boarding officer enforcing the safety zone may be 
contacted on VHF channels 13 & 16. The Captain of the Port of 
Philadelphia and the Command Duty Officer at the Marine Safety Office, 
Philadelphia, may be contacted at telephone number (215) 271-4940.

    Dated: July 11, 1997.
John E. Veentjer,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Philadelphia, PA.
[FR Doc. 97-19405 Filed 7-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M