[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4583-4585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2300]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-97-004]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Minnesota River

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is removing the 24 hour advance notice 
requirement from the regulation governing operation of drawbridges over 
the Minnesota River between the mouth and LeSueur, MN. This action is 
being taken to update the regulation to reflect existing conditions and 
to ensure the reasonable needs of navigation are met. The change will 
require drawbridges on that reach of the river to operate under the 
General Drawbridge Operating Regulation contained in 33 CFR part 117 
subpart A and thus open on demand.

DATES: This final rule is effective March 2, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Documents as indicated in this preamble are available for 
inspection or copying at Director, Western Rivers Operations, Bridge 
Branch, 1222 Spruce Street, Suite 2.107f, St. Louis, Missouri, 63103-
2832, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The telephone number is (314) 539-3900, extension 378.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge

[[Page 4584]]

Administrator, Director, Western Rivers Operations, (314) 539-3900, 
extension 378.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On September 4, 1997 the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulation for the Minnesota 
River in the Federal Register (62 FR 46697). The Coast Guard received 
no comments on the proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was 
requested, and none was held.

Background

    In the past, the low number of vessel transits that required draw 
openings on the Minnesota River from its mouth through LeSueur, MN did 
not require the draw at Savage, MN to be manned 24 hours per day. Thus, 
the existing regulation, 33 CFR 117.663(a), required that river traffic 
provide a 24 hours advance notice in the event the railroad drawbridge 
at Savage, MN required opening. However, in the last several years, a 
significant increase in river traffic on this stretch of the Minnesota 
River, combined with the increased importance of that traffic's 
cargoes, has resulted in the need to open this draw on demand. In order 
to accommodate this increase in river traffic--and to better facilitate 
commerce--the Coast Guard organized a meeting between waterway users 
and the owners of the only affected drawbridge at Savage, MN, Mile 14.3 
on the Minnesota River. This meeting resulted in an agreement between 
the waterway users and the bridge owners to eliminate the 24-hour 
advance-notice-opening requirement and institute an open-on-demand 
policy for the Savage, MN railroad bridge. Thus, the requirement in 33 
CFR 117.663(a), that river traffic shall provide a 24 hours advance 
notice before the draw will be opened, is no longer applicable and 
requires deletion. All bridges at and below LeSueur, MN will now 
operate under the general bridge requirements found in 33 CFR Part 117 
Subpart A. That is, the draws will open upon demand.
    As previously mentioned, the only bridge that will be affected by 
this proposed rulemaking is the railroad drawbridge at Savage, MN. The 
regulation maintains the existing language in the second paragraph of 
33 CFR 117.663 stating that the draws of bridges above LeSueur, MN need 
not be opened for the passage of vessels.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    No comments were received during the comment period for the Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking. Removing the 24-hour-advance-notice requirement 
in 33 CFR 117.663(a) requires all drawbridges located downstream of 
LeSueur, MN on the Minnesota River to open upon demand for passage of 
river traffic as required by the General Drawbridge Operating 
Regulation, 33 CFR Part 117 Subpart A. The only bridge affected is the 
railroad drawbridge at Savage, MN.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under 3(f) of 
Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of potential 
cost 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 polices and 
procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040; 
February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this 
rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 
10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 
The rule affects one drawbridge and is not expected to significantly 
alter the day-to-day activities of any businesses. This evaluation is 
supported by the fact that the Coast Guard did not receive any comments 
on the expense of implementing the regulation. Moreover, since this 
change reflects existing operating conditions at the Savage, MN 
railroad drawbridge there are no impacts and additional costs 
associated with this rulemaking.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard considered whether this change has significant economic 
impact on the substantial number of small entities. Small entities 
include (1) small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that are 
independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, 
and (2) governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000. Specifically, since this rule only affects one drawbridge and 
the owners of that draw have already implemented an open-on-demand, 
policy the Coast Guard expects the impact of this change to be minimal. 
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et se.) that this change will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Asstance for Small Entities

    In accordance with section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), the Coast Guard 
offered to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they 
could better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the 
rulemaking process. Any individual that qualifies or, believes he or 
she qualifies as a small entity, and requires assistance with the 
provisions of this rule, may contact Mr. Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge 
Administrator, Director, Western Rivers Operations, (314) 539-3900 
extension 378.

Collection of Information

    This final rule does not provide for a collection of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

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

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that under section 2.B.2(e)(32)(e) of the NEPA 
Implementing Procedures, COMDTINST M16475.1B, this change is 
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation because 
promulgation of changes to drawbridge regulations have been found not 
to have significant effect on the human environment. A ``Categorical 
Exclusion Determination'' is available for inspection or copying where 
indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects

    Bridges.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR Part 117 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for 33 CFR part 117 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 
117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 
Stat. 5039.

    2. Section 117.663 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.663   Minnesota River.

    The draws of bridges above LeSueur need not be opened for the 
passage of vessels.


[[Page 4585]]


    Dated: January 20, 1998.
T.W. Josiah,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-2300 Filed 1-29-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M