[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 2, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5110]



[[Page 10104]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 62

[USCG-1999-5036]
RIN 2115-AF14


Conformance of the Western Rivers Marking System With the United 
States Aids to Navigation System

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final Rule; delay of implementation date.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is changing the date by which solid-color 
crossing dayboards in the Western Rivers Marking System (WRMS) will be 
replaced with checkered non-lateral dayboards used in the United States 
Aids to Navigation System (USATONS). This change is necessary to allow 
additional time to test and evaluate a redesigned crossing dayboard 
with reduced reflectivity. The previous implementation date of June 3, 
1999 is changed to July 3, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The Coast Guard does not request comments with regard to 
this publication. However, you may mail comments to the Docket 
Management Facility, (USCG-1999-5036), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, room PL-401 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-
0001, or deliver them to room PL-401 on the Plaza Level of the Nassif 
Building at the same address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366-
9329. Any comments will be made available for inspection or copying at 
room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the 
same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. You may also access this docket on the Internet at 
http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For information regarding the Western Rivers Marking System or this 
notice, contact Mr. Dan Andrusiak, U.S. Coast Guard, G-OPN-2, (202) 
267-0327. For information regarding the Docket Management Facility, 
contact Pat Chesley, Coast Guard Dockets Team Leader, or Dorothy 
Walker, Chief, Documentary Services Division, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, (202) 366-9330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On June 3, 1996, the original implementation date for the 
replacement of the solid-colored dayboards on the Western Rivers System 
was published in the Federal Register (61 FR 27780) using the incorrect 
date, ``June 3, 1996.'' The error was corrected on June 10, 1996 in the 
Federal Register (61 FR 29449) to read, ``June 3, 1999.''

Background

    A notice of proposed rulemaking was not published for this rule 
because this is a rule of agency procedure or practice under 5 U.S.C. 
553(A).
    After September 3, 1996, the Coast Guard began replacing solid-
colored crossing dayboards on the Western Rivers System with diamond-
shaped non-lateral dayboards, checkered red-and-white or green-and-
white. The Coast Guard began this replacement initiative to unify the 
various aids to navigation marking system and because mariners can 
better see the checkered type dayboard than the solid-colored dayboard 
against the typical river bank background.
    Further testing and evaluation of redesigned dayboards is necessary 
to ensure that their reflectivity is appropriate for the particular 
location of each individual dayboard. The further testing and 
evaluation will not result in redesigned dayboards that differ from the 
requirements of Title 33, Section 62.51 of the Code of Federal 
Regulations which describes crossing dayboards as diamond shaped non-
lateral dayboards, checkered red-and-white or green-and-white. The 
delayed implementation date is July 30, 2001.

    Dated: February 24, 1999.
Ernest R. Riutta,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Operations.
[FR Doc. 99-5110 Filed 3-1-99; 8:45 am]
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