[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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