[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 13, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 55441-55442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-26526]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

33 CFR Part 207


Navigation Regulations

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

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to amend the 
regulations which establish restricted areas at Bonneville Lock and 
Dam, at McNary Lock and Dam, at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam, at Lower 
Monumental Lock and Dam, at Little Goose Lock and Dam, and at Lower 
Granite Lock and Dam on the Columbia and Snake Rivers, Oregon and 
Washington. The Corps is making adjustments in the restricted area 
boundaries to provide a greater margin of vessel safety from sudden 
dangerous currents, turbulence, and whirlpools caused by the operation 
of spillways, electrical generators, and navigation locks. Vessels, 
except Government vessels, are prohibited within the restricted areas. 
The restricted areas upstream and downstream from the spillways can be 
extremely dangerous should vessels be in the restricted area when water 
is released. The operation of electrical generators and spillway gates 
are remotely controlled from Portland and not operated by personnel at 
the facility. The equipment can be activated within seconds, creating 
very dangerous water currents, turbulence, and whirlpools. Operation of 
the navigation lock also creates a very dangerous condition in the 
downstream area. Water that is discharged from the lock discharge 
culvert can create waves up to 6 feet. Therefore, the downstream areas 
are being reclassified from ``hazardous'' to ``restricted'' at McNary 
Lock and Dam, Columbia River, River Mile 292.0; at Ice Harbor Lock and 
Dam, Snake River, River Mile 9.7; at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam, 
Snake River, River Mile 41.6; at Little Goose Lock and Dam, Snake 
River, River Mile 70.3; and at Lower Granite Lock and Dam, Snake River, 
River Mile 107.5. A change in alignment of the downstream restricted 
area at Bonneville Lock and Dam, and the upstream restricted areas at 
McNary Lock and Dam and at Ice Harbor Lock and Dam are being made to 
protect the boating public.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ATTN: CECW-OD, 20 
Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20314-1000. Comments may also 
be faxed to (202) 761-1685 or e-mail to: James.D.H[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James Hilton, Dredging and 
Navigation Branch, CECW-OD at (202) 761-8830, or Mr. Jim Runkles, (541) 
374-8344, ext. 254 for Bonneville Lock and Dam or Ms. Ann Glassley at 
(509) 527-7115 for McNary, Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, 
and Lower Granite Locks and Dams.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to its authorities in Section 4, 7, 
and 28 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 207.718. The Corps is proposing to amend the regulations in 33 CFR 
207.718(v), (w)(1), (w)(4), (w)(5), (w)(6), (w)(7), and (w)(8). 
Paragraph (v) is being deleted since the area below the dams at McNary, 
Ice Harbor, Lower Monumental, Little Goose, and Lower Granite is being 
changed from ``hazardous'' to ``restricted''. Signs will mark the 
restricted areas. The redisignation of the downstream area from 
``hazardous'' to ``restricted'' is to prohibit vessels, except 
government vessels, from entering the area. Under a hazardous 
designation, vessels could enter at their own risk. An increase in 
fishing vessels into the hazardous area in pursuit of adult salmon and 
steelhead is of great concern, since the electrical generators and 
spillway gates are operated remotely from Portland. There are no 
personnel at the dam to warn boaters of an immediate release of water. 
Paragraph (w)(1) is being amended to provide an additional margin of 
safety for recreational boaters operating below Bonneville Lock and Dam 
during the discharge of water from the Juvenile Bypass System outfall 
structures. Paragraph (w)(4), (w)(5), (w)(6), (w)(7), and (w)(8) are 
being amended to provide a greater margin of safety for recreational 
boaters from sudden dangerous currents, turbulence and whirlpools 
caused by the operation of spillways, electrical generators, and 
navigation locks. Operation of the electrical generators and spillway 
gates are remotely controlled from Portland, Oregon. The regulation 
governing the navigation locks and approach channels, Columbia and 
Snake Rivers, Washington and Oregon, 33 CFR 207.718 was adopted on 
January 23,

[[Page 55442]]

1978 (43 FR 3115). The last amendment to 33 CFR 207.718 was April 4, 
1991 (56 FR 13765). This proposed rule is not a major rule for the 
purposes of Executive Order 12866. As required by the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act, the Corps of Engineers certifies that this proposed 
rule would not have a significant impact on small business entities.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 207

    Navigation (water), Vessels, Water transportation.

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, Title 33, Chapter II of 
the Code of Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended, as follows:

PART 207--NAVIGATION REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for Part 207 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 40 Stat. 266 (33 U.S.C. 1).

    2. Section 207.718 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph 
(v) and revising paragraphs (w)(1), (w)(4), (w)(5), (w)(6), (w)(7), and 
(w)(8) to read as follows.


Sec. 207.718  Navigation locks and approach channels, Columbia and 
Snake Rivers, Oreg. and Wash.

* * * * *
    (w) * * *
    (1) At Bonneville Dam. The water restricted to only Government 
vessels are described as all waters of the Columbia River and Bradford 
Slough within 1,000 feet above the first powerhouse, spillway, and 
second powerhouse (excluding the new navigation lock channel) and all 
waters below the first powerhouse, spillway, second powerhouse, and old 
navigation lock. The downstream boundary commences from the westernmost 
tip of Robins Island on the Oregon side of the river and runs in a 
South 65 degrees West direction a distance of approximately 2,100 feet 
to a point 50 feet upstream of the Hamilton Island Boat Ramp on the 
Washington Shore. Signs will designate the restricted areas. The 
approach channel to the New Navigation Lock is outside the restricted 
area.
* * * * *
    (4) At McNary Dam. The waters restricted to all vessels, except to 
Government vessels, are described as all waters commencing at the 
upstream end of the Oregon fish ladder thence running in the direction 
of 39 deg. 28' true for a distance of 540 yards; thence 7 deg. 49' true 
for a distance 1,078 yards; thence 277 deg. 10' for a distance of 468 
yards to the upstream end of the navigation lock guidewall. The 
downstream limits commence at the downstream end of the navigation lock 
guidewall thence to the south (Oregon) shore at right angles and 
parallel to the axis of the dam.
    (5) At Ice Harbor Lock and Dam. The waters restricted to all 
vessels except, Government vessels, are described as all waters 
commencing at the upstream of the navigation lock guidewall; thence 
running in the direction of 90 deg. 10' true for a distance of 137 
yards; thence 167 deg. 18' true or a distance of 693 yards to the south 
shore. The downstream limits commence at the downstream end of the 
guidewall; thence to the south shore, at right angles and parallel to 
the axis of the dam.
    (6) At Lower Monumental Lock and Dam. The waters restricted to all 
vessels, except Government vessels, are described as all waters 
commencing at the upstream of the navigation lock guidewall and running 
in a direction of 46 deg. 25' true for a distance of 344 yards; thence 
289 deg. 58' true for a distance of 712 yards to the north shore. The 
downstream limits commence at the downstream end of the navigation lock 
guidewall; thence to the south shore, at right angles and parallel to 
the axis of the dam.
    (7) At Little Goose Lock and Dam. The waters restricted to all 
vessels, except Government vessels, are described as all waters 
commencing at the upstream of the navigation lock guidewall and running 
in a direction of 60 deg. 37' true for a distance of 676 yards; thence 
345 deg. 26' true for a distance of 620 yards to the north shore. The 
downstream limits commence 512 yards downstream and at right angles to 
the axis of the dam on the south shore; thence parallel to the axis of 
the dam to the north shore.
    (8) At Lower Granite Lock and Dam. The waters restricted to all 
vessels, except Government vessels, are described as all waters 
commencing at the upstream of the navigation lock guidewall thence 
running in the direction of 131 deg. 31' true or a distance of 608 
yards; thence 210 deg. 46' true for a distance of 259 yards to the 
south shore. The downstream limits commence at the downstream end of 
navigation lock guidewall; thence to the south shore, at right angles 
and parallel to the axis of the dam.
* * * * *
    Dated: October 5, 1999.
Joseph L. Gilbreath,
Colonel, U.S. Army, Assistant Director of Civil Works, Executive 
Operations/Planning.
[FR Doc. 99-26526 Filed 10-12-99; 8:45 am]
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