[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 218 (Friday, November 12, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61561-61563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29603]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD 11-99-013]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal 
Canal, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: At the request of a local citizen, the Coast Guard is 
considering a change in operating regulations for the drawbridges 
crossing the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal (Oakland Estuary), 
between Oakland and Alameda, California. The proposal would amend the 
existing operating regulations to adjust the commute hour closures to 
coincide with current peak traffic periods.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed or hand-delivered to: Commander 
(oan), Eleventh Coast Guard District, Bldg. 50-6, Coast Guard Island, 
Alameda, CA 94501-5100. Comments may also be faxed to: (510) 437-5836. 
Comments may be e-mailed to:

[[Page 61562]]

[email protected]. Comments may be delivered to the above address 
between 6:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal 
holidays.
    The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District maintains the public 
docket for this rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket 
and will be available for inspection or copying at the address above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Olmes, Bridge Administrator, at 
the address above. His telephone number is (510) 437-3515.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Requests for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this proposed rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or 
arguments for or against the proposed change. Persons submitting 
comments should identify this rulemaking (CGD 11-99-013) and the 
specific section of this document to which each comment applies. Give 
the reason for each comment. Please submit all comments and attachments 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\  x  11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of 
receipt of comments should enclose a stamped, self addressed postcard 
or envelope. All comments and other materials referenced in this notice 
will be available for inspection and copying at the Coast Guard address 
given above. Normal office hours are between 6:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. The Coast Guard plans no public 
hearing. Persons may request a public hearing by writing to the Coast 
Guard including the reasons why a hearing would be beneficial. If it is 
determined that the opportunity for oral presentations will aid in this 
rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a public hearing at time and 
place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.
    The proposed regulation may be changed in light of comments 
received. All comments received before the expiration of the comment 
period will be considered before final action is taken on the NPRM. The 
Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, will evaluate all comments 
received and determine a course of final action on this proposal.

Background and Purpose

    The current regulation, 33 CFR 117.181, specifies that the bridges 
need not open for the passage of vessels from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. 
and 3:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. This regulation was enacted in 1973 to accommodate peak 
highway traffic periods. However, a recent analysis of traffic data 
reveals that the peak morning commute period is now from 8:30 a.m. to 
9:30 a.m. and the afternoon peak is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The proposed 
change should better accommodate peak highway traffic with no 
additional impact on vessel traffic, although vessel operators will 
have to adjust their travel times. Vessel traffic is light on weekdays; 
the bridges typically open about 4 times each day during daylight 
hours. Vessel operators should be able to adjust their time of passage 
without significant economic consequences.
    The Coast Guard also proposes to amend the waterway mileages listed 
in the regulation to coincide with current practice.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This 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 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 Department of 
Transportation Regulatory Policies and Procedures (DOT) (44 FR 11040, 
February 26, 1979). The only impact would be on the larger vessels not 
able to pass under the closed bridge, and they will have the same 
access as they do presently, but will have a slightly modified schedule 
of closed periods. The Coast Guard expects the 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.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. Sec. 601 et seq.), 
the Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal will have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
``Small entities'' may include small businesses and not-for profit 
organizations that are not dominant in their respective fields, and 
governmental jurisdictions with populations less than 50,000. For the 
same reasons set forth in the Regulatory Evaluation, the Coast Guard 
certifies under 5 U.S.C. Sec. 605(b) that this proposal, if adopted, is 
not expected to have a significant economic impact on any substantial 
number of entities, regardless of their size.

Assistance for Small Entities

    In accordance with Sec. 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), the Coast Guard 
wants to assist small entities in understanding this proposed rule so 
that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in 
the rule making process. If your small business or organization is 
affected by this rule and you have questions concerning its provisions 
or options for compliance, please contact Jerry Olmes, Coast Guard 
Bridge Section, Alameda office at the address listed in ADDRESSES.

Collection of Information

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

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposal in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 13132 and has 
determined that this proposal does not have federalism implications 
under this Order.

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal and concluded that under Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, 
Figure 2-1, paragraph 32(e), this proposal is categorically excluded 
from further environmental documentation, because it is a Bridge 
Administration Program action involving the promulgation of operating 
requirements or procedures for a drawbridge.

Unfunded Mandates

    Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub L. 104-4), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposed rule will result in an 
annual expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the 
aggregate of $100 million (adjusted annually for inflation). If so, the 
Act requires that a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives be 
considered, and that from those alternatives, the least costly, most 
cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative that achieves the 
objective of the rule be selected.
    No state, local or tribal government entities will be affected by 
this rule, so this rule will not result in annual or aggregate costs of 
$100 million or more. Therefore, the Coast Guard is exempt from any 
further regulatory requirements under the Unfunded Mandates Act.

[[Page 61563]]

Other Executive Orders on the Regulatory Process

    In addition to the statutes and Executive Orders already addressed 
in this preamble, the Coast Guard considered the following executive 
orders in developing this rule and reached the following conclusions:
    E.O 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights. This Rule will not effect a 
taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under 
this Order.
    E.O. 12875, Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership. This Rule 
will not impose, on any State, local, or tribal government, a mandate 
that is not required by statute and that is not funded by the Federal 
government.
    E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This Rule meets applicable 
standards in section 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of this Order to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.
    E.O. 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks 
and Safety Risks. This Rule is not an economically significant rule and 
does not concern an environmental risk to safety disproportionately 
affecting children.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Proposed Regulation

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend part 117 of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 117--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as 
follows:

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

    2. Section 117.181 is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.181  Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal.

    The draws of the Alameda County highway bridges at Park Street, 
mile 5.2; Fruitvale Avenue, mile 5.6; and High Street, mile 6.0; and 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers railroad bridge, mile 5.6 at Fruitvale 
Avenue, shall open on signal; except that, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 
and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday except Federal holidays, the 
draws need not be opened for the passage of vessels. However, the draws 
shall open during the above closed periods for vessels which must, for 
reasons of safety, move on a tide or slack water, if at least two hours 
notice is given. The draws shall open as soon as possible for vessels 
in distress and emergency vessels, including commercial vessels engaged 
in rescue or emergency salvage operations.

    Dated: October 21, 1999.
T.H. Collins,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 99-29603 Filed 11-10-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P