[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 250 (Thursday, December 28, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 82276-82278]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-33078]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 166

[CGD 08-00-012]
RIN 2115-AG02


Shipping Safety Fairways and Anchorage Areas, Gulf of Mexico

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is creating a new anchorage area on the 
eastern side of the Sabine Pass Safety Fairway, opposite the Sabine 
Bank Offshore (North) Anchorage area in the Gulf of Mexico south of 
Sabine Pass. This will help alleviate the need for in-bound deep draft 
vessels to cross the Sabine Pass Safety Fairway and navigate around a 
charted shallow area just to the southeast of the North anchorage. This 
rule allows deep draft vessels to enter and depart Sabine Bank 
anchorages on a safer, lower risk course.

DATES: This final rule is effective January 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as 
documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, 
are part of docket CGD 08-00-012 and are available for inspection or 
copying at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, Federal Building, 2875 
Jimmy Johnson Blvd., Port Arthur, TX 77640-2099 between 8 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule or 
on viewing the docket, call Lieutenant Lamont Bazemore, Waterways 
Management, Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Port Arthur, telephone 
409-723-6509 ext. 243.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On June 21, 2000, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
entitled ``Anchorage Regulation; Sabine Pass, TX, Gulf of Mexico'' in 
the Federal Register (65 FR 38474). We received no letters commenting 
on the proposed rule. No public hearing was requested and none was 
held. For the Semi-Annual Agenda, we changed the RIN and title of this 
rule to ``Shipping Safety Fairways and Anchorage Areas, Gulf of Mexico, 
2115-AG02'', to correctly reflect the CFR part that we are affecting.

Background and Purpose

    In 1997, the in-bound tank vessel CROSBY ran aground just outside 
the

[[Page 82277]]

Sabine Bank Offshore (North) Anchorage area located in the Gulf of 
Mexico, approximately 13 miles south of Sabine Pass, TX. This vessel 
was carrying over 650,000 barrels of crude oil. Although no oil was 
spilled, the result could have been disastrous.
    The subsequent investigation revealed that the vessel's master 
crossed the safety fairway and attempted to navigate into the North 
anchorage. However, a strong westerly current pushed the CROSBY toward 
the shallow area southeast of the anchorage area. The master was unable 
to maneuver away from the shallows and the vessel grounded. Four 
tugboats took 15 hours to refloat the CROSBY.
    In-bound petroleum laden deep draft vessels invariably have a need 
to anchor and wait for daylight transit. The new anchorage east of the 
Sabine Bank Offshore (North) Anchorage eliminates the need for these 
vessels to cross the safety fairway and navigate the surrounding 
shallow areas to reach anchorage. The new anchorage is also free of 
shallow areas immediately surrounding it. This significantly reduces 
navigational risks to in-bound deep draft vessels.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    No comments were received regarding the notice of proposed 
rulemaking and no changes were made.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 
3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and does 
not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 
6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not 
reviewed it under that Order. It is not ``significant'' under the 
regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation 
(DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26, l979). We expect 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.
    There are no fees, permits, or specialized requirements for the 
maritime industry to utilize this anchorage area. Use of the Sabine 
Bank Offshore (East) Anchorage Area is voluntary. This regulation is 
solely for the purpose of advancing safety of maritime commerce.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we 
considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. The term ``small entities'' 
comprises small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that are 
independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their fields, 
and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 50,000.
    Since there are no fees, permits, or specialized requirements for 
the maritime industry to utilize this anchorage, and the use of the 
anchorage is voluntary, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) 
that this final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), we offered to assist small 
entities in understanding the rule so that they could better evaluate 
its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. No assistance 
was requested or provided.

Collection of Information

    This rule calls for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

    We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, 
and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism 
under that Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their regulatory 
actions not specifically required by law. In particular, the Act 
addresses actions that may result in the expenditure by a State, local, 
or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of 
$100,000,000 or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result 
in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

    This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise 
have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

    This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) 
of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, 
eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

    We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 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 health or risk to safety that may 
disproportionately affect children.

Environment

    We considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded 
that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(f), of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.lC, this rule is categorically excluded from further 
environmental documentation. Implementation of this action will not 
result in any--
     Significant cumulative impacts on the human environment;
     Substantial controversy or substantial change to existing 
environmental conditions;
     Impacts which are more than minimal on properties 
protected under 4(f) of the DOT Act as superceded by Public Law 97-449, 
and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; and
     Inconsistencies with any Federal, State, or local laws or 
administrative determinations relating to the environment.
    A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is available in the 
docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 166

    Anchorage grounds, Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Waterways.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 166 as follows:

PART 166--SHIPPING SAFETY FAIRWAYS

    1. The authority citation for part 166 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1223; 49 CFR 1.46.

    2. In Sec. 166.200, add paragraph (d)(13)(iv) to read as follows:


Sec. 166.200  Shipping safety fairways and anchorage areas, Gulf of 
Mexico.

* * * * *
    (d) * * *
    (13) * * *
    (iv) Sabine Bank Offshore (East) Anchorage Area. The area enclosed 
by rhumb lines joining points at:

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                 Latitude                             Longitude
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29 deg.26'06" N...........................  93 deg.38'52" W.

[[Page 82278]]

 
29 deg.26'06" N...........................  93 deg.37'00" W.
29 deg.24'06" N...........................  93 deg.37'00" W.
29 deg.24'06" N...........................  93 deg.38'52" W.
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* * * * *

    Dated: 14 December 2000.
Paul J. Pluta,
RADM, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 00-33078 Filed 12-27-00; 8:45 am]
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