[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 35 (Thursday, February 21, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7952-7954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4206]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD07-00-129]
RIN 2115-AE47


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, 
Boca Grande, Charlotte County, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

[[Page 7953]]


ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the operating regulations of the 
Gasparilla Island Causeway drawbridge on the Gulf Intracoastal 
Waterway, mile 34.3, in Boca Grande, Florida. This rule will allow the 
bridge owner or operator to open the bridge on signal; except that from 
January 1 to May 31, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the draw need only open on 
the hour, quarter hour, half hour and three quarter hour.

DATES: This rule is effective March 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as 
documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, 
will become part of this docket [CGD07-00-129] and are available for 
inspection or copying at Commander (obr), Seventh Coast Guard District, 
909 S.E. 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33131, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Barry Dragon, Project Officer, 
Seventh Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, at (305) 415-6743.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

    On March 20, 2001, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Gulf Intracoastal 
Waterway, Boca Grande, Charlotte County, FL in the Federal Register (66 
FR 15677). We did not receive any letters commenting on the proposed 
rule. No public hearing was requested and none was held.

Background and Purpose

    The Gasparilla Island Causeway Drawbridge across the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway, mile 34.3, has a vertical clearance of 9 feet at 
mean high water and a horizontal clearance of 81 feet. The owner of the 
bridge requested a change to current operating schedule in effect from 
January 1 through May 31. The owner requested that scheduled openings 
start at 7 a.m., three hours earlier than the current regulations 
provide, to ease the flow of seasonal vehicular traffic during the 
morning. This rule will ease the seasonal vehicle traffic flow during 
the morning rush hour and have little to no impact on vessel traffic.

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. 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, 1979) 
because this rule only extends the existing bridge operating schedule 
from January 1 to May 31 for three hours in the morning and still 
provides for openings every 15 minutes.

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.
    The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this final 
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities because the rule only slightly alters the 
current bridge operating schedule and still provides for openings every 
15 minutes.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have 
a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see 
ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what 
degree this rule would economically affect it.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 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 process. If the 
rule will affect your small business, organization, or government 
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or 
options for compliance, please contact the person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT for assistance in understanding this rule.
    We also have a point of contact for commenting on actions by 
employees of the Coast Guard. Small businesses may send comments on the 
actions of Federal employees who enforce, or otherwise determine 
compliance with, Federal regulations to the Small Business and 
Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small 
Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these 
actions annually and rates each agency's responsiveness to small 
business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast 
Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247).

Collection of Information

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

Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 1313, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local 
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial 
direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under 
that Order and have determined that this rule does not have 
implications for federalism.

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 discretionary 
regulatory actions. 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 proposed rule would not result in such 
expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this 
preamble.

Taking of Private Property

    This rule would 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 proposed 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 create an 
environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may 
disproportionately affect children.

[[Page 7954]]

Environment

    We considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded 
that, under, Figure 2-1, paragraph 32(e) of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1D, this rule is categorically excluded from further 
environmental documentation. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' 
is available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

Indian Tribal Governments

    This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 
13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, 
because it does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more 
Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions 
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a ``significant 
energy action'' under that order because it is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy 
action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects 
under Executive Order 13211.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 117 as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

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

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g).

    2. In Sec. 117.287, paragraph (a-1) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 117.287  Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

* * * * *
    (a-1) The draw of the Gasparilla Island Causeway drawbridge, mile 
34.3, at Boca Grande shall open on signal; except that from January 1 
to May 31, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., the draw need open only on the hour, 
quarter hour, half hour and three quarter hour.
* * * * *

    Dated: February 8, 2002.
John E. Crowley, Jr.,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander Seventh Coast Guard District, 
Acting.
[FR Doc. 02-4206 Filed 2-20-02; 8:45 am]
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