[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 50846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19850]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[CGD01-00-007]
RIN 2115-AA97


Regulated Navigation Area, Boston, MA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking, withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is withdrawing the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) which proposed to decrease the safety zone ahead of 
loaded Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier (LNGC) vessels found at 33 CFR 
165.110. In light of the terrorist attacks in New York City and 
Washington, DC on September 11, 2001, safety and security zones are 
being established to safeguard the LNGC vessels and LNG facilities in 
the Captain of the Port Boston, MA zone that conflict with this NPRM 
and thus necessitate its withdrawal.

DATES: The NPRM proposing to amend 33 CFR 165.110 that was published on 
May 2, 2000 (65 FR 25458) is withdrawn as of August 6, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments and related material received from the public, as 
well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the 
docket, are part of docket CGD01-00-007 and are available for copying 
or inspection at Marine Safety Office Boston, 455 Commercial Street, 
Boston, MA between the hours of 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Dave Sherry, Marine Safety Office 
Boston, Maritime Security Operations Division, at (617) 223-3030.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On May 2, 2000 we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
entitled ``Regulated Navigation Area, Boston, MA'' in the Federal 
Register (65 FR 25458). We received no comments on the proposed rule. 
No public hearing was requested and none was held. No final rule was 
published.
    The NPRM proposed to change 33 CFR 165.110(a)(1) by removing the 
words ``two miles'' and replace them with the words ``one mile'', 
effectively reducing the size of the safety zone described therein. At 
this time this reduction was intended to reduce burdens imposed on 
commercial and recreational mariners by the safety zone.

Withdrawal

    In light of the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, 
DC on September 11, 2001, the Captain of the Port Boston, MA has had to 
reconsider this NPRM. In a post-September 11, 2001 security assessment 
it was determined that LNGC vessels represent a potential terrorist 
target. As a result, safety and security zones are being established to 
increase protective measures around LNGC vessels while in transit, at 
anchor, and moored at a transfer facility in the COTP Boston, MA zone. 
These proposed increased measures are intended to protect LNGC vessels, 
the public, and the surrounding area from sabotage or other subversive 
acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature. These safety and 
security zones have been proposed in an NPRM [Docket  CGD01-
02-023] published July 26, 2002 (67 FR 48834). Since the proposal to 
reduce the size of the safety zone around LNGC vessels in transit 
published May 2, 2000, at 65 FR 25458, is in conflict with the July 26, 
2002 NPRM, which increases protective measures in response to new 
potential threats, the May 2, 2000 NPRM must be withdrawn.

    Dated: July 26, 2002.
B.M. Salerno,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Boston, Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. 02-19850 Filed 8-5-02; 8:45 am]
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