[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 24 (Thursday, February 5, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5463-5465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-2509]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-04-001]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Alabama River, Montgomery, AL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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[[Page 5464]]

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation 
regulation for the draw of the U.S. 31 bridge across the Alabama River, 
mile 278.2 at Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama. A replacement 
bridge has been constructed and the existing historic bridge has been 
removed. Since the bridge has been removed, the regulation controlling 
the opening and closing of the bridge is no longer necessary.

DATES: This rule is effective February 5, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Documents referred to in this rule are available for 
inspection or copying at the office of the Eighth Coast Guard District, 
Bridge Administration Branch, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70130-3396, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (504) 589-2965. The 
Eighth District Bridge Administration Branch maintains the public 
docket for this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. David Frank, Bridge Administration 
Branch, at (504) 589-2965.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Good Cause for Not Publishing an NPRM

    We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this 
regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good 
cause exists for not publishing an NPRM. Public comment is not 
necessary since the purpose of the affected regulation is to control 
the opening and closing of a bridge that has been removed.

Good Cause for Making Rule Effective in Less Than 30 Days

    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds good cause exists 
for making this rule effective in less than 30 days after publication 
in the Federal Register for the same reasons stated in the preceding 
paragraph.

Background and Purpose

    The State of Alabama (Department of Transportation) has constructed 
a bridge of modern safe design to replace the existing swing bridge. 
The existing swing bridge that had previously serviced the area has 
been removed. The regulation governing the operation of the swing 
bridge is found in 33 CFR 117.101(c). The purpose of this rule is to 
remove 33 CFR 117.101(c) from the Code of Federal Regulations.

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 Homeland 
Security (DHS).
    This rule removes a regulation that is obsolete because the bridge 
it governs no longer exists.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
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 rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
    This rule will have no impact on any small entities because the 
regulation being removed applies to a bridge that no longer exists.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate 
its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.
    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 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 13132, 
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 it 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 rule will not result in such an expenditure, we 
do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in the preamble.

Taking of Private Property

    This rule will not affect 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 cause an 
environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may 
disproportionately affect children.

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

[[Page 5465]]

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.

Environment

    We have analyzed this rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, 
which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and 
have concluded that there are no factors in this case that would limit 
the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the 
Instruction. Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded, under 
figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, from further 
environmental documentation. Paragraph (32)(e) excludes the 
promulgation of operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges 
from the environmental documentation requirements of NEPA.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Regulations

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard is amending 
part 117 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 117.255 also issued 
under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.


Sec. 117.101  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec. 117.101, paragraph (c) is removed and paragraph (d) is 
redesignated paragraph (c).

    Dated: January 28, 2004.
J.W. Stark,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, 8th Coast Guard Dist., Acting.
[FR Doc. 04-2509 Filed 2-4-04; 8:45 am]
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