[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 119 (Tuesday, June 22, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34568-34570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14070]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-04-025]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Long Island, New York Inland 
Waterway From East Rockaway Inlet to Shinnecock Canal, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has changed the drawbridge operation 
regulations that govern the Meadowbrook State

[[Page 34569]]

Parkway Bridge, at mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, New York. This 
final rule allows the bridge to need not open for the passage of vessel 
traffic from 9 p.m. to midnight, on the Fourth of July each year. This 
action is necessary to facilitate the annual Fourth of July Jones Beach 
State Park fireworks display.

DATES: This rule is effective on July 4, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as 
documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, 
are part of docket (CGD01-04-025) and are available for inspection or 
copying at the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch Office, 408 
Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, between 7 a.m. and 3 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John McDonald, Project Officer, 
First Coast Guard District, (617) 223-8364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

    On April 5, 2004, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Long Island, New York 
Inland Waterway from East Rockaway Inlet to Shinnecock Canal, New York, 
in the Federal Register (69 FR 17618). We received no comments in 
response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was 
requested and none was held.
    Under 5 U.S.C. the Coast Guard finds good cause exists for making 
this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register. The NPRM provided a 60-day comment period for the public to 
comment on this rule change. We received no comments in response to the 
NPRM. It is necessary to make this rule effective less than 30 days 
from the date of publication in order to provide for public safety 
during this years Forth of July fireworks display, which is scheduled 
for July 4, 2004.

Background and Purpose

    The Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge has a vertical clearance of 22 
feet at mean high water and 25 feet at mean low water in the closed 
position, unlimited vertical clearance in the full open position. The 
existing regulations are listed at 33 CFR Sec.  117.799(h).
    The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic 
Preservation, requested that the bridge be allowed to remain closed 
from 9 p.m. to midnight, during the annual Fourth of July fireworks 
event at the Jones Beach State Park. The bridge has been closed for the 
past several years to facilitate this annual event.
    Traditionally, this bridge closure was accomplished each year by 
publishing a temporary final rule in the Federal Register. This final 
rule makes the traditional Fourth of July bridge closure part of the 
permanent drawbridge operation regulations.
    The Coast Guard believes this rule is reasonable because it would 
simplify the traditional bridge closure process that has become a 
traditional closure each year on the Fourth of July.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard received no comments in response to the notice of 
proposed rulemaking and as a result, no changes have been made to this 
final rule.

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 conclusion is based on the fact that the bridge closure is of 
short duration for the purpose of public safety during the annual 
Fourth of July Fireworks display at Jones Beach.

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 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 conclusion is based on the fact that the bridge closure is of 
short duration for the purpose of public safety during the annual 
Fourth of July Fireworks display at Jones Beach.

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.
    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 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.

[[Page 34570]]

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.

Indian Tribal Governments

    This final rule does not have tribal implications under Executive 
Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, because it does not have 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.

Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards 
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, 
through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why 
using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or 
operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management 
systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies.
    This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not 
consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

    We have analyzed this final rule under Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1D, 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. It has been determined that this final 
rule does not significantly impact the environment.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Regulations

0
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR 
part 117 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.

0
2. Amend Sec.  117.799 by revising paragraph (h) to read as follows:


Sec.  117.799  Long Island, New York Inland Waterway from East Rockaway 
Inlet to Shinnecock Canal.

* * * * *
    (h) The draw of the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, 
across Sloop Channel, shall open on signal if at least a one-half hour 
notice is given to the New York State Department of Transportation, as 
follows:
    (1) Every other hour on the even hour.
    (2) From April 1 through October 31, on Saturdays, Sundays, and 
Federal holidays, every three hours beginning at 1:30 a.m. Notice may 
be given from the telephone located at the moorings on each side of the 
bridge or by marine radio.
    (3) From 9 p.m. to midnight, on the Fourth of July, the Meadowbrook 
State Parkway Bridge need not open for the passage of vessel traffic.
* * * * *

    Dated: June 10, 2004.
John L. Grenier,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 04-14070 Filed 6-21-04; 8:45 am]
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