[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 29, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15765-15767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6165]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-04-143]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Taunton River, MA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has changed the drawbridge operation 
regulations that govern the operation of the Brightman Street Bridge, 
mile 1.8, across the Taunton River between Fall River and Somerset, 
Massachusetts. This final rule allows the bridge to remain closed for 
the passage of pleasure craft traffic from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4 
p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, from June 1 
through August 31. The draw shall open on signal at all times for 
commercial vessel traffic. This action is expected to help relieve 
vehicular traffic delays during the morning and afternoon commuter time 
periods while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: This rule is effective April 28, 2005.

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 (CGD01-01- ) 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 W. McDonald, Bridge 
Administrator, First Coast Guard District, (617) 223-8364.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

    On December 15, 2004, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Taunton River, 
Massachusetts, in the Federal Register (69 FR 75013). We received no 
comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. No public 
hearing was requested and none was held.

Background and Purpose

    The Brightman Street Bridge has a vertical clearance in the closed 
position of 27 feet at mean high water and 31 feet at mean low water. 
The existing drawbridge operation regulations are listed at 33 CFR 
117.619(b).
    The Town of Somerset and the Massachusetts State Police asked the 
Coast Guard and the bridge owner, Massachusetts Highway Department, for 
assistance with vehicular traffic delays resulting from unregulated 
bridge openings during the morning and afternoon rush hours at the 
Brightman Street Bridge.
    The Coast Guard, in response to the above request, issued a 
temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations (69 FR 
35244) on June 24, 2004, with a request for public comment.
    The temporary deviation was in effect for a period of 90 days to 
test an alternate operation schedule which is the same schedule that 
was proposed in a notice of proposed rulemaking, published on December 
15, 2004.
    Under the temporary deviation effective from July 1, 2004 through 
September 28, 2004, the Brightman Street Bridge remained closed for the 
passage of pleasure craft from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 
6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Commercial vessel traffic was allowed 
to pass through the bridge on signal at all times during the 90-day 
test period.
    The drawbridge operation schedule implemented during the 90-day 
test period successfully alleviated vehicular traffic delays with no 
known adverse effects on navigation. The Coast Guard received no 
comment letters in response to the temporary deviation.

[[Page 15766]]

    As discussed above, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking on December 15, 2004, to make the operating rules tested 
during the temporary deviation a permanent change to the operation 
regulations.

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 will continue 
to open at all times for commercial vessel traffic.

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 will continue 
to open at all times for commercial vessel traffic.

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 process.
    No small entities requested Coast Guard assistance and none was 
given.
    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.

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. The Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs has not designated it 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 proposed 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

[[Page 15767]]

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. Section 117.619 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  117.619  Taunton River.

* * * * *
    (b) The Brightman Street Bridge, at mile 1.8, between Fall River 
and Somerset, shall open on signal, except that:
    (1) From June 1 through August 31, the draw need not open for the 
passage of pleasure craft, 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays. The draw shall open on signal 
for commercial vessel traffic at all times.
    (2) From November 1 through March 31, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. 
daily, the draw shall open if at least a one-hour advance notice is 
given by calling the number posted at the bridge.
    (3) From 6 p.m. on December 24 to midnight on December 25, and from 
6 p.m. on December 31 to midnight on January 1, the draw shall open on 
signal if at least a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the 
number posted at the bridge.
* * * * *

    Dated: March 21, 2005.
David P. Pekoske,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 05-6165 Filed 3-28-05; 8:45 am]
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