[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19119-19121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-3512]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[CGD09-06-017]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Maple-Oregon Bridge Boring Program, Sturgeon Bay 
Ship Canal, Sturgeon Bay, WI

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the 
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in Sturgeon Bay, WI. This zone is intended to 
restrict vessels from a portion of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal during 
the Maple-Oregon Bridge Boring Program. This temporary safety zone is 
necessary to protect vessels from hazards associated with underwater 
drilling operations.

DATES: This rule is effective from 5:30 a.m. (local), March 30, 2006 
until 10 p.m. (local), April 28, 2006.

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 [CGD09-06-017] and are available for inspection or 
copying at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, 2420 S. Lincoln 
Memorial Dr, Milwaukee, WI, 53207 between 7 a.m. (local) and 3:30 p.m. 
(local), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chief Warrant Officer Brad Hinken, 
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan, at (414) 747-7154.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

    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. The permit application was not 
received in time to publish an NPRM followed by a final rule before the 
effective date. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), good cause exists for making 
this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register. Delaying this rule would be contrary to the public interest 
of ensuring the safety and vessels during this event and immediate 
action is necessary to prevent possible loss of life or property. The 
Coast Guard has not received any complaints or negative comments 
previously with regard to this event.

Background and Purpose

    This safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels 
transiting the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal and the workers on the Teng and 
Associates Drilling Barge Configuration. Based on accidents that have 
occurred in other Captain of the Port zones, and the hazards associated 
with underwater drilling, the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan has 
determined underwater drilling operations in close proximity to vessel 
traffic pose significant risk to public safety and property. 
Establishing a safety zone to control vessel movement around the 
location of the Teng and Associates Drilling Barge Configuration will 
help ensure the safety of persons and property during these operations 
and help minimize the associated risks.

Discussion of Rule

    A temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of 
vessels transiting the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal and workers on the Teng 
and Associates Drilling Barge Configuration. The safety zone will be in 
effect from 5:30 a.m. (local), March 30, 2006 until 10 p.m. (local), 
April 28, 2006.
    The safety zone will encompass all waters of the Sturgeon Bay Ship 
Canal within 50-ft of the Teng and Associates Drilling Barge 
Configuration. The Captain of the Port Lake Michigan, or his designated 
on-scene representative, has the authority to terminate the event.
    All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the 
Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or the

[[Page 19120]]

designated on-scene representative. Entry into, transiting, or 
anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the 
Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or his designated on-scene 
representative. The Captain of the Port or his designated 
representative may be contacted at the Sector Lake Michigan Command 
Center via landline at 414-747-7182 or via VHF Channel 16.

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).
    We expect the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a 
full Regulatory Evaluation under the regulatory policies and procedures 
of DHS is unnecessary.
    This determination is based on the minimal time that vessels will 
be restricted from the zone and the zone is an area where the Coast 
Guard expects insignificant adverse impact to mariners from the zone's 
activation.

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 affect the following entities, some of which may be 
small entities: the owners and operators of vessels intending to 
transit or anchor in a portion of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal 
approximately 700 ft. south of the Michigan Avenue Bridge in Sturgeon 
Bay, WI on each day from March 30th and April 28th, 2006.
    This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: This 
rule will be in effect when there is little to no recreational and 
commercial vessel traffic. In the event that this temporary safety zone 
affects shipping, commercial vessels may request permission from the 
Captain of the Port Lake Michigan to transit through the safety zone. 
The Coast Guard will give notice to the public via a Broadcast to 
Mariners that the regulation is in effect.

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 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 would 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 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 concern 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 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 procedure; and related management

[[Page 19121]]

system 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 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 made a preliminary determination 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, we believe that this rule should 
be categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of the 
Instruction, from further environmental documentation. This event 
establishes a safety zone therefore paragraph (34)(g) of the 
Instruction applies.
    A preliminary ``Environmental Analysis Check List'' is available in 
the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. Comments on this section 
will be considered before we make the final decision on whether the 
rule should be categorically excluded from further environmental 
review.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 
CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701; 50 
U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Pub. L. 
107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation 
No. 0170.1


0
2. A new temporary section 165.T09-017 is added as follows:


Sec.  165.T09-017  Safety zone; Maple-Oregon Bridge Boring Program, 
Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal, Sturgeon Bay, WI.

    (a) Location. The following area is a temporary safety zone: All 
waters of the Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal within 50-ft of the drilling rig.
    (b) Effective period. This rule is effective from 5:30 a.m. 
(local), March 30, 2006 until 10 p.m. (local), April 28, 2006. This 
zone will be enforced during the entire effective period.
    (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in 
section 165.23 of this part, entry into, transiting, or anchoring 
within this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain 
of the Port Lake Michigan, or his designated on-scene representative.
    (2) This safety zone is closed to all vessel traffic, except as may 
be permitted by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or his designated 
on-scene representative.
    (3) The ``on-scene representative'' of the Captain of the Port is 
any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer who has been 
designated by the Captain of the Port to act on his behalf. The on-
scene representative of the Captain of the Port will be aboard either a 
Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel. The Captain of the Port or 
his designated on-scene representative may be contacted by calling the 
Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Command Center at 414-747-7182 or VHF 
Channel 16.
    (4) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the safety 
zone shall contact the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan to obtain 
permission to do so. Vessel operators given permission to enter or 
operate in the safety zone shall comply with all directions given to 
them by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or his on-scene 
representative.

    Dated: March 30, 2006.
S.P. LaRochelle,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan.
[FR Doc. 06-3512 Filed 4-12-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P