[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 76 (Thursday, April 20, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20376-20378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5909]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-06-019]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Townsend Gut, Booth Bay and 
Southport, ME

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation 
regulation governing the operation of the Southport (SR27) Bridge, 
across Townsend Gut, at mile 0.7, between Boothbay Harbor and 
Southport, Maine. This proposed rule would change the regulation to 
require the Southport (SR27) Bridge to operate on a fixed opening 
schedule between April 29 and September 30, each year. This rule is 
expected to help relieve vehicular traffic delays during the summertime 
tourism season while continuing to meet both the current and 
anticipated needs of navigation.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before May 22, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander 
(dpb), First Coast Guard District Bridge Branch, One South Street, 
Battery Park Building, New York, New York, 10004, or deliver them to 
the same address between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (212) 668-7165. The 
First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, maintains the public docket 
for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from the public, as 
well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the 
docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, 
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:

Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name 
and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD01-06-
019), indicate the specific section of this document to which each 
comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit 
all comments and related material in an unbound format, no larger than 
8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would like to know if 
they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or 
envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during 
the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.

[[Page 20377]]

Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting; however, you may 
submit a request for a meeting by writing to the First Coast Guard 
District, Bridge Branch, at the address under ADDRESSES explaining why 
one would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this 
rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later 
notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    The Southport (SR27) Bridge, across Townsend Gut, at mile 0.7, has 
a vertical clearance of 10 feet at mean high water, and 19 feet at mean 
low water in the closed position. The existing drawbridge operation 
regulations, listed at 33 CFR 117.5, requires the bridge to open on 
signal at all times.
    The owner of the bridge, Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT), 
requested a change to the drawbridge operation regulations governing 
the operation of the Southport (SR27) Bridge to require it to open on 
signal, on the hour, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., from April 29 through 
September 30, each year. The purpose of the proposed change to the 
regulation is to help reduce vehicular traffic delays during the summer 
tourism season when vehicular traffic is greatly increased.
    Frequent bridge openings during the summer months result in 
vehicular traffic delays during the daytime hours when traffic between 
Boothbay Harbor and Southport is at its heaviest. The Southport (SR27) 
Bridge opened 4,136 times in 2004. Specifically, 3,493 (84%) of the 
2004 bridge openings were between May and September.
    The Town of Southport Selectmen recently conducted a public meeting 
to survey public opinion regarding the proposed regulation change 
reflected in this notice of proposed rulemaking.
    The local residents, mariners, and commercial vessel operators who 
attended the meeting were strongly in favor of permanently changing the 
regulation governing the operation of the Southport (SR27) Bridge to 
require the bridge to open on signal, once an hour, on the hour, 
between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., from April 29 through September 30, each 
year. All the remaining provisions of the existing regulation would 
remain unchanged.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    This proposed rule change would require the Southport (SR27) Bridge 
to open on signal, on the hour, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., from April 
29 through September 30. This proposed change is expected to help 
improve traffic congestion in Boothbay Harbor and Southport during the 
peak tourist season while still providing for the current and 
anticipated needs of navigation.
    During the summer of 2005, the Coast Guard temporarily changed the 
operating schedule for the Southport (SR27) Bridge to help facilitate 
bridge sandblasting and painting operations. Under the temporary 
regulation (70 FR 12805), published on March 16, 2005, the Southport 
(SR27) Bridge opened every two hours between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. from May 
through September. This temporary rule was in effect through November 
30, 2005.
    Vehicular traffic delays were greatly reduced during the time 
period the temporary regulation was in effect, which was an added 
benefit, since the main purpose of the temporary rule was to facilitate 
bridge painting.
    In addition to the openings every two hours under the temporary 
rule the mariners had the option of utilizing the alternate route to 
open water through Sheepscot Bay. No complaints were received from the 
mariners during the time the temporary regulation was in effect.
    As a result, the Coast Guard believes that having bridge openings 
once an hour, on the hour, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., from April 29 
through September 30, should help alleviate the vehicular traffic 
problems in Boothbay Harbor and Southport during the summer months 
while continuing to meet the current and anticipated needs of 
navigation.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposed 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 proposed rule to be so 
minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under the regulatory policies 
and procedures of DHS is unnecessary.
    This conclusion is based on the fact that vessel traffic which 
can't pass under the Southport (SR27) Bridge in the closed position 
will still be provided bridge openings every hour as well as being able 
to utilize the alternate route to open water through Sheepscot Bay.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered whether this proposed 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 section 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    This conclusion is based on the fact that vessel traffic which 
can't pass under the Southport (SR27) Bridge in the closed position 
will still be provided bridge openings every hour as well as being able 
to utilize the alternate route to open water through Sheepscot Bay.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have 
a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see 
ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what 
degree this rule would economically affect it.

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 proposed rule so that they can better 
evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the 
rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or 
options for compliance, please contact, Commander (dpb), First Coast 
Guard District, Bridge Branch, One South Street, New York, NY 10004. 
The telephone number is (212) 668-7165. The Coast Guard will not 
retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this 
rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would call 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

[[Page 20378]]

compliance on them. We have analyzed this proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 proposed rule under Executive Order 13045, 
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and would not 
create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 
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 would 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 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, this proposed rule is 
categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e) of the 
Instruction, from further environment documentation because this action 
relates to the promulgation of operating regulations or procedures for 
drawbridges. Under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e) of the instruction, an 
``Environmental Analysis Checklist'' is not required for this rule. 
Comments on this section will be considered before we make the final 
decision on whether to categorically exclude this rule from further 
environmental review.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 117 as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

    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.

    2. Section 117.537 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  117.537  Townsend Gut.

    The draw of the Southport (SR27) Bridge, at mile 16.8, across 
Townsend Gut between Booth Bay and Southport, shall open on signal; 
except that, from April 29 through September 30, between 6 a.m. and 6 
p.m., the draw shall open on signal once an hour, on the hour only, 
after an opening request is given by calling the number posted at the 
bridge.

    Dated: April 10, 2006.
David P. Pekoske,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E6-5909 Filed 4-19-06; 8:45 am]
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