[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 101 (Thursday, May 25, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30106-30108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4877]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD08-06-002]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Missouri River, Iowa, Kansas, 
Missouri

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to make revisions in Missouri River 
drawbridge regulations covering Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri. Under the 
proposed revisions, the bridges will open on signal, except during the 
winter season when 24 hours advance notice will be required. These 
proposed revisions to the regulations will reduce delays to the vessels 
transiting through these States on the Missouri River.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before July 24, 2006.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander, 
Eighth Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, 1222 Spruce Street, St. 
Louis, MO 63103-2832. Commander (dwb), Eighth Coast Guard District, 
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 room 2.107f 
in the Robert A. Young Federal Building, Eighth Coast Guard District, 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge 
Administrator, (314) 539-3900, extension 2378.

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 [CGD08-06-
002], 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 
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.

Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for a meeting by writing to the Eighth Coast Guard District, 
Bridge Branch, at the address under ADDRESSES explaining why one would 
be beneficial. If we determine that a meeting 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 Coast Guard reviewed the history of civil penalty actions for 
failure of the Missouri River drawbridges to open for navigation. 
Meetings were held with the bridge owner and vessel operators to 
determine the cause for not opening the bridge draw on signal. A 
procedure was incorporated in the regulations to help reduce the number 
of vessel delays caused by failure to open the bridge on signal. 
Experience has shown the procedure was never implemented and vessel 
delays were not reduced. Thus, the Coast Guard is proposing these 
revisions to these regulations so vessels may pass the bridge without 
delay.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard determined that changes were needed to correct 
inaccuracies in State-related drawbridge operation regulations for 
Sec.  117.407 (Iowa), Sec.  117.411 (Kansas), and Sec.  117.687 
(Missouri). In addition, Sec.  117.411(b) and Sec.  117.687(b), which 
describe the procedure for the operation of A-S-B Highway and Railroad 
Bridge at Mile 365.6, are to be eliminated. This drawbridge was never 
operated in the manner described. It will open on signal as described 
in Sec.  117.411 and Sec.  117.687.

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

[[Page 30107]]

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.
    The Coast Guard expects that these changes will have a minimal 
economic impact on commercial traffic operating on the Missouri River. 
The procedure is already in practice at the bridges, and the change to 
the CFR documents the procedure.

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 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. This proposed rule is neutral to all business entities 
since it affects only how the vessel operators request bridge openings.
    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 could 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 Mr. Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge 
Administrator, Eighth Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, at (314) 
539-3900, extension 2378. 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 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 will 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 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 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 may 
disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

    This proposed 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 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. Paragraph 32(e) excludes the promulgation of operating 
regulations or procedures for drawbridges from the environmental 
documentation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA). Since this proposed regulation would alter the normal operating 
conditions of the drawbridge, it falls

[[Page 30108]]

within this exclusion. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is 
available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

Regulations

    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. Revise Sec.  117.407 to read as follows:


Sec.  117.407  Missouri River.

    See Sec.  117.691, Missouri River listed under Nebraska.
    3. Revise Sec.  117.411 to read as follows:


Sec.  117.411  Missouri River.

    The draws of the bridges across the Missouri River shall open on 
signal; except during the winter season between the date of closure and 
the date of opening of the commercial navigation season as published by 
the Army Corps of Engineers, the draws need not open unless at least 24 
hours advance notice is given.
    4. Revise Sec.  117.687 to read as follows:


Sec.  117.687  Missouri River.

    The draws of the bridges across the Missouri River shall open on 
signal; except during the winter season between the date of closure and 
date of opening of the commercial navigation season as published by the 
Army Corps of Engineers, the draws need not open unless at least 24 
hours advance notice is given.

    Dated: April 25, 2006.
R.F. Duncan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 06-4877 Filed 5-24-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P