[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 25 (Wednesday, February 7, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5617-5619]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-1976]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD05-06-089]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Lewes and Rehoboth Canal, 
Lewes, DE and Rehoboth, DE; Mispillion River, Milford, DE

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the drawbridge operation 
regulations of three Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) 
bridges: the Savannah Road/SR 18 Bridge, at mile 1.7, in Lewes, the SR 
14A Bridge, at mile 6.7, in Rehoboth, and the S14 Bridge, at mile 11.0, 
across Mispillion River at Milford, DE. This final rule will allow the 
Savannah Road/SR 18 Bridge to open on signal if 4 hours advance notice 
is given and allow the SR 14A and S14 Bridges to open on signal if 24 
hours advance notice is given. This change will provide longer advance 
notification for vessel openings from 4 hours to 24 hours while still 
providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: This rule is effective March 9, 2007.

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 CGD05-06-089 and are available for inspection or 
copying at Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal 
Building, 1st Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004 
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Fifth Coast Guard District maintains the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Waverly W. Gregory, Jr., Bridge 
Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard District, at (757) 398-6222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On October 5, 2006, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Lewes and Rehoboth 
Canal, Mispillion River, DE'' in the Federal Register (71 FR 58776). We 
received one comment on the proposed rule. No public meeting was 
requested, and none was held.

Background and Purpose

    DelDOT, who owns and operates the Savannah Road/SR 18 Bridge, at 
mile 1.7, in Lewes, the SR 14A Bridge, at mile 6.7, in Rehoboth, and 
the S14 Bridge, at mile 11.0, across Mispillion River at Milford, 
requested longer advance notification for vessel openings from 2 hours 
to 24 hours for the following reasons:

Lewes and Rehoboth Canal

    In the closed-to-navigation position, the Savannah Road/SR 18 
Bridge, at mile 1.7, in Lewes and the SR 14A Bridge, at mile 6.7, in 
Rehoboth, have vertical clearances of 15 feet and 16 feet, above mean 
high water, respectively. The existing operating regulation for these 
drawbridges is set out in 33 CFR 117.239, which requires the bridges to 
open on signal from May 1 through October 31 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and 
from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. if at least two hours notice is given. From 
November 1 through April 30, the draws shall open if at least 24 hours 
notice is given.
    DelDOT provided information to the Coast Guard about the conditions 
and reduced operational capabilities of the draw spans. Due to the 
infrequency of requests for vessel openings of the drawbridge for the 
past 10 years, DelDOT requested that we amend the current operating 
regulation by requiring the draw spans to open on signal if at least 24 
hours notice is given year-round.

Mispillion River

    The S14 Bridge, at mile 11.0 in at Milford, has a vertical 
clearance of five feet, above mean high water, in the closed-to-
navigation position. The existing regulation is listed at 33 CFR 
117.241, which requires the bridge to open on signal if at least two 
hours notice is given. Due to the infrequency of requests for vessel 
openings of the drawbridge for the past 10 years, DelDOT requested that 
we amend the current operating regulation by requiring the draw spans 
to open on

[[Page 5618]]

signal if at least 24 hours notice is given year-round.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard received one comment on the NPRM from the City of 
Lewes (the City). The City requested that, with respect to the Savannah 
Road/SR 18 Bridge, the Coast Guard provide for opening the bridge on 
four-hour notice between May 1 and October 30 of each year, instead of 
the 24-hour notice proposed in the NRPM.
    DelDOT indicated that to ensure reliability and safe performance by 
bridge operators, a four to six-hour advance notice is actually needed 
to respond to requests by boaters. Therefore, the Coast Guard 
considered the change to require at least four hours advance notice by 
boaters to be safer and more reliable for navigation than the 24-hour 
proposal and the final rule was changed to reflect this modification.

Discussion of Rule

Lewes and Rehoboth Canal

    The Coast Guard will revise 33 CFR 117.239, which governs the 
Delaware highway bridges, at miles 1.7 and 6.7, both at Rehoboth. The 
bridge names, the statute mile points and the localities in the 
paragraph will be changed from the ``Delaware highway bridges miles 2.0 
and 7.0 both at Rehoboth'' to the ``Savannah Road/SR18 Bridge, at mile 
1.7, in Lewes'' and the ``SR 14A Bridge, at mile 6.7, in Rehoboth''. 
These changes will accurately reflect the proper information for these 
drawbridges.
    The current paragraph will be divided into paragraphs (a) and (b). 
Paragraph (a) will contain the final rule for the Savannah Road/SR 18 
Bridge, at mile 1.7 in Lewes and will state that the draw shall open on 
signal if at least four hours notice is given.
    Paragraph (b) will contain the final rule for the SR 14A Bridge, at 
mile 6.7, in Rehoboth. The final rule will require the drawbridge to 
open on signal if at least 24 hours notice is given.

Mispillion River

    The Coast Guard will amend 33 CFR 117.241, which governs the S14 
Bridge, at mile 11.0, at Milford by revising the paragraph to read that 
the draw shall open on signal if at least 24 hours notice is given.

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 these changes have only a 
minimal impact on maritime traffic transiting the bridge. Mariners can 
plan their trips in accordance with the scheduled bridge openings, to 
minimize delays.

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 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    This conclusion is based on the fact the rule would not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
because the rule only adds minimal restrictions to the movement of 
navigation, and mariners who plan their transits in accordance with the 
scheduled bridge openings can minimize delay.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate 
its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process. No 
assistance was requested from any small entity.

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 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 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 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, 
eliminates 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 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 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

[[Page 5619]]

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 rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.lD 
and Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, which 
guide 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 because it has been determined that the promulgation of 
operating regulations for drawbridges are categorically excluded.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

0
For the reasons discussed 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. Revise Sec.  117.239 to read as follows:


Sec.  117.239  Lewes and Rehoboth Canal.

    (a) The draw of the Savannah Road/SR 18 Bridge, at mile 1.7, in 
Lewes shall open on signal if at least four hours notice is given.
    (b) The draw of the SR 14A Bridge, at mile 6.7, in Rehoboth shall 
open on signal if at least 24 hours notice is given.

0
3. Revise Sec.  117.241 to read as follows:


Sec.  117.241  Mispillion River.

    The draw of the S14 Bridge, at mile 11.0, at Milford shall open on 
signal if at least 24 hours notice is given.

    Dated: January 25, 2007.
L.L. Hereth,
Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. E7-1976 Filed 2-6-07; 8:45 am]
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