[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 172 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51179-51180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-17567]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01-07-019]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Norwalk River, Norwalk, CT

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 Washington Street S136 
Bridge at mile 0.0, across the Norwalk River, Norwalk, Connecticut. 
This final rule allows the bridge to remain in the closed position to 
facilitate the annual Norwalk River Fun Run held on the first Saturday 
in December, with a rain date for the next day in the event of 
inclement weather. This final rule is necessary for the safety of the 
race participants and to facilitate the running of the annual Fun Run 
Race.

DATES: This rule is effective October 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 (CGD01-07-019) 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: Ms. Judy Leung-Yee, Project Officer, 
First Coast Guard District, (212) 668-7195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory Information

    On April 3, 2007, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulations''; Norwalk River, 
Connecticut, in the Federal Register (72 FR 15852). 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 Washington Street S136 Bridge has a vertical clearance of 9 
feet at mean high water, and 16 feet at mean low water in the closed 
position. The existing drawbridge operation regulations are listed at 
33 CFR 117.217(a).
    The bridge owner, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, 
requested a change to the regulations to help facilitate the running of 
the annual Norwalk River Fun Run Event which is run on the first 
Saturday in December.
    Under this final rule the Washington Street S136 Bridge would 
remain in the closed position from 10 a.m. through 12 p.m. on the first 
Saturday in December with a rain date for the next day, the first 
Sunday after the first Saturday in December in the event of inclement 
weather.

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.
    This conclusion is based on the fact the bridge closure is of short 
duration and during a time period the bridge seldom receives a request 
to open.

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 closure is of 
short duration and during a time period the bridge seldom receives a 
request to open.

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.
    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). 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 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

[[Page 51180]]

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, 
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 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 considering that it relates to the 
promulgation of operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. 
Under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the instruction, an 
``Environmental Analysis Check List'' and a ``Categorical Exclusion 
Determination'' are not required for this rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

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; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.


0
2. Section 117.217 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  117.217  Norwalk River.

    (a) The draw of the Washington Street S136 Bridge, mile 0.0, at 
Norwalk, shall operate as follows:
    (1) The draw shall open on signal; except that, from 7 a.m. to 8:45 
a.m., 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays, the draw need not be opened for the passage of 
vessels that draw less than 14 feet of water.
    (2) The draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic, from 
10 a.m. to 12 p.m., on the first Saturday in December, to facilitate 
the running of the annual Norwalk River Fun Run. Should inclement 
weather force the postponement of the race the above bridge closure 
shall be implemented the next day, the first Sunday after the first 
Saturday in December, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
    (3) The bridge opening signal is three short blasts. Vessels 
drawing 14 feet of water or more shall add one prolonged blast after 
the three short blasts.
* * * * *

    Dated: August 20, 2007.
Timothy S. Sullivan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E7-17567 Filed 9-5-07; 8:45 am]
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