[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 2, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56025-56027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19422]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. CGD08-07-023]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Milhomme Bayou, Stephensville, 
LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulation governing 
the operation of the Stephensville Bridge across Milhomme Bayou, mile 
12.2, at Stephensville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. Currently the 
bridge opens on signal, but due to the minimal waterway traffic, the 
bridge owner requested this change. The proposed rule will require the 
draw of the bridge to open on signal if at least one hour of advance 
notice is given. During the advance notice period, the draw shall open 
on less than one hour notice for an emergency, and shall open on demand 
should a temporary surge in waterway traffic occur.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before December 3, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Commander 
(dpb), Eighth Coast Guard District, 500 Poydras Street, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70130-3310. The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, 
Bridge Administration 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 Bridge Administration office between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bart Marcules, Bridge Administration 
Branch, telephone (504) 671-2128.

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 [CGD08-07-
023], 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. You may submit a 
request for a meeting by writing to Commander, Eighth Coast Guard 
District, Bridge Administration 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

    St. Martin Parish has requested that the operating regulation on 
the Stephensville Bridge be changed in order to operate the bridge more 
efficiently. The Stephensville Bridge locate on Milhomme Bayou at mile 
12.2 in Stephensville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana has a vertical 
clearance of 5.8 feet above mean high water, elevation 3.5 feet Mean 
Sea Level (MSL) in the closed position and unlimited in the open 
position. The Stephensville Bridge opens on signal as required by 33 
CFR 117.5, and this operating schedule has been in effect since 2002 
when the current bridge replaced an existing bridge in the area. The 
previous bridge's operating schedule was, ``shall open on signal; 
except that, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the draw shall open on signal if at 
least two hours notice is given. During the advance notice period, the 
draw shall open on less than two hours notice for an emergency and 
shall open on demand should a temporary surge in waterway traffic 
occur.''
    Since the completion of the current bridge, the waterway traffic 
has been minimal and during the past twelve months an average of 5 
boats per day have requested an opening. Most of the boats requesting 
openings are commercial vessels consisting of tugboats with barges and 
shrimp trawlers that routinely transit this waterway and are able to 
give advance notice.
    Concurrent with the publication of the Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking, a Test Deviation [CGD08-07-022], has been issued to allow 
St. Martin Parish to test the proposed schedule and to obtain data and 
public comments. The test period will be in effect during the entire 
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking comment period. The Coast Guard will 
review the logs of the drawbridge and evaluate public comments from 
this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and the above referenced Temporary 
Deviation to determine if a permanent special drawbridge operating 
regulation is warranted.
    The Test Deviation allows the draw of the Stephensville Bridge to 
open on signal if at least one hour of advance notice is given. During 
the advance notice period, the draw shall open on less than one hour 
notice for an emergency and shall open on demand should a temporary 
surge in waterway traffic occur.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The proposed rule change to 33 CFR part 117 would require that a 
one hour advance notice be given for St. Martin parish to open the 
Stephensville Bridge. Presently and historically the waterway has 
minimal waterway traffic and the bridge owner could use the tenders 
more efficiently if at least one hour notice is required. During 
emergencies, the bridge owner will open the bridge as soon as possible 
and open on demand when a surge in waterway traffic occurs.

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.
    We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so 
minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary.
    A special regulation existed on the replaced bridge and the Coast 
Guard did not receive complaints regarding the drawbridge operating 
schedule during the many years that bridge was operated under a special 
regulation. The current and historical waterway traffic is very minimal 
with an average of 5 signals to open a day and most signals come from 
commercial vessels able to schedule an opening. The bridge is also only 
requiring a one hour advance notice,

[[Page 56026]]

and will open as soon as possible for emergencies. Also the bridge will 
open on demand should a temporary surge in waterway traffic occur.

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 proposed 
rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities. This proposed rule would affect a limited 
number of small entities. These entities include operators of tug boats 
and trawlers using the waterway. This proposed rule will have no impact 
on any small entities because they are able to give notice prior to 
transiting through this bridge and most vessel operators that require 
an opening are currently providing advance notice.
    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 the Eighth Coast Guard District 
Bridge Administration Branch at the address above. 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 might 
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 proposed 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 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, (32)(e), of the 
Instruction, from further environmental documentation. Under figure 2-
1, paragraph (32)(e), an ``Environmental Analysis Check List'' or 
``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is not required for this rule. 
Comments on this section will be considered before we make the final 
decision on whether

[[Page 56027]]

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; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

    2. Section 117.481 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  117.481  Milhomme Bayou

    The draw of the Stephensville Bridge, mile 12.2 (Landside Route) at 
Stephensville, LA shall open on signal if at least one hour of advance 
notice is given. During the advance notice period, the draw shall open 
on less than one hour notice for an emergency, and shall open on demand 
should a temporary surge in waterway traffic occur.

    Dated: September 21, 2007.
Joel R. Whitehead,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. E7-19422 Filed 10-1-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P