[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 228 (Monday, November 30, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62491-62493]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28491]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2009-0985]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Sunset Beach, NC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the 
waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Sunset Beach, North 
Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of 
mariners on navigable waters during the installation of bridge girders 
at the new high-level fixed highway bridge at Sunset Beach, North 
Carolina.

DATES: This rule will be in effect from 6 a.m. on December 1, 2009 
through 6 p.m. on January 31, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2009-0985 and are available online 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2009-0985 in the 
``Keyword'' box, and then clicking ``Search.'' They are also available 
for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), 
U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary rule, call or e-mail CWO4 Stephen Lyons, Waterways Management 
Division Chief, Coast Guard Sector North Carolina; telephone (252) 247-
4525, e-mail [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior 
notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 
4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those 
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public 
interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good 
cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
with respect to this rule because it is in the public interest to have 
this regulation in place during the girder installation due to the 
hazards associated with potential falling debris and the use of heavy 
equipment and machinery in the waterway.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause 
exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register. Delaying the effective date would 
be contrary to public interest, since immediate action is needed to 
ensure the public's safety from the hazards noted above.

Background and Purpose

    The State of North Carolina Department of Transportation awarded a 
contract to English Construction Company Inc. of Lynchburg, Virginia to 
perform bridge girder installation at the new high-level fixed highway 
bridge at Sunset Beach, North Carolina. The contract provides for the 
installation of bridge girders. The center bridge girder installation 
is scheduled daily from 6 a.m. on December 1, 2009 through 6 p.m. on 
January 31, 2010. The contractor will be utilizing a deck barge with a 
50' beam, a ringer crane on a stationary barge with an 85' beam, and an 
assist tug to conduct the girder installation. This operation presents 
a potential hazard to mariners from falling debris and the use of heavy 
equipment and machinery. To provide for the safety of the public, the 
Coast Guard will temporarily restrict access to this section of the 
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway during girder installation, scheduled 
daily from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Discussion of Rule

    The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone to 
encompass the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway extending 
250 yards in all directions from the main construction site. All 
vessels are prohibited from transiting this section of the waterway 
while the safety zone is in effect. Entry into the zone will not be 
permitted except as specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port 
or a designated

[[Page 62492]]

representative. To seek permission to transit the area, mariners can 
contact Sector North Carolina at telephone number (252) 247-4570. This 
zone will be enforced daily from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. while girder 
installation is in progress from 6 a.m. on December 1, 2009 through 6 
p.m. on January 31, 2010.

Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.

Regulatory Planning and Review

    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.
    Although this regulation will restrict access to the area, the 
effect of this rule will not be significant because: (i) The safety 
zone will be in effect for a limited duration of time, (ii) the Coast 
Guard will give advance notification via maritime advisories so 
mariners can adjust their plans accordingly, and (iii) vessels may be 
granted permission to transit the area by the Captain of the Port or a 
designated representative.

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 will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. This rule will affect the following entities, some of which 
may be small entities: the owners or operators of tug and barge, 
recreational, and fishing vessels intending to transit the specified 
portion of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from 6 a.m. on December 
1, 2009 through 6 p.m. on January 31, 2010.
    This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. This 
rule will be enforced for only a limited time each day. Although the 
safety zone will apply to the entire width of the Atlantic Intracoastal 
Waterway, vessel traffic can use alternate waterways to transit safely 
around the safety zone. Before the effective period, the Coast Guard 
will issue maritime advisories widely available to the users of the 
waterway.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offer to assist small 
entities in understanding the rule so that they can better evaluate its 
effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.
    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 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 does not create an 
environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may 
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 does 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 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

[[Page 62493]]

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 Department of Homeland Security 
Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, 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 
this action is one of a category of actions which do not individually 
or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. 
This rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph 
(34)(g), of the Instruction. This rule establishes a temporary safety 
zone to protect the public from bridge construction operations. An 
environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion 
determination are available in the docket where indicated under 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 
CFR Part 165 as follows:

PART 165--SAFETY ZONES

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701, 3306, 
3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6 and 160.5; 
Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1.


0
2. Add temporary Sec.  165.T05-0985 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T05-0985  Safety Zone; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Sunset 
Beach, NC.

    (a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, Captain of the 
Port means the Commander, Sector North Carolina. Representative means 
any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been 
authorized to act on the behalf of the Captain of the Port.
    (b) Location. The following area is a safety zone: This zone 
includes the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway extending 250 
yards in all directions from the main construction site at the new 
high-level fixed highway bridge at Sunset Beach, North Carolina.
    (c) Regulations. (1) The general regulations contained in Sec.  
165.23 of this part apply to the area described in paragraph (b) of 
this section.
    (2) Persons or vessels requiring entry into or passage through any 
portion of the safety zone must first request authorization from the 
Captain of the Port, or a designated representative, unless the Captain 
of the Port previously announced via Marine Safety Radio Broadcast on 
VHF Marine Band Radio channel 22 (157.1 MHz) that this regulation will 
not be enforced in that portion of the safety zone. The Captain of the 
Port can be contacted at telephone number (252) 247-4570 or by radio on 
VHF Marine Band Radio, channels 13 and 16.
    (d) Enforcement. The U.S. Coast Guard may be assisted in the patrol 
and enforcement of the zone by Federal, State, and local agencies.
    (e) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced daily from 6 
a.m. until 6 p.m. throughout the effective period from 6 a.m. on 
December 1, 2009 through 6 p.m. on January 31, 2010 unless cancelled 
earlier by the Captain of the Port. The exact daily times will be 
announced in Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

    Dated: November 16, 2009.
J.E. Ryan,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port North Carolina.
[FR Doc. E9-28491 Filed 11-27-09; 8:45 am]
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