[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 176 (Monday, September 13, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55475-55477]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22749]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2010-0787]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Pequonnock River, Bridgeport, CT

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is removing the drawbridge operation 
regulations that govern the operation of two bridges, the Congress 
Street Bridge at mile 0.4, and the Grand Street Bridge at mile 0.9, 
across the Pequonnock River at Bridgeport, Connecticut. This final rule 
removes the regulations for the two bridges because the draw spans of 
the bridges have been removed.

DATES: This rule is effective September 13, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket, are part of docket USCG-2010-0787 and are available by 
going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2010-0787 in the 
``keyword'' box, and then clicking ``search.'' This material is 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 rule, 
call or e-mail Ms. Judy Leung-Yee, Project Officer, First Coast Guard 
District Bridge Branch, 212-668-7165, [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 final rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of the 
Administrative Procedures 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 we are removing the operation 
regulations for two moveable draw bridges that no longer have moveable 
spans.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause 
exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register. The drawbridges listed under the 
regulations we are removing no longer have moveable spans; therefore, 
the drawbridge operation regulations are no longer necessary.

Background and Purpose

    The drawbridge operation regulations for the Congress Street Bridge 
at mile 0.4, and the Grand Street Bridge at mile 0.9, across the 
Pequonnock River at Bridgeport, Connecticut, are listed at 33 CFR 
117.219(d) and 33 CFR 117.219(f).
    The moveable span at the Congress Street Bridge was removed due to

[[Page 55476]]

deterioration but the approach spans have been retained for a future 
bridge replacement. The Grand Street Bridge was demolished in its 
entirety in 2000.
    The Coast Guard, as a result, is removing the drawbridge operation 
regulations for the above bridges because they are no longer applicable 
or necessary since the moveable spans have been removed.

Discussion of Rule

    This final rule removes the drawbridge operation regulations listed 
at 33 CFR 117.219(d) that govern the operation of the Congress Street 
Bridge at mile 0.4, and 33 CFR 117.219(f) that govern the operation of 
the Grand Street Bridge at mile 0.9, both across the Pequonnock River 
at Bridgeport, Connecticut. The moveable spans for both bridges were 
removed and the drawbridge operation regulations are no longer 
necessary as a result.
    Paragraph (a) stating that public vessels of the United States must 
be passed as soon as possible, will also be removed by this final rule 
because it is now listed at 33 CFR 117.31, under Subpart A, General 
Requirements.

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. This conclusion is based upon the fact 
that we are removing regulations that are no longer applicable or 
necessary.

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 conclusion is based upon the fact that we are removing 
regulations that are no longer applicable or necessary.

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 they can better evaluate its 
effect on them and participate in the rulemaking process.

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 (adjusted for 
inflation) 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 cause a taking of private property or otherwise 
have a taking implication under Executive Order 12630, Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property.

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 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 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 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 
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 this action is one

[[Page 55477]]

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 (32)(e), of the 
Instruction.
    Under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, an 
environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion 
determination are not required for this rule.

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


0
2. Revise Sec.  117.219 to read as follows:


Sec.  117.219  Pequonnock River.

    (a) The draw of the Stratford Avenue Bridge at mile 0.1, at 
Bridgeport, shall open on signal; except that, from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 
a.m., 7:45 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. to 
6:10 p.m., the draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic. 
From December 1 through March 31, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., the draw shall 
open on signal if at least a six-hour notice is given by calling the 
number posted at the bridge.
    (b) The draw of the Metro-North Peck Bridge at mile 0.3, at 
Bridgeport, shall open on signal or after three blasts as follows:
    (1) From 5:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. except:
    (i) From Monday through Friday, excluding holidays or emergencies, 
the draw need not be opened from 6:45 a.m. to 7:15 a.m., 7:45 a.m. to 
8:15 a.m., and 4:30 p.m. to 6:10 p.m.
    (ii) From Monday through Friday, excluding holidays or emergencies, 
the draw need not be opened more than once during the periods from 5:45 
a.m. to 6:45 a.m., 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 a.m., 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 
6:10 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
    (2) From 9 p.m. to 5:45 a.m., the draw shall open on signal if at 
least an eight-hour notice is given by calling the number posted at the 
bridge.
    (3) The draw need not open on signal if a train is approaching so 
closely that it may not be safely stopped; however, any delay in 
opening the draw shall not exceed seven minutes from the time the 
request to open is received.
    (c) The draw of the East Washington Street Bridge at mile 0.6, 
shall open on signal or after one prolonged blast followed by two short 
blasts, if at least a twenty four hour notice is given by calling the 
number posted at the bridge.

    Dated: August 27, 2010.
Daniel A. Neptun,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2010-22749 Filed 9-10-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P