[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5104-5106]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1833]


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SAINT LAWRENCE SEAWAY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

33 CFR Part 401

[Docket No. SLSDC-2011-0002]
RIN 2135-AA29


Seaway Regulations and Rules: Periodic Update, Various Categories

AGENCY: Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and 
the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under 
international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the 
St. Lawrence Seaway Regulations and Rules (Practices and Procedures in 
Canada) in their respective jurisdictions. Under agreement with the 
SLSMC, the SLSDC is amending the joint regulations by updating the 
Seaway Regulations and Rules in various categories. The proposed 
changes will update the following sections of the Regulations and 
Rules: Condition of Vessels, and Preclearance and Security for Tolls. 
These proposed amendments are necessary to take account of updated 
procedures and will enhance the safety of transits through the Seaway. 
Several of the proposed amendments are merely editorial or for 
clarification of existing requirements.

DATES: Any party wishing to present views on the proposed amendment may 
file comments with the Corporation on or before February 28, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments [identified by Docket Number SLSDC 
2011-0002] by any of the following methods:
     Web Site: http://www.Regulations.gov. Follow the online 
instructions for submitting comments/submissions.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Hand Delivery: Documents may be submitted by hand delivery 
or courier to West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number or Regulatory Identification Number (RIN) for this 
rulemaking. Note that all comments received will be

[[Page 5105]]

posted without change at http://www.Regulations.gov including any 
personal information provided. Please see the Privacy Act heading under 
Regulatory Notices.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.Regulations.gov; or in person at 
the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of Transportation, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Mann Lavigne, Chief Counsel, 
Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, 180 Andrews Street, 
Massena, New York 13662; 315/764-3200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development 
Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation 
(SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and 
presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Regulations and Rules 
(Practices and Procedures in Canada) in their respective jurisdictions. 
Under agreement with the SLSMC, the SLSDC is proposing to amend the 
joint regulations by updating the Regulations and Rules in various 
categories. The proposed changes would update the following sections of 
the Regulations and Rules: Condition of Vessels, and Preclearance and 
Security for Tolls. These updates are necessary to take account of 
updated procedures which will enhance the safety of transits through 
the Seaway. Many of these proposed changes are to clarify existing 
requirements in the regulations. Where new requirements or regulations 
are being proposed, an explanation for such a change is provided below.
    Regulatory Notices: Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the 
electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the 
name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, 
if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
You may review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70; Pages 
19477-78) or you may visit http://www.Regulations.gov.
    The SLSDC is proposing to amend two sections of the Condition of 
Vessels portion of the joint Seaway regulations. Under section 401.8, 
``Landing booms'', the SLSDC is clarifying that no more than 4 mooring 
lines will be handled by Seaway personnel as part of the tie-up 
service. In addition, the proposed change clarifies that tie-up service 
does not include let go service. In section 401.24, ``Application for 
preclearance'', the SLSDC is requiring that preclearance applications 
must be received by the SLSMC between 08:00-16:00 hours Monday through 
Friday and at least 24 hours prior to the vessel's arrival.
    The other changes to the joint regulations are merely editorial or 
to clarify existing requirements.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposed regulation involves a foreign affairs function of the 
United States and therefore Executive Order 12866 does not apply and 
evaluation under the Department of Transportation's Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures is not required.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Determination

    I certify this proposed regulation will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The St. 
Lawrence Seaway Regulations and Rules primarily relate to commercial 
users of the Seaway, the vast majority of whom are foreign vessel 
operators. Therefore, any resulting costs will be borne mostly by 
foreign vessels.

Environmental Impact

    This proposed regulation does not require an environmental impact 
statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (49 U.S.C. 4321, 
et reg.) because it is not a major federal action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment.

Federalism

    The Corporation has analyzed this proposed rule under the 
principles and criteria in Executive Order 13132, dated August 4, 1999, 
and has determined that this proposal does not have sufficient 
federalism implications to warrant a Federalism Assessment.

Unfunded Mandates

    The Corporation has analyzed this proposed rule under Title II of 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48) 
and determined that it does not impose unfunded mandates on State, 
local, and tribal governments and the private sector requiring a 
written statement of economic and regulatory alternatives.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This proposed regulation has been analyzed under the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 and does not contain new or modified information 
collection requirements subject to the Office of Management and Budget 
review.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 401

    Hazardous materials transportation, Navigation (water), Penalties, 
Radio, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Vessels, Waterways.
    Accordingly, the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation 
proposes to amend 33 CFR part 401 as follows:

PART 401--SEAWAY REGULATIONS AND RULES

Subpart A--Regulations

    1. The authority citation for subpart A of part 401 continues to 
read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 983(a) and 984(a)(4), as amended; 49 CFR 
1.52, unless otherwise noted.

    2. In Sec.  401.8, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  401.8  Landing booms.

* * * * *
    (c) Vessels not equipped with or not using landing booms must use 
the Seaway's tie-up service at approach walls using synthetic mooring 
lines only. Maximum of 4 lines will be handled by Seaway personnel and 
the service does not include let go service.
    3. In Sec.  401.11, revise paragraph (a) introductory text to read 
as follows:


Sec.  401.11  Fairleads.

    (a) Mooring lines shall:
* * * * *
    4. In Sec.  401.12 revise paragraphs (a)(1), (a)(1)(i), and (a)(2) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  401.12  Minimum requirements--mooring lines and fairleads.

    (a) * * *
    (1) Vessels of more than 100 m but not more than 150 m in overall 
length shall have three mooring lines--wires or synthetic hawsers, 
which shall be independently power operated by winches, capstans or 
windlasses. All lines shall be led through closed chocks or fairleads 
acceptable to the Manager and the Corporation.
    (i) One shall lead forward and one shall lead astern from the break 
of the bow and one lead astern from the quarter.
* * * * *
    (2) Vessels of more than 150 m in overall length shall have four 
mooring lines--wires, independently power operated by the main drums of 
adequate power operated winches as follows:
    (i) One mooring line shall lead forward and one mooring line shall 
lead astern from the break of the bow.

[[Page 5106]]

    (ii) one mooring line shall lead forward and one mooring line shall 
lead astern from the quarter.
* * * * *
    5. Revise Sec.  401.24 to read as follows:


Sec.  401.24  Application for preclearance.

    The representative of a vessel may, on a preclearance form obtained 
from the Manager, St. Lambert, Quebec, or downloaded from the St. 
Lawrence Seaway Web site (http://www.greatlakes-seaway.com), apply for 
preclearance, giving particulars of the ownership, liability insurance 
and physical characteristics of the vessel and guaranteeing payment of 
the fees that may be incurred by the vessel. The preclearance 
application must be received by the St. Lawrence Seaway between 08:00--
16:00 hours Monday through Friday excluding holidays and at least 24 
hours prior to arrival.
    6. In Sec.  401.39, revise paragraph (a) as follows:


Sec.  401.39  Preparing mooring lines for passing through.

* * * * *
    (a) Winches shall be capable of paying out and heaving in at a 
minimum speed of 46 m per minute; and
* * * * *
    7. In Sec.  401.40, revise paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  401.40  Entering, exiting, or position in lock.

    (a) Unless directed by the Manager and the Corporation, no vessel 
shall proceed into a lock in such a manner that the stem passes the 
stop symbol on the lock wall nearest the closed gates.
* * * * *
    8. In Sec.  401.51, revise paragraph (b) to read as follows:


Sec.  401.51  Signaling approach to a bridge.

* * * * *
    (b) The signs referred to in subsection (a) are placed at distances 
varying between 550 m and 2990 m upstream and downstream from moveable 
bridges at sites other than lock sites.
* * * * *
    9. In Sec.  401.57, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  401.57  Disembarking or boarding.

* * * * *
    (c) Persons disembarking or boarding shall be assisted by a member 
of the vessel's crew under safe conditions.
    10. In Sec.  401.65, revise paragraph (c) to read as follows:


Sec.  401.65  Communication--ports, docks and anchorages.

* * * * *
    (c) Every vessel prior to departing from a port, dock, or anchorage 
shall report to the appropriate Seaway station its destination and its 
expected time of arrival at the next check point.
* * * * *

    Issued at Washington, DC on January 18, 2011.

    Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.
Collister Johnson, Jr.,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-1833 Filed 1-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-61-P