[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 82 (Thursday, April 28, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23708-23710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10242]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0251]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Pierce County Department of Emergency Management 
Regional Water Exercise, East Passage, Tacoma, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in 
East Passage, Tacoma, Washington for a Regional Water Rescue Exercise 
near Browns Point. A safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of 
participating vessels and participants in the water and will do so by 
prohibiting any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the 
safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

DATES: This rule is effective on June 9, 2011 from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2011-0251 and are available online 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2011-0251 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 ENS Anthony P. LaBoy, Waterways 
Management Division, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound; telephone 206-217-
6323, e-mail [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program

[[Page 23709]]

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 would be contrary to the public 
interest, since the event requiring the establishment of this safety 
zone would be over before a comment period would end and a Final Rule 
could be published. Immediate action is necessary to ensure safety of 
participants in the Regional Water Rescue Exercise.

Basis and Purpose

    The Pierce County, Washington, Department of Emergency Management 
is sponsoring a Regional Water Rescue Exercise in the waters of East 
Passage near Browns Point. The exercise will involve nineteen various 
government agencies with over two hundred personnel. Personnel will 
practice water rescues, search and rescue, dive rescues, law 
enforcement searches, search patterns, and dewatering exercises. Some 
of these exercises involve persons in the water. Smoke-producing 
devices and flares will be used throughout the exercise to simulate 
fires for training purposes. Additionally, a temporary boom and several 
buoys will be placed throughout the safety zone. This exercise takes 
places in an unsheltered area where vessel traffic can pose a hazard to 
participating vessels and persons. The safety zone will mitigate these 
hazards by prohibiting maritime traffic from entering or remaining in 
the safety zone without authorization of the Captain of the Port.

Discussion of Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone encompassing all waters within 
900 yards of Browns Point, East Passage, Tacoma, WA. Vessel operators 
are prohibited from entering or remaining in the zone unless authorized 
by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound, or designated representative. 
The Captain of the Port, Puget Sound will be assisted in the 
enforcement of the zone by other Federal, State, and local agencies. 
Any vessel not participating in the Regional Water Rescue Exercise 
wishing to transit the area during the effective time of this safety 
zone must coordinate with on scene Patrol Commander, who will ensure 
that vessels authorized to transit the area do so at a speed that 
minimizes wake in the exercise area.

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. The Coast Guard bases this finding on the 
fact that the safety zone will be in place for a limited period of time 
and maritime traffic will still be able to transit around the zone. 
Maritime traffic may request permission to transit through the zone 
from the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or 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 and operators of vessels intending to 
operate near Browns Point, WA on June 9, 2011. This rule will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities, because the safety zone is limited in duration and maritime 
traffic will be able to transit around the safety zone. Maritime 
traffic may also request permission to transit through the zone from 
the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or designated representative.

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 (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 taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental 
Actions and

[[Page 23710]]

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 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 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 that 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 involves the establishment of a temporary 
safety zone. 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.

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

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

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

    Authority:  33 U.S.C., 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, 160.5; Pub. L. 
107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation 
No. 0170.1.


0
2. Add Sec.  165.T13-0251 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T13-0251  Safety Zone; Pierce County Department of Emergency 
Management Regional Water Exercise, East Passage, Tacoma, WA.

    (a) Location. All waters of East Passage encompassed within 900 
yards of Browns Point, Washington at position 47[deg]18'21'' N 
122[deg]26'39'' W.
    (b) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in 33 
CFR Part 165, Subpart C, no vessel operator may enter or remain in the 
safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port or 
designated representative. The Captain of the Port may be assisted by 
other Federal, State, or local agencies with the enforcement of the 
safety zone.
    (c) Authorization. All vessel operators who desire to enter the 
safety zone must obtain permission from the Captain of the Port or 
designated representative by contacting the South Sound Water Exercise 
Control on VHF Channel 22A or via telephone at (253) 691-1313. Vessel 
operators granted permission to enter the zone will be escorted by the 
on-scene patrol craft until they are outside of the safety zone.
    (d) Enforcement Period. This rule is effective from 7 a.m. until 5 
p.m. on June 9, 2011 unless canceled sooner by the Captain of the Port.

    Dated: April 15, 2011.
S.J. Ferguson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Puget Sound.
[FR Doc. 2011-10242 Filed 4-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P