[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 194 (Friday, October 5, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60960-60962]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-24607]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2012-0900]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone, Coast Guard Exercise Area, Hood Canal, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone 
around vessels involved in Coast Guard training exercises in Hood 
Canal, WA. A safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the 
maritime public during these exercises, which involve fast moving 
surface vessels, smoke machines, pyrotechnics, and other elements which 
could create safety concerns for waterway users. This safety zone would 
ensure the safety of the maritime public by prohibiting any person or 
vessel from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized 
by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or a Designated Representative.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before December 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number using 
any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for further instructions 
on submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of 
these three methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email ENS Nathaniel P. Clinger; Waterways Management Division, 
Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound; Coast Guard; telephone 206-217-6045, 
email [email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

1. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online, it 
will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully 
transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, 
it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when 
it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number USCG-2012-0900 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with 
this rulemaking.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period and may change the rule 
based on your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble

[[Page 60961]]

as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number USCG-2012-0900 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with 
this rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in 
Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

3. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of 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 a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

4. Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one, using one of the methods specified under ADDRESSES. 
Please explain why you believe a public meeting 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.

B. Regulatory History and Information

    Temporary final rules have been established and published for 
previous Coast Guard exercises of this type in the Hood Canal, on 28 
October 2011, and on 08 May 2012. No negative comments or complaints 
were received pertaining to these rules.

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for this proposed rule is 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; Public Law 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
    The Coast Guard utilizes the northern part of the Hood Canal, WA to 
conduct training exercises. During these exercises, tactical vessels 
are maneuvering through the Hood Canal from the entrance of Dabob Bay 
to Foul Weather Bluff. These exercises include fast moving surface 
vessels, smoke machines, and pyrotechnics. Blank ammunition, flares and 
LA51 warning munitions may be used during these exercises as well. This 
safety zone is being created to ensure the safety of the maritime 
public and vessels participating in these exercises; preventing 
collisions between exercising vessels and the maritime public by 
keeping the maritime public a safe distance away from potentially 
startling or disorienting smoke, bright flashes, and loud noises.

D. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The safety zone that would be established by this rule would 
prohibit any person or vessel from entering or remaining within 500 
yards of any vessel involved in Coast Guard training exercises in the 
northern area of Hood Canal, WA. Members of the maritime public will be 
able to identify participating vessels as those flying the Coast Guard 
Ensign. The COTP may also be assisted in the enforcement of the zone by 
other federal, state, or local agencies. The Coast Guard will publish a 
notice of enforcement at least 10 days prior to an exercise. 
Notification may also include but is not limited to, Broadcast Notice 
to Mariners or Local Notice to Mariners.

E. Regulatory Analyses

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

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 
as supplemented by Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and 
Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential 
costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866 or 
under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and 
Budget has not reviewed it under those Orders. The Coast Guard bases 
this finding on the fact that the safety zone will be in place for a 
limited period of time and vessel traffic will be able to transit 
around the safety zone. Maritime traffic may also request permission to 
transit through the zone from the COTP, Puget Sound or a Designated 
Representative.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered the impact of this proposed rule on small entities. The 
Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. This rule would affect the following entities, some of 
which may be small entities; the owners and operators of vessels 
intending to operate in the waters covered by the safety zone while it 
is in effect. The rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities because the safety zone would be 
in place for limited periods of time and maritime traffic would still 
be able to transit around the safety zone. Maritime traffic may also 
request permission to transit through the zone from the COTP, Puget 
Sound or a Designated Representative.
    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.

3. 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. 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 person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT, above. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small 
entities that question or complain about this proposed rule or any 
policy or action of the Coast Guard.

4. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule will not call for a new collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520).

5. Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. We have analyzed this proposed rule under that Order and 
determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism.

6. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER

[[Page 60962]]

INFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that 
your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or 
security of people, places or vessels.

7. 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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

8. Taking of Private Property

    This proposed rule would not cause a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, 
Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected 
Property Rights.

9. 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.

10. Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks

    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.

11. 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.

12. Energy Effects

    This proposed rule is not a ``significant energy action'' under 
Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use.

13. Technical Standards

    This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we 
did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

14. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed 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 
made a preliminary determination that this action is one of a category 
of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant 
effect on the human environment. This proposed rule involves the 
establishment of a safety zone. This rule is categorically excluded 
from further review under paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2-1 of the 
Commandant Instruction. A preliminary environmental analysis checklist 
supporting this determination and a Categorical Exclusion Determination 
are available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. We seek 
any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a 
significant environmental impact from this proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

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

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

    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.

    2. Add Sec.  165.1339 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.1339  Safety Zone; Coast Guard Exercise Area, Hood Canal, 
Washington.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters 
encompassed within 500 yards of any vessel that is involved in a Coast 
Guard training exercise while such vessel is transiting Hood Canal, WA 
between Foul Weather Bluff and the entrance to Dabob Bay. Vessels 
involved will be various sizes and can be identified as those flying 
the Coast Guard Ensign.
    (b) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in 33 
CFR Part 165, Subpart C, no person may enter or remain in the safety 
zone created in this rule unless authorized by the Captain of the Port 
or a Designated Representative. See 33 CFR Part 165, Subpart C, for 
additional information and requirements. Vessel operators wishing to 
enter the zone during the enforcement period must request permission 
for entry by contacting the on-scene patrol commander on VHF channel 13 
or 16, or the Sector Puget Sound Joint Harbor Operations Center at 
(206) 217-6001.
    (c) Enforcement Period. The safety zone described in paragraph (a) 
of this section will be enforced by the Captain of the Port only upon 
notice. Notice of the enforcement by the Captain of the Port will be 
provided by all appropriate means, in accordance with 33 CFR 165.7(a). 
Such means will include publication in the Federal Register, and may 
also include Broadcast Notice to Mariners, Local Notice to Mariners, or 
both.

    Dated: September 24, 2012.
S.J. Ferguson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Puget Sound.
[FR Doc. 2012-24607 Filed 10-4-12; 8:45 am]
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