[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6782-6783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02080]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket No. USCG-2012-1069]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone--Chelsea River, Boston Inner Harbor, Boston, MA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; solicitation for
comments.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is soliciting public comment on the continued
applicability of, or the need to amend an existing regulation; 33 CFR
165.120, Safety Zone: Chelsea River, Boston Inner Harbor, Boston, MA.
This advance notice allows the Coast Guard to gather information from
the public and waterway stakeholders that use the Chelsea River that
may result in an amendment to, or the disestablishment of, the existing
regulation. Any proposed amendments should reflect the recent changes
to the Chelsea Street Bridge and the modification of the surrounding
navigational channel. The comments and recommendations received from
this advanced notice may lead to future rulemaking.
DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast
Guard on or before May 31, 2013.
Requests for additional public meetings must be received by the
Coast Guard on or before March 18, 2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2012-1069 using any one of the following methods:
(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
(3) Mail: 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.
(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone
number is 202-366-9329.
To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods.
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed
rule, call or email Mr. Mark Cutter, Coast Guard Sector Boston
Waterways Management Division, telephone 617-223-4000, 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
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COTP...................................... Captain of the Port
DHS....................................... Department of Homeland
Security
FR........................................ Federal Register
NPRM...................................... Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking
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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 (USCG-2012-1069), 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 (via 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 via www.regulations.gov, 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
[[Page 6783]]
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-2012-1069) 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
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov,
type the docket number ``USCG-2012-1069'' in the ``SEARCH'' box and
click ``Search.'' Click and 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. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to
use the Docket Management Facility.
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
The Coast Guard will hold two public scoping meetings in order to
expand the opportunity for public comment. We seek comments from any
interested or effected stakeholders and encourage all stakeholders to
attend these meetings. We will also provide a written summary of the
meetings and comments and will place that summary in the docket. A
teleconference phone number has been established for those who desire
to participate, but are unable to attend the meetings in person; call
toll free 1-877-672-3882, follow the instructions given on the phone
and enter the following pass code 4890957 when prompted.
For information on the facility or services for individuals with
disabilities or to request special assistance at the public meeting
contact Mr. Mark Cutter, Coast Guard Sector Boston Waterways Management
Division, at telephone 617-223-4000 or via email at
[email protected].
DATES: The public scoping meetings are currently planned for the
following dates, to be held at U.S. Coast Guard Base Boston, 455
Commercial Street, Boston, MA 02109:
March 6, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.;
April 24, 2013, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
B. Background
The original Chelsea Street Bridge was a bascule-type bridge owned
by the City of Boston and constructed in 1939. It spanned the Chelsea
River providing a means for vehicles to travel between Chelsea, MA and
East Boston, MA. Several petroleum-product transfer facilities are
located on the Chelsea River, upstream and downstream of the Chelsea
Street Bridge. Transit of tank vessels through the bridge is necessary
to access the petroleum facilities upstream of the bridge. The narrow,
ninety-six foot horizontal span created a narrow passage through the
bridge for larger vessels. Adding to the difficulty is the close
proximity of neighboring shore structures and, at times, vessels moored
at the Sunoco Logistics facility downstream of the bridge on the East
Boston side. These factors led to the establishment of the present
safety zone regulation which restricts certain vessel passage through
the Chelsea Street Bridge based on vessel dimensional criteria, assist
tug support, and daylight restrictions.
Since the implementation of the regulations, physical changes have
occurred within the confines of the safety zone. A new vertical lift
span bridge with a 175 foot vertical clearance and a 175 foot
horizontal navigable channel span has been constructed in place of the
old Chelsea Street Bridge. The federal navigational channel has been
expanded to a width of 175 feet. Six new permanent fixed lighted aids
to navigation structures have been installed in the immediate area of
the bridge to best mark the new channel.
While the current regulations have provided an acceptable level of
safety, it may be desirable to amend or disestablish the current
regulation in light of the new bridge and navigational channel
improvements within the area of the existing safety zone.
C. Information requested
The Coast Guard is seeking comments pertaining to the existing
safety zone in the vicinity of the Chelsea Street Bridge in light of
the modified waterway. In particular, comments addressing the need and
or relevancy of regulations governing vessel dimensional restrictions,
assist tug requirements, and transits between sunset and sunrise are
requested.
Additionally, the Coast Guard welcomes input and possible solutions
regarding any other navigational and waterway safety issue on the
Chelsea River that is not currently addressed in the existing safety
zone regulation.
Dated: January 15, 2013.
J.C. O'Connor, III,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Boston.
[FR Doc. 2013-02080 Filed 1-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P