[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 12, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8270-8273]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-03088]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2013-1072]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Terrebonne Bayou, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that 
governs the St. Ann swing bridge across Terrebonne Bayou, mile 28.8, at 
Bourg, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The change will allow the bridge 
to operate on signal if at least 24 hours advanced notice is given. 
This change increases the efficiency of operations allowing for the 
safe navigation of vessels through the bridge while recognizing the low 
volume of vessel traffic through the bridge.

DATES: This interim rule is effective February 12, 2014.
    Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before March 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble are part of Docket 
Number USCG-2013-1072. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as 
being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type 
the docket number 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.
    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 Mr. David Frank; Bridge Administration Branch, Eighth 
Coast Guard District; telephone 504-671-2128, email 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Cheryl F. Collins, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Acronyms

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
USCG United States Coast Guard
NEPA National Environmental Policy Act
Sec.  Section Symbol
U.S.C. United States Code
MGL Mean Gulf Level
SR State Route

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-2013-1072), 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, or by fax, mail or hand delivery, but please use only one of 
these means. If you submit a comment online via http://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

[[Page 8271]]

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 phone 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-2013-1072) 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-2013-1072) 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 to the docket using one of the three methods specified 
under ADDRESSES. Please explain why one 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

    As provided under the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' section above, this interim rule includes a request for 
comments and the Coast Guard encourages the public to participate 
through the comment process. Comments received will be reviewed to 
determine if this interim rule requires further review or revision 
before becoming final.
    The Coast Guard is issuing this interim final rule without prior 
notice pursuant to authority under section 553(b)(3)(B) of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice 
when the agency for good cause finds that those procedures are 
``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' 
While the Coast Guard does not anticipate any adverse comment regarding 
this change in bridge opening requirement, this rule includes a request 
for comments during the first 30 days that the rule is in effect, 
providing the public an opportunity to comment on the change while it 
is in place. Should comments received propose or support the need to 
revise this change, the Coast Guard will address such comments and 
revise this interim rule as necessary. It is unnecessary to provide 
prior notice and comment because there have only been 15 openings for 
this bridge since 2008 and no requests since 2011. Additionally, if a 
vessel does require an opening, the vessel owner may do so by giving 
advanced notice.
    For the same reasons, 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. Due to the fact 
that there is limited vessel traffic on the waterway, implementation of 
the interim rule will not have a significant effect on the mariners 
using the waterway. Since 2008, the bridge has opened 15 times for the 
passage of vessels, averaging less than 3 times per year. The bridge 
owner requested changing the operating schedule to allow the bridge to 
remain in the closed-to-navigation position and open for vessel traffic 
only upon receiving at least 24 hours advanced notification. This 
change allows the bridge to operate more efficiently because it will 
not require a full-time tender. Providing a full 30-day notice for 
changing the operating schedule of the bridge is unnecessary based on 
the low volume of vessels requiring the bridge to open. Additionally, 
the bridge will still be able to open to navigation upon giving 
advanced notice.

C. Basis and Purpose

    The Coast Guard received a request from the Terrebonne Parish 
Consolidated Government, in conjunction with the Lafourche Parish 
Council, to modify the existing operating schedule of the new St. Ann 
swing bridge across Terrebonne Bayou, mile 28.8, at Bourg, Terrebonne 
Parish, Louisiana. The bridge owner would like to open the bridge on 
signal if at least 24 hours advanced notification is given.
    This change will allow the bridge owner to open the bridge for 
vessel traffic with sufficient notice while removing the requirement 
that a bridge tender be on the bridge at all times. Construction of the 
new swing bridge was completed late last year and presently the bridge 
is required to open on signal for the passage of vessels.
    Since 2008, the bridge has only opened 15 times for the passage of 
vessels and during the two years (11/2011 to 11/2013) that the new 
bridge was under construction, no requests for openings occurred. 
Additionally, since completion of the new bridge, no openings have been 
requested by mariners. Several of the bridges downstream of the St. Ann 
swing bridge are operated under special operating regulations published 
in 33 CFR 117.505. These special operating regulations currently 
operate without negative impacts or issue to the waterway users and 
increase efficiency. Vessels that would require an opening at the St. 
Ann swing bridge, likely passed through or will pass through the SR 24 
(Presquille Isle) bridge, located 2.5 miles upstream of the St. Ann 
swing bridge at mile 31.3 in Bourg. The Presquille Isle bridge is a 
fixed bridge with a vertical clearance of 3.4 feet above mean high 
water, elevation 3.4 feet Mean Gulf Level (MGL). Based on the clearance 
through the Presquille Isle bridge and the low volume of vessels 
transiting into this area, the primary affect of this change is limited 
to the property owners located on and vessels transiting this waterway 
between the St. Ann swing bridge and the Presquille Isle bridge.

D. Discussion of Interim Rule

    This interim rule will add a new paragraph (b) to the existing 33 
CFR 117.505 for this waterway. It will redesignate the already existing 
paragraphs for bridges at mile markers above 28.8. This interim rule 
will allow the bridge to open on signal if at least 24 hours advanced 
notification is given.

[[Page 8272]]

As no vessels have transited through this bridge site in the last two 
years and only 15 openings were requested since 2008, this regulation 
will have a minimal affect on the property owners located in and 
vessels transiting the area. Additionally, the bridge can be opened in 
less than four hours if there is an emergency on the waterway.

E. Regulatory Analyses

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

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This 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 Order 12866 or under 
section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and Budget 
has not reviewed it under those Orders.
    This rule allows the limited number of vessels using this stretch 
of the waterway the opportunity to transit with proper notification. As 
this bridge has not opened for vessel traffic during the two years (11/
2011 to 11/2013) that the new bridge was under construction and only 15 
times since 2008, this regulation will have a minimal affect on those 
property owners and vessels who wish to use the waterway.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as 
amended, requires federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on small entities during rulemaking. The Coast Guard 
certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule would 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 property owners or vessel operators who wish to 
transit on Terrebonne Bayou between mile 28.8 and mile 31.3. However, 
as provided in this rule and currently under 33 CFR 117.505, vessel 
owners will still be able to transit the bridge if proper notification 
is given and in the case of an emergency.

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 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.
    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.

4. 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).

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 rule under that Order and have 
determined that it 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 
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 rule will not result in 
such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere 
in this preamble.

8. 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 Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights.

9. 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.

10. 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 might 
disproportionately affect children.

11. 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.

12. Energy Effects

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

14. 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 determined 
that this action is one of a category of actions which do not 
individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This rule simply

[[Page 8273]]

promulgates the operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. 
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.

    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. In Sec.  117.505, paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) are redesignated as 
(c), (d), and (e) and a new paragraph (b) is added to read as follows:


Sec.  117.505  Terrebonne Bayou.

* * * * *
    (b) The draw of the St. Ann bridge, mile 28.8 at Bourg, shall open 
on signal if at least 24 hours notice is given.
* * * * *

    Dated: January 24, 2014.
Todd A. Sokalzuk,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, 
Acting.
[FR Doc. 2014-03088 Filed 2-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P