[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 196 (Thursday, October 9, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60976-60977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24171]



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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2014-0272]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Saugus River, Revere and Lynn, 
MA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that 
governs the General Edwards SR1A Bridge across the Saugus River at mile 
1.7, between Revere and Lynn, Massachusetts. The bridge owner, 
Massachusetts Department of Transportation, submitted a request to 
require a two-hour advance notice for bridge openings at all times 
based upon infrequent requests to open the draw during past years. It 
is expected that this change to the regulations will create efficiency 
in drawbridge operations while continuing to meet the reasonable needs 
of navigation.

DATES: This rule is effective November 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble are part of docket 
USCG-2014-0272. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type in the 
docket number in the ``Search'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Mr. John McDonald, Project Officer, First Coast Guard 
District Bridge Branch, 617-223-8364, [email protected]. If you 
have questions on viewing the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Regulatory History and Information

    On April 25, 2014, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation Saugus River, Revere 
and Lynn, Massachusetts'' in the Federal Register (79 FR 22911). We 
received no comments on the proposed rule. No public meeting was 
requested, and none was held.

B. Basis and Purpose

    The General Edwards SR1A Bridge across the Saugus River at mile 
1.7, between Revere and Lynn, Massachusetts, has a vertical clearance 
of 27 feet at mean high water and 36 feet at mean low water. The 
drawbridge operation regulations are listed at 33 CFR 117.618(b).
    The waterway users are commercial lobster boats and seasonal 
recreational vessels of various sizes.
    The owner of the bridge, Massachusetts Department of 
Transportation, submitted a request to the Coast Guard to change the 
drawbridge operating regulations that presently require the bridge to 
open on signal; except that, from April 1 through November 30, from 
midnight through 8 a.m. at least an eight hour advance notice is 
required for bridge openings, and at all times from December 1 through 
March 31, at least an eight hour advance notice is required for bridge 
openings.
    Under this final rule the bridge will open on signal at all times 
if at least a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the number 
posted at the bridge.

C. Discussion of Comments, Changes and the Final Rule

    The Coast Guard received no comments in response to the notice of 
proposed rulemaking. As a result, no changes have been made to this 
final rule.

D. 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, 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. We believe that this rule is not a 
significant regulatory action because the bridge will still open for 
all vessel traffic at all times provided the two-hour advance notice is 
given.

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 
received no comments from the Small Business Administration on this 
rule. 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 would affect the following entities, some of which might 
be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels needing to 
transit through the bridge.
    This action will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: The 
General Edwards SR1A Bridge will open on signal at all times provided 
at least a two hour advance notice is given.

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 States, on the 
relationship between the national government and

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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 would 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 Concerns 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 concluded 
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 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. Revise Sec.  117.618, paragraph (b), to read as follows:


Sec.  117.618  Saugus River.

* * * * *
    (b) The draw of the General Edwards SR1A Bridge, mile 1.7, between 
Revere and Lynn, shall open on signal at all times if at least a two-
hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the 
bridge.
* * * * *

    Dated: July 30, 2014.
L.L. Fagan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2014-24171 Filed 10-8-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P