[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72155-72157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-28604]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2014-0718]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone: Gallant Channel, Beaufort, NC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone 
on the waters of the Gallant Channel at Beaufort, North Carolina. The 
safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on 
navigable waters during construction of the new U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge 
crossing the Gallant Channel, mile 203.8, at Beaufort, North Carolina. 
The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel movement within the 
designated area.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before January 5, 2015.

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 
rulemaking, call or email LT Derek J. Burrill, U.S. Coast Guard Sector 
North Carolina; telephone 910-772-2230, email [email protected]. 
If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
call Cheryl Collins, 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-2014-0718] 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-2014-0718) 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. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for this rule is found in 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, and 160.5; Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, which collectively authorize 
the Coast Guard to propose, establish, and define regulatory safety 
zones.
    This safety zone is necessary to ensure public and maritime safety 
from the potential hazards associated with bridge construction work.

C. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    North Carolina Department of Transportation has awarded a contract 
to Conti Enterprises, Inc of Edison, New Jersey and Orion Marine 
Construction,

[[Page 72156]]

Inc. (OMCI) of Houston, Texas to perform construction work that will 
take place at the Gallant's Channel and surrounding area of that 
Waterway, mile 203.8, Beaufort, North Carolina. The contract involves 
pile driving, concrete placement, girder setting and post tensioning 
assistance to commence on January 15, 2015 with a completion date of 
September 30, 2015. The contractor will utilize a 40 foot by 60 foot 
barge as a work platform and for equipment staging. This safety zone 
will provide a safety buffer to transiting vessels as bridge 
construction work presents potential hazards to mariners and property 
due to reduction in horizontal clearance.
    The proposed temporary safety zone will encompass the waters 
directly under the new U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge crossing the Gallant 
Channel, mile 203.8, at Beaufort, North Carolina (34[deg]43'16'' N, 
076[deg]41'37'' W). All vessels transiting this section of the waterway 
requiring a horizontal clearance of greater than 40 feet will be 
required to make a two hour advanced notification to the work 
supervisor while the safety zone is in effect. This zone will be in 
effect daily, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., from January 15, 2015 through 
September 30, 2015.

D. 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. This rule does not 
restrict traffic from transiting the designated portion of the Atlantic 
Intracoastal Waterway; it imposes a two hour notification to ensure the 
waterway is clear of impediments to passage of vessels requiring a 
horizontal clearance of greater than 40 feet.

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 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 
proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    This proposed rule would affect the following entities, some of 
which may be small entities: The owners or operators of commercial tug 
and barge companies, recreational and commercial fishing vessels 
intending to transit the specified portion of Atlantic Intracoastal 
Waterway, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., from January 15, 2015 through September 
30, 2015.
    This safety zone would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. 
Although the safety zone will apply to this section of the Gallant 
Channel, vessel traffic requiring a horizontal clearance of greater 
than 40 feet will be able to request passage by providing a two hour 
advanced notification to the work supervisor. All those requiring less 
than 40 feet may pass at any time. Before the effective period, the 
Coast Guard will issue maritime advisories widely available to the 
users of the waterway.
    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 
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 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 proposed rule is not an economically significant rulemaking 
and would not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety 
that might disproportionately affect children.

[[Page 72157]]

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 temporary safety zone. This rulemaking 
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 
recordkeeping 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

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 temporary Sec.  165.T05-0718 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T05-0718  Safety Zone, Gallant Channel; Beaufort, NC.

    (a) Regulated Area. The following area is a safety zone: This zone 
includes the waters directly under and 100 yards either side of the new 
U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge crossing the Gallant Channel, mile 203.8, at 
Beaufort, North Carolina (34[deg]43'16'' N, 076[deg]41'37'' W).
    (b) Regulations. The general safety zone regulations found in 33 
CFR 165.23 apply to the safety zone created by this temporary section, 
Sec.  165.T05-0718. In addition, the following regulations apply:
    (1) All vessels requiring greater than 40 feet horizontal clearance 
to safely transit through the new U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge crossing the 
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 203.8, at Beaufort, North Carolina 
must contact the work supervisor tender on VHF-FM marine band radio 
channels 10 and 13 or at (732) 520-5000 two hours in advance of 
intended transit.
    (2) All Coast Guard assets enforcing this safety zone can be 
contacted on VHF-FM marine band radio channels 13 and 16.
    (3) The operator of any vessel within or in the immediate vicinity 
of this safety zone shall: (i) Stop the vessel immediately upon being 
directed to do so by any commissioned, warrant or petty officer on 
board a vessel displaying a Coast Guard Ensign, and
    (ii) Proceed as directed by any commissioned, warrant or petty 
officer on board a vessel displaying a Coast Guard Ensign.
    (c) Definitions.
    (1) Captain of the Port North Carolina means the Commander, Coast 
Guard Sector North Carolina.
    (2) Designated representative means any Coast Guard commissioned, 
warrant, or petty officer who has been authorized by the Captain of the 
Port North Carolina to assist in enforcing the safety zone described in 
paragraph (a) of this section.
    (3) Work Supervisor means the contractors' on site representative.
    (d) Enforcement. The U.S. Coast Guard may be assisted by Federal, 
State and local agencies in the patrol and enforcement of the zone.
    (e) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced daily 7 a.m. 
to 5:30 p.m., from January 15, 2015 through September 30, 2015 unless 
cancelled earlier by the Captain of the Port.

    Dated: November 17, 2014.
S. R. Murtagh,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port North Carolina.
[FR Doc. 2014-28604 Filed 12-4-14; 8:45 am]
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