[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 240 (Friday, December 15, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59517-59519]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26998]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0776]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Ashley River, Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that 
governs the US17 Highway Bridges (Ashley River Bridges), across the 
Ashley River, miles 2.4 and 2.5, in Charleston, SC. This rule requires 
a bridge tender to be present during daytime hours only from 9 a.m. to 
4 p.m. daily for on signal openings. All other times a 12 hour advanced 
notification is required. This modification provides relief to vehicle 
traffic congestion with minimal effect on navigation.

DATES: This rule is effective January 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Type USCG-
2016-0776 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email LT Justin Heck, Coast Guard Sector Charleston, SC, 
Waterways Management Division; telephone 843-740-3184, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
OMB Office of Management and Budget
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Advance, Supplemental)

[[Page 59518]]

Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code
SCDOT South Carolina Department of Transportation
SC South Carolina

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    On April 24, 2017, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled, ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Ashley River, 
Charleston, SC'' in the Federal Register (82 FR 18879). We received no 
comments on this rule.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 
499.
    The US17 Highway Bridges (Ashley River Bridges), across the Ashley 
River, miles 2.4 and 2.5, at Charleston, SC are parallel double leaf 
bascule bridges. Each bridge has a vertical clearance of 24 feet in the 
closed position at mean high water and a horizontal clearance of 90 
feet. Presently, in accordance with 33 CFR 117.915(a), the US17 Highway 
Bridges (Ashley River Bridges) are required to open on signal; except 
that, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
daily, the draws need to be opened only if at least 12 hours notice is 
given. The draws of either bridge shall open as soon as possible for 
the passage of vessels in an emergency involving danger to life or 
property.
    On May 19, 2015, the HDR/ICA contractor for South Carolina 
Department of Transportation requested that the Coast Guard review the 
current bridge operating schedule to determine whether a change could 
be made to improve vehicle traffic flow in the area. The bridge owner, 
South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) was consulted on 
this issue and concurred with the recommendations which would change 
the current 12 hour advance notice for a bridge opening to include 
night time hours.

IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes and the Final Rule

    The Coast Guard provided a comment period of 30 days and no 
comments were received.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive Orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on a number of these statutes and Executive Orders, and we 
discuss First Amendment rights of protesters.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This rule has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, it has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on: (1) The ability 
for vessels to transit the bridge given advanced notice, (2) vessels 
that can transit under the bridge without an opening may do so at 
anytime, and (3) the draws of either bridge shall open as soon as 
possible for the passage of vessels in an emergency.

B. 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 received zero 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.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
bridge may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section V.A 
above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on any 
vessel owner or operator.
    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.

C. 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).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Government

    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 is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order 
13132.
    Also, 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.
    No comments were received; therefore, no changes were made to the 
regulatory text.

E. 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.

[[Page 59519]]

F. 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 made a 
determination 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 action is categorically excluded from 
further review, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the 
Instruction. A Record of Environmental Consideration and a Memorandum 
for the Record are not required for this rule.

G. 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.

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; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

0
2. Amend Sec.  117.915 by revising paragraph (a) to read as follows:


Sec.  117.915  Ashley River.

    (a) The draws of the US17 Highway Bridges (Ashley River Bridges), 
mile 2.4 and 2.5 at Charleston, SC shall open on signal; except that, 
from 4 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily, the draws shall open only if at least 12 
hours notice is given. The draws of either bridge shall open as soon as 
possible for the passage of vessels in an emergency involving danger to 
life or property.
* * * * *

    Dated: December 11, 2017.
Peter J. Brown,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2017-26998 Filed 12-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P