[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12303-12305]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-05685]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2018-0154]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulation; USS PORTLAND Commissioning, Portland, 
OR

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary regulated 
area for certain waters of the Willamette River. This action is 
necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters 
near Port of Portland Terminal 2, Portland, OR during a naval vessel 
commissioning ceremony on April 14-23, 2018. This proposed rulemaking 
would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area 
unless authorized by the Captain of the Port

[[Page 12304]]

Columbia River or a designated representative. We invite your comments 
on this proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before April 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0154 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email LCDR Laura Springer, MSU Portland 
Waterways; 503-240-9319, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On April 14-23, 2018 the U.S. Navy will be conducting ceremonial 
activities for the commissioning of the USS PORTLAND. The commissioning 
activities will take place at the Port of Portland Terminal 2, with a 
regulated area extending approximately 500 yards on each side of the 
naval vessel on the Willamette River in Portland, OR. To provide for 
the safety of participants, spectators, support and transiting vessels, 
the Coast Guard proposes to temporarily restrict vessel traffic during 
the commissioning activities.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and the navigable waters within the regulated area, during, and after 
the scheduled event and to prevent any disruption to the commissioning 
ceremonies. The Coast Guard proposes this rulemaking under authority in 
33 U.S.C. 1233.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to establish a regulated area from 11:59 
p.m. on April 14, 2018 to 11:59 p.m. on April 23, 2018. The regulated 
area would cover all navigable waters at Port of Portland Terminal 2 on 
the Willamette River. Specifically, the navigable waters bounded by the 
following points: 45[deg]33.34' N, 122[deg]42.34' W; 45[deg]33.12' N, 
122[deg]42.51' W; 45[deg]32.71' N, 122[deg]41.37' W; and 45[deg]32.58' 
N, 122[deg]41.54' W. The duration of the regulated area is intended to 
ensure the safety of vessels, bystanders, and the navigable waters and 
to prevent any disruption of the events associated with the 
commissioning ceremony of the USS PORTLAND. The Coast Guard, at its 
discretion, would allow the passage of affected vessels. No vessel or 
person would be permitted to enter the regulated area without obtaining 
permission from the COTP or a designated representative. The regulatory 
text we are proposing appears at the end of this document.

IV. 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 and Executive orders and 
we discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

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 NPRM has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, the NPRM 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 the size, 
location, and duration of the regulated area. Although this proposal 
would prevent traffic from transiting portions of the Willamette River, 
the effect of this regulation would not be significant due to the 
limited duration that the regulated area would be in effect and would 
allow waterway users to enter or transit through the zone when deemed 
safe by the on-scene patrol commander. Moreover, the Coast Guard would 
issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about 
the regulated area.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 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 would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section 
IV.A above, this proposed rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on any vessel owner or operator.
    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.
    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 
section. 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.

C. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would not call for a new collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

    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 
have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order 
13132.
    Also, 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

[[Page 12305]]

between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes. If you believe this proposed rule has 
implications for federalism or Indian tribes, please contact the person 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Directive 023-01, which guides the Coast Guard in complying 
with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (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 a regulated area lasting less than 10 days that would limit 
entry within approximately 500 yards of the USS PORTLAND. Normally such 
actions are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
L61 of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, 
Rev. 01. A preliminary Memorandum for Record supporting this 
determination is 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.

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.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. 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.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket, 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waterways.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 33 CFR 1.05-1.

0
2. Add Sec.  100.T13-0154 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.T13-0154  Special Local Regulations; USS PORTLAND 
Commissioning, Portland, OR.

    (a) Regulated area. The following area is designated as a regulated 
area: All navigable waters of the Willamette River within 500 yards of 
the USS PORTLAND while moored at the Port of Portland Terminal 2, 
specifically the navigable waters bounded by the following points: 
45[deg]33.34' N, 122[deg]42.34' W; 45[deg]33.12' N, 122[deg]42.51' W; 
45[deg]32.71' N, 122[deg]41.37' W; and 45[deg]32.58' N, 122[deg]41.54' 
W.
    (b) Special local regulations. (1) The Coast Guard may patrol the 
regulated area under the direction of a designated Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander (PATCOM). PATCOM may be contacted on Channel 16 VHF-FM (156.8 
MHz) by the call sign ``PATCOM.'' Official patrol vessels may consist 
of any Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, state, or local law 
enforcement vessels assigned or approved by the Captain of the Port, 
Sector Columbia River.
    (2) Entrance into the regulated area is prohibited unless 
authorized by the PATCOM. The PATCOM may control the movement of all 
vessels in the regulated area. When hailed or signaled to stop by an 
official patrol vessel, a vessel must come to an immediate stop and 
comply with the lawful directions issued. Failure to comply with a 
lawful direction may result in expulsion from the area, citation for 
failure to comply, or both.
    (3) All vessels permitted to transit the regulated area must 
maintain a separation of at least 100 yards away from the USS PORTLAND.
    (c) Enforcement period. This regulated area is subject to 
enforcement from 11:59 p.m. on April 14, 2018 to 11:59 p.m. on April 
23, 2018.

D.G. Throop,
RADM, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Thirteenth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2018-05685 Filed 3-20-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P