[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 14, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21302-21304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09852]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2019-0301]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Ohio River, Owensboro, KY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety 
zone for all navigable waters of the Ohio River, extending the entire 
width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 756.3 to MM 757.3. This 
action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these 
navigable waters near Owensboro, Kentucky, during the Owensboro 
Convention Center fireworks display on June 15, 2019. This proposed 
rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety 
zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Ohio Valley 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 May 29, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0301 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://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 MST2 Craig Colton, Sector Ohio 
Valley, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 502-779-5334, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
MM Mile Marker
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On April 1, 2019, the City of Owensboro notified the Coast Guard 
that it will be conducting a fireworks display from 10 p.m. to 10:30 
p.m. on June 15, 2019, for a private event at the Owensboro Convention 
Center. The fireworks are to be launched from a barge in the Ohio River 
at approximately mile marker 756.8. Hazards from firework displays 
include accidental discharge of fireworks, dangerous projectiles, and 
falling hot embers or other debris. The Captain of the Port Sector Ohio 
Valley (COTP) has determined that a Safety Zone is necessary to protect 
the public from potential hazards associated with the fireworks 
display.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of persons, 
vessels, and the marine environment on the navigable waters of the Ohio 
River before, during, and after the Owensboro Convention Center 
Fireworks Display. The Coast Guard is proposing this rulemaking under 
authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231).
    The Coast Guard encourages the public to participate in this 
proposed rulemaking through the comment process so that any necessary 
changes can be identified and implemented in a timely and efficient 
manner. The Coast Guard will address all public comments accordingly, 
whether through response, additional revision to the regulation, or 
otherwise.
    The Coast Guard is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) with a 15-day prior notice and opportunity to comment pursuant 
to section (b)(3) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 
553). This provision authorizes an agency to publish a rule in less 
than 30 days before its effective date for ``good cause found and 
published with the rule.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), the Coast Guard 
finds that good cause exists for publishing this NPRM with a 15-day 
comment period because it is impractical to provide a 30-day comment 
period. The proposed regulated area is necessary to ensure the safety 
of vessels and persons during the fireworks display. It is 
impracticable to publish an NPRM with a 30-day comment period because 
the safety zone must be established by June 15, 2019.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP is proposing to establish a safety zone from mile marker 
(MM) 756.3 to MM 757.3 from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on June 15, 2019. The 
safety zone would cover all navigable waters of the Ohio River, 
extending the entire width of the river, between MM 756.3 and MM 757.3 
in Owensboro, KY. The duration of the zone is intended to ensure the 
safety of vessels and these navigable waters before, during, and after 
the scheduled 10 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. fireworks display. No vessel or 
person would be permitted to enter the safety zone 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

[[Page 21303]]

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, duration, and time-of-day of the safety zone. This proposed 
safety zone restricts transit on a one-mile stretch of the Ohio River 
for two hours on one day. Moreover, the Coast Guard would issue 
Broadcast Notices to Mariners, Local Notices to Mariners, and Marine 
Safety Information Bulletins about this safety zone so that waterway 
users may plan accordingly for this short restriction on transit, and 
the rule would allow vessels to request permission to enter 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 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 and Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, which 
guide 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 safety zone lasting 2 hours 
that would prohibit entry to a one-mile stretch of the Ohio River on 
one day. Normally such actions are categorically excluded from further 
review under paragraph L60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction 
Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 01. A preliminary Record of Environmental 
Consideration 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 https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using https://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 https://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit https://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 https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up

[[Page 21304]]

for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

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 is 
proposing 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:  46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-
6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T08-0301 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T08-0301   Safety zone; Ohio River, Owensboro, KY.

    (a) Location. All navigable waters of the Ohio River between mile 
markers (MM) 756.3 to MM 757.3 in Owensboro, KY.
    (b) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in 
subpart C of this part, you may not enter the safety zone described in 
paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the 
COTP's designated representative.
    (2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's 
representative by VHF-FM radio channel 16 or phone at 1-800-253-7465. 
Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or 
directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative.
    (c) Enforcement period. This temporary safety zone will be enforced 
from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. June 15, 2019.

    Dated: May 8, 2019.
M.B. Zamperini,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley.
[FR Doc. 2019-09852 Filed 5-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P