[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21704-21706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10090]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2019-0322]
RIN 1625-AA87
Security Zone; Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus Christi, TX
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard establishes two security zones. One of the
zones is a temporary fixed security zone for the receiving facility's
mooring basin while the Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier (LNGC) MARVEL
FALCON is moored at the facility. The other zone is a moving security
zone encompassing all navigable waters within a 500-yard radius around
the LNGC MARVEL FALCON while the vessel transits with cargo in the La
Quinta Channel and Corpus Christi Ship Channel in Corpus Christi, TX.
The security zones are needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the
marine environment from potential hazards created by Liquified Natural
Gas (LNG) cargo aboard the vessel. Entry of vessels or persons into
these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain
of the Port Sector Corpus Christi.
DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from 8:45 a.m.
until 11:59 p.m. on May 14, 2019. For the purposes of enforcement,
actual notice will be used from May 9, 2019 until 11:59 p.m. on May 14,
2019.
ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2019-0322 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule,
call or email Petty Officer Kevin Kyles, Sector Corpus Christi
Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 361-939-
5125, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
LNGC Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background Information and Regulatory History
The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary rule without prior notice
and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public
interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), the Coast Guard finds that
good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM) with respect to this rule because it is impracticable. We must
establish these security zones by May 9, 2019 and lack sufficient time
to provide a reasonable comment period and then consider those comments
before issuing the rule.
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause
exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after
publication in the Federal Register. Delaying the effective date of
this rule would be contrary to the public interest because immediate
action is needed to provide for the security of the vessel.
III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C.
70034. The Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) has
determined that potential hazards associated with Liquefied Natural Gas
Carrier (LNGC) MARVEL FALCON between May 9, 2019 and May 14, 2019 will
be a security concern while the vessel is moored at the receiving
facility and within a 500-yard radius of the vessel while the vessel is
loaded with cargo.
IV. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes two security zones around LNGC MARVEL FALCON
from May 9, 2019 through May 14, 2019. A fixed security zone will be in
effect in the mooring basin bound by 27[deg]52'53.38'' N,
097[deg]16'20.66'' W on the northern shoreline; thence to
27[deg]52'45.58'' N, 097[deg]16'19.60'' W; thence to 27[deg]52'38.55''
N, 097[deg]15'45.56'' W; thence to 27[deg]52'49.30'' N,
097[deg]15'45.44'' W; thence west along the shoreline to
27[deg]52'53.38'' N, 097[deg]16'20.66'' W, while LNGC MARVEL FALCON is
moored. A moving security zone will cover all navigable waters within a
500-yard radius of the LNGC MARVEL FALCON while the vessel transits
outbound with cargo through the La Quinta Channel and Corpus Christi
Ship Channel. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the
security zones without obtaining permission from the COTP or a
designated representative.
Entry into these security zones is prohibited unless authorized by
the COTP or a designated representative. A designated representative is
a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard
assigned to units under the operational control of USCG Sector Corpus
Christi. Persons or vessels desiring to enter or pass through the zones
must request permission from the COTP or a designated representative on
VHF-FM channel 16 or by telephone at 361-939-0450. If permission is
granted, all persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of
the COTP or designated representative. The COTP or a designated
representative will inform the public through Broadcast Notices to
Mariners (BNMs) of the enforcement times and dates for these security
zones.
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 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 rule has not been
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order
12866. Accordingly, this rule 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,
duration, and location of the security zone. This rule will impact a
small designated area of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and La Quinta
Channel while the vessel is moored at the receiving facility and
[[Page 21705]]
during the vessel's transit while loaded with cargo. Moreover, the
Coast Guard will issue BNMs via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the
zones and the rule allows vessels to seek permission to enter the
zones.
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 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
temporary moving security zone 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
section.
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 will 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 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. If
you believe this rule has implications for federalism or Indian tribes,
please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
section above.
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.
F. Environment
We have analyzed this 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 determined 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 rule involves
a temporary fixed security zone while LNGC MARVEL FALCON is moored at
the receiving facility mooring basin bound by 27[deg]52'53.38'' N,
097[deg]16'20.66'' W on the northern shoreline; thence to
27[deg]52'45.58'' N, 097[deg]16'19.60'' W; thence to 27[deg]52'38.55''
N, 097[deg]15'45.56'' W; thence to 27[deg]52'49.30'' N,
097[deg]15'45.44'' W; thence west along the shoreline to
27[deg]52'53.38'' N, 097[deg]16'20.66'' W, and a temporary moving
security zone while the vessel transits with cargo within the La Quinta
Channel and Corpus Christi Ship Channel, that will prohibit entry
within 500-yard radius of LNGC MARVEL FALCON. It is 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 Record of
Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available
in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.
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 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends
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.T08-0322 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T08-0322 Security Zone; Corpus Christi Ship Channel, Corpus
Christi, TX.
(a) Location. The following areas are security zones:
(1) The mooring basin bound by 27[deg]52'53.38'' N,
097[deg]16'20.66'' W on the northern shoreline; thence to
27[deg]52'45.58'' N, 097[deg]16'19.60'' W; thence to 27[deg]52'38.55''
N, 097[deg]15'45.56'' W; thence to 27[deg]52'49.30'' N,
097[deg]15'45.44'' W; thence west along the shoreline to
27[deg]52'53.38'' N, 097[deg]16'20.66'' W, while Liquefied Natural Gas
Carrier (LNGC) MARVEL FALCON is moored.
(2) All navigable waters encompassing a 500-yard radius around the
LNGC MARVEL FALCON while transiting outbound with cargo through the La
Quinta Channel and Corpus Christi Ship Channel.
[[Page 21706]]
(b) Effective period. This section is effective without actual
notice from 8:45 a.m. until 11:59 p.m. on May 14, 2019. For the
purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from May 9, 2019
until 11:59 a.m. on May 14, 2019.
(c) Period of enforcement. This section will be enforced from the
time LNGC MARVEL FALCON moors and while the vessel is transiting
outbound through the La Quinta Channel and Corpus Christi Ship Channel
from May 9, 2019 through May 14, 2019.
(d) Regulations. (1) The general regulations in Sec. 165.33 apply.
Entry into these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain
of the Port Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) or a designated
representative. A designated representative is a commissioned, warrant,
or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard assigned to units under the
operational control of USCG Sector Corpus Christi.
(2) Persons or vessels desiring to enter or pass through the zones
must request permission from the COTP or a designated representative on
VHF-FM channel 16 or by telephone at 361-939-0450.
(3) If permission is granted, all persons and vessels shall comply
with the instructions of the COTP or designated representative.
(e) Information broadcasts. The COTP or a designated representative
will inform the public through Broadcast Notices to Mariners (BNMs) of
the enforcement times and date for these security zones.
Dated: May 6, 2019.
E.J. Gaynor,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi.
[FR Doc. 2019-10090 Filed 5-14-19; 8:45 am]
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