[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61583-61585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24442]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 13, 2019 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 61583]]



DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2019-0727]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Port Valdez, Valdez, AK

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 in the navigable waters, from the surface to seabed, within a 150 
yard radius of the fireworks launching point located at Sea Otter Park 
in position 61[deg]07'22'' North and 146[deg]21'13'' West in the 
vicinity of the mouth of the Small Boat Harbor, Port Valdez, Alaska, to 
limit access for the duration of the New Year's fireworks display. The 
purpose of the safety zone is to ensure the safety of mariners and 
vessels during the fireworks display. We invite your comments on this 
proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before December 13, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0727 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 MST2 Chelsea Zimmerman, U.S. Coast Guard; 
telephone 907-835-7233, or 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 August 07, 2019, the City of Valdez notified the Coast Guard 
that it will be conducting a fireworks display from 10:00 p.m. to 10:30 
p.m. on December 31, 2019, in celebration of the New Year. The 
fireworks are to be launched from land at Sea Otter Park, located near 
the mouth of the Valdez small boat harbor in Valdez, AK. Hazards from 
firework displays include accidental discharge of fireworks, dangerous 
projectiles, and falling hot embers or other debris. The Coast Guard 
proposes to establish a Safety Zone to ensure the safety of vessels on 
the navigable waters within a 150 yard radius of the fireworks launch 
site before, during, and after the scheduled event. The Coast Guard is 
proposing this rulemaking under authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034 
(previously 33 U.S.C. 1231).]

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP is proposing to establish a safety zone from 9:30 p.m. to 
11:00 p.m. on December 31st, 2019. The safety zone would cover all 
navigable waters within a 150 yard radius of where the fireworks will 
be launched at Sea Otter Park for the City of Valdez New Year's Eve 
Fireworks Display. The duration of the zone is intended to ensure the 
safety of vessels and these navigable waters before, during, and after 
the scheduled 10:00 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 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. The Coast 
Guard's enforcement of the proposed safety zone will be of short 
duration. Furthermore, vessels may be authorized to transit through the 
proposed safety zones with the permission of the Captain of the Port 
Prince William Sound, Alaska.

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.
    This proposed rule may affect the following entities, some of which 
may be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to 
transit, anchor, or fish in a portion of Port Valdez in the vicinity of 
the Small Boat Harbor entrance during the period of enforcement of the 
proposed safety zone.
    This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons; this 
rule will be enforced for a short duration and vessel traffic will be 
able to navigate safely around the proposed safety zone. Before and 
during the enforcement period, we will also issue maritime advisories 
widely available to the mariners that transit Port Valdez and Prince 
William Sound.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental

[[Page 61584]]

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 call or email 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 call or email 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 Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 
(series), 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 the 
establishment of a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of 
Port Valdez, in the vicinity of the Valdez Small Boat Harbor. Normally 
such actions are categorically excluded from further review under 
paragraph L60(a) in Table 3-1 of U.S. Coast Guard Environmental 
Planning Implementing Procedures. 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 call or email 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, call or email 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 
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.T17-0727 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T17-0727  Safety Zone; City of Valdez New Year's Eve 
Fireworks, Port Valdez; Valdez, AK.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters of Port Valdez within a 150 yard radius from a position of 
61[deg]07'22'' North and 146[deg]21'13'' West. This includes the 
entrance to the Valdez small boat harbor.
    (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 via Channel 16 or (907) 835-7205. Those in the safety 
zone must comply with all lawful orders or

[[Page 61585]]

directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative.

    Dated: November 1, 2019.
M.R. Franklin,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Prince William Sound, 
Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2019-24442 Filed 11-12-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P