[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 119 (Friday, June 19, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 37011-37013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12227]
[[Page 37011]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2020-0039]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Illinois River, Miles 10 to 187, Grafton, IL to
Peoria, IL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the
navigable waters of the Illinois River from mile marker (MM) 10 to MM
187 between Grafton, IL and Peoria, IL. This action is necessary to
provide for the safety of persons, vessels, and the marine environment
on these navigable waters as a result of increasing flood conditions on
the river that threaten to overtop levees. Entry of vessels or persons
into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the
Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a
designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from June 19, 2020
through June 20, 2020. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice
will be used from May 21, 2020 through June 19, 2020.
ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2020-0039 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 about this
notice of enforcement, call or email Chief Warrant Officer 4 Eric
Kvistad, Sector Upper Mississippi River Waterways Management Division,
U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 314-269-2575, email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
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)(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. Actual notice is
impracticable because of the unpredictable martime environmental
conditions. Delaying this safety zone would be contrary to waterway
users best interest because of the amount of danger and risk associated
with high water. It is impracticable because we must establish this
safety zone immediately and lack sufficient time to provide a
reasonable comment period and then consider those comments before
issuing this rule. The NPRM process would delay the establishment of
the safety zone and compromise public safety.
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 this rule would be
contrary to public interest because immediate action is necessary to
respond to the potential safety hazards associated with floodwaters
threatening to overtop levees along the river.
III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C.
70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231). The COTP has determined that
potential hazards associated with flood waters threaten to overtop
levees along the river due to reports that vessel traffic in the
affected area is causing water to overtop levees resulting in increased
damage to the levees and flooding impacts to local communities and
residential areas. This rule is necessary to ensure the safety of
persons, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters
due to the flood impacts to USACE levees.
IV. Discussion of the Rule
The COTP has determined that the sudden increase in flood waters
approaching the tops of levees along the Illinois River poses a hazard
to the safety of persons, vessels, the marine environment, and the
structural stability of the levees as a result of floodwaters
overtopping the levees. This rule establishes a temporary safety zone
from May 21, 2020 until June 20, 2020, or until cancelled by the COTP,
whichever occurs first. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters
of the Illinois River from MM 10 to MM 187, unless reduced in scope by
the COTP as flood conditions warrant.
No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the safety zone
without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated
representative. A designated representative is a commissioned, warrant,
or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) assigned to units under
the operational control of USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River. To seek
permission to enter, contact the COTP or a designated representative
via VHF-FM channel 16, or through USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River
at 314-269-2332. Persons and vessels permitted to enter the safety zone
must comply with all lawful orders or directions issued by the COTP or
designated representative. The COTP or a designated representative will
inform the public of the effective period for the safety zone as well
as any changes in the dates and times of enforcement, as well as
reductions in size of the safety zone as flood conditions improve,
through Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs), Broadcast Notices to Mariners
(BNMs), and/or Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs), as
appropriate.
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
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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 emergency
nature of the action. Moreover, the Coast Guard will issue a BNM via
VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the zone, and the rule allows vessels to
seek permission to enter the zone on a case-by-case basis to minimize
the impacts of this rule.
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
safety 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.
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 safety zone prohibiting entry on a one hundred eighty one
mile stretch of the Illinois River that is experiencing significant
flooding that is impacting levees. It is categorically excluded from
further review under paragraph L60(d) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS
Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 01. Because this regulation is
for a temporary safety zone established to deal with an emergency, and
which is longer than one week in duration, a Record of Environmental
Consideration is not required at this time, but will be made available
in the Docket after the issuance of this 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.
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.T08-0171 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T08-0171 Safety Zone; Illinois River, Miles 0-187, Grafton,
IL to Peoria, IL.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable
waters of the Illinois River from mile marker (MM) 10 to MM 187, unless
reduced in scope by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi
River (COTP) as flood conditions warrant.
(b) Effective period. This rule is effective without actual notice
from June 19, 2020 until June 20, 2020, or until cancelled by the COTP,
whichever occurs first. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice
will be provided from 5 p.m. on May 21, 2020 until June 19, 2020.
(c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general safety zone
regulations in Sec. 165.23, entry of persons or vessels into this
safety zone described in paragraph (a) of this section 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 (USCG) assigned to units
[[Page 37013]]
under the operational control of USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River.
(2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or a designated
representative via VHF-FM channel 16, or through USCG Sector Upper
Mississippi River at 314-269-2332. Persons and vessels permitted to
enter the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions
issued by the COTP or designated representative.
(d) Informational broadcasts. The COTP or a designated
representative will inform the public of the effective period for the
safety zone as well as any changes in the dates and times of
enforcement, as well as reductions in size of the safety zone as flood
conditions improve, through Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs), Broadcast
Notices to Mariners (BNMs), and/or Marine Safety Information Bulletins
(MSIBs) as appropriate.
Dated: May 28, 2020.
R.M. Scott,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Upper
Mississippi River.
[FR Doc. 2020-12227 Filed 6-18-20; 8:45 am]
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