[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 120 (Monday, June 22, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37397-37399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13128]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0247]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; I-5 Bridge Construction Project, Columbia River, 
Vancouver, WA

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 certain waters of the Columbia River. This action is necessary 
to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters around the 
Northbound Interstate Bridge at Columbia River Mile 106.5. This 
proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in 
the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector 
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 July 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2020-0247 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 Lieutenant Commander Dixon Whitley, 
Waterways Management Division, Marine Safety Unit Portland, U.S. Coast 
Guard; telephone 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 September 6, 2020, through September 26, 2020, the Oregon 
Department of Transportation is scheduled replace bridge components at 
the south end of the Northbound Interstate Bridge over the Columbia 
River at River Mile 106.5. As a result, a large construction crane 
barge blocking the navigable channel will be moving oversized equipment 
and bridge parts overhead and across the waterway resulting in 
potential hazards to the waterway and its users. The Captain of Port 
Sector Columbia River has determined that the potential hazards 
associated with the construction project would be a safety concern for 
anyone within the designated area of the I-5 bridge construction 
project.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and the navigable waters within the designated area of the I-5 bridge 
construction project.
    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 12:01 on 
September 6, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. on September 26, 2020. The safety 
zone would cover all navigable waters of the Columbia River, directly 
below the lifting span of the I-5 bridge from the Washington shoreline 
to the edge of the lifting span (approx. 800 ft) and approximately 400 
ft both east and west of the bridge. The duration of the zone is 
intended to ensure the safety of vessels and these navigable waters 
while the bridge construction is underway. 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

[[Page 37398]]

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-year of the safety zone. Vessel traffic 
would be able to safely transit around this safety zone which would 
impact a small designated area of the Columbia River during the bridge 
construction project. Moreover, the Coast Guard will issue Broadcast 
Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the zone, and the 
rule would allow vessels to seek permission to enter the zone.

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 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, Rev. 1, associated implementing 
instructions, 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 a safety 
zone lasting 20 days that will prohibit vessel traffic to transit 
underneath the lift span of the I-5 Bridge during bridge repair and 
construction operations. 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. 1. A preliminary 
Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is 
available in the docket. For instructions on locating the docket, see 
the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. 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 
submissions in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking

[[Page 37399]]

System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).
    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.T13-0247 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T13-0247   Safety Zone[s]; Safety Zone; I-5 Bridge 
Construction Project, Columbia River, Vancouver, WA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters of the Columbia River, surface to bottom, encompassed by a line 
connecting the following points beginning at the shoreline at 
45[deg]37'17.7'' N/122[deg]40'31.4'' W, southwest to 45[deg]37'12.1'' 
N/122[deg]40'35.0'' W, southeast to 45[deg]37'08.8'' N/
122[deg]40'22.1'' W, thence northeast to 45[deg]37'15.0'' N/
122[deg]40'18.3'' W, and along the shoreline back to the beginning 
point.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative 
means any Coast commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia River (COTP) to act on 
his behalf, or a Federal, State, and local officer designated by or 
assisting the Captain of the Port Columbia River in the enforcement of 
the safety zone.
    (c) 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) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate with the safety 
zone may contact the COTP's on-scene designated representative by 
calling (503) 209-2468 or the Sector Columbia River Command Center on 
Channel 16 VHF-FM. 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.
    (d) Enforcement period. This safety zone is in effect from 12:01 on 
September 6, 2020 through 11:59 p.m. on September 26, 2020. It will be 
subject to enforcement this entire period unless the Captain of the 
Port, Columbia River determines it is no longer needed. The Coast Guard 
will inform mariners of any change to this period of enforcement via 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

    Dated: May 12, 2020.
J.C. Smith,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Columbia River.
[FR Doc. 2020-13128 Filed 6-19-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P