[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 132 (Thursday, July 9, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41186-41188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-13912]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2020-0052]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Long Creek, Nassau, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is altering the operating schedule that 
governs the Loop Parkway Bridge across Long Creek, mile 0.7 at Nassau, 
New York. The bridge owner, New York State Department of Transportation 
(NYSDOT), submitted a request to modify bridge openings and expects 
that this change to the regulations will better serve the needs of the 
community while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: This rule is effective August 10, 2020.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Type USCG-
2020-0052 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Ms. Stephanie E. Lopez, First Coast Guard District, 
Project Officer, telephone 212-514-4335, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
OMB Office of Management and Budget
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Advance, Supplemental)
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    On March 17, 2020, the Coast Guard published a temporary test 
deviation, with request for comments, entitled Drawbridge Operation 
Regulation; Long Creek, Nassau, NY, in the Federal Register (85 FR 
15069) to seek comments on whether the Coast Guard should modify the 
current operating schedule for the Loop Parkway Bridge. The comment 
period for this test deviation closed on April 16, 2020, with no 
comments received.
    On April 30, 2020, the Coast Guard published a Notice of proposed 
rulemaking, with a request for comments, entitled Drawbridge Operation 
Regulation; Long Creek, Nassau, NY in the Federal Register (85 FR 
23933). We stated why we issued the NPRM, and invited comments on our 
proposed regulatory action related to this regulatory change. During 
the comment period that ended June 1, 2020, we received no comments.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority 33 U.S.C. 499. 
The Loop Parkway Bridge at mile 0.7, across Long Creek, Nassau, New 
York, has a vertical clearance of 21 feet at mean high water and 25 
feet at mean low water. Horizontal clearance is approximately 75.5 
feet. The waterway users include recreational and commercial vessels, 
including fishing vessels.
    The existing drawbridge operating regulations are listed at 33 CFR 
117.799(f).
    Historical Data for the NPRM and Test Deviation can be found in 
docket USCG-2020-0052. Based on the data that was provided by the 
bridge owner, the number of requested bridge openings has decreased 
over the years, while the vehicular traffic has increased. The schedule 
restricts bridge openings during vehicular rush hours, allowing 
openings twice per hour. This schedule allows less congestion buildup 
of vehicular traffic while providing mariners with a reliable, 
consistent time they can request a bridge opening.

IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes and the Final Rule

    The Coast Guard provided a comment period of 60 days, total, 
between both the test deviation and the NPRM. No comments were 
received.
    The final rule provides for commercial vessels engaged in commerce, 
the draw shall open Monday thru Friday from 6:20 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. and 
3:20 p.m. to 7:20 p.m. on signal at 20 and 50 minutes after the hour, 
and

[[Page 41187]]

on signal at all other times. For all other vessels, the draw shall 
open on Monday thru Friday from 6:20 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. on signal at 20 
and 50 minutes after the hour, and the draw shall open on Saturday, 
Sunday and Federal Holidays from 0720 to 2020 on signal at 20 and 50 
minutes after the hour, and on signal at all other times. The reason 
for these changes is to better serve the needs of the community while 
continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    The Coast Guard has 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 protesters.

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, it 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 ability that 
vessels can still transit the bridge given advanced notice.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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 received zero comments from the Small Business 
Administration on this rule. 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 
bridge 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 calls for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Government

    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 
Management Directive 023-01, Rev.1, associated implementing 
instructions, and Environmental Planning Policy COMDTINST 5090.1 
(series) which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f). The 
Coast Guard has 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 promulgates the operating 
regulations or procedures for drawbridges and is categorically excluded 
from further review, under paragraph L49, of Chapter 3, Table3-1 of the 
U.S. Coast Guard Environmental Planning Implementation Procedures.
    Neither a Record of Environmental Consideration nor a Memorandum 
for the Record are required for this 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.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 117 as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; Department of Homeland 
Security Delegation No. 0170.1.


0
2. Amend Sec.  117.799 by revising paragraph (f) to read as follows:

[[Page 41188]]

Sec.  117.799  Long Island, New York Inland Waterway from East Rockaway 
Inlet to Shinnecock Canal.

* * * * *
    (f) The draw of the Loop Parkway Bridge across Long Creek, mile 
0.7, shall open for commercial vessels engaged in commerce, the draw 
shall open Monday thru Friday from 6:20 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. and 3:20 p.m. 
to 7:20 p.m. on signal at 20 and 50 minutes after the hour, and on 
signal at all other times. For all other vessels, the draw shall open 
on Monday thru Friday from 6:20 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. on signal at 20 and 
50 minutes after the hour, and the draw shall open on Saturday, Sunday 
and Federal Holidays from 7:20 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. on signal at 20 and 50 
minutes after the hour, and on signal at all other times.
* * * * *

    Dated: June 22, 2020.
T.G. Allan Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2020-13912 Filed 7-8-20; 8:45 am]
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