[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 146 (Wednesday, July 29, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45519-45521]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15888]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0408]
RIN 1625-AA00


Emergency Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River, Helena, AR

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for emergency 
purposes for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), extending 
from mile 660.0 to mile 663.0. This emergency safety zone is needed to 
protect persons, property, and infrastructure from the potential safety 
hazards associated with the diving and salvage effort of a sunken barge 
at Mississippi River Mile Marker (MM) 661.0, in the vicinity of the 
Helena Highway Bridge, Helena, Arkansas. Deviation from the safety zone 
is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port 
Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from July 29, 2020 
through August 30, 2020, or until all diving and salvage work is 
complete, whichever occurs earlier. For the purposes of enforcement, 
actual notice will be used from July 13, 2020 through July 29, 2020.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2020-0408 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 LT Adam J. Paz, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 901-521-4825, 
email [email protected].

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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 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 salvage efforts for a sunken barge 
mid-river will impede the safe navigation of vessel traffic and 
immediate action is needed to protect persons and property. Completing 
the full NPRM process is impracticable because we must establish this 
safety zone immediately.
    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 impracticable and contrary to the public interest 
because immediate action is needed to respond to the potential safety 
hazards associated with salvage operations in the vicinity of the 
Helena Highway Bridge.

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 Captain of the Port (COTP) Lower 
Mississippi River has determined that potential hazards associated with 
the salvage of a sunken barge will be a safety concern for anyone 
within a one-mile radius of the salvage operation. This rule is needed 
to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from the potential 
safety hazards associated with the diving and salvage effort of a 
sunken barge at Mississippi River Mile Marker (MM) 661.0, in the 
vicinity of the Helena Highway Bridge from July 13, 2020 through August 
30, 2020, or until all diving and salvage work is complete, whichever 
occurs earlier.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a temporary safety zone from July 13, 2020 
through August 30, 2020, or until all diving and salvage work is 
complete, whichever occurs earlier. The safety zone will cover all 
navigable waters of the Mississippi River from MM 660.0 to MM 663.0, 
extending the entire width of the river. The safety zone will only be 
activated when salvage work precludes safe navigation of the 
established channel. The duration of the zone is intended to protect 
persons, property, and infrastructure in these navigable waters while 
the salvage work is being conducted. No vessel or person will be 
permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from 
the COTP or a designated representative.

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, 
location, and duration of the safety zone. This emergency safety zone 
will temporarily restrict navigation on the Mississippi River from MM 
660.0 through MM 663.0 in the vicinity of Helena, Arkansas, from July 
13, 2020 through August 30, 2020, or until all diving and salvage work 
is complete, whichever occurs earlier. The Coast Guard will issue a 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 informing the 
public that the zone will be activated, and the rule would allow 
vessels to seek permission to enter the zone on a case-by-case basis.

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 
call or email 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

[[Page 45521]]

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, 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 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 an 
emergency safety zone on the Mississippi River from MM 660.0 through MM 
663.0, that will prohibit entry into this zone unless permission has 
been granted by the COTP Lower Mississippi River or a designated 
representative. The safety zone will only be enforced during short 
durations while salvage work precludes the safe navigation of the 
established channel. 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. 1.

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.T08-0408 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T08-0408   Emergency Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River, 
Helena, AR.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of 
the Mississippi River from MM 660.0 through MM 663.0.
    (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 by telephone or email. 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.
    (c) Enforcement periods. This section will be enforced as needed 
from July 13, 2020 through August 30, 2020, or until all diving and 
salvage work is complete, whichever occurs earlier. Periods of 
activation will be promulgated by Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

    Dated: July 13, 2020.
R.S. Rhodes,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Lower Mississippi River.
[FR Doc. 2020-15888 Filed 7-28-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P