[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 67 (Friday, April 9, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18449-18451]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-07297]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2021-0167]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Southwest Shelter Island Channel Entrance Closure, 
San Diego, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone 
covering the channel closure for the Southwest Shelter Island Channel 
Entrance. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and 
the marine environment from potential hazards created by the California 
Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Oil Spill Prevention and 
Response (OSPR) Sensitive Site Strategy Evaluation Program (SSSEP) boom 
deployment exercise. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is 
prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port 
Sector San Diego.

DATES: This rule is effective from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on April 
27, 2021.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2021-0167 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 John Santorum, Waterways Management, U.S. Coast Guard 
Sector San Diego, Coast Guard; telephone 619-278-7656, 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 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 an NPRM would be impracticable. The 
Coast Guard did not receive the details of the Sensitive Site Strategy 
Evaluation Program boom deployment exercise with enough time to solicit 
and respond to public comments on an NPRM. As such, the channel closure 
on April 27, 2021 would occur before an NPRM and final rule could be 
issued.
    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 contrary to the public interest, because action is 
necessary to protect personel, vessels, and the marine environment from 
the dangers associated with the CDFW OSPR SSSEP boom deployment 
exercise on April 27, 2021.

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 Sector San 
Diego (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with the 
CDFW OSPR SSSEP boom deployment exercise will be a safety concern to 
anyone seeking access to the Southwest Shelter Island Channel Entrance. 
This temporary safety zone is therefore needed to protect personnel, 
vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable waters within the 
safety zone while the exercise is ongoing.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. 
on April 27, 2021. The safety zone will cover the

[[Page 18450]]

Southwest Shelter Island Channel Entrance and all navigable waters of 
San Diego Bay encompassed by the following coordinates; beginning at 
latitude 32[deg]42'27.8'' N, longitude 117[deg]14'12.5'' W (point A), 
thence southeasterly to latitude 32[deg]42'28.7'' N, longitude 
117[deg]14'02.6'' W (point B), thence northeasterly to latitude 
32[deg]42'33.3'' N, longitude 117[deg]14'04.0'' W (point C), thence 
northwesterly to latitude 32[deg]42'31.9'' N, longitude 
117[deg]14'12.0'' W (point D), thence southwesterly to the point of 
beginning (point A). No vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, 
or remain in the zone during its enforcement unless permission is 
obtained from the COTP or a designated representative. The duration of 
the zone is intended to ensure the safety of, and reduce the risk to, 
the persons and vessels that operate on and in the vicinity of the 
Shelter Island Channel Entrance in the Sector San Diego's Area of 
Responsibility. This TFR will close the Southwest Shelter Island 
Channel Entrance.

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. 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).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the safety zone 
being of a limited duration, limited to a relatively small geographic 
area, and the presence of safety hazards in the area encompassing the 
Shelter Island Channel Entrance.

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 
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 a 
safety zone lasting only 2 hours that will prohibit entry through the 
Southwest Shelter Island Channel entrance. It is 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 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.

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:

[[Page 18451]]

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.T11-052 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T11-052   Safety Zone; Southwest Shelter Island Channel 
Entrance Closure, San Diego, CA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: The Southwest 
Shelter Island Channel Entrance and all navigable waters of San Diego 
Bay encompassed by the following coordinates; beginning at latitude 
32[deg]42'27.8'' N, longitude 117[deg]14'12.5'' W (point A), thence 
southeasterly to latitude 32[deg]42'28.7'' N, longitude 
117[deg]14'02.6'' W (point B), thence northeasterly to latitude 
32[deg]42'33.3'' N, longitude 117[deg]14'04.0'' W (point C), thence 
northwesterly to latitude 32[deg]42'31.9'' N, longitude 
117[deg]14'12.0'' W (point D), thence southwesterly to the point of 
beginning (point A).
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative 
means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, 
petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a 
Federal, State, and local officer designated by or assisting the 
Captain of the Port Sector San Diego (COTP) 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) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's 
representative by VHF Channel 16. 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 section will be enforced from 8:30 
a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on April 27, 2021.

    Dated: March 26, 2021.
T.J. Barelli,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector San Diego.
[FR Doc. 2021-07297 Filed 4-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P