[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 13, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21750-21752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07818]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2022-0223]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Tennessee River, Tuscumbia, AL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for
all navigable waters of the Tennessee River from mile marker (MM) 244.0
to MM 246.0. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels,
and the marine environment from potential hazards created by TVA
imploding the Colbert Fossil Plant. Entry of vessels or persons into
this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain
of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated represenative.
DATES: This rule is effective from 6 a.m. through 8 a.m. on April 14,
2022.
ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2022-0223 in the search box and click ``SEARCH.'' Next, in the Document
Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule,
call or email Petty Officer Third Class Benjamin Gardner, Marine Safety
Detachment Nashville, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 615-736-5421, 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 emergency 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. We must establish this safety zone immediately and lack
sufficient time to provide a reasonable comment period and then
consider those comments before issuing the rule.
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 Ohio
Valley (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with the
TVA Colbert Fossil Plant Implosion will be a safety concern for anyone
within 2 miles of the Colbert Plant implosion, and is establishing a
safety zone from mile marker (MM) 244.0 to 246.0 on the Tennessee
River. This rule is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the
marine environment in the navigable waters for the duration of the
fiber line installation.
IV. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes an emergency safety zone from 6 a.m. until 8
a.m. on April 14, 2022. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters
between Mile Marker (MM) 244.0 to 246.0 on the Tennessee River,
extending the entire width of the river. The duration of the zone is
intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in
these navigable waters while TVA is imploding the Colbert Fossil Plant.
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 assigned to units under the operational
control of USCG Sector Ohio Valley.
Vessels requiring entry into this safety zone must request
permission from the COTP or a designated representative. To seek entry
into the safety zone, contact the COTP or the COTP's representative by
telephone at 502-779-5422 or on VHF-FM channel 16. Persons and vessels
permitted to enter this safety zone must transit at their slowest safe
speed and comply with all lawful directions issued by the COTP or the
designated representative.
The COTP or a designated representative will inform the public
through Broadcast Notices to Mariners (BNMs), Local Notices to Mariners
(LNMs), and Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs) about this
safety zone, enforcement period, as well as any changes in the dates
and times of enforcement.
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.
[[Page 21751]]
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 size,
location, duration, and time-of-day of the safety zone. This safety
zone restricts transit on a two mile segment of the Tennessee River for
2 hours on one day. Moreover, the Coast Guard would issue Broadcast
Notices to Mariners (BNMs), Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs), and
Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs) about this safety zone so
that waterway users may plan accordingly for this short restriction on
transit, and the rule allows vessels to request 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 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 between MM
244.0 to 246.0 on the Tennessee River to implode the Colbert Fossil
Plant. It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph
L60 of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01,
Rev. 1. Due to the emergency nature of this rulemaking, a Record of
Environmental Consideration is not required. 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:
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,
Revision No. 01.2.
0
2. Add Sec. 165.T08-0223 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T08-0223 Safety Zone; Tennessee River, Tuscumbia, AL.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable
waters of the Tennessee River, Mile Markers 244.0 to 246.0, extending
the entire width of the river.
(b) Periods of enforcement. This section will be enforced from 6
a.m. through 8 a.m. on April 14, 2022. and
(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
[[Page 21752]]
section unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley
(COTP) or the COTP's designated representative. A designated
representative is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the U.S.
Coast Guard assigned to units under the operational control of USCG
Sector Ohio Valley.
(2) Vessels requiring entry into this safety zone must request
permission from the COTP or a designated representative. To seek entry
into the safety zone, contact the COTP or the COTP's representative by
telephone at 502-779-5422 or on VHF-FM channel 16.
(3) Persons and vessels permitted to enter this safety zone must
transit at their slowest safe speed and comply with all lawful
directions issued by the COTP or the designated representative.
(d) Informational broadcasts. The COTP or a designated
representative will inform the public through Broadcast Notices to
Mariners (BNMs), Local Notices to Mariners (LNMs), and Marine Safety
Information Bulletins (MSIBs) about this safety zone, enforcement
period, as well as any changes in the dates and times of enforcement.
Dated: April 4, 2022.
A.M. Beach,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley.
[FR Doc. 2022-07818 Filed 4-12-22; 8:45 am]
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