[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24088-24090]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08630]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2022-0134]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Falls Bridge Project, Blue Hill, ME

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 the navigable waters within a 50-yard radius from the center 
of the Falls Bridge in Blue Hill, ME. This action is necessary to 
protect personnel, vessels, and marine environment from potential 
hazards created by the demolition, subsequent removal, and replacement 
of the Falls Bridge. This proposed regulation would prohibit entry of 
vessels or persons into the safety zone unless authorized by the 
Captain of the Port Northern New England (COTP) 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 May 23, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2022-0134 using the Federal Decision Making 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 on this rule, 
call or email Lieutenant Shaun Doyle, Waterways Management Division, 
Sector Northern New England, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 207-347-5015, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
TIR Temporary Interim Rule
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On January 6, 2022, Maine Department of Transportation notified 
Sector Northern New England of an upcoming construction project on the 
Falls Bridge in Blue Hill, ME. The construction project consists of a 
complete replacement of the bridge superstructure and is scheduled to 
commence July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024. The COTP has determined 
that the potential hazards associated with the bridge construction 
project will be a safety concern for anyone within a 50-yard radius 
from the center of the Falls Bridge in Blue Hill, ME.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and the navigable waters within a 50-yard radius from the center of the 
Falls Bridge in Blue Hill, ME. 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 July 1, 2022, 
through June 30, 2024. The safety zone would cover all navigable waters 
within a 50-yard radius from the center of the Falls Bridge located in 
Blue Hill, Maine. The duration of the zone is intended to ensure the 
safety of vessels and these navigable waters during bridge replacement. 
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 approaches that maximize 
net benefits. 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).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size and 
location of the safety zone. The safety zone would only impact a 50-
yard radius from the center of the Falls Bridge in Blue Hill, ME. Local 
waterway use is normally recreational and public outreach performed by 
Maine Department of

[[Page 24089]]

Transportation has not identified any commercial vessel use. Proper 
public notice of enforcement will be given through appropriate means, 
which may include, but are not limited to, publication in the Local 
Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine 
channel 16.

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 proposed 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 proposed 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 potential effects of 
this proposed 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 
establishing a safety zone that would be enforced 24 hours a day from 
July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2024, that would prohibit entry within a 
50-yard radius from the center of the Falls Bridge in Blue Hill, ME. 
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.
    Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments through 
the Federal Decision Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. To 
do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2022-0134 in the 
search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the 
Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment 
option. If you cannot submit your material by using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this proposed rule for alternate 
instructions.
    Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this 
proposed rule as being available in the docket, find the docket as 
described in the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & 
Related Material'' in the Document Type column. Public comments will 
also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following 
instructions on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked 
Questions web page. We review all comments received, but we will only 
post comments that address the topic of the proposed rule. We may 
choose not to post off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that 
we receive.

[[Page 24090]]

    Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we 
post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal 
information you have provided. For more about privacy and submissions 
to the docket in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking 
System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).

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. 
00170.1, Revision No. 01.2.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T01-0134 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T01-0134  Safety Zone; Falls Bridge Project, Blue Hill, ME.

    (a) Locations. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters from surface to bottom, within a 50-yard radius from the center 
of the Falls Bridge in Blue Hill, ME.
    (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 Northern New England (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 via VHF-FM marine channel 16 or by contacting the Coast 
Guard Sector Northern New England Command Center at (207) 741-5465. 
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 is effective from July 1, 
2022, through June 30, 2024, and subject to enforcement 24 hours a day. 
The Coast Guard will use Broadcast Notice to Mariners and Local Notice 
to Mariners to notify the public of this safety zone.

    Dated: April 12, 2022.
A.E. Florentino,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Northern New England.
[FR Doc. 2022-08630 Filed 4-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P