[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 7, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7873-7875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-02496]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2023-0067]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River Mile Marker 490.2-489.7 
Davenport, IA

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 in the Upper Mississippi River at Mile Marker (MM) 
490.2 to MM 489.7. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, 
vessels, and the marine environment from all potential hazards 
associated with electrical line work. Entry of vessels or persons into 
this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain 
of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated 
representative.

DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from February 7, 
2023 through March 6, 2023. For the purposes of enforcement, actual 
notice will be used from February 6, 2023 until February 7, 2023.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2023-0067 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 Lieutenant Commander Richard Cherkauer, Sector Upper 
Mississippi River Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; 
telephone 314-269-2560, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of The Port Sector Upper Mississippi River
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 it is impracticable. The work for 
this project has already begun and the NPRM process would hinder the 
progress of the ongoing work and compromise public safety. We must 
establish this temporary safety zone immediately and lack sufficient 
time to provide a reasonable comment period and then consider those 
comments before issuing the rule.
    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 this rule would be 
contrary to the public interest due to potential safety hazards 
associated with the ongoing electrical line work.

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 Upper 
Mississippi River (COTP) has determined that potential hazards 
associated with electrical line work will be a safety concern for 
anyone operating or transiting within the Upper Mississippi River from 
MM 490.2 to MM 489.7. This rule is needed to protect personnel, 
vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable waters within the 
safety zone while electrical line work is being conducted.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone during an electric power line 
installation project over the Upper Mississippi River. The safety zone 
will cover all navigable waters from MM 490.2 to MM 489.7. The duration 
of the zone is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine 
environment in these navigable waters while electrical line 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. A designated representative is a commissioned, warrant, 
or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) assigned to units under 
the operational control of USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River. To seek

[[Page 7874]]

permission to enter, contact the COTP or a designated representative 
via VHF-FM channel 16, or through USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River 
at 314-269-2332. Persons and vessels permitted to enter the safety zone 
must comply with all lawful orders or directions issued by the COTP or 
designated representative. The COTP or a designated representative will 
inform the public of the effective period for the safety zone as well 
as any changes in the dates and times of enforcement, as well as 
reductions in the size of the safety zone as conditions improve, 
through Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs), Broadcast Notices to Mariners 
(BNMs), and/or Safety Marine Information Broadcast (SMIB), as 
appropriate.

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 the 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 a safety zone 
located on the Upper Mississippi River MM 490.2 to MM 489.7 near 
Davenport, IA . The Safety Zone will be active only while work 
associated with the power line crossing is being conducted, from 
February 6, 2023 until March 6, 2023.

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 because the zone will be enforced only when 
work is being conducted.
    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 encompassing the width of the Upper Mississippi River from 
MM 490.2 to MM 489.7. 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. 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 7875]]

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, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-
1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.


0
2. Add Sec.  165.T08-0789 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T08-0789  Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River, Mile Markers 
490.2-489.7, Davenport, IA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: all navigable 
waters within the Upper Mississippi River, Mile Markers (MM) 490.2-
489.7.
    (b) Enforcement period. This section is subject to enforcement from 
February 6, 2023 through March 6, 2023.
    (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general safety zone 
regulations in Sec.  165.23, entry of persons or vessels into this 
safety zone described in paragraph (a) of this section is prohibited 
unless authorized by the COTP or a designated representative. A 
designated representative is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer 
of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) assigned to units under the operational 
control of USCG Sector Upper Mississippi River.
    (2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or a designated 
representative via VHF-FM channel 16, or through USCG Sector Upper 
Mississippi River at 314-269-2332. Persons and vessels permitted to 
enter the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions 
issued by the COTP or designated representative.
    (d) Informational broadcasts. The COTP or a designated 
representative will inform the public of the effective period for the 
safety zone as well as any changes in the dates and times of 
enforcement, as well as reductions in size or scope of the safety zone 
as ice or flood conditions improve, through Local Notice to Mariners 
(LNMs), Broadcast Notices to Mariners (BNMs), and/or Safety Marine 
Information Broadcast (SMIB) as appropriate.

    Dated: February 1, 2023.
A.R. Bender,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi 
River.
[FR Doc. 2023-02496 Filed 2-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P