[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 35 (Wednesday, February 21, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13013-13015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03455]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2022-0854]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Reynolds Channel, Atlantic 
Beach, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that 
governs the Atlantic Beach Bridge across the Reynolds Channel, mile 
0.4, at Atlantic Beach, NY. The bridge owner, Nassau County Bridge 
Authority, submitted a request on September 22, 2022 to modify the 
regulation to decrease the number of openings on signal from October 
through May. On November 16, 2023 Nassau County Bridge Authority sent 
an additional request to add a bridge tower call number and remove 
outdated language. It is expected that this change to the regulations 
will better serve the needs of the community while continuing to meet 
the reasonable needs of navigation. We invite your comments on this 
proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and relate material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before March 22, 2024.

ADDRESSES:  You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2022-0854 through the Federal Decision Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the

[[Page 13014]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on submitting 
comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed 
rule, call or email Ms. Stephanie E. Lopez, First Coast Guard District, 
Project Officer, telephone 571-608-5676, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
OMB Office of Management and Budget
SNPRM Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, Regulatory History, and Legal Basis

    The Atlantic Beach Bridge at mile 0.4, across Reynolds Channel, 
Atlantic Beach, NY, has a vertical clearance of 25 feet at mean high 
water and a horizontal clearance of 125 feet. Waterway users include 
recreational and commercial vessels, including fishing vessels.
    The existing drawbridge operating regulations are listed at 33 CFR 
117.799(e). Under the current regulation, the bridge shall open on 
signal from October 1 through May 14. Nassau County is requesting the 
bridge shall open on signal from 8 a.m. to midnight October 1 through 
May 14 and on signal year-round, from midnight to 8 a.m., if at least 
eight hours' notice is given.
    The Reynolds Channel is transited by recreational vessels and 
commercial vessels. In recent years, a significant amount of industrial 
and commercial business has closed along the waterfront. This change 
has caused a decrease in the amount of bridge openings requested from 
midnight to 8 a.m.
    Nassau County Bridge Authority held two public meetings, one on 
August 18, 2022 and another on August 25, 2022. No one from the public 
attended.
    On August 25, 2023, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) titled Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Reynolds 
Channel, Atlantic Beach, NY (88 FR 58176). There we stated why we 
issued the NPRM and invited comments on our proposed regulatory action 
related to this drawbridge. During the comment period that ended 
September 25, 2023 we did not receive any public comments.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    This supplemental proposed rule provides the draw to open on signal 
from 8 a.m. to midnight October 1 through May 14; and from midnight to 
8 a.m. year-round, the draw shall open on signal if at least 8 hours' 
notice is given. The reason for these changes is to reduce openings on 
signal during off peak hours due to a significant reduction of 
commercial business on the waterway. Additionally, in revised paragraph 
(2) of the regulation the Nassau County Bridge Authority provided a 
bridge tower phone number for mariners to contact when requesting a 
bridge opening; paragraph (3) will be rephrased to improve readability 
and clarity and remove unnecessary discussions of high tide predictions 
based on the NOAA published tide table.

IV. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and Executive orders related to rulemaking. A summary of our analysis 
based on these statutes and Executive orders follows.

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 SNPRM has not been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this 
SNPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the ability that 
vessels can still transit the bridge given advanced notice.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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 
bridge 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 rulemaking 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 rulemaking 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 rule would affect 
your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you 
have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, 
please contact 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 call for no 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 contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section.

[[Page 13015]]

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 will not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this 
proposed rule elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this rulemaking under Department of Homeland 
Security Management Directive 023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing 
instructions, and Environmental Planning Policy COMDTINST 5090.1 
(series), which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f). The 
Coast Guard has 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 proposed rule promulgates the 
operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. Normally such 
actions are categorically excluded from further review, under paragraph 
L49, of chapter 3, table 3-1 of the U.S. Coast Guard Environmental 
Planning Implementation Procedures.
    Neither a Record of Environmental Consideration nor a Memorandum 
for the Record are required for this rulemaking. 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 contact 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.
    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-2022-0854 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 your material 
cannot be submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, contact the 
person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document 
for alternate instructions.
    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. Additionally, if 
you go to the online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will be 
notified when comments are posted, when a final rule is published, and 
of any posting or updates to the docket.
    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 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 117

    Bridges.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 117 as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and DHS Delegation No. 
00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

0
2. Revise Sec.  117.799(e) to read as follows:


Sec.  117.799  Long Island, New York Inland Waterway from East Rockaway 
Inlet to Shinnecock Canal.

* * * * *
    (e) The draw of the Atlantic Beach Bridge across Reynolds Channel, 
mile 0.4, shall operate as follows:
    (1) From October 1 through May 14 the draw shall open on signal 
from 8 a.m. to midnight.
    (2) From midnight to 8 a.m. year-round, the draw shall open on 
signal if at least eight (8) hours of notice is given by calling the 
Bridge Tower at 516-239-1821.
    (3) From May 15 through September 30, the bridge will open on 
signal except from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 11 a.m. to 9 
p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor 
Day when the bridge will open on the hour and half-hour.
* * * * *

    Dated: February 14, 2024.
J.W. Mauger,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2024-03455 Filed 2-20-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P