Navigation aids on artificial islands and fixed structures, etc.: Uniform State Waterways and Western Rivers Marking Systems conformance with U.S. Navigation System; implementation date delay,

[Federal Register: March 2, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 40)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 10104]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr02mr99-3]

[[Page 10104]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 62

[USCG-1999-5036]

RIN 2115-AF14

Conformance of the Western Rivers Marking System With the United States Aids to Navigation System

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final Rule; delay of implementation date.

SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is changing the date by which solid-color crossing dayboards in the Western Rivers Marking System (WRMS) will be replaced with checkered non-lateral dayboards used in the United States Aids to Navigation System (USATONS). This change is necessary to allow additional time to test and evaluate a redesigned crossing dayboard with reduced reflectivity. The previous implementation date of June 3, 1999 is changed to July 3, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The Coast Guard does not request comments with regard to this publication. However, you may mail comments to the Docket Management Facility, (USCG-1999-5036), U.S. Department of Transportation, room PL-401 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590- 0001, or deliver them to room PL-401 on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same address between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366- 9329. Any comments will be made available for inspection or copying at room PL-401, located on the Plaza Level of the Nassif Building at the same address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. You may also access this docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding the Western Rivers Marking System or this notice, contact Mr. Dan Andrusiak, U.S. Coast Guard, G-OPN-2, (202) 267-0327. For information regarding the Docket Management Facility, contact Pat Chesley, Coast Guard Dockets Team Leader, or Dorothy Walker, Chief, Documentary Services Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, (202) 366-9330.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

On June 3, 1996, the original implementation date for the replacement of the solid-colored dayboards on the Western Rivers System was published in the Federal Register (61 FR 27780) using the incorrect date, ``June 3, 1996.'' The error was corrected on June 10, 1996 in the Federal Register (61 FR 29449) to read, ``June 3, 1999.''

Background

A notice of proposed rulemaking was not published for this rule because this is a rule of agency procedure or practice under 5 U.S.C. 553(A).

After September 3, 1996, the Coast Guard began replacing solid- colored crossing dayboards on the Western Rivers System with diamond- shaped non-lateral dayboards, checkered red-and-white or green-and- white. The Coast Guard began this replacement initiative to unify the various aids to navigation marking system and because mariners can better see the checkered type dayboard than the solid-colored dayboard against the typical river bank background.

Further testing and evaluation of redesigned dayboards is necessary to ensure that their reflectivity is appropriate for the particular location of each individual dayboard. The further testing and evaluation will not result in redesigned dayboards that differ from the requirements of Title 33, Section 62.51 of the Code of Federal Regulations which describes crossing dayboards as diamond shaped non- lateral dayboards, checkered red-and-white or green-and-white. The delayed implementation date is July 30, 2001.

Dated: February 24, 1999. Ernest R. Riutta, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Operations.

[FR Doc. 99-5110Filed3-1-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-15-M