Security Zone; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, North Carolina

Federal Register: March 14, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 51)

Rules and Regulations

Page 13759-13761

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

DOCID:fr14mr08-7

Page 13759

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 165

USCG-2008-0103

RIN 1625-AA87

Security Zone; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, NC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will establish a temporary security zone on the waters of the Cape Fear River off the North Carolina State Port

Authority facilities, Wilmington, North Carolina during the USS NORTH

CAROLINA Commissioning ceremony. The security zone is necessary to provide for the security of the USS NORTH CAROLINA and the safety of life of event participants, spectators and mariners on U.S. navigable waters during the event. Entry into the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 8 a.m. on May 3, 2008, through 1 p.m. May 3, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket are part of docket USCG-2008-0103 and are available online at http://www.regulations.gov. This material is also available for inspection or copying at two locations: The Docket Management Facility

(M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor,

Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays and the United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit, 721

Medical Center Drive, Suite 100, Wilmington, North Carolina 28401 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions concerning this rule, phone CWO4 Stephen Lyons, Waterways Management Division Chief,

Sector North Carolina, at (252) 247-4525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation. The USS NORTH CAROLINA will be the subject of an official

United States Navy commissioning ceremony, a military function within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1), and as such the Coast Guard will not conduct a notice and comment period for this regulation. Safely and securely navigating the narrow Cape Fear River will prove challenging with a submarine in the water. This regulation is necessary to protect the public, the christening event's attendees, and to secure the submarine.

Background and Purpose

This security zone is part of a comprehensive port security regime designed to safeguard human life, vessels, and waterfront facilities.

The Navy will conduct the USS NORTH CAROLINA's Commissioning ceremony at the North Carolina State Port Wilmington, North Carolina.

To address the aforementioned security concerns, the Captain of the

Port, Cape Fear River is establishing a security zone upon certain waters of the Cape Fear River. This security zone will prevent vessels or persons from engaging in waterborne terrorist actions during the USS

NORTH CAROLINA's Commissioning ceremony. A security zone is prudent for this type of event.

Discussion of Rule

On Saturday May 3, 2008, the USS NORTH CAROLINA's Commissioning ceremony will be held at North Carolina State Port. The security zone is required from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m. on May 3, 2008 to safeguard the

USS NORTH CAROLINA and event participants during the commissioning ceremony. The security zone will encompass the waters of the Cape Fear

River from \1/2\ nautical mile south of the North Carolina State Port

Wilmington, North Carolina to \1/2\ nautical mile north of the North

Carolina State Port Wilmington, North Carolina. U.S. Coast Guard patrol vessels will be on scene to control the movement of persons and vessels in the security zone.

No person or vessel may enter or remain in the security zone at any time without the permission of the Captain of the Port, Cape Fear

River. Each person or vessel operating within the security zone will obey any direction or order of the Captain of the Port, Cape Fear

River. The Captain of the Port may take possession and control of any vessel in a security zone and/or remove any person, vessel, article or thing from this security zone.

Persons desiring to transit the area of the security zone may contact the Captain of the Port via the Sector North Carolina Command

Center via telephone at (252) 247-4570 or on VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHz) to seek permission to transit the area. If permission is granted, all persons and vessels must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port, Cape Fear River or a designated representative.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order.

We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. Although this regulation restricts access to certain waters of the Cape Fear River, the effect of this regulation will not be significant because: (i) The

Captain of the Port or a representative may authorize access to the security zone, (ii) the security zone will be enforced for limited duration, and (iii) the Coast Guard will make notifications via maritime advisories so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 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.

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 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 would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This rule would affect the following entities, some of which might be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor on certain waters of the Cape Fear River.

Page 13760

This security zone will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons.

Although the security zone will apply to certain waters of the Cape

Fear River, traffic will be allowed to pass through the zone with the permission of the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The duration of the security zone will be limited to five hours. Before the effective period, we will issue maritime advisories widely available to users of the river.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement

Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offer to assist small entities in understanding this proposed rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.

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.

Collection of Information

This rule calls for no new collection of information under the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132,

Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.

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 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.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental

Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property

Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

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.

Energy Effects

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions

Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply,

Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a ``significant energy action'' under that order because it is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. The Administrator of the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15

U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.

This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

We have analyzed this rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.lD which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded that there are no factors in this case that would limit the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the

Instruction. Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g) of the Instruction from further environmental documentation. A final ``Environmental Analysis Check

List'' and a final ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' are available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

Words of Issuance and Proposed Regulatory Text 0

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: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701; 50

U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation

No. 0170.1. 0 2. Add temporary Sec. 165.T05-011 to read as follows:

Sec. 165.T05-011 Security Zone; Cape Fear River, Wilmington, North

Carolina.

(a) Location. The following area is a security zone: The waters of the Cape Fear River, from surface to bottom,

Page 13761

encompassed by a line connecting the following points, beginning at 34[deg]10'56'' N, 077[deg]57'18'' W; thence west to position 34[deg]10'56'' N, 077[deg]57'30'' W; thence north along the western edge of the Cape Fear River to position 34[deg]12'53'' N, 077[deg]57'36'' W; thence east to position 34[deg]12'53'' N, 077[deg]57'18'' W; thence south along the eastern edge of the Cape Fear

River to the starting point. These coordinates are based upon NAD 1983.

(b) Definitions. As used in this section, for purposes of enforcing the security zone identified in paragraph (a) of this section, designated representative means Coast Guard Patrol Commanders including

Coast Guard coxswains, petty officers and other officers operating

Coast Guard vessels, and federal, state, and local officers designated by the Captain of the Port Cape Fear.

(c) Regulations. (1) Under general regulations in Sec. 165.33, entry into, anchoring, mooring, or transiting this zone by persons or vessels is prohibited without the prior permission of the Captain of the Port Cape Fear River or a designated representative.

(2) U.S. Coast Guard patrol vessels will be on scene to control the movement of persons and vessels in the security zone.

(3) No person or vessel may enter or remain in the security zone at any time without the permission of the Captain of the Port, Cape Fear

River. Each person or vessel operating within the security zone must obey any direction or order of the Captain of the Port, Cape Fear

River. The Captain of the Port may take possession and control of any vessel in a security zone and/or remove any person, vessel, article or thing from this security zone.

(4) Persons desiring to transit the area of the security zone may contact the Captain of the Port via the Sector North Carolina Command

Center via telephone at (252) 247-4570 or on VHF channel 16 (156.8 MHz) to seek permission to transit the area. If permission is granted, all persons and vessels must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port, Cape Fear River or a designated representative.

(d) Effective period. This section is effective on May 3, 2008 from 8 a.m. through 1 p.m.

Dated: February 25, 2008.

J.P. Nadeau,

Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Cape Fear River.

FR Doc. E8-5125 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am

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