Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Mill Neck Creek, Oyster Bay, NY
Federal Register: March 7, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 46)
Proposed Rules
Page 12315-12318
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
DOCID:fr07mr08-23
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 117
Docket No. USCG-2008-0010
RIN 1625-AA09
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Mill Neck Creek, Oyster Bay, NY
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operating
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regulations governing the operation of the Bayville Bridge, mile 0.1, across Mill Neck creek at Oyster Bay, New York. This proposed rule would allow the bridge to open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. from May 1 through October 31 and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from November 1 through April 30. At all other times the bridge would open after a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. The purpose of this rule is to help relieve the bridge owner from the burden of crewing the bridge during time periods that the bridge receives few requests to open while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.
DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before April 7, 2008.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket number (USCG-2008-0010) to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S.
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one of the following methods:
(1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building ground floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC. 20590-0001.
(3) Hand Delivery: Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE.,
Washington, DC., 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except, Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 366- 9329.
(4) Fax: (202) 493-2251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Judy Leung-Yee, Project Officer,
First Coast Guard District, (212) 668-7165.
If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related material. All comments received will be posted, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with the
Department of Transportation (DOT) to use the Docket Management
Facility. Please see DOT's ``Privacy Act'' paragraph below.
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2008-0010), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. We recommend that you include your name and mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission.
You may submit your comments and materials by electronic means, mail, fax, or delivery to the Docket Management Facility at the address under
ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and materials by only one means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Enter the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2008-001) in the Search box, and click ``Go>>.'' You may also visit either the
Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140, on the ground floor of the
DOT West Building 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC, 20590- 0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays; or First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, One South
Street, New York, NY 10004 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment
(or signing the comment), if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the Department of
Transportation's Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit http://
DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
Public Meeting
We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a request for one to the Docket Management Facility at the address under
ADDRESSES explaining why one would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.
Background and Purpose
The Bayville Bridge has a vertical clearance of 9 feet at mean high water, and 16 feet at mean low water in the closed position. The existing drawbridge operating regulations listed at 33 CFR 117.5, require the bridge to open on signal at all times.
On March 8, 2007, the bridge owner, the County of Nassau Department of Public Works, requested a change to the drawbridge operation regulations to help provide relief from the burden of providing a draw tender at the bridge during time periods when the bridge seldom receives a request to open.
On April 13, 2007, the Coast Guard authorized a temporary deviation with a request for public comment in order to test the proposed rule change. The temporary test deviation was in effect from May 25, 2007 through November 20, 2007, with a comment period open until November 30, 2007.
The Coast Guard received no comments or complaints from mariners in response to the temporary test deviation.
As a result of all the above information, the Coast Guard is now proposing to permanently change the drawbridge operation regulations for the Bayville Bridge, mile 0.1, across Mill Neck Creek at Oyster
Bay, New York.
Under this notice of proposed rulemaking the Bayville Bridge would be required to open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., from May 1 through October 31, and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, from November 1 through April 30. At all other times the draw would open on signal after at least a two-hour advance notice is provided by calling the number posted at the bridge.
Discussion of Proposed Rule
This notice of proposed rulemaking would change the existing drawbridge operation regulations to help relieve the bridge owner from the burden of maintaining a draw tender at the bridge during time periods the bridge seldom receives a request to open.
The Coast Guard believes this proposed change to the drawbridge operation regulations is justified and that the reasonable needs of navigation will continue to be met as a result.
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Regulatory Evaluation
This proposed 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 under the regulatory policies and procedures of DHS is unnecessary.
This conclusion is based on the fact that vessel traffic will still be able to transit through the Bayville Bridge at any time provided they give a two-hour advance notice during time periods the bridge is not crewed.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this proposed 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 section 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
This conclusion is based on the fact that vessel traffic will still be able to transit through the Bayville Bridge at any time provided they give a two-hour advance notice during time periods the bridge is not crewed.
If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this 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.
Assistance for Small Entities
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 so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. 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, Commander (dpb), First Coast
Guard District, Bridge Branch, One South Street, New York, NY 10004.
The telephone number is (212) 668-7165. 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 proposed rule would call 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 proposed 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 proposed rule would not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.
Taking of Private Property
This proposed rule would not affect 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 proposed 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 proposed rule under Executive Order 13045,
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety
Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and would not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 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 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.
Energy Effects
We have analyzed this proposed 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 proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.
Environment
We have analyzed this proposed 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 made a preliminary determination that this action is not likely to have a significant effect on the human environment because it simply promulgates the operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. We seek
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any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a significant environmental impact from this proposed rule.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
Bridges.
Words of Issuance and Proposed Regulatory Text
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR part 117 as follows:
PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS 1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; Department of Homeland
Security Delegation No. 0170.1. 2. Add Sec. 117.800 to read as follows:
Sec. 117.800 Mill Neck Creek.
The draw of the Bayville Bridge, mile 0.1, at Oyster Bay, New York, shall open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., from May 1 through
October 31, and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from
November 1 through April 30. At all other times the draw shall open on signal provided at least a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.
Dated: February 28, 2008.
Timothy S. Sullivan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
FR Doc. E8-4470 Filed 3-6-08; 8:45 am
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