Drawbridge operations: Iowa and Illinois,
[Federal Register: November 12, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 218)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 63986-63988]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12no03-5]
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD08-03-042]
RIN 1625-AA09
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Mississippi River, Iowa and Illinois
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
SUMMARY: The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, is temporarily changing the regulation governing the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge, across the Upper Mississippi River at Mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The drawbridge need not open for river traffic and may remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 7:30 a.m., December 15, 2003, until 7:30 a.m., March 15, 2004. This temporary rule is issued to facilitate annual maintenance and repair on the bridge.
DATES: This temporary rule is effective from 7:30 a.m., December 15, 2003, until 7:30 a.m., March 15, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Documents referred to in this rule are available for inspection or copying at room 2.107f in the Robert A. Young Federal Building at Eighth Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, 1222 Spruce Street, St. Louis, MO 63103-2832, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (314) 539-3900, extension 2378. The Bridge Branch maintains the public docket for this rulemaking.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge
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Administrator, (314) 539-3900, extension 2378.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Good Cause for Not Publishing an NPRM
We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing an NPRM. This rule is being promulgated without an NPRM because the limited affect on vessel traffic makes notice and comment unnecessary. Maintenance on the bridge will not begin until after the closure of Lock 22 on the Mississippi River. After that time, only commercial vessels left in the pool above Lock 22 will be able to transit through the bridge. Both the bridge and lock closure recur at the same time each year, and local vessel operators plan for the closures in advance. Prompt publication of this rule is also necessary to protect the public from safety hazards associated with conducting maintenance on the bridge.
Background and Purpose
On September 17, 2003, the Department of the Army, Rock Island Arsenal, requested a temporary change to the operation of the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, Mile 482.9 at Rock Island, Illinois to allow the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation from 7:30 a.m., December 15, 2003, until 7:30 a.m., March 15, 2004. Department of the Army, Rock Island Arsenal, requested that the drawbridge remain closed to navigation to allow the bridge owner time for preventive maintenance that is essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge.
The Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge has a vertical clearance of 23.8 feet above normal pool in the closed-to-navigation position. Navigation on the waterway consists primarily of commercial tows and recreational watercraft. Presently, the draw opens on signal for passage of river traffic. Winter freezing of the Upper Mississippi River coupled with the closure of Army Corps of Engineer's Lock No. 22 (Mile 301.2 UMR) until 7:30 a.m. March 15, 2004 will reduce any significant navigation demands for the drawspan opening. The Rock Island Railroad & Highway Drawbridge, Mile 482.9, Upper Mississippi River, is located upstream from Lock 22. Performing maintenance on the bridge during the winter when the number of vessels likely to be impacted is minimal is preferred to restricting vessel traffic during the commercial navigation season.
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. It is not ``significant'' under the regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Because vessel traffic in the area of Rock Island, Illinois will be greatly reduced by winter icing of the Upper Mississippi River and the closure of Lock 22, it is expected that this rule will have minimal economic or budgetary effects on the local community.
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. This temporary rule will have a negligible impact on vessel traffic. The primary users of the Upper Mississippi River in Rock Island, Illinois are commercial towboat operators. With the onset of winter conditions on the Upper Mississippi River coupled with the closure of Army Corps of Engineers' Lock No. 22 (Mile 301.2 UMR) until March 15, 2004, there will be few, if any, significant navigation demands for the drawspan opening.
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.
Assistance for Small Entities
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offered to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process. Any individual that qualifies or, believes he or she qualifies as a small entity and requires assistance with the provisions of this rule, may contact Mr. Roger K. Wiebusch, Bridge Administrator, Eighth Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, at (314) 539-3900, extension 2378.
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).
Collection of Information
This rule contains 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 this rule 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 regulation 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 or $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 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 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
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Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not concern 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 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 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. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.
Environment
We have considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. Paragraph 32(e) excludes the promulgation of operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges from the environmental documentation requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Since this regulation would alter the normal operating conditions of the drawbridge, it falls within this exclusion. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
Bridges.
Regulations
0 For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 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(g); Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.
0 2. From 7:30 a.m., December 15, 2003, through 7:30 a.m., March 15, 2004, Sec. 117.T395 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 117.T395 Upper Mississippi River; Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge, Mile 482.9, Upper Mississippi River.
From 7:30 a.m., December 15, 2003 through 7:30 a.m., March 15, 2004, the drawspan need not open for river traffic and may be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position.
Dated: October 30, 2003. J.W. Stark, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 03-28319 Filed 11-10-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P
