Drawbridge operations: New Jersey,
[Federal Register: December 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 245)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 71653-71655]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22de99-11]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD01-99-075]
RIN 2115-AE47
Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Navesink River, NJ
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
[[Page 71654]]
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is changing the drawbridge operation regulations governing the Oceanic Bridge, at mile 4.5, across the Navesink River at Locust Point, New Jersey. The bridge owner has asked the Coast Guard to change the regulations to require a twenty-four hour advance notice for bridge openings from December through March because there have been few requests to open the bridge during the winter months. This final rule is expected to relieve the bridge owner of the burden of crewing the bridge at all times and still meet the needs of navigation.
DATES: This rule is effective January 21, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket (CGD01-99-075) and are available for inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch Office, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John W. McDonald, Project Officer, First Coast Guard District, (617) 223-8364.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory Information
On September 1, 1999, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Navasink River, New Jersey, in the Federal Register (64 FR 47751). We received no comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was requested and none was held.
Background and Purpose
The Oceanic Bridge at mile 4.5 across the Navesink River at Locust Point, New Jersey, has a vertical clearance of 22 feet at mean high water and 25 feet at mean low water. The existing operating regulations for the Oceanic Bridge require the bridge to open on signal at all times.
The bridge owner, the County of Monmouth, asked the Coast Guard to change the regulations for the bridge and submitted bridge opening log data for the Coast Guard to evaluate.
The log data indicated the following number of openings:
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
December............................. 4 12 9 6 8 January.............................. 1 1 14 2 6 February............................. 1 1 0 1 10 March................................ 11 13 4 6 13
The bridge owner asked the Coast Guard to change the regulations to require a twenty-four hour advance notice for openings from December through March. The bridge opening log data shows that during this time period there have been few requests to open the bridge. The Coast Guard believes the bridge owner's request to not crew the bridge during the winter months and the twenty-four hour advance notice requirement are reasonable based upon the low number of bridge openings during that time period.
Discussion of Comments and Changes
The Coast Guard received no comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking and no changes have been made to this final rule.
Regulatory Evaluation
This rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 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 Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040; February 26, 1979). This conclusion is based on the fact that the bridge has not had many requests to open during the winter months. Mariners will still be able to obtain bridge openings during the winter months provided they give twenty-four hours notice.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) we 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 less than 50,000.
For reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation section above, 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.
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
We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those unfunded mandate costs. This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate.
Taking of Private Property
This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under E.O. 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 E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.
Protection of Children
We have analyzed this rule under E.O. 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health 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.
Environment
The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule and
[[Page 71655]]
concluded that under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation because promulgation of changes to drawbridge regulations have been found to not have a significant effect on the environment. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
Bridges.
Regulations
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 117 as follows:
PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS
-
The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.
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Section 117.734 is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 117.734 Navesink River (Swimming River).
The Oceanic Bridge, mile 4.5, shall open on signal; except that, from December 1 through March 31, the draw shall open on signal, if at least a twenty-four hour notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. The owner of this bridge shall provide and keep in good legible condition clearance gauges with figures not less than eight inches high, designed, installed and maintained according to the provisions of Sec. 118.160 of this chapter.
Dated: December 8, 1999. R.M. Larrabee, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 99-33212Filed12-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U
