Drawbridge operations: New York,
[Federal Register: April 25, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 80)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 20442-20443]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25ap02-4]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
[CGD01-02-038]
RIN 2115-AE47
Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Long Island, New York Inland Waterway From East Rockaway Inlet to Shinnecock Canal, NY
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary final rule governing the operation of the Atlantic Beach Bridge, at mile 0.4, across Reynolds Channel at New York. This rule allows the bridge owner to open only one moveable span for bridge openings, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., from April 22, 2002 through October 31, 2002. Two span openings will be granted, provided a two-hour advance notice is given, from one-hour before high tide to one-hour after predicted high tide. This single span operation is necessary to facilitate bridge painting operations at the bridge.
DATES: This temporary final rule is effective from April 22, 2002 through October 31, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket (CGD01-02-038) and are available for inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch Office, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Joseph Schmied, Project Officer, First Coast Guard District, at (212) 668-7165.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory Information
The Coast Guard has determined that good cause exists under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553) for not publishing a NPRM with comment and for making this regulation effective in less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The Coast Guard believes notice and comment are unnecessary because the mariners that normally use this waterway attended a coordination meeting and agreed to the single span operation of the bridge. Making this rule effective less than thirty days after publication is necessary, since any delay encountered in this regulation's effective date would be unnecessary and contrary to the public interest because the bridge painting must commence April through October when the air temperature is conducive to bridge painting in order to complete this painting project.
Background
The Atlantic Beach Bridge has a vertical clearance of 25 feet at mean high water, and 30 feet at mean low water in the closed position. The existing drawbridge operating regulations are listed at 33 CFR 117.799.
The bridge owner, Nassau County Bridge Authority, requested a temporary regulation to facilitate painting operations at the bridge.
The Coast Guard and the bridge owner held a meeting with the mariners that normally use this waterway to coordinate this bridge painting project and minimize the impacts on the marine transportation system.
The single span operation was determined to be acceptable to the mariners because double span openings will be available from one-hour before to one-hour after the predicted high tide, provided a two-hour advance notice is given.
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 single span operation was determined to be acceptable by the mariners that normally use this waterway since double span openings will be made available to the mariners between the time period from one-hour before to one-hour after the predicted high tide at the bridge.
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. ``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.
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. This conclusion is based on the fact that the single span operation was determined to be acceptable by the mariners since double span openings will be made available to the mariners that normally use this waterway between the time period from one-hour before to one-hour after the predicted high tide at the bridge.
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 could 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).
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
[[Page 20443]]
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 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 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 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 written ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is not required for the temporary final rule.
Indian Tribal Governments
This final rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it does not have 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.
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
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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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From April 22, 2002 through October 31, 2002, Sec. 117.799 is temporarily amended by suspending paragraph (e) and adding a new paragraph (j) to read as follows:
Sec. 117.799 Long Island, New York Inland Waterway from East Rockaway Inlet to Shinnecock Canal.
* * * * *
(j) The Atlantic Beach Bridge, mile 0.4, across Reynolds Channel, from April 22, 2002 through October 31, 2002, shall open on signal, except as follows:
(1) Only one moveable bridge span need be opened for the passage of vessel traffic between 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, except as provided in paragraph (j)(3) of this section.
(2) From 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and holidays, the draw shall open on signal only on the hour and half-hour, except as provided in paragraph (j)(3) of this section.
(3) From one-hour before to one-hour after the predicted high tide, two moveable spans may be opened for the passage of vessel traffic, provided at least a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. For the purposes of this section, predicted high tide occurs 10 minutes earlier than that predicted for Sandy Hook, as given in the tide tables published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Dated: April 17, 2002. G.N. Naccara, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 02-10176Filed4-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P
