Ports and waterways safety: South shores of Oahu, HI; safety zone,

[Federal Register: June 28, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 125)]

[Proposed Rules]

[Page 34380-34382]

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

[DOCID:fr28jn01-13]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[COTP Honolulu 01-047]

RIN 2115-AA97

Safety Zone; Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU Relocation and Crew Member Recovery, Pacific Ocean, South Shores of the Island of Oahu, HI

AGENCY: U.S. Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish four temporary safety zones south of Oahu, Hawaii to protect vessels and mariners from the hazards associated with vessel relocation and crew member recovery operations of the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU, which sank after being struck by the submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772). Entry into these zones will be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Honolulu, HI.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before July 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu, 433 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI, 96813, who maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Mark Willis, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu, Hawaii at (808) 522-8260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking [COTP Honolulu 01-047], indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit all comments and related material in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would like to know your comments reached us, 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. We are providing a 30-day comment period on this proposal so that we can seek public input on the proposed safety zones and still publish the final rule before the start of the vessel relocation and crew member recovery operation. We anticipate the rule will be effective less than 30 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

Public Meeting

We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a request for a meeting by writing to U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu, HI, 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

On February 9, 2001, the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU was struck by the submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772) approximately 9 nautical miles south of Diamond Head on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The EHIME MARU sank in approximately 2,000 feet of water. At the time of the sinking, 26 of the 35 crewmembers were successfully rescued. An extensive search failed to locate additional personnel and it is assumed that some, or all, of the nine missing crewmembers were trapped inside the vessel. The EHIME MARU is resting upright on the seafloor at position 21 deg.-04.8'N, 157 deg.-49.5'W. The U.S. Navy plans to recover crewmembers, personal effects, and certain unique characteristic components from the EHIME MARU. In its present location, the vessel is beyond diver capability to safely conduct recovery operations. Therefore, the current recovery plan calls for use of a specially equipped offshore construction vessel to lift the EHIME MARU from the bottom and transport the vessel to a shallow water work site. The EHIME MARU would then be placed back on the seafloor, in approximately 115 feet of water, where Navy divers would enter the hull and attempt to recover crewmembers, personal effects, and uniquely characteristic components found inside. To limit the impact on the marine environment, diesel fuel, lubricating oil, loose debris, and any other hazardous materials will be removed to the maximum extent practicable at the shallow water work site. The hull will then be lifted back off the ocean floor and moved to a deep water relocation site approximately 13 nautical miles south of Barbers Point on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. To support the vessel relocation and crew member recovery operation, the Coast Guard proposes to establish safety zones as follows:

1. A fixed safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, centered at 21 deg.-04.8'N, 157 deg.-49.5'W; the present location of the EHIME MARU.

2. A moving safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, will be in effect during the transit of the EHIME MARU and associated recovery vessels from the present location of the EHIME MARU to the shallow water work site, located within the Naval Defensive Sea Area at approximate position 21 deg.-17.5'N, 157 deg. -56.4'W.

3. A moving safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, will be in effect during transit of the EHIME MARU and associated recovery vessels from the shallow water work site to the deep water relocation site at approximate position 21 deg.-05.0'N, 157 deg.-07.0'W.

4. A fixed safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, centered at the coordinates of the deep water relocation site, will be in effect until the EHIME MARU is placed back on the ocean floor. The portion of the safety zone extending beyond the territorial boundary is advisory only.

   The safety zones would be enforced sequentially, the exact dates will be dependent on the phase of the operation. The safety zones would become effective at the beginning of August, 2001, and would remain in effect until the operation, which will take about 3\1/2\ months, ends in mid-November. The purpose of these safety zones is to protect vessels and mariners from hazards associated with vessel relocation and crew member recovery operations of the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU. Since oil spills may result due to damaged and ruptured fuel tanks, the safety zone would also protect vessels and mariners from the hazards of any pollution response operations that may be necessary. Entry into these safety zones will be prohibited unless

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   authorized by the Captain of the Port Honolulu, HI. The safety zones will be enforced by representatives of the Captain of the Port Honolulu. The Captain of the Port may be assisted by other federal agencies.

   Regulatory Evaluation

   This proposed 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). The U.S. Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this action to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. This expectation is based on the short duration of the zone and the limited geographic area affected by it.

   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 of less than 50,000.

   The U.S. Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this regulation will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. No small business impacts are anticipated due to the small size of the zones and the short duration of the safety zones in any one area. 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.

   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

   The U.S. Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132, and has determined this proposed 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) 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.

   Indian Tribal Governments

   This proposed 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.

   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 U.S. Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this action and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation.

   List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

   Regulation

   For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

   PART 165--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

   Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191, 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

2. From August 1, 2001, to November 15, 2001, new Sec. 165.T14-047 is temporarily added to read as follows:

   Sec. 165.T14-047 Safety zone: Japanese fisheries high school training vessel EHIME MARU relocation and crew member recovery, Pacific Ocean, south shores of the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.

   (a) Location. The following areas are safety zones. All coordinates reference 1983 North American Datum (NAD83).

   (1) At the current location of the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU, all waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius centered at 21 deg.-04.8'N, 157 deg.-49.5'W.

   (2) All waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius of the recovery vessels while enroute between the current location at 21 deg.-04.8'N, 157 deg.-49.5'W, to the shallow water recovery site at 21 deg.-17.5'N, 157 deg.-56.4'W.

   (3) All waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius of the recovery vessels while enroute between the shallow water work site at 21 deg.-17.5'N, 157 deg.-56.4'W, to the deep water relocation site at 21 deg.-05.0'N, 157 deg.-07.0'W.

   (4) All waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius centered at 21 deg.-05.0'N, 157 deg.-07.0'W, except those waters extending beyond the territorial seas.

   (b) Designated representative. A designated representative of the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port is any U.S. Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer that has been authorized by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Honolulu, to act on his behalf. The following officers have or will be designated by the Captain of the Port Honolulu: The senior U.S. Coast Guard boarding officer on each vessel enforcing the safety zone.

   (c) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in Sec. 165.23 of this part, entry into these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port or his designated representatives. The Captain of the Port Honolulu will grant general

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   permissions to enter the zones via Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

   (d) Effective dates. This section is effective from the beginning of August 2001 [date to be inserted in final rule] until the operation ends in mid-November 2001 [date to be inserted in final rule]. The public will be notified of the exact dates for enforcement of the various zones by Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

   Dated: June 19, 2001. G.J. Kanazawa, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Honolulu.

   [FR Doc. 01-16205Filed6-27-01; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-15-P