Regulated Navigation Area; Reporting Requirements for Barges Loaded With Certain Dangerous Cargoes, Inland Rivers, Ninth Coast Guard District; Stay (Suspension)
Federal Register, Volume 78 Issue 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2013)
Federal Register Volume 78, Number 192 (Thursday, October 3, 2013)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 61183-61185
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2013-24153
Page 61183
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
USCG-2013-0849
RIN 1625-AA11
Regulated Navigation Area; Reporting Requirements for Barges Loaded With Certain Dangerous Cargoes, Inland Rivers, Ninth Coast Guard District; Stay (Suspension)
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District is staying (suspending) reporting requirements under the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) established for barges loaded with certain dangerous cargoes (CDC barges) in the inland rivers of the Ninth Coast Guard District. This stay (suspension) extension is necessary because the Coast Guard continues to analyze future reporting needs and evaluate possible changes in CDC reporting requirements. This stay (suspension) of the CDC reporting requirements in no way relieves towing vessel operators and fleeting area managers responsible for CDC barges in the RNA from their dangerous cargo or vessel arrival and movement reporting obligations currently in effect under other regulations or placed into effect under appropriate Coast Guard authority.
DATES: This rule is effective on October 3, 2013 until December 31, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket are part of docket USCG-2013-0849. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH''. Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this temporary rule, call or email LCDR David Webb, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 216-902-6050, email: David.M.Webb@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Acronyms
CDC Certain Dangerous Cargo
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
-
Regulatory History and Information
The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because it would be impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest.
The contract for the CDC barge reporting system at the Inland River Vessel Movement Center (IRVMC) expired in January 2011. Due to the expiration of this contract, the Coast Guard is not able to receive and process reports. Therefore in late December 2010, the Coast Guard decided to suspend the IRVMC reporting requirements for a 2-year period. This suspension was published in the Federal Register at 76 FR 2829 (January 18, 2011), and was due to expire on January 15, 2013. The Coast Guard extended this suspension from January 23, 2013 until September 30, 2013, and published this extended suspension in the Federal Register at 78 FR 4788 (January 23, 2013).
At this time, there is no plan to renew the contract for the CDC barge reporting system, and the Coast Guard is still considering whether to enter into a new contract and lift the suspension, modify the reporting requirements in the RNA, or repeal the RNA completely. Additionally, the Coast Guard has proposed a rule that would require vessels in this area to install and carry Automatic Identification System (AIS). See Vessel Requirements for Notices of Arrival and Departure, and Automatic Identification System notice of proposed rulemaking (73 FR 76295, December 16, 2008). These requirements, if imposed, may provide a suitable alternative to the stayed reporting requirements of 33 CFR 165.921. Therefore, an additional extension of the stay is necessary while the Coast Guard continues to evaluate these options.
We believe prior notice and comment is unnecessary because we expect the affected public will have no objection to resuming the stay (suspension) of regulatory requirements that will expire on October 1, 2013. The Coast Guard received no public comment or objection regarding the suspension that was in effect from 2011 until January 15, 2013. Prior notice and comment is also contrary to the public interest because there is no public purpose served by continuing to require reports when there is no mechanism for receiving or processing those reports.
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(1), a substantive rule that relieves a restriction may be made effective less than 30 days after publication. This temporary final rule, suspending the reporting requirements and thereby relieving the regulatory restriction on towing vessel operators and fleeting area managers provided by 33 CFR 165.921, is effective the same date of its publication in the Federal Register.
-
Basis and Purpose
The legal basis for this rulemaking is the Coast Guard's authority to establish regulated navigation areas, under 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; and Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1. An RNA is a water area within a defined boundary for which regulations for vessels navigating within the area have been established, to control vessel traffic in a place determined to have hazardous conditions. See 33 CFR 165.10; Commandant Instruction Manual M16704.3A, 1-6.
The purpose of this temporary final rule is to continue the suspension of reporting requirements that was in place between January 2011 and January 15, 2013 and extended from January 23, 2013 through September 30, 2013. This temporary rule relieves the towing vessel operators and fleeting area managers responsible for CDC barges from the 33 CFR 165.921 reporting requirements for the period from the date of publication of this rule in the Federal Register, October 3, 2013, to December 31, 2015. We intend for there to be no gap in the stay of these reporting requirements, but if this rule is published after September 30, 2013, we will not enforce the reporting requirements during any gap in the stay.
Page 61184
-
Discussion of the Final Rule
During the suspension of reporting requirements, towing vessel operators and fleeting area managers responsible for CDC barges will be relieved of their obligation to report their CDCs under 33 CFR 165.921(d), (e), (f), (g), and (h). This suspension in no way relieves towing vessel operators and fleeting area managers responsible for CDC barges from their dangerous cargo or vessel arrival and movement reporting obligations currently in effect under other regulations or placed into effect under appropriate Coast Guard authority.
-
Regulatory Analyses
We developed this temporary final rule after considering numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses based on 14 of these statutes or executive orders.
-
Regulatory Planning and Review
This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, as supplemented by Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866 or under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order. This rule is temporary and limited in nature by extending the previously published suspension of CDC barge reporting requirements, creating no undue delay to vessel traffic in the regulated area.
-
Small Entities
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as amended, requires federal agencies to consider the potential impact of regulations on small entities during rulemaking. 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 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule will affect the following entities, some which may be small entities: Owners or operators of CDC barges intending to transit the Inland Rivers in the Ninth Coast Guard District from October 3, 2013 to December 31, 2015. This rule will not have a significant economic impact on those entities or a substantial number of any small entities because this rule suspends reporting requirements during this period.
-
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 rule. 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 the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above.
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). 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 rule calls 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 rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.
-
Protest Activities
The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or security of people, places, or vessels.
-
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 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 cause 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 create 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 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.
-
Energy Effects
This action is not a ``significant energy action'' under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use.
-
Technical Standards
This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.
-
Environment
We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in
Page 61185
complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have determined that this action is one of a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. This rule involves the extension of a previously published suspension of reporting requirements established for CDC barges transiting the inland rivers of the Ninth Coast Guard District. This rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of the Instruction. Under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of the Instruction, an environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion determination are not required for this rule.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows:
PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS
0
-
The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
0
-
Amend 33 CFR 165.921 by staying paragraphs (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) from October 3, 2013 until December 31, 2015.
Dated: September 25, 2013.
Fred M. Midgette,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.
FR Doc. 2013-24153 Filed 10-2-13; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
-
