Ports and waterways safety: USCGC Eagle port visit, Salem Harbor, MA; safety and security zones,
[Federal Register: July 11, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 133)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 45945-45947]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jy02-19]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[CGD01-02-063]
RIN 2115-AA97
Safety and Security Zones: USCGC EAGLE Port Visit--Salem Harbor, Massachusetts
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish temporary safety and security zones for the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) EAGLE's port visit to the PG & E Power Plant in Salem, MA, from August 9, 2002, to August 12, 2002. The safety and security zones would temporarily close all waters within a 100 yard radius of the USCGC EAGLE while underway off the coast of Massachusetts in United States territorial seas, and while moored at the PG & E Pier in Salem Harbor, Salem, MA. The safety and security zones would prohibit entry into or movement within this portion of Salem Harbor during the effective periods.
DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before 29 July 2002.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments and related material to Marine Safety Office Boston, 455 Commercial Street, Boston, MA. Marine Safety Office Boston 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 the docket and will be available for inspection or copying at Marine Safety Office Boston between 8 A.M. and 3 P.M., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Dave Sherry, Marine Safety Office Boston, Waterways Safety and Response Division, at (617) 223- 3000.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Information
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 (CGD01-02- 063), 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.
Public Meeting
We do not plan to hold a public meeting. However, you may submit a request for a meeting by writing to Marine Safety Office Boston at the address under ADDRESSES explaining why one would be beneficial. If we determine that a public meeting would aid in this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a separate notice in the Federal Register.
Background and Purpose
In light of terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001, temporary safety and security zones are proposed to safeguard the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) EAGLE (a training vessel for the U. S. Coast Guard Academy), persons on the vessel, the public, and surrounding communities from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature. The USCGC EAGLE presents a possible target of terrorist attack, because it is a prominent and highly visible public vessel. These proposed safety and security zones, having identical boundaries, prohibit entry into or movement within the specified areas.
This regulation proposes to establish safety and security zones within a 100 yard radius of the USCGC EAGLE while it is moored at the PG & E Pier in Salem Harbor, Salem, MA and while the vessel is transiting within navigable waters of the United States in the Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston zone, as defined in 33 CFR 3.05-10. Under the Ports and Waterways Safety Act, (33 U.S.C.S. 1221 et. seq.) navigable waters of the United States include all waters of the territorial sea of the United States as described in Presidential Proclamation No. 5928 of December 27, 1988 (103 Stat. 2981; 54 FR 777, January 9, 1989). This Presidential Proclamation declared that the territorial sea of the United States extends to 12 nautical miles from the baseline of the United States determined in accordance with international law.
The safety and security zones would be in effect while the USCGC EAGLE is transiting within the navigable waters of the United States and while moored at the PG & E Pier from August 9, 2002, to August 12, 2002.
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These zones are needed to safeguard the USCGC EAGLE, the public and the surrounding area from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature. Marine traffic may transit safely outside of the safety and security zones during the effective periods. Public notifications will be made prior to the effective period via safety marine information broadcasts and local notice to mariners.
Due to the short timeframe before this event takes place, a normal period for notice and comment was not possible. However, we wanted to provide the public the opportunity to comment. The shortened comment period provided will permit the public to participate in this rulemaking, while still providing sufficient time to develop and publish a final rule, thereby accounting for the interest in safety and security of the maritime community and of the USCGC EAGLE during the specified periods. Accordingly, this rule will become effective less than thirty days after publication.
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 Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this proposed rule to be minimal enough that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.
The Captain of The Port does anticipate some impact to vessel traffic due to the proposed safety and security zones. Some impact on recreational vessel and small passenger vessel traffic is expected in the vicinity of Salem Harbor, however it is expected to be minimal due to the ability of these vessels to transit safely outside of the safety and security zones. Thus, although this proposed regulation would prevent traffic from transiting a portion of Salem Harbor during the effective periods, the effects of this proposed regulation will not be significant for the reasons outlined above. Advance notifications will be made to the local maritime community by safety marine information broadcasts and local notice to mariners.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Coast Guard considered whether this proposed 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 Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule would not have significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule would have a minimal impact on small entities because vessel traffic can safely pass outside of the safety and security zones during the effective periods, the safety and security zones are limited in duration, and advance notifications will be made to the local maritime community by safety marine information broadcasts and local notice to mariners.
If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed 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.
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 proposed rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. 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 Lieutenant Dave Sherry at the address listed under ADDRESSES.
Collection of Information
This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
Federalism
The Coast Guard analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13132 and has 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 costs. This proposed rule would not impose an unfunded mandate.
Taking of Private Property
This proposed rule would 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 proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Execute Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.
Protection of Children
The Coast Guard analyzed this proposed 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 pose an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.
Indian Tribal Governments
This proposed rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. A rule with tribal implications has 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. We invite your comments on how this proposed rule might impact tribal governments, even if that impact may not constitute a ``tribal implication'' under the Order.
Environment
The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this proposed rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, (34)(g), of Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, this proposed rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. A
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``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and record keeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR part 165 as follows:
PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS
-
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, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.
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Add temporary Sec. 165.T02-063 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T02-063 Safety and Security Zones: USCGC EAGLE Port visit- Salem Harbor, Massachusetts.
(a) Location: The following areas are safety and security zones:
(1) All waters of Salem Harbor within a 100 yard radius of the United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) EAGLE while moored at the PG & E Pier;
(2) All navigable waters of the United States within the Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston zone, as defined in 33 CFR 3.05-10, within a 100 yard radius of the USCGC EAGLE while underway.
(b) Effective Period. This section is effective from 6 a.m. August 9, 2002 through 6 p.m. August 12, 2002.
(c) Definitions. For purposes of this section, navigable waters of the United States includes all waters of the territorial sea as described in Presidential Proclamation No. 5928 of December 27, 1988. Presidential Proclamation No. 5928 of December 27, 1988 declared that the territorial sea of the United States extends to 12 nautical miles from the baseline of the United States.
(d) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in Secs. 165.23 and 165.33 of this part, entry into or movement within these zones will be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Boston.
(2) All vessel operators shall comply with the instructions of the COTP or the designated on-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel. On- scene Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the Coast Guard on board Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, local, state, and federal law enforcement vessels.
Dated: July 2, 2002. B.M. Salerno, Captain, Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Boston, Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. 02-17474Filed7-10-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-U
