[Federal Register: December 13, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 238)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 72138-72140]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr13de04-16]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[CGD01-04-127]
RIN 2115-AE47
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Shrewsbury River, NJ
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operating
regulations governing the operation of the Route 36 Bridge, mile 1.8,
across the Shrewsbury River at Highlands, New Jersey. This proposed
change to the drawbridge operation regulations would allow the bridge
owner to require an advance notice for bridge openings during periods
the bridge has received few requests to open from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.,
each day, and all day during the winter months December 1 through March
31. This action is expected to help relieve the bridge owner from the
burden of crewing the bridge at all times while continuing to meet the
present needs of navigation.
DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before February 11,
2005.
ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard
District, Bridge Branch, One South Street, Battery Park Building, New
York, New York, 10004, or deliver them to the same address between 7
a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except, Federal holidays. The
telephone number is (212) 668-7165. The First Coast Guard District,
Bridge Branch, 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 the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, 7 a.m. to 3
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Arca, Project Officer, First Coast
Guard District, (212) 668-7165.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 72139]]
Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
comments or related material. If you do so, please include your name
and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD01-04-
127), 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 if
they 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 now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a
request for a meeting by writing to the First Coast Guard District,
Bridge Branch, 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
The Route 36 Bridge, mile 1.8, across the Shrewsbury River at
Highlands, New Jersey, has a vertical clearance of 35 feet at mean high
water and 39 feet at mean low water.
The existing regulations listed at 33 CFR 117.755, require the
Route 36 Bridge to open on signal; except that, from May 15 through
October 15, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., the draw need open only on the hour and
half hour.
The bridge owner, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT),
requested a change to the drawbridge operation regulations that govern
the Route 36 Bridge to allow the bridge owner to require a 4-hour
advance notice for bridge openings from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., each day,
and all day from December 1 through March 31. The bridge rarely opens
after 11 p.m. and during the winter months. This proposed rule, if
adopted, would help relieve the bridge owner from the burden of crewing
the bridge during time periods when the bridge has had few requests to
open.
Discussion of Proposal
This proposed change would amend 33 CFR 117.755(a) by revising
paragraph (a), which lists the Route 36 Bridge drawbridge operation
regulations. This proposed change would allow the Route 36 Bridge to
open on signal after a 4-hour advance notice is given from 11 p.m. to 7
a.m., each day, and all day, from December 1 through March 31.
Regulatory Evaluation
This proposed rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review,
and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits
under 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 Homeland
Security.
We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so
minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation, under the regulatory
policies and procedures of DHS, is unnecessary.
This conclusion is based on the fact that the bridge will continue
to open for vessel traffic at all times after the advance notice is
given.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we
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 section 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that this
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
This conclusion is based on the fact that the bridge will continue
to open for vessel traffic at all times after the advance notice is
given.
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.
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 us in writing at, Commander
(obr), First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, 408 Atlantic Avenue,
Boston, MA. 02110-3350. The telephone number is (617) 223-8364. 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 proposed rule would call 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 proposed rule
under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications
for federalism.
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.
Taking of Private Property
This proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 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 would not
create an
[[Page 72140]]
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 would 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
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. The Administrator of the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy
action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects
under Executive Order 13211.
Technical Standards
The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress,
through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why
using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical
standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or
operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management
systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus
standards bodies.
This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we
did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.
Environment
We have analyzed this proposed rule under Commandant Instruction
M16475.1D, which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and
have concluded that there are no factors in this case that would limit
the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the
Instruction. Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded, under
figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, from further
environment documentation because it has been determined that the
promulgation of operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges are
categorically excluded.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
Bridges.
Regulations
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes
to amend 33 CFR part 117 as follows:
PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; Department of Homeland Security
Delegation No. 0170.1; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 117.255 also issued
under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.
2. Section 117.755 is amended by revising paragraph (a) to read as
follows:
Sec. 117.755 Shrewsbury River.
(a) The Route 36 Bridge, mile 1.8, at Highlands, New Jersey, shall
open on signal; except that:
(1) From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. the draw shall open on signal after at
least a 4-hour advance notice is given.
(2) From May 15 through October 15, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., the draw need
open on the hour and half hour only.
(3) From December 1 through March 31, the draw shall open on signal
at all times after at least a 4-hour advance notice is given.
(4) The owners of the bridge shall provide and keep in good legible
condition, two 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: November 29, 2004.
David P. Pekoske,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 04-27217 Filed 12-10-04; 8:45 am]
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