[Federal Register: February 20, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 33)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7844-7847]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20fe09-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[USCG-2009-0051]
RIN 1625-AA09
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
(AIWW), Scotts Hill, NC
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation
regulations of the Figure Eight Swing Bridge, at AIWW mile 278.1, at
Scotts Hill, NC. This proposal would allow for the drawbridge to open
on signal every hour on the half hour for the passage of pleasure
vessels. At all times, the draw will continue to open on signal for
commercial vessels. The proposed change would result in more efficient
use of the bridge.
DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or
before April 6, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket
number USCG-2009-0051 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S.
Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one
of the following methods:
(1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.
(2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
(3) Hand delivery: Room W12-140 on the Ground Floor of the West
Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The
telephone number is 202-366-9329.
(4) Fax: 202-493-2251.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed
[[Page 7845]]
rule, call Gary S. Heyer, Bridge Management Specialist, Fifth Coast
Guard District, at (757) 398-6629. If you have questions on viewing or
submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Participation and Request for Comments
We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted,
without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with the
Department of Transportation (DOT) to use the Docket Management
Facility. Please see DOT's ``Privacy Act'' paragraph below.
Submitting Comments
If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this
rulemaking (USCG-2009-0051), indicate the specific section of this
document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each
comment. We recommend that you include your name and a mailing address,
an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of your document so
that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission.
You may submit your comments and material by electronic means, mail,
fax, or delivery to the Docket Management Facility at the address under
ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one
means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an
unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying
and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to
know that they reached the Facility, 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.
Viewing Comments and Documents
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at
any time. Enter the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2009-0051)
in the Search box, and click ``Go>>.'' You may also visit either the
Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the
DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays or at Commander (dpb), Fifth Coast Guard District, Federal
Building, 1st Floor, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, VA 23704-5004
between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
Privacy Act
Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received into
any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment
(or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the Department of
Transportation's Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register
published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit http://
DocketsInfo.dot.gov.
Public Meeting
We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a
request for one to the Docket Management Facility 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
The Figure Eight Homeowner Association Inc., (FEHAI), is
responsible for the operation of the Figure Eight Swing Bridge, at AIWW
mile 278.1, at Scotts Hill, NC.
In the closed-to-navigation position, the Figure Eight Swing Bridge
has a vertical clearance of 20 feet, above mean high water (MHW). Also,
the vertical clearance in the open position at this location is limited
to 85 feet, above MHW, by the overhead power line. The existing
regulation is set out in 33 CFR 117.821(a)(3) which requires the draw
to open on signal at all times for commercial vessels, and open on the
hour and half hour for pleasure craft.
The FEHAI requested a change to the existing regulations in an
effort to improve the schedule for both roadway and waterway users. The
swing bridge provides the only route on and off Figure Eight Island.
This proposal would not change the requirement for the bridge to open
on signal at any time for commercial and government vessels. The
proposal would facilitate pleasure craft in navigating the AIWW, while
also helping to ease vehicular traffic congestion. Most vessels
transiting the area in the spring and fall are operated by owners
commonly referred to as ``snowbirds''. Owners of these transitory
recreational vessels are either traveling north to south towards a
warmer climate in the fall or south to north towards a cooler climate
in the spring which can result in frequent bridge openings due to
increased number of vessels. (See Table A)
Table A
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Bridge Openings for 2005
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JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
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147 97 160 297 410 313 311 164 160 340 399 227
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1Bridge Openings for 2006
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JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
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156 80 162 309 388 308 237 163 164 331 354 172
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1Bridge Openings for 2007
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JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC
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151 100 144 268 373 285 184 184 132 311 296 106
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[[Page 7846]]
Also, the Coast Guard examined the operation of the S.R. 74 Bridge,
at AIWW mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach located just south of the
Figure Eight Swing Bridge. The S.R. 74 Bridge provides vessel openings
on the hour between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., except that from 7 a.m. to 11
a.m. on the third and fourth Saturday in September of every year, the
draw need not open for vessels due to the Triathlon run. The proposed
change would allow pleasure vessels to proceed safely through each of
these bridges without delay.
Discussion of Proposed Rule
The Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR 117.821(a)(3) by requiring
openings of the draw every hour on the half hour for the passage of
pleasure vessels. At all times, the draw will continue to open on
signal for commercial vessels.
Regulatory Analyses
We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes
and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our
analyses based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.
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 section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and
Budget has not reviewed it under that Order.
We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so
minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. We reached
this conclusion based on the fact that the proposed changes have only a
minimal impact on maritime traffic transiting the bridge; mariners of
recreational vessels can plan their transits in accordance with the
scheduled bridge openings to minimize delays and recreational vessels
that can safely transit under the bridge while the draw span is in a
closed position may do so at any time.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have
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 a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities.
This proposed rule could affect the following entities, some of
which might be small entities: The owners or operators of recreational
vessels needing to transit through the bridge.
This action will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities because recreational vessels that
can safely transit under the bridge while the draw span is in a closed
position may do so at any time. Also, other mariners of recreational
vessels can plan their trips in accordance with the scheduled bridge
openings to minimize delays.
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 Waverly W. Gregory, Jr., Bridge
Administrator, Fifth Coast Guard District, (757) 398-6222. 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 will 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 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 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 environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might
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, 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 proposed 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
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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.lD and Department of Homeland Security Management Directive
5100.1, which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and
have made a preliminary determination that this action is not likely to
have a significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, this
rule is categorically excluded, under section 2.B.2. Figure 2-1,
paragraph 32(e), of the Instruction and neither an environmental
assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required. This rule
involves the operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. No
environmental analysis checklist is required. We seek any comments or
information that may lead to the discovery of a significant
environmental impact from this proposed rule.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117
Bridges.
For the reasons discussed 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; 33 CFR 1.05-1; Department of Homeland
Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
2. Revise Sec. 117.821(a)(3) to read as follows:
Sec. 117.821 Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Albermarle Sound to
Sunset Beach.
* * * * *
(3) Figure Eight Swing Bridge, mile 278.1, at Scotts Hill, NC, the
draw need only open every hour on the half hour.
* * * * *
Dated: February 4, 2009.
Fred M. Rosa, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard Commander, Fifth Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. E9-3561 Filed 2-19-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P