[Federal Register: February 23, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 34)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 8007-8009]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23fe09-7]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket No. USCG-2009-0046]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Naval Underwater Detonation; Northwest Harbor, San
Clemente Island, CA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable
waters of the Northwest Harbor of San Clemente Island in support of the
Naval Underwater Detonation. This safety zone is necessary to ensure
non-authorized personnel and vessels remain safe by keeping clear of
the hazardous area during the training activity. Persons and vessels
are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring
within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port
(COTP) or his designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective from February 1, 2009 through April 1,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments and materials received from the public, as well as
documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket
are part of docket USCG-2009-0046 and are available online by going to
http://www.regulations.gov, selecting the Advanced Docket Search option
on the right side of the screen, inserting USCG-2009-0046 in the Docket
ID box, pressing Enter, and then clicking on the item in the Docket ID
column. This material is also available for inspection or copying at
two locations: The 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, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, and the U.S. Coast
Guard Sector San Diego, 2710 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego, CA 92101 between
8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this
temporary rule, call Petty Officer Kristen Beer, USCG, Waterways
Management, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego at (619) 278-7262. If you
have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory 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)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good
cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
with respect to this rule because immediate action is necessary to
ensure the safety of commercial and recreational vehicles in the
vicinity of the Naval Underwater Detonation on the dates and times this
rule will be in effect and delay would be contrary to the public
interest.
Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause
exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after
publication in the Federal Register. Delaying the effective date would
be contrary to the public interest, since immediate action is needed to
ensure the public's safety. Any delay in the effective date of this
rule would expose mariners to the dangers posed by the detonation of
underwater explosives.
Background and Purpose
The Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Southern California Offshore
Range will be conducting intermittent training involving the detonation
of military grade explosives underwater throughout February and March
2009. This safety zone is necessary to ensure non-authorized personnel
and vessels remain safe by keeping clear of the hazardous area during
the training activity.
Discussion of Rule
The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone that will be enforced
from February 1, 2009 through April 1, 2009. The limits of the safety
zone will be the navigable waters of the Northwest Harbor of San
Clemente Island bounded by the following coordinates: 33[deg]02'06'' N,
118[deg]35'36'' W; 33[deg]02'00'' N, 118[deg]34'36'' W; thence along
San Clemente shoreline to 33[deg]02'06'' N, 118[deg]35'36'' W. This
safety zone is necessary to ensure non-authorized personnel and vessels
remain safe by keeping clear of the hazardous area during the training
activities. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into,
transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless
authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated
representative.
Regulatory Analyses
We developed this 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 Planning and Review
This 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 rule to be so minimal that a
full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. This determination is based
on the size and location of the safety zone. Recreational vessels will
not be allowed to transit through the designated safety zone during the
specified times while training is being conducted.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have
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
[[Page 8008]]
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 of which
may be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to
transit or anchor in a portion of the Northwest Harbor of San Clemente
Island from February 1, 2009 through August 1, 2009.
This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. Vessel
traffic can pass safely around the safety zone. Although the safety
zone will apply to the harbor, traffic will be allowed to pass through
the zone with the permission of the Coast Guard patrol commander.
Before the effective period, the Coast Guard will issue a broadcast
notice to mariners (BNM) alerts.
Assistance for Small Entities
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offer to assist small
entities in understanding the rule so that they can better evaluate its
effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.
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.
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 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 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
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 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 5100.1 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which
guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded
under the Instruction 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 (34)(g), of the Instruction, from further
environmental documentation.
An environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion
determination are available in the docket where indicated under
ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.
0
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
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:
[[Page 8009]]
Authority: 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, and 160.5;
Pub. L. 107-295; 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security
Delegation No. 0170.1.
0
2. Add a new temporary Sec. 165.T11-148 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T11-148 Safety Zone; Naval Underwater Detonation; Northwest
Harbor, San Clemente Island, CA.
(a) Location. The limits of the safety zone will include the
navigable waters of the Northwest Harbor of San Clemente Island bounded
by the following coordinates: 33[deg]02'06'' N, 118[deg]35'36'' W;
33[deg]02'00'' N, 118[deg]34'36'' W; thence along the coast of San
Clemente Island to 33[deg]02'06'' N, 118[deg]35'36'' W.
(b) Enforcement Period. This section will be enforced from February
1, 2009 through April 1, 2009. If the training is concluded prior to
the scheduled termination time, the COTP will cease enforcement of this
safety zone and will announce that fact via Broadcast Notice to
Mariners.
(c) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section:
designated representative, means any Commissioned, Warrant, or Petty
Officers of the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, or local, state,
and federal law enforcement vessels who have been authorized to act on
the behalf of the COTP; non-authorized personnel and vessels, means any
civilian boats, fishermen, divers, and swimmers.
(d) Regulations. (1) Entry into, transit through or anchoring
within this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP San
Diego or his designated representative.
(2) Non-authorized personnel and vessels requesting permission to
transit through the safety zone may request authorization to do so from
the COTP San Diego or his designated representative. They may be
contacted on VHF-FM Channel 16, or at telephone number (619) 278-7033.
(3) Naval units involved in the exercise are allowed in confines of
the established safety zone.
(4) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of
the Coast Guard COTP or his designated representative.
(5) Upon being hailed by U.S. Coast Guard or other official
personnel by siren, radio, flashing light, or other means, the operator
of a vessel shall proceed as directed.
(6) The Coast Guard may be assisted by other federal, state, or
local agencies and the U.S. Navy.
Dated: February 3, 2009.
T.H. Farris,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port San Diego.
[FR Doc. E9-3764 Filed 2-20-09; 8:45 am]
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