[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 152 (Monday, August 9, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47713-47715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19521]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket No. USCG-2009-0931]
RIN 1625-AA11
Regulated Navigation Area; Galveston Channel, TX
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area
(RNA) across the entire width of the Galveston Channel in the vicinity
of Sector Field Office (SFO) Galveston, Texas. This RNA will require
vessels to navigate at no wake speeds within this area. Vessel transits
at greater than minimum safe speed and causing wake in this area will
be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port
Houston-Galveston or a designated representative. This RNA is needed to
protect the Coast Guard SFO Galveston assets, break wall, and piers
from further damage associated with excessive wake and to protect
ongoing base construction.
DATES: This rule is effective September 8, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as
documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket,
are part of docket USCG-2009-0931 and are available online by going to
http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2009-0931 in the ``Keyword''
box, and then clicking ``Search.'' This material is also available for
inspection or copying at 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule,
call or e-mail Lieutenant junior grade Margaret Brown, Coast Guard
Sector Houston-Galveston, telephone (713) 678-9001, or e-mail
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing the docket,
call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone
202-366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory Information
On April 13, 2010, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM) entitled ``Regulated Navigation Area; Galveston Channel'' in the
Federal Register (75 FR 18766). We received no comments on the proposed
rule and are issuing the final rule without change from the NPRM.
Basis and Purpose
The 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. A regulated navigation area
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. 33
CFR 165.10;
[[Page 47714]]
U.S.C.G. Commandant Instruction Manual M16704.3A, 1-6.
The purpose of this final rule is to establish a regulated
navigation area in Galveston Channel, to protect the surrounding areas
from the harmful effects of excessive wake. This RNA will require
vessels to navigate at minimum safe speeds which produce no wake within
the area of the Coast Guard SFO Galveston, Texas. Vessel transits at
greater than minimum safe speed and causing wake in this area will be
prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port
Houston-Galveston or a designated representative. This RNA is intended
to protect the Coast Guard assets, break wall, and piers from further
damage associated with excessive wake and to protect ongoing base
construction.
Discussion of Comments and Changes
No comments were received regarding this rule. No changes have been
made in the text we proposed in the NPRM.
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 was
unnecessary. The basis of this finding is that the area considered in
this regulated navigation area is limited in nature and would not
create undue delay to vessel traffic in and around the Port of
Galveston.
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 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 for the following reason: The extent of the proposed regulated
navigation area is limited in size and would not create undue delay to
vessel traffic in and around the Port of Galveston.
Assistance for Small Entities
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), in the NPRM we offered to
assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they could
better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking
process.
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 (adjusted for
inflation) 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
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 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which
guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National
[[Page 47715]]
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and
have concluded this action is one of a category of actions that do not
individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human
environment. This rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1,
paragraph (34)(g), of the Instruction because this rule involves a
regulation establishing, disestablishing, or changing Regulated
Navigation Areas and security or safety zones. 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 has amended
33 CFR part 165 as follows:
PART 165--SPECIFIC REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS
AREAS
0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:
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 new Sec. 165.827 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.827 Regulated Navigation Area; Galveston Channel, TX.
(a) Location. The following area is a regulated navigation area:
All waters of the Galveston Channel within the area from Latitude
29[deg]20'19'' N, Longitude 094[deg]46'36'' W, east to Latitude
29[deg]20'06'' N, Longitude 094[deg]46'15'' W, south to Latitude
29[deg]19'47'' N, Longitude 094[deg]46'27'' W, west to Latitude
29[deg]19'51'' N, Longitude 094[deg]46'45'' W, and north to Latitude
29[deg]20'19'' N, Longitude 094[deg]46'36'' W.
(b) Regulations. (1) Vessels navigating this area must do so at a
minimum safe speed so as to not cause any wake.
(2) Vessels may proceed at greater than a minimum safe speed with
permission of the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston or a designated
representative.
(3) To request permission as required by these regulations, contact
the Sector Houston-Galveston Command Center by telephone at (713)671-
5113.
Dated: July 27, 2010.
Mary E. Landry,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, District 8 Commander.
[FR Doc. 2010-19521 Filed 8-6-10; 8:45 am]
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