96-15046. Reorganization of Coast Guard Areas, Districts, and Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 29958-29959]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-15046]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Coast Guard
    
    33 CFR Part 3
    
    [CGD 96-025]
    RIN 2115-AF32
    
    
    Reorganization of Coast Guard Areas, Districts, and Marine 
    Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones
    
    AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: To conform with an internal reorganization of its field 
    command structure, the Coast Guard is amending the descriptions of the 
    Second and Eighth Coast Guard District boundaries and redesignating 
    several Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones. In addition, 
    the Coast Guard is amending the description of the location of the 
    Atlantic Area, Pacific Area, and Eleventh Coast Guard District offices. 
    These changes are administrative and will not impact the type or level 
    of Coast Guard services performed.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective June 13, 1996, except for 
    Sec. 3.04-1(a) which is effective June 14, 1996, and Sec. 3.04-3(a) 
    which is effective June 28, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated, documents referred to in the 
    preamble are available for inspection or copying at the Office of the 
    Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-LRS/3406), U.S. Coast 
    Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Room 3406, Washington, DC 
    20593-0001 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
    Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Ms. Maureen Melton, Plans and Policy Division (G-CPP), U.S. Coast Guard 
    Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except 
    Federal holidays. The telephone Number is (202) 267-2299.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background and Purpose
    
    Atlantic Area and Pacific Area
    
        During 1996, the Coast Guard reorganized the Area field command and 
    control structures and relocated the Atlantic Area office from New York 
    City, to Portsmouth, VA, and relocated the Eleventh District office 
    from Long Beach, CA, to Alameda, CA. The Atlantic and Pacific Area 
    Commanders also serve as the Fifth and Eleventh District Commanders, 
    respectively. The separate authorities and responsibilities of the Area 
    Commanders and District Commanders are unaffected by the consolidated 
    of their command staffs.
    
    Second District--Merger Into the Eighth District
    
        Previously, the Second Coast Guard District and Eighth District 
    exercised jurisdiction in their respective regions. In 1996, the Coast 
    Guard realigned its field command and control structure in the Gulf of 
    Mexico and Midwestern regions through the merger of the Second District 
    into the Eighth District. The Second District has been disestablished 
    and the Eighth District boundaries have been expanded to include the 
    prior Second District area of responsibilities. This realignment 
    enables more efficient internal management and enhances mission 
    performance in the affected region. The merger streamlined command and 
    control of activities within the combined Second and Eighth District 
    regions. The Eighth District Commander now exercises authority over the 
    combined geographic region. The merger will not adversely affect the 
    public, since there will be no change in Coast Guard operational assets 
    or Coast Guard services in the respective regions. The descriptions of 
    Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones which belonged to the 
    Second District are being renumbered to reflect their realignment with 
    the Eighth District.
    
    Discussion of Changes
    
        Sec. 3.01-1. This section, describing generally the Area 
    Commanders' responsibilities, is revised to reflect the fact that the 
    Atlantic Area Commander also serves as Fifth District Commander and the 
    Pacific Area Commander also serves as the Eleventh District Commander.
        Sec. 3.04-1. This section, describing the Area offices and 
    jurisdictions, is revised to reflect the relocation of the Atlantic Are 
    office from New York, NY to Portsmouth, VA and eliminates reference to 
    the Second Coast Guard District which was disestablished with its 
    merger into the Eighth District. The section is also revised to 
    correctly reflect the location of the Pacific Area office as Alameda, 
    CA and to reflect relocation of Eleventh District office from Long 
    Beach, CA to Alameda, CA.
        Sec. 3.10-1. This section, describing the Second District, is 
    removed to conform with the disestablishment of the Second District as 
    a result of its merger into the Eighth District.
        Sec. 3.10-10 through 03.10-50. These sections, describing the six 
    Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones within the prior Second 
    District, are redesignated under Subpart 3.40 to conform with the 
    reassignment of these MI and COTP zones to Eighth District as a result 
    of the merger of the Second District into the Eighth District.
        Sec. 3.40-1. This section, describing the Eighth District, is 
    revised to describe its new boundaries which incorporate the prior 
    Second District boundaries as a result of the merger of the Second 
    District into the Eighth District.
        The current CFR descriptions do not reflect the reorganizations in 
    the Coast Guard Areas, affected Coast Guard District, and the 
    realignment of Marine Inspection (MI) and Captain of the Port (COTP) 
    Zones. Since this is a matter relating to agency organization, 
    procedure, and management, it is excluded from the requirements of 
    section 553(b)(3)(A) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 
    et seq.) for a notice of proposed rulemaking and public comment. These 
    changes are administrative and will not impact the type of level of 
    Coast Guard services performed. Further, since the rule has no 
    substantial effect on service to the public, good cause exists under 5 
    U.S.C. 553(d) to make the rule effective less than 30 days after 
    publication.
    
    Regulatory Evaluation
    
        This 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. It 
    has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 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 
    rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 
    10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 
    This rule merely implements administrative changes within the Coast 
    Guard structure. Coast Guard services to the public will not be 
    changed.
    
    Collection of Information
    
        This rule contains no collection-of-information requirements under 
    the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
    
    [[Page 29959]]
    
    Federalism
    
        The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and 
    criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that 
    this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
    the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    
    Environment
    
        The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
    and concluded that, under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction 
    M16475.1B, as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994, this rule is 
    categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This 
    rule is an administrative change under paragraph 2.B.2.1, and will not 
    impact the environment. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is 
    available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under 
    ADDRESSES.
    
    List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 3
    
        Organization and functions (Government Agencies).
    
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 
    CFR part 3 as follows:
    
    PART 3--COAST GUARD AREAS, DISTRICTS, MARINE INSPECTION ZONES, AND 
    CAPTAIN OF THE PORT ZONES
    
        1. The authority citation for part 3 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 14 U.S.C. 633; 49 CFR 1.45, 1.46.
    
        2. In Sec. 3.01-1, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 3.01-1  General description.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) The two Coast Guard Areas are the Atlantic Area (see Sec. 3.04-
    1) and the Pacific Area (see Sec. 3.04-3). The Coast Guard Area 
    Commander is in command of a Coast Guard Area; the offices are referred 
    to as a Coast Guard Area Office. The office of the Commander, Atlantic 
    Area, is located in the Fifth Coast Guard District and the Commander, 
    Atlantic Area, also serves as the Fifth District Commander. The office 
    of the Commander, Pacific Area, is located in the Eleventh Coast Guard 
    District and the Commander, Pacific Area, also serves as the Eleventh 
    District Commander. Area Commanders have the responsibility of 
    determining when operational matters require the coordination of forces 
    and facilities of more than one district.
    * * * * *
        3. In Sec. 3.04-1, paragraph (a) is revised, and in paragraph (b), 
    the word ``Second'' is removed to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 3.04-1  Atlantic Area.
    
        (a) The Area Office is in Portsmouth, VA.
    * * * * *
        4. In Sec. 3.04-3, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 3.04-3  Pacific Area.
    
        (a) The Area Office is in Alameda, CA.
    * * * * *
    
    Subpart 3.10--Second Coast Guard District [Heading Removed]
    
    
    Sec. 3.10-1  [Removed]; Sec. 3.10-10 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-40]; 
    Sec. 3.10-5 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-45]; Sec. 3.10-30 [Redesignated 
    as Sec. 3.40-50]; Sec. 3.10-35 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-55]; 
    Sec. 3.10-40 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-60]; and Sec. 3.10-50 
    [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-65]
    
        5. In Subpart 3.10, the subpart heading and Sec. 3.10-1 are 
    removed; Sec. 3.10-10 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-40; Sec. 3.10-15 is 
    redesignated as Sec. 3.40-45; Sec. 3.10-30 is redesignated as 
    Sec. 3.40-50; Sec. 3.10-35 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-55; Sec. 3.10-
    40 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-60; and Sec. 3.10-50 is redesignated as 
    Sec. 3.40-65.
        6. In Sec. 3.40-1, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 3.40-1  Eighth district.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) The Eighth Coast Guard District is comprised of North Dakota, 
    South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, 
    Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, 
    Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; that part of Pennsylvania 
    south of 41 deg. N. latitude and west of 79 deg. W. longitude; those 
    parts of Ohio and Indiana south of 41 deg. N. latitude; Illinois, 
    except that part north of 41 deg. N. latitude and east of 90 deg. W. 
    longitude; that part of Wisconsin south of 46 deg.20' N. latitude and 
    west of 90 deg. W. longitude; that part of Minnesota south of 
    46 deg.20' N. latitude; those parts of Florida and Georgia west of a 
    line starting at the Florida coast at 83 deg.50' W. longitude; thence 
    northerly to 30 deg.15' N. latitude, 83 deg.50' W. longitude; thence 
    due west to 30 deg.15' N. latitude, 84 deg.45' W. longitude; thence due 
    north to the southern bank of the Jim Woodruff Reservoir at 84 deg.45' 
    W. longitude; thence northeasterly along the eastern bank of the Jim 
    Woodruff Reservoir and northerly along the eastern bank of the Flint 
    River to Montezuma, GA.; thence northwesterly to West Point, GA.; and 
    the Gulf of Mexico area west of a line bearing 199 T. from the 
    intersection of the Florida coast at 83 deg.50' W. longitude (the 
    coastal end of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard District land 
    boundary.) [DATUM NAD83]
        13. In Sec. 3.55-1, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    3.55-1  Eleventh District.
    
        (a) The District Office is in Alameda, California.
    * * * * *
        Dated: May 28, 1996.
    Kent H. Williams,
    Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Staff.
    [FR Doc. 96-15046 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
6/13/1996
Published:
06/13/1996
Department:
Coast Guard
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-15046
Dates:
This rule is effective June 13, 1996, except for Sec. 3.04-1(a) which is effective June 14, 1996, and Sec. 3.04-3(a) which is effective June 28, 1996.
Pages:
29958-29959 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CGD 96-025
RINs:
2115-AF32
PDF File:
96-15046.pdf
CFR: (11)
33 CFR 3.04-1(a)
33 CFR 3.01-1
33 CFR 3.04-1
33 CFR 3.04-3
33 CFR 3.10-1
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