96-21841. Pamlico Sound and Adjacent Waters, North Carolina, Danger Zones; Alligator Bayou off St. Andrew Bay, Florida; and Suisun Bay, West of Carquinez Straits at the Naval Weapons Station, Concord, California, Restricted Areas  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 167 (Tuesday, August 27, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 43969-43970]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-21841]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
    
    Department of the Army
    
    Corps of Engineers
    
    33 CFR Part 334
    
    
    Pamlico Sound and Adjacent Waters, North Carolina, Danger Zones; 
    Alligator Bayou off St. Andrew Bay, Florida; and Suisun Bay, West of 
    Carquinez Straits at the Naval Weapons Station, Concord, California, 
    Restricted Areas
    
    AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Corps is amending the regulations which establish several 
    danger zones in Pamlico Sound and the Neuse River in North Carolina to 
    delete one of the danger zones and make minor editorial changes to the 
    regulations. The danger zone as it exists, protrudes into and 
    interferes with navigation in Turnagain Bay and will not be used again 
    by the Government for a use that precludes free use by the public. The 
    Corps is also making minor editorial amendments to the regulations 
    which establish a restricted area in the waters of Alligator Bayou, a 
    tributary of St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida and a 
    restricted area in the waters of Suisun Bay, west of Carquinez Straits 
    at the Naval Weapons Station, Concord, California, to clarify that 
    persons, as well as vessels, are not allowed within the restricted 
    areas. This amendment will not affect the size, location or further 
    restrict the public's use of the restricted areas. The restricted areas 
    continue to be essential to the safety and security of Government 
    facilities, vessels and personnel and protect the public from the 
    hazards associated with the operations at Government facilities.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: October 28, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: HQUSACE, CECW-OR, Washington, D.C. 20314-1000.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Ralph Eppard, Regulatory Branch, 
    CECW-OR at (202) 761-1783, or questions concerning the Pamlico Sound, 
    NC danger zone revocation may be directed to Mr. David Franklin of the 
    Wilmington District at (910) 251-44952. Questions concerning the 
    Alligator Bayou restricted area may be directed to Mr. Larry Evans of 
    the Jacksonville District at (904) 232-3943. Any questions concerning 
    the Suisun Bay, California restricted area may be directed to Mr. Mark 
    D'Avignon of the San Francisco District at (415) 977-8446.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to its authorities in Section 7 of 
    the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1917 (40 Stat. 266; 33 U.S.C. 1) and 
    Chapter XIX of the Army Appropriations Act of 1919 (40 Stat. 892; 33 
    U.S.C. 3), the Corps is amending the regulations in 33 CFR Part 
    334.420, 334.760 and 334.1110.
        The Commanding Officer, Marine Corps Air Bases, Eastern Area, 
    Cherry Point, North Carolina, has requested an amendment to the 
    regulations in 33 CFR 334.420(b)(1)(ii), to disestablish a danger zone 
    in the waters off Mulberry Point in Pamlico Sound. The area will be 
    opened to public use upon the effective date of these final rules. The 
    remaining danger zones established in 33 CFR 334.420 remain in effect. 
    We are also making an editorial change to clarify that these danger 
    zone regulations apply to personnel as well as vessels. The Commanding 
    Officer, Coastal Systems Station, Dahlgren Division, Naval Surface 
    Warfare Center, Panama City, Florida, and the Commanding Officer, Naval 
    Weapons Station Concord, Concord, California have also requested that 
    the word ``person'' be inserted into the regulations in 33 CFR 
    334.760(b)(1) and 33 CFR 334.1110(2), respectively, to clarify that 
    restrictions apply not only to vessels, but to personnel as well. Other 
    minor editorial changes are being made to 33 CFR 334.1110 to correct 
    paragraph designations in the regulations. These amendments to the 
    danger zones in 33 CFR 334.420 and the restricted areas in 33 CFR 
    334.760 and 334.1110 are being promulgated without being published as 
    proposed rules with opportunity for public comment because the changes 
    are editorial in nature and since the revisions do not change the 
    boundaries or increase the restrictions on the public's use or entry 
    into the designated areas, the changes will have practically no effect 
    on the public. Accordingly, we have determined that public comment is 
    unnecessary and impractical.
    
    Procedural Requirements
    
    a. Review under Executive Order 12866
    
        This final rule is issued with respect to a military function of 
    the Defense Department and the provisions of Executive Order 12866 do 
    not apply.
    
    b. Review under the Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        These rules have been reviewed under the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
    (Pub. L. 86-354), which requires the preparation of a regulatory 
    flexibility analysis for any regulation that will have a significant 
    economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (i.e., small 
    businesses and small governments). The Corps expects that the economic 
    impact of the changes to the restricted areas will have practically no 
    impact on the public, no anticipated navigational hazard or 
    interference with existing waterway traffic and accordingly, certifies 
    that this proposal if adopted, will have no significant economic impact 
    on small entities.
    
    c. Review under the National Environmental Policy Act
    
        An environmental assessment has been prepared for each of these 
    actions. We have concluded, based on the minor nature of these proposed 
    amendments that these amendments to danger zones and restricted areas 
    will not have a significant impact to the human environment, and 
    preparation of a environmental impact statement is not required. The 
    environmental assessment for the appropriate area may be reviewed at 
    the District Offices listed at the end of FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
    CONTACT, above.
    
    d. Submission to Congress and the GAO
    
        Pursuant to Section 801(a)(1)(A) of the Administrative Procedure 
    Act as amended, by the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness 
    Act of 1996, the Army has submitted a report containing this rule to 
    the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and the Comptroller General 
    of the General Accounting Office prior to publication of this rule in 
    the Federal Register. This rule is not a major rule within the meaning 
    of section 804(2) of the Administrative Procedure Act, as amended.
    
    [[Page 43970]]
    
    e. Unfunded Mandates Act
    
        This rulemaking does not impose an enforceable duty among the 
    private sector and therefore, is not a Federal private sector mandate 
    and is not subject to the requirements of Section 202 or 205 of the 
    Unfunded Mandates Act. We have also found under Section 203 of the Act, 
    that small governments will not be significantly and uniquely affected 
    by this rulemaking.
    
    List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 334
    
        Danger Zones, Navigation (water), Transportation.
    
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, 33 CFR Part 334 is amended 
    as follows:
    
    PART 334--DANGER ZONE AND RESTRICTED REGULATIONS
    
        1. The authority citation for Part 334 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 40 Stat. 266; (33 U.S.C. 1) and 40 Stat. 892; (33 
    U.S.C. 3).
    
        2. Section 334.420 is amended by revising the first sentence of 
    paragraph (a)(2), removing paragraph (b)(1)(ii), redesignating 
    paragraphs (b)(1)(iii), (iv) and (v) as (b)(1)(ii), (iii) and (iv), 
    respectively, and revising paragraph (b)(2) to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 334.420  Pamlico Sound and adjacent waters, N.C.; danger zones for 
    Marine Corps operations.
    
        (a) * * *
        (2) The regulations. The area shall be closed to navigation and 
    personnel at all times except for vessels engaged in operational and 
    maintenance work as directed by the enforcing agency. * * *
        (b) Bombing, rocket firing, and strafing areas in Pamlico Sound and 
    Neuse River--(1) The areas. * * *
        (2) The regulations. (i) The area described in paragraph (b)(1) of 
    this section will be used as bombing, rocket firing, and strafing 
    areas. Live and dummy ammunition will be used. The area shall be closed 
    to navigation and all persons at all times except for such vessels as 
    may be directed by the enforcing agency to enter on assigned duties. 
    The area will be patrolled and vessels ``buzzed'' by the patrol plane 
    prior to the conduct of operations in the area. Vessels or personnel 
    which have inadvertently entered the danger zone shall leave the area 
    immediately upon being so warned.
        (ii) The areas described in paragraphs (b)(1)(ii), (iii) and (iv) 
    of this section shall be used for bombing, rocket firing, and strafing 
    areas. Practice and dummy ammunition will be used. All operations will 
    be conducted during daylight hours, and the areas will be open to 
    navigation at night. No vessel or person shall enter these areas during 
    the hours of daylight without special permission from the enforcing 
    agency. The areas will be patrolled and vessels ``buzzed'' by the 
    patrol plane prior to the conduct of operations in the areas. Vessels 
    or personnel which have inadvertently entered the danger zones shall 
    leave the area immediately upon being warned.
    * * * * *
        3. Section 334.760 is amended by revising paragraph (b)(1) to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 334.760  Alligator Bayou, a tributary of St. Andrew Bay, Fla.; 
    restricted area.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) The regulations. (1) No vessel or person shall enter the area 
    or navigate therein without permission of the Commanding Officer, Naval 
    Ship Research and Development Laboratory, Panama City, Fla., or her/his 
    authorized representative.
    * * * * *
        4. Section 334.1110 is amended by revising the heading for 
    paragraph (a); revising the paragraph (a)(1) designation and heading; 
    and redesignating paragraph (a)(2) as (b), and revising it to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 334.1110  Suisun Bay at Naval Weapons Station, Concord; restricted 
    area.
    
        (a) The area. * * *
        (b) The regulations. (1) No person, vessel, watercraft, conveyance 
    or device shall enter or cause to enter or remain in this area. No 
    person shall refuse or fail to remove any person or property in his 
    custody or under his control from this area upon the request of the 
    Commanding Officer of the Naval Weapons Station Concord or his/her 
    authorized representative.
        (2) The regulations in this section shall be enforced by the 
    Commanding Officer, Naval Weapons Station Concord, and such agencies as 
    he/she shall designate.
    
        Dated: August 2, 1996.
    Stanley G. Genega,
    Major General, U.S. Army, Director of Civil Works.
    [FR Doc. 96-21841 Filed 8-26-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3710-92-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
10/28/1996
Published:
08/27/1996
Department:
Engineers Corps
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-21841
Dates:
October 28, 1996.
Pages:
43969-43970 (2 pages)
PDF File:
96-21841.pdf
CFR: (3)
33 CFR 334.420
33 CFR 334.760
33 CFR 334.1110