E8-1133. Safety Zone: Trent River Between New Bern and James City, NC

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard will establish a safety zone on the waters of the Trent River between New Bern and James City, North Carolina in the vicinity of the U.S. Route 70 Highway Swing Bridge. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the movement of bridge construction equipment from the southern end of the bridge construction project to the northern end of the project.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 10 a.m. on January 8, 2008 through 2 p.m. on January 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket are part of docket USCG-2007-0169 and are available for inspection or copying at Sector North Carolina 2301 East Fort Macon Road Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Commander Jennifer Williams, Prevention Department Head, United States Coast Guard Sector North Carolina at [phone] or (252) 247-457046.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing an NPRM. The publishing of an NPRM would be impracticable and contrary to public interest since immediate action is needed to protect the maritime public from the hazards associated with this maintenance project. The necessary information to determine whether the construction poses a threat to persons and vessels was not provided with sufficient time to publish an NPRM. For the safety concerns noted, it is in the public interest to have this regulation in effect during the construction.

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.

Background and Purpose

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from January 8, 2008 through January 24, 2008 Balfour Beatty Infrastructure Inc. will relocate construction equipment in the vicinity of the U.S. Route 70 Highway Swing Bridge from James City, NC to New Bern, NC. To provide for the safety of the public, the Coast Guard will temporarily restrict access to this section of the Trent River during equipment relocation.

Discussion of Rule

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone that will extend from the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge and Union Point, New Bern, NC to the U.S. Route 17 Highway Bridge at James City, NC, latitude 35°05.8′ N, longitude 77°02.2′ W. This zone will require mariners to avoid entry into the area. Entry into the zone will not be permitted except as specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

Regulatory Evaluation

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. The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary.

Although this regulation will restrict access to the regulated area, the effect of this rule will not be significant because: (i) The safety zone will be in effect for a limited duration of time and (ii) the Coast Guard will make notifications via maritime advisories so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this temporary final 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 temporary final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Although the regulated area will apply to waters of the Trent River, the zone will not have a significant impact on small entities because the zone will only be in place for a limited duration of time and maritime advisories will be issued in advance to allow the public to adjust their plans accordingly.

Assistance for Small Entities

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 temporary final 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 would not result in such expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

This temporary final 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 would not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 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 would not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, or 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 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 concluded 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. Under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of the Instruction, an “Environmental Analysis Check List” and a “Categorical Exclusion Determination” will be 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

Regulation

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

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; 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.

2. A temporary § 165.T05-901 is added to read as follows:

§ 165.T05-901

Safety Zone: Trent River between New Bern and James City, North Carolina.

(a) Regulated area: The following area is a safety zone: waters of the Trent River, from the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge and Union Point New Bern, NC to the U.S. Route 17 Highway Bridge at James City, NC, latitude 35°05.8′ N, longitude 77°02.2′ W. All coordinates reference Datum NAD 1983.

(b) Definitions: Captain of the Port Representative any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been authorized by the Captain of the Port to act on his behalf.

(c) Regulations: (1) In accordance with the general regulations in section 165.23 of this part, entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or a Captain of the Port Representative. All vessel movement within the safety zone is prohibited except as specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or a Captain of the Port Representative. The general requirements of section 165.23 also apply to this regulation.

(2) Persons or vessels requiring entry into or passage through any portion of the safety zone must first request authorization from the Captain of the Port, or his Representative, unless the Captain of the Port previously announced via Marine Safety Radio Broadcast on VHF Marine Band Radio channel 22 (157.1 MHz) that this regulation will not be enforced in that portion of the safety zone. The Captain of the Port can be contacted at telephone number [phone] or [phone], or by radio on VHF Marine Band Radio, channels 13 and 16.

(d) The Captain of the Port will notify the public of changes in the status of this zone by Marine Safety Radio Broadcast on VHF Marine Band Radio, Channel 22 (157.1 MHz).

(e) Enforcement period: This rule will be enforced from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from January 8, 2008 through January 24, 2008.

Dated: December 14, 2007.

G.D. Case,

Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port North Carolina.