98-27872. Safety Zone: Storrow Drive Connector Bridge (Central Artery Tunnel Project), Charles River, Boston, MA  

  • [Federal Register Volume 63, Number 200 (Friday, October 16, 1998)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 55532-55533]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 98-27872]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    
    Coast Guard
    
    33 CFR Part 165
    
    [CGD01-98-140]
    RIN 2115-AA97
    
    
    Safety Zone: Storrow Drive Connector Bridge (Central Artery 
    Tunnel Project), Charles River, Boston, MA
    
    AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Temporary final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
    the Central Artery Tunnel Project, Storrow Drive Connector Bridge 
    construction on the Charles River. The safety zone temporarily closes 
    all waters of the Charles River between the Gridley Lock and Dam and 
    the western side of the Amtrak Railroad Bridge while bridge spans for 
    the Storrow Drive Connector Bridge are erected. The safety zone is 
    needed to protect vessels from the hazards posed by bridge construction 
    activities upon a navigable waterway.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective from September 30, 1998 through 
    December 31, 1998.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    LT Dennis O'Mara, Waterways Management Division, Coast Guard Marine 
    Safety Office Boston, (617) 223-3000.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    
    Regulatory History
    
        Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
    was not published for this regulation, and good cause exists for making 
    it effective in less than 30 days after Federal Register publication. 
    Any delay encountered in this regulation's effective date would be 
    contrary to the public interest since immediate action is needed to 
    close a portion of the waterway and protect the maritime public from 
    the hazards associated with bridge construction activities upon a 
    navigable waterway.
    
    Background and Purpose
    
        As part of the Central Artery Tunnel Project, a new bridge, the 
    Storrow Drive Connector Bridge, will be built over the Charles River, 
    Boston, MA. Section 1 of
    
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    the Storrow Drive Connector Bridge, which will be located on the south 
    side of the Charles River between the Gridley Lock and Dam and the 
    Amtrak Railroad Bridge, is presently under construction. Six bridge 
    spans need to be erected during the construction of Section 1. These 
    bridge spans will be transported to Boston on board barges. The barges 
    will be towed into Boston Harbor with a single bridge span on each 
    barge. This will occur on six separate occasions over the next several 
    months. The spans will then be transported through the Gridley Lock, 
    put into place using a crane on a barge and secured. The crane and 
    barge cannot be shifted by vessel wakes during the securing process. 
    Therefore, a safety zone is necessary to allow the safe erection of the 
    six spans and to protect vessel traffic.
        This regulation establishes a safety zone in all waters of the 
    Charles River between the Gridley Lock and Dam and the western side of 
    the Amtrak Railroad Bridge. This safety zone prevents entry into or 
    movement within this portion of the Charles River. Upon notification 
    from the primary contractor on the project, the Coast Guard will make 
    Marine Safety Information Broadcasts informing mariners of the 
    activation of this safety zone. The expected duration of the safety 
    zone will vary between eight and forty-eight hours depending upon 
    construction requirements. The safety zone will be activated primarily 
    on nights and/or weekends as construction on the Storrow Drive 
    Connector Bridge is restricted by weekday commuter rail traffic on the 
    Amtrak Railroad Bridge.
    
    Regulatory Evaluation
    
        This final 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 10e of the regulatory polices and procedures of DOT is 
    unnecessary. There is expected to be minimal recreational and 
    commercial traffic in this area, in part due to the seasonal end of the 
    recreational and tourist boating season. Commercial tour operators have 
    received advance notification of the project and can make alternate 
    arrangements. Due to the limited number and duration of the arrivals, 
    departures and transits, the Coast Guard expects the economic impact of 
    this regulation to be minimal.
    
    Small Entities
    
        Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
    Coast Guard considered whether this rule would have a significant 
    economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small 
    entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-for-profit 
    organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not 
    dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions with 
    populations of less than 50,000.
        For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation above, the 
    Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the Regulatory 
    Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), that this rule will not have a 
    significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    
    Collection of Information
    
        This rule contains no collection of information requirements under 
    the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    
    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 has considered the environmental impact of this 
    final rule and concluded that, under Figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g), of 
    Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this final rule is categorically 
    excluded from further environmental documentation. A ``Categorical 
    Exclusion Determination'' is available in the docket for inspection or 
    copying 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 reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR 
    Part 165 as follows:
        1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 
    6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.
    
        2. Add temporary Sec. 165.T01-140 to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 165.T01-140  Safety Zone: Storrow Drive Connector Bridge (Central 
    Artery Tunnel Project), Charles River, Boston, MA.
    
        (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of 
    the Charles River between the Gridley Lock and Dam and the western side 
    of the AMTRAK Railroad Bridge.
        (b) Effective Date. This section is effective from September 30, 
    1998 to December 31, 1998.
        (c) Notification. Upon notification from the primary contractor on 
    the Storrow Drive Connector Bridge construction project that a span is 
    ready to be erected, the Coast Guard will make Marine Safety 
    Information Broadcasts informing mariners of the activation of this 
    safety zone. The expected duration of the safety zone will vary between 
    eight and forty-eight hours depending upon construction requirements. 
    The safety zone will be activated primarily on nights and/or weekends.
        (d) Regulations. (1) Entry into or movement within this zone is 
    prohibited unless authorized by the COTP Boston.
        (2) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of 
    the COTP or the designated on-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel. 
    U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned, warrant, and 
    petty officers of the U.S. Coast Guard.
        (3) The general regulations covering safety zones in section 165.23 
    of this part apply.
    
        Dated: September 18, 1998.
    J.L. Grenier,
    Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Boston, Massachusetts.
    [FR Doc. 98-27872 Filed 10-15-98; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-15-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/30/1998
Published:
10/16/1998
Department:
Coast Guard
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Temporary final rule.
Document Number:
98-27872
Dates:
This rule is effective from September 30, 1998 through December 31, 1998.
Pages:
55532-55533 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
CGD01-98-140
RINs:
2115-AA97: Safety/Security Zone Regulations
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2115-AA97/safety-security-zone-regulations
PDF File:
98-27872.pdf
CFR: (1)
33 CFR 165.T01-140