96-30066. Safety Zone; San Pedro Bay, CA  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 26, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 60028-60030]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-30066]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
    33 CFR Part 165
    
    [COTP Los Angeles-Long Beach 96-003]
    RIN 2115-AA97
    
    
    Safety Zone; San Pedro Bay, CA
    
    AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has established a moving safety zone around 
    any liquefied hazardous gas tank vessel (LHG T/V) while the vessel is 
    anchored, moored, or underway within the Los Angeles-Long Beach port 
    area. The safety zone will take effect upon the entry of any LHG T/V 
    into the waters within three (3) miles outside of the Federal 
    breakwaters encompassing San Pedro Bay, and will remain in effect until 
    the LHG T/V leaves the said three (3) mile limit. Entry into this zone 
    is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Los Angeles-
    Long Beach. Prohibiting vessel traffic from entering these moving 
    safety zones will reduce the likelihood of a collision or explosion 
    involving a liquefied hazardous gas carrier.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective on October 15, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated, documents referred to in this 
    preamble are available for inspection or copying at the officer of the 
    Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Los Angeles-
    Long Beach, 165 N. Pico Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 between 8 a.m. and 
    4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
    number is (310) 980-4454.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
    Lieutenant Keith T. Whiteman, Chief, Port Safety and Security Division, 
    Marine Safety Office Los Angeles-Long Beach, 165 N. Pico Avenue, Long 
    Beach, CA 90802; phone: (310) 980-4454 or fax: (310) 980-4415.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Regulatory History
    
        On April 17, 1996, the Coast Guard published an NPRM entitled 
    Safety Zone; San Pedro Bay, CA in the Federal Register (61 FR 37714). 
    The Coast Guard received no letters commenting on the proposal. No 
    public hearing was requested, and none was held.
    
    Background and Purpose
    
        Liquefied hazardous gas tank vessels (LHG T/V) periodically transit 
    and moor in Los Angeles-Long Beach port areas to load butane at the 
    AmeriGas facility at Los  Angeles Berth 120. For each LHG T/V arrival 
    and departure, the Captain of the Port Los Angeles-Long Beach has 
    exercised his authority and established a temporary safety zone around 
    the vessel. These transits are occurring with increasing frequency. To 
    limit the administrative burden of creating a temporary final rule for 
    each vessel, the Captain of the Port created a regulation which 
    establishes a moving safety zone around each LHG T/V while it is in the
    
    [[Page 60029]]
    
    port area (within 3 miles offshore of the Federal breakwater) to 
    protect the public and port waterways and resources from the hazards 
    associated with the transport and transfer liquefied hazardous gas. The 
    following areas would be established as safety zones:
        (1) The waters within a 500 yard radius around a liquefied 
    hazardous gas tank vessel (LHG T/V), while the vessel is anchored at a 
    designated anchorage area inside the Federal breakwaters bounding San 
    Pedro Bay, or is anchored outside the breakwaters at designated 
    anchorage areas within three (3) miles of the breakwaters;
        (2) The waters and land area within 50 yards of a LHG T/V, while 
    the vessel is moored at any berth within the Los Angeles or Long Beach 
    port area, inside the Federal breakwaters;
        (3) The waters 1000 yards ahead of and within 500 yards of all 
    other sides of a LHG T/V, while the vessel is underway on the waters 
    inside the Federal breakwaters, or on the waters extending three (3) 
    miles outward from the Federal breakwaters.
        Entry into this zone will be prohibited subject to the following 
    exceptions:
        (1) Entry may be authorized by the Captain of the Port Los Angeles-
    Long Beach;
        (2) Vessels already moored or anchored when the LHG T/V safety zone 
    goes into effect are not required to get underway to avoid entering 
    into the safety zone boundaries.
        The Coast Guard will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners advising 
    the marine community of any LHG T/V transits. Enforcement of the safety 
    zone around LHG vessels and the escort of LHG vessels will be conducted 
    by the Coast Guard. Assistance in enforcement and escort functions may 
    also be provided by the Los Angeles Port Police at the request of the 
    Captain of the Port.
    
    Discussion of Comments and Changes
    
        The Coast Guard received no comments on our April 17, 1996 NPRM (61 
    FR 37714).
    
    Regulatory Evaluation
    
        This proposed 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 been exempted from review 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 regulation to be so minimal that a full 
    Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies 
    and procedures of the Department of Transportation is unnecessary.
    
    Small Entities
    
        Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
    Coast Guard must consider whether these regulations will 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. The Coast Guard will broadcast 
    scheduled transits, enabling other companies with vessels transiting in 
    the area to adjust their vessel movements accordingly, causing minimal 
    economic impact. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies--that, if 
    adopted, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
    substantial number of small entities.
    
    Collection of Information
    
        This regulation 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 regulation 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.
    
    Environmental Assessment
    
        The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
    regulation and concluded that under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant 
    Instruction M16475.1B, as revised in 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994, it 
    will have no significant environmental impact and it is categorically 
    excluded from further environmental documentation. A categorical 
    exclusion determination and environmental analysis checklist is 
    avalable 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. In 
    consideration of the foregoing, subpart F of part 165 of title 33, Code 
    of Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:
        1. The authority citation for 33 CFR part 165 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
    PART 165--[AMENDED]
    
        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. A new section 165.1101 is added under the undesignated center 
    heading ``Eleventh Coast Guard District'' to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 165.1101  Safety Zone: San Pedro Bay, CA.
    
        (a) Location. The following areas are established as safety zones 
    during the specified conditions:
        (1) The waters within a 500 yard radius around a liquefied 
    hazardous gas tank vessel (LHG T/V), while the vessel is anchored at a 
    designated anchorage area either inside the Federal breakwaters 
    bounding San Pedro Bay, or anchored outside the breakwaters at 
    designated anchorage areas within three (3) miles of the breakwaters;
        (2) The waters and land area within 50 yards of a LHG T/V, while 
    the vessel is moored at any berth within the Los Angeles or Long Beach 
    port area, inside the Federal breakwaters bounding San Pedro Bay;
        (3) The waters 1000 yards ahead of and within 500 yards of all 
    other sides of a LHG T/V, while the vessel is underway on the waters 
    inside the Federal breakwaters encompassing San Pedro Bay, or within 
    the waters three (3) miles outside of the Federal breakwaters in an 
    area more particularly described as follows: Beginning at a point which 
    is Point Fermin Light (33 deg.42'18'' N, 118 deg.17'36'' W); thence 
    along the shoreline to the San Pedro breakwater; thence along the San 
    Pedro breakwater and the Middle breakwater (following the COLREGS 
    Demarcation Lines) to Long Beach Channel Entrance Light ``2'' 
    (33 deg.43'23'' N, 118 deg.10'50'' W)' thence south southeast to 
    33 deg.40'31'' N, 118 deg.08'42'' W; thence west to 33 deg.40'31'' N, 
    118 deg.12'03'' W; thence west southwest to 33 deg.39'17'' N, 
    118 deg.16'00'' W; thence northwest to 33 deg.40'06'' N, 
    118 deg.17'38'' W; thence north to the point of beginning. [Datum: NAD 
    1983]
        (b) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in 
    Sec. 165.23 of this part, entry into, transit through, or anchoring 
    within these zones is prohibited subject to the following exceptions:
        (1) Entry may be authorized by the Captain of the Port; or
        (2) Vessels already anchored or moored when the safety zone is in 
    effect are not required to get underway to avoid entering into the 
    safety zone boundaries as listed in paragraph (a) of this section.
    
    [[Page 60030]]
    
        (c) Notice. The Captain of the Port will notify the maritime 
    community of periods during which this safety zone will be in effect 
    via Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
    
        Dated: October 15, 1996.
    E.E. Page,
    Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Los Angeles-Long Beach, 
    California.
    [FR Doc. 96-30066 Filed 11-25-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
10/15/1996
Published:
11/26/1996
Department:
Transportation Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-30066
Dates:
This final rule is effective on October 15, 1996.
Pages:
60028-60030 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
COTP Los Angeles-Long Beach 96-003
RINs:
2115-AA97: Safety/Security Zone Regulations
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2115-AA97/safety-security-zone-regulations
PDF File:
96-30066.pdf
CFR: (2)
33 CFR 165.23
33 CFR 165.1101