03-3978. Security Zone; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard proposes to create moving and fixed security zones 50 yards around all cruise ships entering, departing, moored or anchored in the Port of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. These security zones are needed for national security reasons to protect the public and ports from potential subversive acts. Entry into these zones is prohibited, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port of San Juan or his designated representative.

DATES:

Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before March 21, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail comments and related material to Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office San Juan, P.O. Box 71526, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00936. You may also deliver them in person to Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office San Juan, Rodriguez and Del Valle Building, 4th Floor, Calle San Martin, Road #2, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, 00968. The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and materials received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at the USCG Marine Safety Office between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this proposed rule, call Lieutenant Chip Lopez at Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San Juan, Puerto Rico, at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD07-03-024), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. You may submit your comments and material by mail, hand delivery, fax, or electronic means to the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.

Public Meeting

We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a request for one by writing to the Commanding Officer U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office at the address under ADDRESSES explaining why one would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

Based on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center buildings in New York and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, there is an increased risk that subversive activity could be launched by vessels or persons in close proximity to the Port of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands against cruise ships entering, departing, anchored and moored within the Port of Charlotte Amalie. Following these attacks by well-trained and clandestine terrorists, national security and intelligence officials have warned that future terrorists attacks are likely.

The terrorist acts against the United States on September 11, 2001, have increased the need for safety and security measures on U.S. ports and waterways. In response to these terrorist acts, and in order to prevent similar occurrences, the Coast Guard is establishing temporary security zones around all cruise ships entering, departing and moored within the Port of Charlotte Amalie. We previously published a temporary final rule entitled “Security Zones; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands” in the Federal Register on February 1, 2002 (67 FR 4909), and on November 13, 2002 (67 FR 68760). Those temporary final rules contained similar provisions as those in this notice of proposed rulemaking.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

The security zone for a cruise ship entering the Port of Charlotte Amalie will be activated when a cruise ship passes: St. Thomas Harbor green lighted buoy #3 in approximate position 18°19′19″ North, 64°55′40″ West when entering the port using St. Thomas Channel; red buoy #2 in approximate position 18°19′15″ North, 64°55′59″ West when entering the port using East Gregorie Channel; and red lighted buoy #4 in approximate position 18°18′16″ North, 64°57′30″ West when entering the port using West Gregorie Channel. These zones are deactivated when the vessel passes any of these buoys on its departure from the Port of Charlotte Amalie. The security zones encompass all waters 50 yards around a cruise ship.

Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into or transiting through a security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), or his designated representative. Each person and vessel in a security zone must obey any direction or order of the COTP. The COTP may remove any person, vessel, article, or thing from a security zone. No person may board, or take or place any article or thing on board, any vessel in a security zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port. The Captain of the Port will notify the public of these security zones through Marine Safety Information Bulletins via facsimile and the Marine Safety Office San Juan Web site at http://www.msocaribbean.com.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposed 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. It is not “significant” under the regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26, 1979).

We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary because other vessels will be able to safely navigate around the zones while in place and persons may be authorized to enter or transit the zone with the permission of the Captain of the Port.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this proposed 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.

This proposed rule may affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the Port of San Juan when a cruise ship is entering, departing, moored or anchored in the Port of San Juan. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because other vessels will be able to safely navigate around the zones while in place and persons may be authorized to enter or transit the zone with the permission of the Captain of the Port. If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment to the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES. In your comment, explain why you think it qualifies and how and to what degree this rule would economically affect it.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small entities in understanding this proposed rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please consult Lieutenant Chip Lopez at Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San Juan, Puerto Rico, [phone].

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).

Collection of Information

This proposed rule would call 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 proposed 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 regulatory actions not specifically required by law. 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. Although this proposed rule would not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

This proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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, 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. We invite your comments on how this proposed rule might impact tribal governments, even if that impact may not constitute a “tribal implication” under the Order.

Energy Effects

We have analyzed this proposed 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. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Environment

We have considered the environmental impact of this proposed rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation because it is establishing safety zones. A “Categorical Exclusion Determination” is 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

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 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. 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 § 165.762 to read as follows:

§ 165.762

Security Zone; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

(a) Location. Temporary moving and fixed security zones are established with a 50-yard radius surrounding all cruise ships entering, departing, moored or anchored in the Port of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands. The security zone for a cruise ship entering port is activated when the vessel passes: St. Thomas Harbor green lighted buoy #3 in approximate position 18°19′19″ North, 64°55′40″ West when entering the port using St. Thomas Channel; red buoy #2 in approximate position 18°19′15″ North, 64°55′59″ West when entering the port using East Gregorie Channel; and red lighted buoy #4 in approximate position 18°18′16″ North, 64°57′30″ West when entering the port using West Gregorie Channel. These zones are deactivated when the cruise ship passes any of these buoys on its departure from the Port of Charlotte Amalie.

(b) Regulations. (1) Under general regulations in § 165.33 of this part, entering, anchoring, mooring or transiting in these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port of San Juan.

(2) Persons desiring to transit the area of the security zone may contact the Captain of the Port via the Greater Antilles Section Operations Center at [phone] or via VHF radio on Channel 16 to seek permission to transit the area. If permission is granted, all persons and vessels must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Marine Safety Office San Juan will notify the maritime community of periods during which these security zones will be in effect by providing advance notice of scheduled arrivals and departures of cruise ships via a broadcast notice to mariners.

(c) Definition. As used in this section, cruise ship means a passenger vessel greater than 100 feet in length that is authorized to carry more than 150 passengers for hire, except for a ferry.

(d) Authority. In addition to 33 U.S.C. 1231 and 50 U.S.C. 191, the authority for this section includes 33 U.S.C. 1226.

Dated: February 6, 2003.

William J. Uberti,

Captain, Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, San Juan.