2018-06395. Safety Zones Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Delaware River to restrict and protect vessel traffic during the offloading of two Post-Panamax gantry cranes at the Port of Philadelphia. This action is intended to protect mariners and vessels from the hazards associated with these offloading activities. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless a vessel meets the stated requirements or is specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay.

DATES:

This rule is effective without actual notice from March 30, 2018 until April 3, 2018. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from March 22, 2018, through March 30, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov,, type USCG-2018-0246 in the “SEARCH” box and click “SEARCH.” Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this rule, call or email Petty Officer Edmund Ofalt, Waterways Management Branch, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay; telephone [phone], email [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

COTP Captain of the Port

DHS Department of Homeland Security

FR Federal Register

NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

§  Section

U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those procedures are “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule due to the short time period between when Sector Delaware Bay received complete details of this operation, March 8, 2018, and the date when this safety zone needs to go into effect by. It is impracticable and contrary to the public interest to publish an NPRM before issuing this rule because we must establish this safety zone by March 23, 2018, to ensure the safety of persons and vessels participating in or transiting near the offloading operations of two Post-Panamax gantry cranes at the Port of Philadelphia.

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 of this rule would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest because immediate action is needed to mitigate the hazards presented to safety of life in the Delaware River presented by the offloading of equipment of this size.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231. The COTP Delaware Bay has determined that potential hazards are associated with the offloading of the two Post-Panamax gantry cranes from the motor vessel (M/V) ZHEN HUA 16.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Delaware River bounded to the south by a line drawn from the southeast corner of Pier 124S at 39°53′41.751″ N, 075°08′19.1419″ W, thence east-southeast to the New Jersey Shoreline at 39°53′34″ N, 075°07′49″ W, and bounded to the north by the southernmost edge of the Walt Whitman Bridge. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel and vessels, in the navigable waters within the safety zone as well as persons on the adjacent shoreline during offloading of the gantry cranes. This safety zone is needed for seven days beginning from the time of the M/V ZHEN HUA 16 arrives at Greenwich Terminal, unless cancelled earlier via Marine Safety Information Bulletin and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

Vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit the safety zone unless authorized by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative. To seek permission to enter or remain in the zone, unless moored or anchored outside the main navigational channel, contact the COTP or the COTP's representative via VHF-FM Channel 16.

Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative. Vessels transiting the zone must maintain the minimum safe speed to reduce wake and maintain steerage. Except towing vessels designated as assist tugs and operating in such capacity, no vessel may meet, overtake or otherwise pass another unmoored or unanchored vessel within the safety zone. Regardless of travel direction, vessels shall remain east of the centerline of the main navigation channel. The navigable waters west of the centerline of the main navigation channel (on the green side of the centerline) is closed to navigation for the duration of the enforcement of this safety zone.

V. Regulatory Analyses

We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses based on a number of these statutes and Executive orders, and we discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This rule has not been designated a “significant regulatory action,” under Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.

This regulatory action determination is based on the short duration of the rule. The rule also allows for vessels to transit through the safety zone if certain requirements are met, thus minimizing the impact on waterway traffic.

B. Impact on Small Entities

The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as amended, requires Federal agencies to consider the potential impact of regulations on small entities during rulemaking. 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 rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section V.A above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on any vessel owner or operator.

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 rule. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

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.

C. Collection of Information

This rule will not call for a new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order 13132.

Also, this rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it does 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. If you believe this rule has implications for federalism or Indian tribes, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.

E. 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 (adjusted for inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have determined that this action is one of a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. This rule involves a stationary safety zone, which allows vessels to transit if certain requirements are met, lasting approximately six days. It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 01. A Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

G. Protest Activities

The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or security of people, places or vessels.

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 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. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

2. Add § 165.T05-0246 to read as follows:

§ 165.T05-0246

Safety Zones; Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA.

(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable waters bounded to the south by a line drawn from the southeast corner of Pier 124S at 39°53′42″ N, 075°08′20″ W, thence east-southeast to the New Jersey shoreline at 39°53′34″ N, 075°07′47″ W, and bounded to the north by the southernmost edge of the Walt Whitman Bridge. These coordinates are based on the 1984 World Geodetic System (WGS 84).

(b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a Federal, State, and local officer designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay (COTP) in the enforcement of the safety zone.

(c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general safety zone regulations in subpart C of this part and except for as described in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit the safety zone described in paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative.

(2) To seek permission to enter or remain in the zone, unless moored or anchored outside the main navigational channel, contact the COTP or the COTP's representative via VHF-FM Channel 16. Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative.

(3) Vessels may transit the safety zone described in paragraph (a)(2) of this section if all of the following criteria are met:

(i) Vessel shall maintain the minimum safe speed to reduce wake and maintain steerage.

(ii) Except towing vessels designated as assist tugs and operating in such capacity, no vessel may meet, overtake or otherwise pass another unmoored or unanchored vessel within the safety zone.

(iii) Regardless of travel direction, vessels shall remain east of the centerline of the main navigation channel. The centerline is depicted on U.S. Electronic Navigational Chart US5PA12M and is a line drawn approximately from 39°53′39″ N, 075°08′11″ W, thence north-northeast to approximate position 39°54′19″ N, 075°07′54″ W, and thence north to approximate position 39°54′20″ N, 075°07′54″ W.

(d) Enforcement. The U.S. Coast Guard may be assisted in the patrol and enforcement of the safety zone by Federal, State, and local agencies.

(e) Enforcement period. Enforcement of the safety zone will begin when the M/V ZHEN HUA 16 arrives at berth at the Greenwich Terminal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and end 7 days thereafter. The M/V ZHEN HUA 16 is expected to arrive at berth sometime between March 23rd and March 29th, 2018.

Dated: March 22, 2018.

Scott E. Anderson,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Delaware Bay.