00-11511. Security Zone; Vicinity of Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility, Vieques, PR and Adjacent Territorial Sea

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

At the request of the U.S. Navy, the Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone covering the area of territorial sea and land adjacent to the bombing and gunnery range (Impact Area) at the naval installation on the eastern end of Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. The security zone is needed to protect the bombing and gunnery range, and adjacent land and waters at the Navy's Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility on Vieques Island, PR, to ensure against destruction, injury, or loss of uninterrupted use. Only authorized vessels are permitted to enter or remain within the security zone.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 12:01 a.m. May 4, 2000 until 11:59 p.m. May 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket [CGD07-00-080] and are available for inspection or copying at the Seventh Coast Guard District office, 909 SE First Avenue, Room 918, Miami, FL 33131, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lieutenant Commander Steve Andersen at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

In order to protect the interests of national security, and in accordance with the Presidential Directive of January 31, 2000, the President has directed the conduct of Navy Training at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility on Vieques Island, PR. Immediate action is needed to ensure the uninterrupted use by the U.S. Navy of the Training Facility on Vieques, including the adjacent land and waters, and to protect that facility from destruction or injury. The Coast Guard is promulgating the security zone regulations to prevent interference with the conduct of the Navy's exercises for the duration of the security zone. As a result, the enforcement of the security zone is a function directly involved in, and necessary to, the Navy training exercise. Accordingly, based on the military function exception set forth in the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1), notice and comment rule-making and advance publication, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b) and (d), are not required for this regulation.

Even if the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553 would otherwise be applicable, the Coast Guard for good cause finds that, under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and (d)(3), notice and public comment on the rule before the effective date of the rule and advance publication are impracticable and contrary to the public interest. There is an imminent need to use the naval installation bombing and gunnery range and the adjacent waters for exercises scheduled to commence in the near term, and the exercises being conducted by the Navy further the national security interests of the United States. Moreover, the conduct of notice and comment rulemaking proceedings and compliance with advance notice requirements present significant public safety concerns that outweigh the public interest in compliance with these provisions. Public rulemaking proceedings and advance publication could provoke consequences that would pose a risk of harm to the public, military personnel, and law enforcement personnel charged with enforcement of the security zone and interfere with the commencement and completion of the training exercises. This regulation is geographically and temporally tailored to meet the needs of national security with a minimal burden on the public.

Background and Purpose

The Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility is located on the eastern end of Vieques Island, PR. Use of this naval installation is important to achieving acceptable levels of military readiness in accordance with established training standards and requires training exercises conducted with inert ordnance. Such training exercises cannot be safely or effectively conducted if there are unauthorized persons inside the training areas or if the installation is damaged or personnel are injured. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has established a danger zone in the vicinity of the bombing and gunnery target area, 33 CFR 334.1470, that is in effect during these training exercises. The Army Corps has also established a restricted area off the coast of the naval facility, 33 CFR 334.1480.

In order to further the interests of national security, and in accordance with the Presidential directive of January 31, 2000, the President has directed the conduct of Navy Training at the Atlantic Fleet Weapons Training Facility on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico. The restricted area and danger zone do not provide the degree of security required for the naval facility before and during the next use of the facility, scheduled to commence in the near term. That use will entail training exercises, all conducted with inert ordnance. These operations cannot be conducted if unauthorized personnel or vessels are present inside the security zone. Therefore, to ensure against the destruction, injury or loss of uninterrupted use of the naval installation at Vieques, including the adjacent land and waters, the Coast Guard is establishing this security zone.

This security zone is established pursuant to the authority of subpart D of part 165 of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the Magnuson Act regulations promulgated by the President under 50 U.S.C. 191, including subparts 6.01 and 6.04 of part 6 of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations. See E.O. 10173, as amended. The security zone is needed to protect the bombing and gunnery range, and the adjacent facilities and water, at Vieques Island, PR against destruction, injury, or loss of uninterrupted use. Pursuant to this regulation, no vessel or person will be allowed to enter or remain in the security zone unless specifically authorized to do so by the District Commander or his designated representatives. The District Commander or his designated representatives may grant permission for a vessel to enter or remain within the security zone when operations permit and may condition that permission as appropriate.

Vessels or persons violating this section are subject to the penalties set forth in 50 U.S.C. 192 and 18 U.S.C. 3571: seizure and forfeiture of the vessel, a monetary penalty of not more than $250,000, and imprisonment for not more than 10 years.

Regulatory Evaluation

This 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. 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).

Although the security zone covers an area out to three miles from shore, the zone will be in effect for a limited amount of time. The vessel traffic in the area normally consists of a small number of commercial fishing vessels and other vessels transiting the area. These vessels are not allowed to enter or transit the zone during these training exercises under existing Army Corps of Engineer regulations (33 CFR 334.1470 and 33 CFR 334.1480). These vessels can redirect their transit around the zone with only minor delays in time and distance.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we considered whether this 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 rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule will affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in the vicinity of the Naval installation at Vieques, PR and fishing vessels which normally fish the area. These vessels are not allowed to enter or transit the zone during these training exercises under existing Army Corps of Engineer regulations (33 CFR 334.1470 and 334.1480). This security zone will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of these small entities. Although the security zone will cover an area out to three miles from shore, the zone will be in effect only for a limited amount of time.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we will assist small entities in understanding this rule and how it affects them. Small entities may call the person identified in FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those unfunded mandate costs. This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under E.O. 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 E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

We have analyzed this rule under E.O. 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

Environment

The Coast Guard anticipates this temporary rule will be categorically excluded from further environmental documentation under figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C. The environmental analysis checklist and Categorical Exclusion Determination will be prepared and submitted after establishment of this temporary security zone, and will be available in the docket. This temporary rule only ensures the protection of Naval assets and the uninterrupted use of the area for scheduled Naval operations. Standard Coast Guard manatee and turtle watch measures will be in effect during Coast Guard patrols of the security zone. Deep-water routes will be used where practical. Lookouts will be posted to avoid collision with turtles and manatees. If a collision occurs, notification will be made to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at Boqueron, Puerto Rico (787-851-7297). The Categorical Exclusion Determination will be 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 record keeping requirements
• Security measures
• Waterways

Temporary Regulation

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

PART 165—[AMENDED]

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. A new temporary § 165.T-07-080 is added to read as follows:

§ 165.T07-080

Security Zone; Vieques Island, PR.

(a) Location. The following area is established as a security zone: An area of water and land measured from the mean high water line on the naval installation out to 3 nautical miles along the east end of Vieques Island extending from Santa Maria (18°09′29″ N, 065° 25′23″ W) due north 3 nautical miles to position 18°12′29″ N, 065°25′23″ W, then easterly around Vieques Island, remaining three nautical miles from the coast, to a point 3 nautical miles south of the eastern edge of Puerto Mosquito (18°02′34″ N, 065°26′26″ W) then due north to the eastern edge of Puerto Mosquito (18°05′34″ N, 065°26′26″ W), including the rocks, cays, and small islands within.

(b) Regulations.

(1) In accordance with the general regulations in § 165.33 of this part:

(i) No person or vessel may enter or remain in this zone without the permission of the District Commander or designated representatives,

(ii) All persons within this zone shall obey any direction or order of the District Commander or designated representatives,

(iii) The District Commander or designated representatives may take possession and control of any vessel in this zone,

(iv) The District Commander or designated representatives may remove any person, vessel, article or thing from this zone,

(v) No person may board, or take or place any article or thing on board, any vessel in this zone without the permission of the District Commander or designated representatives; and,

(vi) No person may take or place any article or thing upon any waterfront facility in this security zone without the permission of the District Commander or designated representatives.

(2) The District Commander or designated representatives may grant permission for individual vessels to enter or remain within this security zone when permitted by operational conditions and may place conditions upon that permission. Vessels permitted to enter or remain in this zone must radio the patrol commander upon entering and departing the zone.

(c) Enforcement. Vessels or persons violating this section are subject to the penalties set out in 50 U.S.C. 192 and 18 U.S.C. 3571:

(1) Seizure and forfeiture of the vessel;

(2) A monetary penalty of not more than $250,000; and

(3) Imprisonment for not more than 10 years.

(d) Dates. This section is effective from 12:01 a.m. May 4, 2000 until 11:59 p.m. May 13, 2000.

(e) Authority. In addition to the authority in part 165, this section is also authorized under authority of Executive Order 10173, as amended.

Dated: April 28, 2000.

G.W. Sutton,

Captain U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District,