[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29958-29959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15046]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 3
[CGD 96-025]
RIN 2115-AF32
Reorganization of Coast Guard Areas, Districts, and Marine
Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: To conform with an internal reorganization of its field
command structure, the Coast Guard is amending the descriptions of the
Second and Eighth Coast Guard District boundaries and redesignating
several Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones. In addition,
the Coast Guard is amending the description of the location of the
Atlantic Area, Pacific Area, and Eleventh Coast Guard District offices.
These changes are administrative and will not impact the type or level
of Coast Guard services performed.
EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective June 13, 1996, except for
Sec. 3.04-1(a) which is effective June 14, 1996, and Sec. 3.04-3(a)
which is effective June 28, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated, documents referred to in the
preamble are available for inspection or copying at the Office of the
Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-LRS/3406), U.S. Coast
Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Room 3406, Washington, DC
20593-0001 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Maureen Melton, Plans and Policy Division (G-CPP), U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays. The telephone Number is (202) 267-2299.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background and Purpose
Atlantic Area and Pacific Area
During 1996, the Coast Guard reorganized the Area field command and
control structures and relocated the Atlantic Area office from New York
City, to Portsmouth, VA, and relocated the Eleventh District office
from Long Beach, CA, to Alameda, CA. The Atlantic and Pacific Area
Commanders also serve as the Fifth and Eleventh District Commanders,
respectively. The separate authorities and responsibilities of the Area
Commanders and District Commanders are unaffected by the consolidated
of their command staffs.
Second District--Merger Into the Eighth District
Previously, the Second Coast Guard District and Eighth District
exercised jurisdiction in their respective regions. In 1996, the Coast
Guard realigned its field command and control structure in the Gulf of
Mexico and Midwestern regions through the merger of the Second District
into the Eighth District. The Second District has been disestablished
and the Eighth District boundaries have been expanded to include the
prior Second District area of responsibilities. This realignment
enables more efficient internal management and enhances mission
performance in the affected region. The merger streamlined command and
control of activities within the combined Second and Eighth District
regions. The Eighth District Commander now exercises authority over the
combined geographic region. The merger will not adversely affect the
public, since there will be no change in Coast Guard operational assets
or Coast Guard services in the respective regions. The descriptions of
Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones which belonged to the
Second District are being renumbered to reflect their realignment with
the Eighth District.
Discussion of Changes
Sec. 3.01-1. This section, describing generally the Area
Commanders' responsibilities, is revised to reflect the fact that the
Atlantic Area Commander also serves as Fifth District Commander and the
Pacific Area Commander also serves as the Eleventh District Commander.
Sec. 3.04-1. This section, describing the Area offices and
jurisdictions, is revised to reflect the relocation of the Atlantic Are
office from New York, NY to Portsmouth, VA and eliminates reference to
the Second Coast Guard District which was disestablished with its
merger into the Eighth District. The section is also revised to
correctly reflect the location of the Pacific Area office as Alameda,
CA and to reflect relocation of Eleventh District office from Long
Beach, CA to Alameda, CA.
Sec. 3.10-1. This section, describing the Second District, is
removed to conform with the disestablishment of the Second District as
a result of its merger into the Eighth District.
Sec. 3.10-10 through 03.10-50. These sections, describing the six
Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones within the prior Second
District, are redesignated under Subpart 3.40 to conform with the
reassignment of these MI and COTP zones to Eighth District as a result
of the merger of the Second District into the Eighth District.
Sec. 3.40-1. This section, describing the Eighth District, is
revised to describe its new boundaries which incorporate the prior
Second District boundaries as a result of the merger of the Second
District into the Eighth District.
The current CFR descriptions do not reflect the reorganizations in
the Coast Guard Areas, affected Coast Guard District, and the
realignment of Marine Inspection (MI) and Captain of the Port (COTP)
Zones. Since this is a matter relating to agency organization,
procedure, and management, it is excluded from the requirements of
section 553(b)(3)(A) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551
et seq.) for a notice of proposed rulemaking and public comment. These
changes are administrative and will not impact the type of level of
Coast Guard services performed. Further, since the rule has no
substantial effect on service to the public, good cause exists under 5
U.S.C. 553(d) to make the rule effective less than 30 days after
publication.
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. 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
10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.
This rule merely implements administrative changes within the Coast
Guard structure. Coast Guard services to the public will not be
changed.
Collection of Information
This rule contains no collection-of-information requirements under
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
[[Page 29959]]
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 considered the environmental impact of this rule
and concluded that, under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction
M16475.1B, as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994, this rule is
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This
rule is an administrative change under paragraph 2.B.2.1, and will not
impact the environment. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is
available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under
ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 3
Organization and functions (Government Agencies).
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33
CFR part 3 as follows:
PART 3--COAST GUARD AREAS, DISTRICTS, MARINE INSPECTION ZONES, AND
CAPTAIN OF THE PORT ZONES
1. The authority citation for part 3 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 14 U.S.C. 633; 49 CFR 1.45, 1.46.
2. In Sec. 3.01-1, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 3.01-1 General description.
* * * * *
(b) The two Coast Guard Areas are the Atlantic Area (see Sec. 3.04-
1) and the Pacific Area (see Sec. 3.04-3). The Coast Guard Area
Commander is in command of a Coast Guard Area; the offices are referred
to as a Coast Guard Area Office. The office of the Commander, Atlantic
Area, is located in the Fifth Coast Guard District and the Commander,
Atlantic Area, also serves as the Fifth District Commander. The office
of the Commander, Pacific Area, is located in the Eleventh Coast Guard
District and the Commander, Pacific Area, also serves as the Eleventh
District Commander. Area Commanders have the responsibility of
determining when operational matters require the coordination of forces
and facilities of more than one district.
* * * * *
3. In Sec. 3.04-1, paragraph (a) is revised, and in paragraph (b),
the word ``Second'' is removed to read as follows:
Sec. 3.04-1 Atlantic Area.
(a) The Area Office is in Portsmouth, VA.
* * * * *
4. In Sec. 3.04-3, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 3.04-3 Pacific Area.
(a) The Area Office is in Alameda, CA.
* * * * *
Subpart 3.10--Second Coast Guard District [Heading Removed]
Sec. 3.10-1 [Removed]; Sec. 3.10-10 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-40];
Sec. 3.10-5 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-45]; Sec. 3.10-30 [Redesignated
as Sec. 3.40-50]; Sec. 3.10-35 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-55];
Sec. 3.10-40 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-60]; and Sec. 3.10-50
[Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-65]
5. In Subpart 3.10, the subpart heading and Sec. 3.10-1 are
removed; Sec. 3.10-10 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-40; Sec. 3.10-15 is
redesignated as Sec. 3.40-45; Sec. 3.10-30 is redesignated as
Sec. 3.40-50; Sec. 3.10-35 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-55; Sec. 3.10-
40 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-60; and Sec. 3.10-50 is redesignated as
Sec. 3.40-65.
6. In Sec. 3.40-1, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 3.40-1 Eighth district.
* * * * *
(b) The Eighth Coast Guard District is comprised of North Dakota,
South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri,
Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico,
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; that part of Pennsylvania
south of 41 deg. N. latitude and west of 79 deg. W. longitude; those
parts of Ohio and Indiana south of 41 deg. N. latitude; Illinois,
except that part north of 41 deg. N. latitude and east of 90 deg. W.
longitude; that part of Wisconsin south of 46 deg.20' N. latitude and
west of 90 deg. W. longitude; that part of Minnesota south of
46 deg.20' N. latitude; those parts of Florida and Georgia west of a
line starting at the Florida coast at 83 deg.50' W. longitude; thence
northerly to 30 deg.15' N. latitude, 83 deg.50' W. longitude; thence
due west to 30 deg.15' N. latitude, 84 deg.45' W. longitude; thence due
north to the southern bank of the Jim Woodruff Reservoir at 84 deg.45'
W. longitude; thence northeasterly along the eastern bank of the Jim
Woodruff Reservoir and northerly along the eastern bank of the Flint
River to Montezuma, GA.; thence northwesterly to West Point, GA.; and
the Gulf of Mexico area west of a line bearing 199 T. from the
intersection of the Florida coast at 83 deg.50' W. longitude (the
coastal end of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard District land
boundary.) [DATUM NAD83]
13. In Sec. 3.55-1, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:
3.55-1 Eleventh District.
(a) The District Office is in Alameda, California.
* * * * *
Dated: May 28, 1996.
Kent H. Williams,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 96-15046 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
