[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 149 (Wednesday, August 4, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42279-42280]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20024]
[[Page 42279]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 110
[CGD07-99-023]
RIN 2115-AA98
Special Anchorage Areas; St. Johns River, Jacksonville, Florida
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is amending the Anchorage Regulations for the
St. Johns River in Jacksonville, FL. The amendment will improve the
safety of vessels anchoring within and transiting these anchorage areas
by imposing additional notification, tug employment, and VHF-FM channel
monitoring requirements.
DATES: This rule becomes effective September 3, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Zachary Pickett, Coast Guard Marine
Safety Office Jacksonville, at (904) 232-2640, ext. 128.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
On May 20, 1999, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed
rulemaking in the Federal Register (64 FR 27487). No comments were
received during the comment period.
Background and Purpose
A natural working group established by the Jacksonville Waterways
Management Council proposed additional safety requirements for vessels
using Anchorage Areas A and B within the St. Johns River. The Captain
of the Port agreed with the findings of the Council. The amended
regulations require all vessels intending to anchor in the St. Johns
anchorage to notify the Captain of the Port, and all anchoring vessels
will be required to monitor Channels 13 and 16 VHF-FM at all times.
Also, while in the anchorage area, all vessels transferring petroleum
products and all vessels over 300 feet in length, will be required to
have a pilot or dock master on board and will be required to employ
sufficient tugs to ensure safety.
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 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
proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is
unnecessary as these regulations will only economically affect
approximately 30 vessels a year.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this rule will have a significant
economic effect upon a substantial number of small entities. ``Small
entities'' include 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.
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this rule will
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities as the tug employment and pilot requirements will only affect
approximately 30 vessels each year, and the other changes are only
minor in nature.
Collection of Information
This rule 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 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.
Environmental Assessment
The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule
and concluded under Figure 2-1, paragraph 34(f) of Commandant
Instruction M16475.1C, that this rule is categorically excluded from
further environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion
Determination has been completed and is available in the docket for
inspection or copying.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110
Anchorage grounds.
Final Regulation
In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends part 110
of title 33, Code of Federal Regulations as follows:
PART 110--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 2030, 2035, and 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and
33 CFR 1.05-1(g). Section 110.1a and each section listed in 110.1a
is also issued under 33 U.S.C. 1223 and 1231.
2. Revise Sec. 110.183(b) to read as follows:
Sec. 110.183 St. Johns River, Florida.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) Except in cases of emergency, only vessels meeting the
conditions and restrictions of this paragraph will be authorized by the
Captain of the Port to anchor in the St. Johns River, as depicted on
NOAA chart 11491, between the entrance buoy (STJ) and the Main Street
Bridge (in position 30 deg.19'20''N, 81 deg.39'32''W). Vessels unable
to meet any of the following conditions and restrictions must obtain
specific authorization from the Captain of the Port prior to anchoring
in Anchorage A or B.
(2) All vessels intending to enter and anchor in Anchorage A or B
shall notify the Captain of the Port prior to entering.
(3) Anchorages A and B are temporary anchorages. Additionally,
Anchorage B is used as a turning basin. Vessels may not anchor for more
than 24 hours in either anchorage without specific written
authorization from the Captain of the Port.
(4) All vessels at anchor must maintain a watch on VHF-FM channels
13 and 16 by a person fluent in English, and shall make a security
broadcast on channel 13 upon anchoring and every 4 hours thereafter.
(5) Anchorage A is restricted to vessels less than 250 feet in
length.
(6) Anchorage B is restricted to vessels with a draft of 24 feet or
less, regardless of length.
(7) Any vessel transferring petroleum products within Anchorage B
shall have a pilot or Docking Master aboard, and employ sufficient
assist tugs to assure the safety of the vessel at anchor and any
vessels transiting the area.
(8) Any vessel over 300 feet in length within Anchorage B shall
have a Pilot or Docking Master aboard, and employ sufficient assist
tugs to assure the safety of the vessel at anchor and any vessels
transiting the area.
[[Page 42280]]
Dated: July 27, 1999.
G.W. Sutton,
Captain U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District
Acting.
[FR Doc. 99-20024 Filed 8-3-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M
