01-20038. Safety Zone: Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU Relocation and Crew Member Recovery, Pacific Ocean, South Shores of the Island of Oahu, HI

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has established four temporary safety zones south of Oahu, Hawaii, to protect vessels and mariners from the hazards associated with vessel relocation and crewmember recovery operations of the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU, which sank after being struck by the submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772). Entry into these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Honolulu, HI.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 4 p.m. HST August 1, 2001 until 4 p.m. November 15, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Public comments and supporting material is available for inspection or copying at U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu, 433 Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI, 96813, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

LT Mark Willis, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Honolulu, Hawaii at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

On June 28, 2001, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (66 FR 34380), proposing to establish temporary safety zones for the recovery and relocation operation for the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU. We received no comments on the proposal. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exist for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Due to the unprecedented and urgent nature of the Navy's relocation and recovery operation, the effective dates for this zone were not known in sufficient time to make this rule effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

On February 9, 2001, the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU was struck by the submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772) approximately 9 nautical miles south of Diamond Head on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The EHIME MARU sank in approximately 2,000 feet of water. At the time of the sinking, 26 of the 35 crewmembers were successfully rescued. An extensive search failed to locate additional personnel and it is assumed that some, or all, of the nine missing crewmembers were trapped inside the vessel. The EHIME MARU is resting upright on the seafloor at position 21°-04.8′N, 157°-49.5′W. The­ U.S. Navy plans to recover crewmembers, personal effects, and certain unique characteristic components from the EHIME MARU. In its present location, the vessel is beyond diver capability to safely conduct recovery operations. Therefore, the current recovery plan calls for use of a specially equipped offshore construction vessel to lift the EHIME MARU from the bottom and transport the vessel to a shallow water work site. The EHIME MARU will then be placed back on the seafloor, in approximately 115 feet of water, where Navy divers will enter the hull and attempt to recover crewmembers, personal effects, and uniquely characteristic components found inside. To limit impact on the marine environment, diesel fuel, lubricating oil, loose debris, and any other hazardous materials will be removed to the maximum extent practicable at the shallow water work site. The hull will then be lifted back off the ocean floor and moved to a deep-water relocation site approximately 13 nautical miles south of Barbers Point on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. To support the vessel relocation and crewmember recovery operation, the Coast Guard will establish safety zones as follows:

1. A fixed safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, centered at 21°-04.8′N, 157°-49.5′W, the present location of the EHIME MARU.

2. A moving safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, will be in effect during transit of the EHIME MARU and associated recovery vessels from the present location of the EHIME MARU to the shallow water work site, located within the Naval Defensive Sea Area at approximate position 21°-17.5′N, 157°-56.4′W.

3. A moving safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, will be in effect during transit of the EHIME MARU and associated recovery vessels from the shallow water work site to the deep water relocation site at approximate position 21°-05.0′N, 157°-07.0′W.

4. A fixed safety zone, with a radius of 1 nautical mile, centered at the coordinates of the deep water relocation site, will be in effect until the EHIME MARU is placed back on the ocean floor. The portion of the safety zone extending beyond the territorial boundary is advisory only.

The safety zones will be enforced sequentially, the exact dates will be dependent on the phase of the operation. These safety zones are effective August 1, 2001, and will remain in effect until the operation ends November 15, 2001. The purpose of these safety zones is to protect vessels and mariners from hazards associated with vessel relocation and crewmember recovery operations of the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU. Since oil spills may result due to damaged and ruptured fuel tanks, the safety zones will also protect vessels and mariners from the hazards of any pollution response operations that may be necessary. Entry into these safety zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Honolulu, HI. Representatives of the Captain of the Port Honolulu will enforce the safety zones. The Captain of the Port may be assisted by other federal agencies.

Regulatory Evaluation

This temporary 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). The U.S. Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this action to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. This expectation is based on the short duration of the zone and the limited geographic area affected by it.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we considered whether this temporary 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 U.S. 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. No small business impacts are anticipated due to the small size of the zones and the short duration of the safety zones in any one area.

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

The U. S. Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132, and has determined 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) 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 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.

Indian Tribal Governments

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.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will 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 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 rule under Executive Order 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 U. S. Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this action and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

• Harbors
• Marine safety
• Navigation (water)
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Security measures
• Waterways

Regulation

For the reasons set out 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, 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

2. From August 1, 2001, to November 15, 2001, new § 165.T14-054 is temporarily added to read as follows:

§ 165.T14-054

Safety Zone: Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU Relocation and Crew Member Recovery, Pacific Ocean, South Shores of the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.

(a) Location. The following areas are safety zones:

(1) At the current location of the Japanese Fisheries High School Training Vessel EHIME MARU, all waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius centered at 21°-04.8′N, 157°-49.5′W.

(2) All waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius of the recovery vessels while en route between the current location at 21°-04.8′N, 157°-49.5′W to the shallow water recovery site at 21°-17.5′N, 157°-56.4′W.

(3) All waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius of the recovery vessels while en route between the shallow water work site at 21°-17.5′N, 157°-56.4′W to the deep water relocation site at 21°-05.0′N, 157°-07.0′W.

(4) All waters from the surface of the ocean to the bottom within a 1 nautical mile radius centered at 21°-05.0′N, 157°-07.0′W, except those waters extending beyond the territorial seas.

(b) Designated representative. A designated representative of the U. S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port is any U. S. Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer that has been authorized by the U. S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Honolulu, to act on his behalf. The following officers have or will be designated by the Captain of the Port Honolulu: The senior U. S. Coast Guard boarding officer on each vessel enforcing the safety zone.

(c) Regulations. n accordance with the general regulations in § 165.23 of this part, entry into these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the U. S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port or his designated representatives. The Captain of the Port Honolulu will grant general permissions to enter the zones via Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

(d) Effective dates. This section is effective from 4 p.m. August 1, 2001, until the operation ends at 4 p.m. November 15, 2001. The public will be notified of the enforcement status of the various zones by Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

Dated: July 31, 2001.

G. J. Kanazawa,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Honolulu.