[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47905-47907]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22985]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 162
[CGD-94-026]
RIN 2115-AE78
Inland Waterways Navigation Regulations: Wrangell Narrows, Alaska
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to allow single barge tows of up to
100 feet in width overall to transit Wrangell Narrows, Alaska. The
current size restriction for single barge tows in Wrangell Narrows is
80 feet in width overall. An increase in the maximum barge width in
Wrangell Narrows will allow barge operators to carry more cargo on each
barge to meet the increasing needs of their Alaskan consumers.
Increasing the restriction to 100 feet in width overall will have no
adverse effects on navigation and marine safety in Wrangell Narrows.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 14, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Executive Secretary, Marine
Safety Council (G-LRA/3406) (CGD 94-026), U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or may
be delivered to Room 3406 at the above address
[[Page 47906]]
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: Diane Schneider Appleby, Project
Manager, (202) 267-0352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments.
Persons submitting comments should include their name and address,
identify this rulemaking (CGD 94-026) and the specific section of this
proposal to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each
comment. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket for this
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be
available for inspection or copying at Room 3406, U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received
during the comment period. It may change this proposal in view of the
comments.
The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a
public hearing by writing to the Marine Safety Council at the address
under ADDRESSES. If it determines that the opportunity for oral
presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a
public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the
Federal Register.
Drafting Information
This principal persons involved in drafting this document are Diane
Schneider Appleby, Project Manager, and C.G. Green, Project Counsel.
Background and Purpose
Wrangell Narrows is a navigable waterway of the United States
located in Southeast Alaska. It connects Frederick Sound on the north
end to Sumner Strait on the south. It is approximately 24 miles long
and narrows to 300 feet in five places. The longest of the 300 foot
wide sections is approximately 5.5 nautical miles in length. The other
four sections vary from approximately 600 yards to approximately 1.3
nautical miles in length.
The primary users of Wrangell Narrows are passenger ferries, log
carriers, pleasure craft and container barges. Container barges are
used to transport consumer goods throughout South East Alaska which is
vital to the every day life of Alaskan citizens.
The increased demand for consumer goods in Southeast Alaska has
created a greater demand on providers of these goods. The current
regulations limit the width of single barge tows allowed to transit
Wrangell Narrows to no more than 80 feet in width overall. Increasing
the maximum barge width which can transit Wrangell Narrows from 80 to
100 feet would allow barge operators to carry more containers per
transit and enable them to more efficiently meet the needs of their
Alaskan customers.
Approximately 95,000 containers are shipped through Southeast
Alaska each year on approximately 200 transits of Wrangell Narrows.
Consumer goods are the primary cargo.
Barges larger than 80 feet in width overall, cannot transit
Wrangell Narrows without a waiver of the size restriction. If they
cannot use Wrangell Narrows, they must transit through Chatham Strait
around Cape Decision which increases the transit distance to the Gulf
of Alaska by over 170 miles. Inclement weather, common in Southeast
Alaska, often causes delays of as many as two or three days while barge
operators wait for better weather to make the passage around Cape
Decision. The risk of a marine casualty increases when transporting
cargo in severe weather.
Wrangell Narrows is wide enough, even in its narrowest sections, to
allow for the safe transit of 100 foot wide barges. Alaska Marine Lines
has been safely operating 100 foot wide single barge tows on Wrangell
Narrows with a Coast Guard waiver since May 1994, after expressing a
written need for an increase in the maximum width of single barge tows.
Southeast Alaska relies heavily upon container barges to deliver
consumer goods essential to the every day life of its residents.
Allowing 100 foot wide single barge tows in Wrangell Narrows would
eliminate all current requests for waivers from the width restriction
and would reduce unnecessary weather-related delays of consumer good
shipments to Alaskan residents. It would also allow most single barge
tows to operate in the protected waters of Wrangell Narrows during
inclement weather.
Regulatory Evaluation
This proposal is not a significant regulatory action under
Executive Order 12866 and is not significant under the Department of
Transportation Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11040;
February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard has determined that a Regulatory
Evaluation is unnecessary because of the minimal impact expected.
Small Entities
Because it expects the impact of the proposal to be minimal, the
Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposal, if
adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. If, however, you think that your business
qualifies as a small entity and that this proposal will have a
significant economic impact on your business, please submit a comment
(see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think your business qualifies and in
what way and to what degree this proposal will economically affect your
business.
Collection of Information
This proposal contains no collection of information requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
Federalism
This proposed rule has been analyzed in accordance with Executive
Order No. 12612 on Federalism (October 26, 1987), which requires
Executive departments and agencies to be guided by certain fundamental
federalism principles in formulating and implementing policies. These
policies have been fully considered in the development of the proposed
regulation. This proposal does not have sufficient federalism
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environment
The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this
proposal and concluded that this action is Categorically Excluded in
accordance with section 2.B.2.e(34)(g) of the NEPA Implementing
Procedures, COMDTINST M16475.2B. A copy of the categorical exclusion
determination is available in the docket for inspection or copying
where indicated under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 162
Navigation (water), Waterways.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes
to amend 33 CFR Part 162 as follows:
PART 162--INLAND WATERWAYS NAVIGATION REGULATIONS
1. The authority citation for part 162 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 3 U.S.C. 1231; 49 CFR 1.46.
2. In section 162.255, paragraph (e)(2) is revised to read as
follows:
Sec. 162.255 Wrangell Narrows, Alaska; use, administration, and
navigation.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
[[Page 47907]]
(2) Raft and barge tows of more than one unit shall not exceed 65
feet in width overall. Single barge tows shall not exceed 100 feet in
width overall.
* * * * *
Dated: September 7, 1995.
J.A. Creech,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Chief, Office of Navigation Safety
and Waterway Services.
[FR Doc. 95-22985 Filed 9-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
