03-24015. Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Massalina Bayou, Panama City, FL

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Temporary rule.

SUMMARY:

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has temporarily changed the regulation governing the operation of the Tarpon Dock bascule span drawbridge across Massalina Bayou, mile 0.0, at Panama City, Bay County, Florida. The regulation will allow the draw of the bridge to remain closed to navigation for one hour to facilitate the American Heart Walk.

DATES:

This temporary rule is effective from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on October 18, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

Documents referred to in this rule are available for inspection or copying at the office of the Eighth Coast Guard District, Bridge Administration Branch, 501 Magazine Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-3396, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is [phone]. The Eighth District Bridge Administration Branch maintains the public docket for this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Frank, Bridge Administration Branch, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Good Cause for Not Publishing an NPRM

We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing an NPRM. Thousands of pedestrians will cross the bridge during the event and this temporary rule is necessary to ensure their safely as they cross the bridge.

Background and Purpose

The City of Panama City has requested a temporary rule changing the operation of the Tarpon Dock bascule span drawbridge across Massalina Bayou, mile 0.0, in Panama City, Bay County, Florida. This temporary rule is needed to accommodate approximately 2,000 pedestrians that are expected to participate in a 3.5-mile walk. The bridge is near the beginning of the walk and allowing the bridge to open for navigation during this short time period would disrupt the event and could result in injury. The bridge has a vertical clearance of 7 feet above mean high water in the closed-to-navigation position and unlimited in the open-to-navigation position. Navigation on the waterway consists primarily of commercial fishing vessels, sailing vessels and other recreational craft. Presently, Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), § 117.301 states: The draw of the Tarpon Dock bascule span bridge, Massalina Bayou, mile 0.0, shall open on signal; except that from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. on July 4, each year, the draw need not open for the passage of vessels. The draw will open at any time for a vessel in distress. This temporary rule will allow the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on October 18, 2003 to facilitate the American Heart Walk.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 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 Homeland Security (DHS).

We expect the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under the regulatory policies and procedures of DHS is unnecessary.

This temporary rule will be only one hour in duration and is therefore expected to have only a minor affect on the local economy.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 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 temporary rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This rule may affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to transit through the Tarpon dock bridge across Massalina Bayou during the closure. There is not expected to be a significant impact due to the short duration of the closure and the publicity given the event.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.

Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247).

Collection of Information

This rule would call for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.

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 the preamble.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will not affect 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 cause an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

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.

Energy Effects

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a “significant energy action” under that order because it is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Environment

We have analyzed this rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded that there are no factors in this case that would limit the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the Instruction. Therefore, this temporary rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, from further environmental documentation because it modifies an existing bridge operation regulation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

• Bridges

Regulations

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR Part 117 as follows:

PART 117—DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation for Part 117 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.

2. Effective 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on October 28, 2003, § 117.301 is temporarily suspended and a new § 117.302 is added to read as follows:

§ 117.302

Massalina Bayou.

The draw of the Tarpon Dock bascule span bridge, Massalina Bayou, mile 0.0, shall open on signal; except that from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on October 18, 2003, the draw need not open for the passage of vessels. The draw will open at any time for a vessel in distress.

Dated: September 9, 2003.

R.F. Duncan,

Rear Admiral, U. S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.