05-11487. Drawbridge Operation Regulations: Housatonic River, CT

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the drawbridge operating regulations governing the operation of the US 1 Bridge, mile 3.5, across the Housatonic River at Stratford, Connecticut. Under this temporary rule only one of the two-bascule leafs at the bridge shall open for the passage of vessel traffic from June 18, 2005 through December 30, 2005, except holidays. Two-leaf, full bridge openings, shall be provided upon a three-day advance notice. This temporary rulemaking is necessary to facilitate rehabilitation repairs at the bridge.

DATES:

This rule is effective June 18, 2005, through December 30, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket (CGD01-05-028) and are available for inspection or copying at the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch Office, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110, between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Judy Leung-Yee, Project Officer, First Coast Guard District, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

On April 19, 2005, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations, Housatonic River, Connecticut, in the Federal Register (70 FR 20322). We received no comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was requested and none was held.

Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The Coast Guard believes making this final rule effective less than 30 days after publication is reasonable because the bridge rehabilitation construction is necessary vital work that needs to be performed as soon as possible.

Any delay in making this final rule effective would not be in the best interest of public or safety because performing this work during the non-winter months June 18, 2005 through December 30, 2005, is the best time period during which construction personnel may work in a more safe and productive manner to help restore the bridge to a safe and reliable operational status.

Background and Purpose

The US 1 Bridge has a vertical clearance in the closed position of 32 feet at mean high water and 37 feet at mean low water. The existing drawbridge operation regulations are listed at 33 CFR § 117.207(a).

The owner of the bridge, the Connecticut Department of Transportation, requested a temporary change to the drawbridge operation regulations to facilitate rehabilitation maintenance at the bridge.

Under this temporary rule only one of the two-bascule leafs at the US 1 Bridge would open for the passage of vessel traffic from June 18, 2005 through December 30, 2005.

The Monday through Friday closures to facilitate vehicular commuter traffic in the existing operation regulations, 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., will continue to be in effect during this temporary rule.

Two-leaf openings will be provided on the following holidays: the Fourth of July, Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4; Labor Day, Friday, September 2 through Monday, September 5; Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24 through Sunday, November 27; and Christmas, Saturday, December 24 through Monday, December 26, 2005.

In addition, full two leaf bridge opening will be provided at any time, except during the closed periods for vehicular commuter traffic, after at least a three-day advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

The Coast Guard received no comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. As a result of the above, no changes were made to this temporary final rule.

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).

This conclusion is based on the fact that the bridge will fully open at any time after a three-day notice is given.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we 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 less than 50,000.

The 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.

This conclusion is based on the fact that the bridge will fully open at any time after a three-day notice is given.

Assistance for Small Entities

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

No small entities requested Coast Guard assistance and none was given.

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 calls 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 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.

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.

Indian Tribal Governments

This final rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it does not have 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. The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.

This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

We have analyzed this final 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 rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, from further environmental documentation. It has been determined that this final rule does not significantly impact the environment.

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. From June 18, 2005 through December 30, 2005, paragraph (a) in § 117.207 is suspended and a new paragraph (c) is added to read as follows:

§ 117.207

Housatonic River.

* * * * *

(c) From June 18, 2005 through December 30, 2005, the U.S. 1 Bridge, mile 3.5, at Stratford, shall open on signal, except that, it may open only one of the two-bascule leafs for the passage of vessel traffic.

(1) From 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, the bridge may remain closed for the passage of vessel traffic.

(2) Two-leaf, full bridge openings, shall be provided on holidays as follows: the Fourth of July, Friday, July 1 through Monday, July 4; Labor Day, Friday, September 2 through Monday, September 5; Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24 through Sunday, November 27; and Christmas, Saturday, December 24 through Monday, December 26, 2005.

(3) Two-leaf, full bridge openings, shall be provided at any time, except as provided in (c)(1), after at least a three-day advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

Dated: May 25, 2005.

David P. Pekoske,

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