E8-11443. Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Mill Neck Creek, Oyster Bay, NY

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard has changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the Bayville Bridge, mile 0.1, across Mill Neck Creek at Oyster Bay, New York. This final rule will allow the bridge to open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. from May 1 through October 31 and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from November 1 through April 30. At all other times the bridge will open after a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. The purpose of this rule is to help relieve the bridge owner from the burden of crewing the bridge during time periods that the bridge receives few requests to open.

DATES:

This rule is effective June 23, 2008.

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 (USCG-2008-0010) and are available online at http://www.regulations.gov. This material is also available for inspection or copying at two locations: the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, and the First Coast Guard District, Bridge Branch, One South Street, New York, NY 10004, between 9 a.m. and 5 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 March 7, 2008, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled “Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Mill Neck Creek, Oyster Bay, NY,” in the Federal Register (73 FR 12315). We received two letters commenting on the proposed rule. No public meeting was requested, and none was held.

Background and Purpose

The Bayville Bridge has a vertical clearance of 9 feet at mean high water, and 16 feet at mean low water in the closed position. The existing drawbridge operating regulations listed at 33 CFR 117.5, require the bridge to open on signal at all times.

On March 8, 2007, the bridge owner, the County of Nassau, Department of Public Works, requested a change to the drawbridge operation regulations to help provide relief from the burden of providing a draw tender at the bridge during time periods when bridge seldom receives a request to open.

On April 13, 2007, the Coast Guard authorized a temporary deviation with a request for public comment in order to test the proposed rule change. The temporary test deviation was in effect from May 25, 2007, through November 20, 2007, with a comment period open until November 30, 2007. The Coast Guard received no comments or complaints from mariners in response to the temporary test deviation.

As a result of the above information, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking proposing to permanently change the drawbridge operation regulations for the Bayville Bridge. Under the notice of proposed rulemaking the bridge would be required to open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., from May 1 through October 31, and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from November 1 through April 30. At all other times the draw shall open on signal after at least a two-hour advance notice is provided by calling the number posted at the bridge.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

The Coast Guard received two comment letters from the New York State Office of Parks and Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking. Both comment letters stated no objection to the proposed rule change and as a result, no changes have been made to this final rule.

Regulatory Analysis

We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analysis based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.

Regulatory Planning and Review

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.

This conclusion is based on the fact that vessel traffic will still be able to transit through the Bayville Bridge at any time provided they give a two-hour advance notice during the time periods the bridge is not crewed.

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 vessel traffic will still be able to transit through the Bayville Bridge at any time provided they give a two-hour advance notice during time periods the bridge is not crewed.

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). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

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 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.

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 rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, and Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, 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 considering that it relates to the promulgation of operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges.

Under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the instruction, an environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion determination are not required for this rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

• Bridges

Regulations

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast 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; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

2. Add § 117.800 to read as follows:

§ 117.800

Mill Neck Creek.

The draw of the Bayville Bridge, mile 0.1, at Oyster Bay, New York, shall open on signal between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., from May 1 through October 31, and between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, from November 1 through April 30. At all other times the draw shall open on signal provided at least a two-hour advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

Dated: May 13, 2008.

Timothy S. Sullivan,

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