E8-12149. ``Gasco'' Regulated Navigation Area, Willamette River, Portland, OR

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area on the Willamette River Portland Oregon Captain of the Port Zone. This action is necessary to preserve the integrity of the clean engineered pilot cap placed over a portion of the NW Natural “Gasco” site (Site) remediation area as part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund clean up action. This proposed rule is needed to prohibit activities that would cause disturbance of pilot cap material which was placed to isolate and contain underlying contaminated sediment.

DATES:

Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before July 2, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket number USCG-2008-0112 to the Docket Management Facility at the U.S. Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, please use only one of the following methods:

(1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.

(2) Mail: 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.

(3) Hand delivery: Room W12-140 on the Ground Floor of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.

(4) Fax: [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

MST1 Lucia Mack, Waterways Division, Sector Portland, OR at 503-240-9301. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation (DOT) to use the Docket Management Facility. Please see DOT's “Privacy Act” paragraph below.

Submitting Comments

If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2008-0112), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. We recommend that you include your name and mailing address, an e-mail address, or a phone number in the body of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission. You may submit your comments and material by electronic means, mail, fax, or delivery to the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES; but please submit your comments and material by only one means. If you submit them by mail or delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them.

Viewing Comments and Documents

To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Enter the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2008-0112) in the Search box, and click “Go>>.” You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the DOT West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Privacy Act

Anyone can search the electronic form of all comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review the Department of Transportation's Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477), or you may visit http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

Public Meeting

We do not plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a request for one to the Docket Management Facility at the address under ADDRESSES explaining why one would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

On April 28, 2004, NW Natural entered into an Administrative Order with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to perform a number of actions in association with removing a tar body at the surface of the near shore sediment adjacent to the Site. The Site is located in the Portland Harbor Superfund site at approximately river mile 6.5 on the Willamette River. As part of these actions, a pilot cap was designed and constructed to cap over a portion of the removal area. The purpose of the pilot cap is to place a barrier over a portion of the removal area and monitor the performance of the pilot cap until the Portland Harbor Superfund Site Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study is completed and a final remedy is evaluated for the Site. The information collected during the interim will be used to help evaluate contamination loading through the pilot cap due to residual contamination in sediments and/or potential ground water migration through the pilot cap, and to help determine whether capping might be an effective remedy for future remediation at the Site. Accordingly, a regulated navigation area is needed to limit disturbances to the pilot cap reducing a potential hazardous release into the Willamette River,

Discussion of Proposed Rule

This proposed rule would create a regulated navigation area (RNA) on all waters of the Willamette River encompassed by a line commencing at 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′28″ W along the shoreline to 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′48″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′48″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′48″ N, 122°45′28″ W thence to 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′28″ W and back to the point of origin. Vessels are prohibited from motoring, anchoring, dragging, dredging, and trawling directly over or adjacent to the pilot cap area, except as required for ongoing operations at the adjacent refueling pipeline.

Violations of the RNA regulations are punishable by civil penalties (not to exceed $32,500 per violation), criminal penalties (imprisonment for not more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $250,000), and in rem liability against the offending vessel.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposed 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.

We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary.

The effect of this regulation will not be significant based on the fact there will be minimal, if any, effect on the navigable waterway around the proposed regulated area due to the regulated navigation area's proximity to the shore.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this proposed 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 proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This proposed rule will affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in a portion of the Willamette River. This proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because the regulated navigation area is limited in size leaving ample room for vessels to navigate around the area. Vessels engaged in commerce with the existing refueling pipeline located within the site should not be affected by this regulation in those activities but are advised to minimize potential impacts such as anchoring, wake scouring, and dragging in the vicinity of the pilot cap.

If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed rule would have a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what degree this rule would economically affect it.

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 proposed rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the proposed rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact MST1 Lucia Mack, Waterways Division, Sector Portland, at 503-240-9301. 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 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 proposed 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 proposed rule would not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

This proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This proposed rule is not an economically significant rule and will not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

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

Environment

We have analyzed this proposed 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 made a preliminary determination that this action is not likely to have a significant effect on the human environment. A preliminary “Environmental Analysis Check List” supporting this determination is available in the docket under ADDRESSES. We seek any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a significant environmental impact from this proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR Part 165 as follows:

PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Public Law 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

2. Add § 165.1322 to read as follows:

§ 165.1322

Regulated Navigation Area: Willamette River Portland, Oregon Captain of the Port Zone.

(a) Location. The following is a regulated navigation area (RNA): All waters of the Willamette River encompassed by a line commencing at 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′28″ W along the shoreline to 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′48″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′48″ N, 122°45′30″ W thence to 45°34′48″ N, 122°45′28″ W thence to 45°34′47″ N, 122°45′28″ W and back to the point of origin. All coordinates reference 1983 North American Datum (NAD 83).

(b) Regulations. (1) Motoring, anchoring, dragging, dredging, or trawling are prohibited in the regulated area. (2) All vessels transiting or accessing the regulated area shall do so at a no wake speed or at the minimum speed necessary to maintain steerage.

Dated: May 6, 2008.

J.P. Currier,

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