E8-13145. Regulated Navigation Area and Safety Zone, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary regulated navigation area and safety zone on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, IL. This proposed regulated navigation area and safety zone places navigational and operational restrictions on all vessels transiting through the electrical dispersal barrier IIA.

DATES:

Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before June 27, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket number USCG-2008-0470 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.regulation.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:

If you have questions on this proposed rule call CDR Tim Cummins, Deputy Prevention Division, Ninth Coast Guard District, telephone [phone]. 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-2008-0470), 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, mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in the body of your document to ensure that you can be identified as the submitter. This also allows us to contact you in the event further information is needed or if there are questions. For example, if we cannot read your submission due to technical difficulties and you cannot be contacted; your submission may not be considered. 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-2008-0470) 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 now 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

The electrodes on the demonstration electrical dispersal barrier I located between mile markers 296.1 and 296.7 of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal are beginning to fail. This barrier was constructed to prevent Asian Carp from entering Lake Michigan through the Illinois River system by generating a low-voltage electric field across the canal. The Army Corps of Engineers intends to shut down barrier I and begin the process of replacing the barrier electrodes which run across the bottom of the canal. Divers will be in the water and a barge-mounted crane will be operating during maintenance operations to barrier I. Electrical dispersal barrier IIA located on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal 270 feet south of mile marker 296.1 to mile marker 296.7 will be in operation while repairs are being made to demonstration electrical dispersal barrier I. Barrier IIA will operate continuously for a two week period before taking barrier I off line for electrode replacement. Electrical dispersal barrier IIA generates a more powerful electric field than barrier I over a larger area within the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.

The Coast Guard and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted field tests to ensure the continued safe navigation of commercial and recreational traffic across the barrier; however, results indicated an arcing risk and hazardous electrical discharges as vessels transited the barrier posing a serious risk to navigation through the barrier. To mitigate these risks, navigational and operational restrictions will be placed on all vessels transiting through the vicinity. Until the potential electrical hazards can be rectified, the Coast Guard will require vessels transiting the regulated navigation area to adhere to specified operational and navigational requirements.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

This proposed rule will suspend 33 CFR 165.923 and place additional restrictions on all vessels transiting through electrical dispersal barrier IIA located on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from June 30, 2008 until August 15, 2008. The regulated navigation area encompasses all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal 270 feet south of the Romeo Road Bridge Mile Marker 296.1 to the south side of the Aerial Pipeline Mile Marker 296.7. The requirements placed on all vessels include: All up-bound and down-bound barge tows that contain one or more red flag barges transiting through the restricted navigation area must be assisted by a bow boat at least one mile above the restricted navigation area to at least one mile below the restricted navigation area. Red flag barges are barges containing hazardous materials as identified by commodity codes:

01 (Empty with previous hazardous material)

20 (Petroleum and Petroleum Products)

21 (Crude Petroleum)

22 (Gasoline, Jet Fuel and Kerosene)

23 (Distillate, Residual and other Fuel Oils; Lubricating Oils and Greases)

24 (Petroleum Pitches, Coke Asphalt, Naphtha and Solvents)

30 (Chemicals and Related Products)

31 (Fertilizer-Nitrogenous, Potassic, Phosphatic and Others)

32 (Organic Industrial Chemicals {Crude Products} from Coal, Tar, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dyes, Organic Pigment Dying and Tanning Materials, Alcohols, Benzene; Inorganic Industrial Chemicals {Sodium Hydroxide}; Radioactive and Associated Materials; Drugs)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will contract bow boat assistance for barge tows containing one or more red flag barges. Information on how to contact the contractor for bow boat assistance will be provided to the public in a Broadcast Notice to Mariners. Towing assistance will be provided from at least one mile above the restricted navigation area to at least one mile below the restricted navigation area.

This proposed rule prohibits all vessels from loitering in the regulated navigation area; vessels may enter the regulated navigation area for the sole purpose of transiting to the other side and must maintain headway throughout the transit. The rule also requires all personnel on open decks to wear a Coast Guard approved Type I personal flotation device while in the regulated navigation area. In addition, vessels may not moor or lay up on the right or left descending banks in the regulated navigation area; towboats may not make or break tows in the regulated navigation area; vessels may not pass (meet or overtake) in the regulated navigation area. All vessels must make a SECURITE call when approaching the barrier to announce intentions and work out passing arrangements on either side. Finally, commercial tows transiting the regulated navigation area must be made up with wire rope to ensure electrical connectivity between all segments of the tow.

These restrictions are necessary for safe navigation of the regulated navigation area and to ensure the safety of vessels and their personnel as well as the public's safety due to the electrical discharges noted during safety tests conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Deviation from this proposed rule is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District or his designated representative. The Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District will designate Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan as his designated representative for the purposes of this proposed rule.

A temporary safety zone will be in place while repairs are being made to barrier I. This temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of workers and vessels during maintenance operations to barrier I on the Chicago and Sanitary Ship Canal.

The maintenance on barrier I will occur between 7 a.m., July 14, 2008 and 5 p.m., August 9, 2008. The safety zone will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 14, 2008 through August 9, 2008. The safety zone will encompass all waters of the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal from mile marker 296.1 to mile marker 296.7.

The Captain of the Port will cause notice of enforcement of the safety zone established by this section to be made by all appropriate means to the affected segments of the public. Such means of notification will include, but is not limited to, Broadcast Notice to Mariners and Local Notice to Mariners. The Captain of the Port will issue a broadcast Notice to Mariners notifying the public when enforcement of the safety zone is terminated.

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.

This determination is based on the fact that traffic will still be able to transit through the regulated navigation area and the minimal time that vessels will be restricted from the safety zone. The safety zone is an area where the Coast Guard expects insignificant adverse impact to mariners from the zones' activation.

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 would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This proposed rule would affect the following entities, some of which might be small: The owners and operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in a portion of the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal from June 30, 2008 to August 15, 2008.

This regulated navigation area and safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. Vessel traffic will be able to transit through the regulated navigation area. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will contract bow boat assistance for barge tows containing one or more Red Flag barges. Vessel traffic will only be limited for one five hour period and one four hour period each day the safety zone is in effect. In the event this temporary safety zone affects shipping, commercial vessels may request permission from the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan to transit through the safety zone. The Coast Guard will give notice to the public via a Broadcast Notice to Mariners that the regulation is in effect.

If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this 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 the rule so that they could better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact CDR Tim Cummins, Deputy Prevention Division, Ninth Coast Guard District, 1240 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44199; 216-902-6049. 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 proposed 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 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 rule would not result in such 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

The Coast Guard recognizes the treaty rights of Native American Tribes. Moreover, the Coast Guard is committed to working with Tribal Governments to implement local policies and to mitigate tribal concerns. We have determined that these regulations and fishing rights protections need not be incompatible. We have also determined that 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. Nevertheless, Indian Tribes that have questions concerning the provisions of this proposed rule or options for compliance are encouraged to contact the point of contact listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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 procedure; and related management system 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.lD, 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 preliminary determination is available in the docket where indicated 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 record keeping 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, and 160.5; Pub. L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

§ 165.923

[Suspended]

2. Section 165.923 is suspended from July 30, 2008, until August 15, 2008.

3. A new temporary § 165.T09-0470 is added as follows:

§ 165.T09-0470

Temporary Regulated Navigation Area and Safety Zone, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL.

a. (1) Regulated Navigation Area. The following is a Regulated Navigation Area: All waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL, 270 feet south of the Romeo Road Bridge Mile Marker 296.1 to the south side of the Aerial Pipeline Mile Marker 296.7.

(2) Effective period. This regulation is effective from June 30, 2008, until August 15, 2008.

(3) Definitions. The following definitions apply to paragraph a.(1): Designated representative means the Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan.

Red Flag barges means barges containing hazardous materials as identified by commodity codes:

(a) 01 (Empty with previous hazardous material);

(b) 20 (Petroleum and Petroleum Products);

(c) 21 (Crude Petroleum);

(d) 22 (Gasoline, Jet Fuel and Kerosene);

(e) 23 (Distillate, Residual and other Fuel Oils; Lubricating Oils and Greases);

(f) 24 (Petroleum Pitches, Coke Asphalt, Naphtha and Solvents);

(g) 30 (Chemicals and Related Products);

(h) 31 (Fertilizer-Nitrogenous, Potassic, Phosphatic and Others); and

(i) 32 (Organic Industrial Chemicals {Crude Products} from Coal, Tar, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dyes, Organic Pigment Dying and Tanning Materials, Alcohols, Benzene; Inorganic Industrial Chemicals {Sodium Hydroxide}; Radioactive and Associated Materials; Drugs)

(4) Regulations. (a) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR 165.13 apply.

(b) All up-bound and down-bound barge tows that contain one or more red flag barges transiting through the restricted navigation area must be assisted by a bow boat until the entire tow is clear of the expanded restricted navigation area boundaries.

1. Information on how to contact the contractor for bow boat assistance will be provided to the public in a Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

2. Towing assistance will be provided from at least one mile above the restricted navigation area to at least one mile below the restricted navigation area.

(c) All vessels are prohibited from loitering in the regulated navigation area.

(d) Vessels may enter the regulated navigation area for the sole purpose of transiting to the other side and must maintain headway throughout the transit.

(e) All personnel on open decks must wear a Coast Guard approved Type I personal flotation device while in the regulated navigation area.

(f) Vessels may not moor or lay up on the right or left descending banks of the regulated navigation area.

(g) Towboats may not make or break tows in the regulated navigation area.

(h) Vessels may not pass (meet or overtake) in the regulated navigation area and must make a SECURITE call when approaching the barrier to announce intentions and work out passing arrangements on either side.

(i) Commercial tows transiting the regulated navigation area must be made up with wire rope to ensure electrical connectivity between all segments of the tow.

(5) Compliance. All persons and vessels must comply with this section and any additional instructions of the Ninth Coast Guard District Commander, or his designated representative.

b.(1) Safety Zone. The following area is a temporary safety zone: All waters of the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal from mile marker 296.1 to 296.7.

(2) Effective period. This regulation is effective from 7 a.m., July 14, 2008, to 5 p.m., August 9, 2008. The safety zone will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 14, 2008, through August 9, 2008.

(3) Regulations. (a) In accordance with the general regulations in section 165.23 of this part, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan, or his on-scene representative, for b.(1).

(b) This safety zone is closed to all vessel traffic, except as may be permitted by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan, or his on-scene representative, for b.(1).

(c) The “on-scene representative” of the Captain of the Port is any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer who has been designated by the Captain of the Port to act on his behalf for b.(1). The on-scene representative of the Captain of the Port will be aboard either a Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel. The Captain of the Port or his on-scene representative may be contacted via VHF Channel 16.

(d) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the safety zone shall contact the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or his on-scene representative to obtain permission to do so.

Vessel operators given permission to enter or operate in the safety zone must comply with all directions given to them by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or his on-scene representative.

Dated: May 30, 2008.

Michael N. Parks,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.