81 FR 62366 - Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Hackensack River, Jersey City, NJ

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 175 (September 9, 2016)

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Route 1 & 9 (Lincoln Highway) Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 2.0, Jersey City, New Jersey. The bridge owner, New Jersey Department of Transportation, submitted a request to restrict bridge openings during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from area roadway closures. It is expected that this change to the regulations would provide relief to vehicular traffic while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 175 (Friday, September 9, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62366-62367]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-21766]



[[Page 62366]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2016-0173]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Hackensack River, Jersey City, 
NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating 
schedule that governs the Route 1 & 9 (Lincoln Highway) Bridge across 
the Hackensack River, mile 2.0, Jersey City, New Jersey. The bridge 
owner, New Jersey Department of Transportation, submitted a request to 
restrict bridge openings during the morning and afternoon rush hour 
periods to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from area roadway 
closures. It is expected that this change to the regulations would 
provide relief to vehicular traffic while continuing to meet the 
reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: This rule is effective October 11, 2016 to midnight on September 
30, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type [USCG-
2061-0173] in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary final rule, call or email Mr. Joe Arca, Project Officer, 
First Coast Guard District Bridge Branch, 212-668-7165, 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
E.O. Executive order
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
SNPRM Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking
Pub. L. Public Law
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    On June 1, 2016, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled, Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Hackensack River, 
Jersey City, NJ in the Federal Register (81 FR 34932). We received no 
comments on the proposed rule. No public meeting was requested and none 
was held.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority 33 U.S.C. 499. 
The Route 1 & 9 (Lincoln Highway) Bridge at mile 2.0, across the 
Hackensack River between Kearny and Jersey City, New Jersey, has a 
vertical clearance of 40 feet at mean high water and 45 feet at mean 
low water. The drawbridge operation regulations are listed at 33 CFR 
117.5.
    The waterway users are predominantly recreational vessels and 
commercial vessels.
    The owner of the bridge, New Jersey Department of Transportation, 
submitted a request to the Coast Guard to temporarily change the 
drawbridge operating regulations at 33 CFR 117.723 by adding paragraph 
(k). This change will facilitate additional vehicular traffic detoured 
from the Pulaski Skyway Bridge which is expected to be under 
construction through September 30, 2017.
    The existing regulations presently require the bridge to open on 
signal at all times.
    Under this temporary final rule the draw shall open on signal; 
except that, the draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic 
between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except holidays.
    Tide dependent deep draft vessels may request bridge openings 
during the two rush hour closure periods provided at least a twelve 
hour advance notice is given.

IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes and the Temporary Final Rule

    The Coast Guard provided a comment period of 60 days and no 
comments were received. As a result, no changes have been made to the 
rule as proposed.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
executive orders (E.O.s) related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on a number of these statutes and E.O.s, and we discuss 
First Amendment rights of protesters.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    E.O.s 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the costs and 
benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is 
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits. 
E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. This rule has not been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' under E.O. 12866. Accordingly, it has not been 
reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the ability that 
vessels can still transit the bridge before and after rush hours and 
deep draft vessels can still transit the bridge during hours provided 
that at least a twelve hours advance notice is given by calling the 
number posted at the bridge.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as 
amended, requires federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on small entities during rulemaking. 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 received no comments from the Small Business 
Administration on this rule. 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. While some owners or operators of 
vessels intending to transit the bridge may be small entities, for the 
reasons stated in section V.A above, this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on any vessel owner or operator.
    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. 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 the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 
above.
    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

[[Page 62367]]

about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

C. 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).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Government

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have 
determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in E.O. 13132.
    Also, 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.

E. 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 (adjusted for 
inflation) 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.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security 
Management Directive 023-01 and 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 
determination that this action is one of a category of actions which do 
not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This rule simply promulgates the operating regulations or 
procedures for drawbridges. This action is categorically excluded from 
further review, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the 
Instruction.
    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.

G. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the For Further 
Information Contact section to coordinate protest activities so that 
your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or 
security of people, places or vessels.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 117 as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

0
2. Amend Sec.  117.723 by adding paragraph (k) to read as follows:


Sec.  117.723  Hackensack River.

* * * * *
    (k) The draw of the Route 1 & 9 (Lincoln Highway) Bridge, mile 2.0, 
between Kearny and Jersey City, shall open on signal; except that, the 
draw need not open for the passage of vessel traffic between 6 a.m. and 
10 a.m. and between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
holidays. Tide dependent deep draft vessels may request bridge openings 
between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. provided at 
least a twelve hour advance notice is given by calling the number 
posted at the bridge.

    Dated: August 26, 2016.
S.D. Poulin,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2016-21766 Filed 9-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P