82 FR 18696 - Safety Zone; Navy UNDET, Apra Outer Harbor and Piti, GU

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 76 (April 21, 2017)

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for underwater detonation operations in the waters of Apra Outer Harbor and Piti, Guam. This rule is effective from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on April 27th through April 28th, 2017. The Coast Guard believes this safety zone regulation is necessary to protect all persons and vessels that would otherwise transit or be within the affected areas from possible safety hazards associated with underwater detonation operations. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Guam.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 76 (Friday, April 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18696-18698]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08125]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2017-0214]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Navy UNDET, Apra Outer Harbor and Piti, GU

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
underwater detonation operations in the waters of Apra Outer Harbor and 
Piti, Guam. This rule is effective from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on April 
27th through April 28th, 2017. The Coast Guard believes this safety 
zone regulation is necessary to protect all persons and vessels that 
would otherwise transit or be within the affected areas from possible 
safety hazards associated with underwater detonation operations. Entry 
of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited, unless 
specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Guam.

DATES: This rule is effective from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on April 27 
through April 28, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2017-0214 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or

[[Page 18697]]

email Chief Kristina Gauthier, Sector Guam, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 
(671) 355-4866, email [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
Pub. L. Public Law
Sec.  Section
UNDET Underwater detonation
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary rule without prior notice 
and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those 
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public 
interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good 
cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
with respect to this rule because doing so would be impracticable and 
contrary to public interest. The Coast Guard received notice of this 
operation on March 9, 2017, only 49 days before the operation is 
scheduled. As a result, the Coast Guard did not have time to issue a 
notice of proposed rulemaking. Thus, delaying the effective date of 
this rule to wait for a comment period to run would be impracticable 
because it would inhibit the Coast Guard's ability to protect vessels 
and waterway users from the hazards associated with this operation.
    We are issuing this rule, and under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast 
Guard finds that good cause exists for making it effective less than 30 
days after publication in the Federal Register. Due to the late notice 
and inherent danger in underwater exercises, delaying the effective 
period of this safety zone would be contrary to the public interest.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 
1231. The Captain of the Port Guam (COTP) has determined that potential 
hazards associated with the U.S. Navy training exercise, which include 
detonation of underwater explosives, will be a safety concern for 
anyone within a 700-yard radius above and below the surface on April 
27, 2017 and a 1400-yard radius above and below the surface on April 
28, 2017. This rule is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the 
marine environment in the navigable waters within the safety zone 
during the exercise. Mariners and divers approaching too close to such 
exercises could potentially expose the mariner to flying debris or 
other hazardous conditions.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes safety zones from 8 a.m. through 4 p.m. on 
April 27th through April 28th, 2017. The safety zones will cover all 
navigable waters within a 700-yard radius above and below the surface 
on April 27, 2017 and a 1400-yard radius above and below the surface on 
April 28, 2017 of vessels and machinery being used by Navy. The 
duration of the zone is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the 
marine environment in these navigable waters during the underwater 
detonation exercise. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the 
safety zones without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated 
representative.

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 protestors.

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 size, 
location, and duration of the safety zone. Vessel traffic will be able 
to safely transit around theses safety zones, which will impact a small 
designated area of waters off of Piti, Guam, for eight hours for one 
day and in Apra Outer Harbor for eight hours for one day. Moreover, the 
Coast Guard will issue Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine 
channel 16 about the zones and the rule allows vessels to seek 
permission to enter the zone.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 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 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 safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated 
in section 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 
section.
    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.

C. Collection of Information

    This rule will not call for a new collection of information under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

    A rule has implications for federalism under E.O. 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

[[Page 18698]]

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 E.O. 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. If you believe this rule has 
implications for federalism or Indian tribes, please contact the person 
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.

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 
guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have determined that 
this action is one of a category of actions that do not individually or 
cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. This 
rule involves a safety zone lasting 8 hours a day for 2 days that will 
prohibit entry within a 700-yard radius above and below the surface on 
April 27, 2017 and a 1400-yard radius above and below the surface on 
April 28, 2017 of vessels and machinery being used by Navy personnel. 
It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34(g) 
of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. An environmental analysis 
checklist supporting this determination and a Categorical Exclusion 
Determination are 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 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 165

    Harbors, Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and record-
keeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 
6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.


0
2. Add Sec.  165.T14-0214 to read as follows:


Sec.  165. T14-0274  Safety Zone; Navy UNDET, Apra Outer Harbor and 
Piti, GU.

    (a) Location. The following areas, within the Guam Captain of the 
Port (COTP) Zone (See 33 CFR 3.70-15), from the surface of the water to 
the ocean floor, are safety zones:
    (1) Apra Outer Harbor, Guam April 27, 2017. All waters above and 
below the surface bounded by a circle with a 700-yard radius centered 
at 13 degrees 27 minutes 71 seconds North Latitude and 144 degrees 38 
minutes 50 seconds East Longitude, (NAD 1983).
    (2) Piti Guam April 28, 2017. All waters above and below the 
surface bounded by a circle with a 1400-yard radius centered at 13 
degrees 29 minutes 05 seconds North Latitude and 144 degrees 40 minutes 
06 seconds East Longitude, (NAD 1983).
    (b) Effective period. This section is effective from 8 a.m. through 
4 p.m. April 27 through April 28, 2017.
    (c) Regulations. The general regulations governing safety zones 
contained in 33 CFR 165.23 apply. Entry into or movement within these 
zones are prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or a designated 
representative thereof.
    (d) Enforcement. Any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty 
officer, and any other COTP representative permitted by law, may 
enforce these temporary safety zones.
    (e) Waiver. The COTP may waive any of the requirements of this 
section for any person, vessel, or class of vessel upon finding that 
application of the safety zone is unnecessary or impractical for the 
purpose of maritime security.
    (f) Penalties. Vessels or persons violating this rule are subject 
to the penalties set forth in 33 U.S.C. 1232 and 50 U.S.C. 192.

    Dated: March 30, 2017.
James B. Pruett,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Guam.
[FR Doc. 2017-08125 Filed 4-20-17; 8:45 am]
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