82 FR 37182 - Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River, Crystal City, MO

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 152 (August 9, 2017)

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) from mile 147.5 to 148.5. This action is necessary to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with work being completed on new power lines across the river. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37182-37184]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16766]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 9, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 37182]]



DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2017-0585]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River, Crystal City, MO

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone 
for navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) from mile 
147.5 to 148.5. This action is necessary to protect persons, property, 
and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated 
with work being completed on new power lines across the river. This 
proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in 
the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector 
Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative. We 
invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before September 8, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0585 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email LCDR Sean Peterson, Chief of 
Prevention, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 314-269-2332, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port Upper Mississippi River
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
UMR Upper Mississippi River
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On May 1, 2017, Ameren notified the Coast Guard that it would be 
conducting high wire work across the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) at 
river mile 148 from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day beginning October 
17, 2017 through November 01, 2017. Hazards involved with high wire 
work include falling cable and a blocked navigation channel. Due to the 
risks associated with this work crossing the navigable channel, a 
closure would be needed. The Captain of the Port Upper Mississippi 
River (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with 
stretching power lines across the navigational channel present safety 
concerns for anyone within this limited area of the UMR. The purpose of 
this proposed rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels and the 
navigable waters between mile markers (MM) 147.5 and MM 148.5 during 
the high wire work over the river. The Coast Guard is issuing this rule 
under authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP is proposing to establish a safety zone from 7:30 a.m. on 
October 17, 2017, through 6:30 p.m. on November 01, 2017. The safety 
zone would include all navigable waters between MM 147.5 and MM 148.5 
on the UMR and would be enforced from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. each day 
or until conditions allow for safe navigation, whichever occurs 
earlier. The duration of the zone is intended to ensure the safety of 
the vessels on the navigable waters during the high wire work. No 
vessel or person would be permitted to enter the safety zone without 
obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative. The 
regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end of this document.

IV. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on a number of these statutes and Executive orders and 
we discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 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. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This NPRM has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, duration, and time of day of the safety zone. This proposed 
rule would have minimum impact on navigable waterway vessel traffic 
because it will only be in effect during daylight hours from 7:30 a.m. 
to 6:30 p.m., and would restrict transit in and through a section of 
the UMR of one mile. Moreover, the Coast Guard would issue a BNM 
(Broadcast Notice to Mariners) via VHF-FM radio channel 16 about the 
zone and the proposed rule would allow 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 
proposed rule would 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

[[Page 37183]]

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

C. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would 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 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 proposed rule under that Order and have 
determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order 
13132.
    Also, this proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, because it would 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 proposed rule has implications for federalism or 
Indian tribes, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section.

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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed 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 made 
a preliminary determination 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 proposed rule involves a safety 
zone on the UMR from MM 147.5 to MM 148.5. Normally such actions are 
categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34(g) of 
Figure 2-1 of Commandant Instruction M16475.lD. A preliminary Record of 
Environmental Consideration (REC) supporting this 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.

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.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If 
you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material 
cannot be submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the 
person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document 
for alternate instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket, 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that Web site's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

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.T08-0585 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T08-0585  Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River 147.5 to 
148.5, Crystal City, MO

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters of the Upper Mississippi River mile 147.5 to 148.5, Crystal 
City, MO.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative 
means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, 
petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a 
Federal, State, and local officer designated by or assisting the 
Captain of the Port Upper Mississippi River (COTP) in the enforcement 
of the safety zone.
    (c) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in 
subpart C of

[[Page 37184]]

this part, you may not enter the safety zone described in paragraph (a) 
of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative.
    (2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's 
representative via VHF-FM channel 16, or through Coast Guard Sector 
Upper Mississippi River at 314-269-2332. Those in the safety zone must 
comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP 
or the COTP's designated representative.
    (d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 7:30 
a.m. on October 17, 2017 through 6:30 p.m. on November 01, 2017.
    (e) Informational broadcasts. The COTP or a designated 
representative will inform the public through broadcast notices to 
mariners of the enforcement period for the safety zone.

    Dated: August 2, 2017.
S. A. Stoermer,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Upper Mississippi River.
[FR Doc. 2017-16766 Filed 8-8-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P