83 FR 31889 - Safety Zone; Barge PFE-LB444, San Joaquin River, Blackslough Landing, CA

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 132 (July 10, 2018)

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the San Joaquin River due to an unstable, partially submerged barge with hull number PFE-LB444. The temporary safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the barge and associated recovery efforts. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port San Francisco.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 10, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31889-31891]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-14739]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2018-0634]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Barge PFE-LB444, San Joaquin River, Blackslough 
Landing, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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[[Page 31890]]

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
navigable waters of the San Joaquin River due to an unstable, partially 
submerged barge with hull number PFE-LB444. The temporary safety zone 
is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment 
from potential hazards created by the barge and associated recovery 
efforts. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited 
unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port San 
Francisco.

DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from July 10, 2018 
until July 31, 2018. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice 
will be used from the July 3, 2018 until July 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2018-0634 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 email Lieutenant Junior Grade Emily K. Rowan, U.S. Coast Guard 
Sector San Francisco; telephone 415-399-7443, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
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 of the emergent nature of the 
situation. Notice and comment procedures would be impracticable because 
immediate action is needed protect personnel, vessels, and the marine 
environment from potential hazards associated with the barge and 
associated recovery efforts.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause 
exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register. For the reasons stated above, 
delaying the effective date of the rule would be impracticable.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 
1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Department 
of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, which collectively 
authorize the Coast Guard to establish safety zones. The Captain of the 
Port San Francisco (COTP) has determined that potential hazards 
associated with the barge and associated recovery efforts will be a 
safety concern for anyone within a 90-yard radius of the barge. This 
rule is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine 
environment in the navigable waters within the safety zone.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a temporary safety zone from July 3, 2018 
through July 31, 2018. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters 
within 90 yards of the unstable barge and associated recovery efforts 
centered in approximate position 37[deg] 59'41.88'' N, 121[deg] 
25'8.88'' W (NAD 83). The effect of the temporary safety zone is 
intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in 
these navigable waters from potential hazards associated with the barge 
and associated recovery efforts. No vessel or person will be permitted 
to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or 
a designated representative.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this 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 rule has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, this rule 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 limited 
duration and narrowly tailored geographic area of the safety zone. 
Although this rule restricts access to the waters encompassed by the 
safety zone, the effect of this rule will not be significant because 
the local waterway users will be notified via public Broadcast Notice 
to Mariners to ensure the safety zone will result in minimum impact. 
The entities most likely to be affected are waterfront facilities, 
commercial vessels, and pleasure craft engaged in recreational 
activities.

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.
    This rule may affect the following entities, some of which may be 
small entities: owners and operators of waterfront facilities, 
commercial vessels, and pleasure craft engaged in recreational 
activities and sightseeing, if these facilities or vessels are in the 
vicinity of the safety zone at times when this zone is being enforced. 
This rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities for the following reasons: (i) This rule will 
encompass only a small portion of the waterway for a limited period of 
time, and (ii) the maritime public will be advised in advance of these 
safety zones via Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
    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

[[Page 31891]]

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 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 Executive Order 
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. 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 
Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, 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 
safety zone of limited size and duration. It is categorically excluded 
from further review under Categorical Exclusion L60(d) of Appendix A, 
Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 01. A Record of 
Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available 
in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

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 
recordkeeping 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.T11-936 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T11-936  Safety Zone; Barge PFE-LB444, San Joaquin River, 
Blackslough Landing, CA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: all navigable 
waters within 90 yards of the unstable, partially submerged barge and 
associated recovery efforts centered in approximate position 37[deg]59' 
41.88'' N, 121[deg]25'8.88'' W (NAD 83).
    (b) Enforcement period. The zone described in paragraph (a) of this 
section will be enforced from July 3, 2018 through July 31, 2018. The 
Captain of the Port San Francisco (COTP) will notify the maritime 
community of periods during which these zones will be enforced via 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners in accordance with Sec.  165.7.
    (c) Definitions. As used in this section, ``designated 
representative'' means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a 
Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer on a Coast Guard 
vessel or a Federal, State, or local officer designated by or assisting 
the COTP in the enforcement of the safety zone.
    (d) Regulations. (1) Under the general regulations in subpart C of 
this part, entry into, transiting or anchoring within this safety zone 
is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative.
    (2) The safety zone is closed to all vessel traffic, except as may 
be permitted by the COTP or a designated representative.
    (3) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the safety 
zone must contact the COTP or a designated 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 COTP or a designated representative. Persons and vessels 
may request permission to enter the safety zones on VHF-23A or through 
the 24-hour Command Center at telephone (415) 399-3547.

    Dated: July 3, 2018.
Anthony J. Ceraolo,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, San Francisco.
[FR Doc. 2018-14739 Filed 7-9-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P