Proposed Rule2021-18388
Safety Zone; Columbia River Outfall Project, Columbia River, Vancouver, WA
Primary source
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Published
August 26, 2021
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Columbia River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Knapp, WA, at Columbia River Mile 95.8 from October 1, 2021, through March 15, 2022. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 163 (Thursday, August 26, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47611-47613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18388]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2021-0201]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Columbia River Outfall Project, Columbia River,
Vancouver, WA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety
zone for certain navigable waters of the Columbia River. This action is
necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters
near Knapp, WA, at Columbia River Mile 95.8 from October 1, 2021,
through March 15, 2022. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons
and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the
Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River 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 10, 2021.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2021-0201 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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 Dixon Whitley, Waterways
Management Division, Marine Safety Unit Portland, U.S. Coast Guard;
telephone 503-240-9319, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c581f4f6e8968887e888969095aab7b1a9a4aba192928885b0b6a6a2eba8aca9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3b7f0a08166876791676686e6b54494f575a555f6c6c767b4e48585c15565257">[email protected]</span></a>.
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, Purpose, and Legal Basis
On November 18, 2020, the Discovery Clean Water Alliance notified
the Coast Guard that it would begin construction for their Phase 5A
Project: Columbia River Outfall and Effluent Pipeline from 12:01 a.m.
on October 1, 2021, through 11:59 p.m. on March 15, 2022, to remove and
replace existing pipeline. The construction project includes the
removal and replacement of an existing navigation marker (3-pile
dolphin), installation of a 48'' pipeline in the riverbed outside the
navigation channel, and removal of an existing 30'' pipeline from the
riverbed. The scope of work may include the need to construct temporary
pile-supported work platforms, or dredge, to access shallow water
areas. Lighted barges will be used in deeper water. The Captain of the
Port Sector Columbia River (COTP) has determined that potential hazards
associated with the construction project would be a safety concern for
anyone within the designated area of the Columbia River Outfall and
Effluent Pipeline construction project.
The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels
and the
[[Page 47612]]
navigable waters within the designated area of the Columbia River
Outfall and Effluent Pipeline construction project. The Coast Guard is
proposing this rulemaking under authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034
(previously 33 U.S.C. 1231).
III. Discussion of Proposed Rule
The COTP is proposing to establish a safety zone from October 1,
2021, through March 15, 2022. The safety zone would cover all navigable
waters of the Columbia River, surface to bottom, encompassed by a line
connecting the following points beginning at the shoreline at
45[deg]43'57.0'' N/122[deg]45'21.0'' W, west to 45[deg]43'58.0'' N/
122[deg]45'33.0'' W, south to 45[deg]43'39.0'' N/122[deg]45'35.0'' W,
thence east to 45[deg]43'39.0'' N/122[deg]45'21'' W, and along the
shoreline back to the beginning point. The duration of the zone is
intended to ensure the safety of vessels and these navigable waters
while the pipeline construction is underway. No vessel or person would
be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from
the COTP or a designated representative. A designated representative
means any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has
been authorized by the COTP to act on his behalf, or a Federal, State,
and local officer designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port
Sector Columbia River in the enforcement of the safety zone. Vessel
operators desiring to enter or operate with the safety zone would
contact the COTP's on-scene designated representative by calling (503)
209-2468 or the Sector Columbia River Command Center on Channel 16 VHF-
FM. Those in the safety zone would comply with all lawful orders or
directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's 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. 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).
This regulatory action determination is based on the size,
location, duration, and time-of-year of the safety zone. Vessel traffic
would be able to safely transit around this safety zone which would
impact a small designated area of the Columbia River during the
construction project. Moreover, the Coast Guard would issue a Notice to
Mariners about the zone, and the 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 zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section
IV.A above, this proposed rule would 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 call or email 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 call or email 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 Directive 023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing
instructions, and Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 (series),
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 lasting 166 days that would prohibit vessel traffic to
[[Page 47613]]
transit the area during construction operations. Normally such actions
are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60 of
Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A
preliminary Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this
determination is available in the docket. For instructions on locating
the docket, see the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. 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 call or email 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. If your material cannot be
submitted using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, call or email the person
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for
alternate instructions.
We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will include any personal information you have
provided. For more about privacy and submissions in response to this
document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226,
March 11, 2020).
Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket,
and public comments, will be in our online docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and can be viewed by following that website's
instructions. We review all comments received, but we will only post
comments that address the topic of the proposed rule. We may choose not
to post off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we
receive. 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 is
proposing 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: 46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-
6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1,
Revision No. 01.2.
0
2. Add Sec. 165.T13-0201 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T13-0201 Safety Zones: Safety Zone; Columbia River Outfall
and Effluent Pipeline Construction Project, Columbia River, Vancouver,
WA.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable
waters of the Columbia River, surface to bottom, encompassed by a line
connecting the following points beginning at the shoreline at
45[deg]43'57.0'' N/122[deg]45'21.0'' W, west to 45[deg]43'58.0'' N/
122[deg]45'33.0'' W, south to 45[deg]43'39.0'' N/122[deg]45'35.0'' W,
thence east to 45[deg]43'39.0'' N/122[deg]45'21'' W, and along the
shoreline back to the beginning point.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative
means any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has
been authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River (COTP)
to act on his behalf, or a Federal, State, and local officer designated
by or assisting the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River in the
enforcement of the safety zone.
(c) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in
subpart C of 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) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate with the safety
zone may contact the COTP's on-scene designated representative by
calling (503) 209-2468 or the Sector Columbia River Command Center on
Channel 16 VHF-FM. 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 safety zone is in effect from 12:01
a.m. on October 1, 2021, through 11:59 p.m. on March 15, 2022. It will
be subject to enforcement this entire period unless the Captain of the
Port, Sector Columbia River determines it is no longer needed. The
Coast Guard will inform mariners of any change to this period of
enforcement via Notice to Mariners.
Dated: August 17, 2021.
M. Scott Jackson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River.
[FR Doc. 2021-18388 Filed 8-25-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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