Proposed Rule2022-23065
Safety Zone; Vito Floating Production System, Outer Continental Shelf Facility, Mississippi Canyon Block 939, Gulf of Mexico
Primary source
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Published
October 24, 2022
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone around the Vito Floating Production System (FPS), located in Mississippi Canyon Block 939 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. Establishing a safety zone around the facility would significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment. Only vessels measuring less than 100 feet in length overall and not engaged in towing, attending vessels, or those vessels specifically authorized by the Eighth Coast Guard District Commander or a designated representative are permitted to enter or remain in the safety zone. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64179-64181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23065]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 147
[Docket Number USCG-2022-0313]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Vito Floating Production System, Outer Continental
Shelf Facility, Mississippi Canyon Block 939, Gulf of Mexico
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone around
the Vito Floating Production System (FPS), located in Mississippi
Canyon Block 939 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of
Mexico. Establishing a safety zone around the facility would
significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security
breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the
safety of life, property, and the environment. Only vessels measuring
less than 100 feet in length overall and not engaged in towing,
attending vessels, or those vessels specifically authorized by the
Eighth Coast Guard District Commander or a designated representative
are permitted to enter or remain in the safety zone. We invite your
comments on this proposed rulemaking.
DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast
Guard on or before November 23, 2022.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2022-0313 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 David Newcomb, District Eight
OCS, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 504-671-2106,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c581a4b3aca1eb91eb8ba0b2a6aaa8a785b0b6a6a2eba8aca9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d195b0a7b8b5ff85ff9fb4a6b2bebcb391a4a2b2b6ffbcb8bd">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FPS Floating Production System
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
OCS Outer Continental Shelf
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis
Under the authority provided in 14 U.S.C. 544, 43 U.S.C. 1333, and
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, 33 CFR part 147
permits the establishment of safety zones for facilities located on the
OCS for the purpose of protecting life and property on the facilities.
The protections included in a safety zone established under 33 CFR part
147 are promoting safety of life and property on the facilities as well
as their appurtenances and attending vessels and also for the adjacent
waters located in and around each facility. Therefore, a safety zone
under 33 CFR part 147 may also include provisions to restrict, prevent,
or control certain activities, including access by vessels or persons
to maintain safety of life, property and the environment. Shell
Exploration and Production Company requested that the Coast Guard
establish a safety zone around its facility located in the deepwater
area of the Gulf of Mexico on the OCS. The Coast Guard determined that
establishing a safety zone around this facility would significantly
reduce the threat of allisions, oil spills, and releases of natural
gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the
environment.
III. Discussion of Proposed Rule
The safety zone proposed by this rulemaking is on the OCS in the
deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi Canyon Block 939 at
the center point of N 28[deg]01'32.325'', W 89[deg]12'33.254''. The
safety zone would be permanent. For the purpose of safety zones
established under 33 CFR part 147, the deepwater area is considered to
be waters of 304.8 meters (1,000 feet) or greater depth extending to
the limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) contiguous to the
territorial sea of the United States and extending to a distance up to
200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the sea
is measured. Navigation in the vicinity of the safety zone consists of
large commercial shipping vessels, fishing vessels, cruise ships, tugs
with tows and the occasional recreational vessel. The deepwater area
also includes an extensive system of fairways.
Only vessels measuring less than 100 feet in length overall and not
engaged in towing, attending vessels as defined in 33 CFR 147.20, or
those vessels specifically authorized by the Eighth Coast Guard
District Commander or a designated representative are permitted to
enter or remain in the safety zone. The transit of other vessels into
and through the safety zone area would be prohibited. Requests for
entry will be considered and reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These
proposed regulations are consistent with the existing safety zones on
other OCS platforms in the Gulf of Mexico. Persons or vessels that
require authorization to enter the safety zone must request it from the
Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District or a designated representative.
If permission is granted, all persons and vessels shall comply with the
instructions of the Commander or a designated representative.
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).
Aligning with 33 CFR 147.15, the safety zone established will
extend to a maximum distance of 500 meters around the OCS facility
measured from each point on its outer edge, but may not interfere with
the use of recognized sea lanes essential to navigation. Vessel traffic
would be able to safely transit
[[Page 64180]]
around the proposed safety zone, which would impact a small designated
area in the Gulf of Mexico, without significant impediment to their
voyage. This safety zone would reduce the risk of allision with the
platform and help protect the environment from potential oil spills, in
accordance with Coast Guard maritime safety missions.
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.
This rule may affect owners or operators of vessels intending to
transit or anchor in Mississippi Canyon 939, some of which might be
small entities.
This safety zone would not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. Vessel
traffic would be able to pass safely around the safety zone using an
alternate route. Use of an alternate route may cause minimal delay in
reaching a final destination, depending on other traffic in the area
and vessel speed. Vessels would be able to request deviation from this
rule to transit through the safety zone. Such requests would be
considered on a case-by-case basis and may be authorized by the
Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District or a designated representative.
Therefore, the Coast Guard expects any impact of this rulemaking
establishing a safety zone around an OCS facilities to be minimal, with
no significant economic impact on small entities.
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.
Further, 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 for
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 the
establishment of a safety zone around an OCS facility to protect life,
property, and the marine environment. 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.
Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments through
the Federal Decision Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. To
do so, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type USCG-2021-0476 in the
search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the
Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment
option. If you cannot submit your material by 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 proposed rule for alternate
instructions.
Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this
proposed
[[Page 64181]]
rule as being available in the docket, find the docket as described in
the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & Related
Material'' in the Document Type column. Public comments will also be
placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following instructions
on the <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> Frequently Asked Questions web page.
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.
Personal information. 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
to the docket in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking
System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 147
Continental shelf, Marine safety, Navigation (water).
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard is
proposing to amend 33 CFR part 147 as follows:
PART 147--SAFETY ZONES
0
1. The authority citation for part 147 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 14 U.S.C. 544; 43 U.S.C. 1333; 33 CFR 1.05-1;
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
0
2. Add Sec. 147.879 to read as follows:
Sec. 147.879 Safety Zone; Vito Floating Production System, Outer
Continental Shelf Facility, Mississippi Canyon Block 939, Gulf of
Mexico.
(a) Description. The following is a permantent safety zone: the
area within 500 meters of the Vito Floating Production System in the
deepwater area of the Gulf of Mexico at Mississippi Canyon Block 939 is
a safety zone. The Vito FPS is located at:
Latitude N 28[deg]01'32.325''
Longitude 89[deg]12'33.254''
(b) Regulation. No vessel may enter or remain in this safety zone
except for the following:
(1) An attending vessel as defined in 147.20;
(2) A vessel under 100 feet in length overall not engaged in
towing; or
(3) A vessel authorized by the Commander, Eighth Coast Guard
District or a designated representative.
(c) Requests for Permission. Persons or vessels requiring
authorization to enter the safety zone must request permission from the
Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District or a designated representative.
If permission is granted, all persons and vessels shall comply with the
instructions of the Commander or designated representative.
Dated: October 18, 2022.
Richard Timme,
RADM, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Coast Guard District Eight.
[FR Doc. 2022-23065 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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