Proposed Rule2023-21754
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Sloop Channel, Nassau County, NY
Primary source
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Published
October 3, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily modify the operating schedule that governs the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, Nassau County, NY. The bridge owner, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), submitted a request to operate the bridge under single leaf openings to perform bridge deck replacement. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68033-68035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21754]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 117
[Docket No. USCG-2023-0532]
RIN 1625-AA09
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Sloop Channel, Nassau County, NY
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily modify the operating
schedule that governs the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8,
across Sloop Channel, Nassau County, NY. The bridge owner, New York
State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), submitted a request to
operate the bridge under single leaf openings to perform bridge deck
replacement. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
DATES: Comments and relate material must reach the Coast Guard on or
before November 2, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2023-0532 using Federal Decision Making 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 below for instructions on
submitting comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed
rule, call or email Ms. Stephanie E. Lopez, First Coast Guard District,
Project Officer, telephone 212-514-4335, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c093b4a5b0a8a1aea9a5ee85ee8cafb0a5ba80b5b3a3a7eeada9ac"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="faa98e9f8a929b94939fd4bfd4b6958a9f80ba8f89999dd4979396">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations [Delete/Add Any Abbreviations Not Used/Used
in This Document]
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
OMB Office of Management and Budget
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Advance, Supplemental)
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
NYSDOT New York State Department of Transportation
II. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis
The Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge across Sloop Channel, mile
12.8, Nassau County, NY, has a vertical clearance of 21 feet at mean
high water and a horizontal clearance of 75.5 feet at mean high water.
Waterway users include recreational and commercial vessels, including
fishing vessels.
The existing drawbridge operating regulations are listed at 33 CFR
117.799(h). NYSDOT is requesting a temporary rulemaking to operate
under single leaf openings while they perform bridge deck replacements.
NYSDOT has reached out to local mariners and notified them of the
proposed temporary rulemaking as well as outlined an alternate route
for larger vessels that may not be able to make passage under the
bridge with single leaf openings.
III. Discussion of Proposed Rule
The Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge will continue to operate under
its regular operating schedule found in 33 CFR 117.799(f). However,
this proposed rule when made final would allow the
[[Page 68034]]
bridge to operate under single leaf openings until May 15, 2024. For
vessels that are too large for single leaf openings NYSDOT has set an
alternate route. Vessels that can pass without requesting a bridge
opening may do so. NYSDOT has reached phase 2 of the project which
requires replacing the bridge deck. The reason for this request is to
allow the project to progress while minimizing impact on mariners.
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 these statutes and Executive Orders.
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 proposed rule has not been designated a
``significant regulatory action,'' under section 3(f) of Executive
Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094 (Modernizing
Regulatory Review). Accordingly, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
This regulatory action determination is based on the ability of
vessels to still transit the bridge under singe leaf openings or may
transit through an alternate route.
B. Impact on Small Entities
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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
bridge 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 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 call for no 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 will not
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this
proposed rule elsewhere in this preamble.
F. Environment
We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security
Management Directive 023-01, Rev.1, associated implementing
instructions, and Environmental Planning Policy COMDTINST 5090.1
(series), which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)(42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f). The
Coast Guard has 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 proposed rule promulgates the
operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. Normally such
actions are categorically excluded from further review, under paragraph
L49, of Chapter 3, Table3-1 of the U.S. Coast Guard Environmental
Planning Implementation Procedures.
Neither a Record of Environmental Consideration nor a Memorandum
for the Record are required for this rule. We seek any comments or
information that may lead to the discovery of a significant
environmental impact from this proposed rule.
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-2023-0532 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 your material cannot be submitted using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, contact the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section of this document for alternate instructions.
Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this
proposed
[[Page 68035]]
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.
Also, if you click on the'' Dockets'' tab and then the proposed rule,
you should see a ``Subscribe'' option for email alerts. Selecting this
option will enable notifications when comments are posted, or if/when a
final rule is published.
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
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 117
Bridges.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes
to amend 33 CFR part 117 as follows:
PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS
0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; DHS Delegation No.
0170.1, Revision No. 01.3.
0
2. Amend Sec. 117.799 by:
0
a. Staying paragraph (h) until 3:30 p.m. on May 15, 2024.
0
b. Adding paragraph (k).
The addition to read as follows:
Sec. 117.799 Long Island, New York Inland Waterway from East Rockaway
Inlet to Shinnecock Canal.
* * * * *
(k) The draw of the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge across Sloop
Channel, mile 12.8, shall operate on single leaf openings until May 15,
2024. The draw will open for commercial vessels engaged in commerce and
shall open Monday through Friday from 6:20 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. and 3:20
p.m. to 7:20 p.m. on signal at 20 and 50 minutes after the hour, and on
signal at all other times. For all other vessels, the draw shall open
on Monday thru Friday from 6:20 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. on signal at 20 and
50 minutes after the hour, and the draw shall open on Saturday, Sunday,
and Federal holidays from 7:20 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. on signal at 20 and 50
minutes after the hour, and on signal at all other times.
Dated: August 21, 2023.
J.W. Mauger,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2023-21754 Filed 9-28-23; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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