Rule2023-24791
Safety Zone; Hillsborough Bay, Tampa, FL
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 9, 2023
Effective
November 29, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of Tampa Bay between the Tampa Convention Center and the Tampa General Hospital at the base of Seddon Channel. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the police exercise. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, St. Petersburg or a designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 216 (Thursday, November 9, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77205-77207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24791]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2023-0788]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Hillsborough Bay, Tampa, FL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for
all navigable waters of Tampa Bay between the Tampa Convention Center
and the Tampa General Hospital at the base of Seddon Channel. The
safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine
environment from potential hazards created by the police exercise.
Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless
specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, St. Petersburg or a
designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective from 7 a.m. through 3 p.m. on November
29, 2023.
ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being
available in the docket, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type USCG-
2023-0788 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, in the Document
Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule,
call or email Marine Science Technician First Class Mara J. Brown,
Sector St. Petersburg Prevention Department, Coast Guard; telephone
813-228-2191, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#94d9f5e6f5badebad6e6fbe3fad4e1e7f7f3baf9fdf8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="064b677467284c2844746971684673756561286b6f6a">[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 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
[[Page 77206]]
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 it would
be impracticable. Immediate action is needed to protect vessels, and
the marine environment in small portion of the Hillsborough Bay within
the safety zone while the exercise is being conducted. The Coast Guard
lacks sufficient time to provide for a comment period and then consider
those comments before issuing the rule since this rule is needed by
November 29, 2023.
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. Delaying the effective date of
this rule would be impracticable because immediate action is needed in
order to protect vessels, and the marine environment in small portion
of the Hillsborough Bay within the safety zone while the exercise is
being conducted.
III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C.
70034. The Captain of the Port St Petersburg (COTP) has determined that
potential hazards associated with the police on November 29, 2023, will
be a safety concern for anyone within the waters of the Tampa
Convention Center and Tampa General Hospital. This rule is needed to
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable
waters within the safety zone while the exercise is being conducted.
IV. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes a safety zone from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on
November 29, 2023. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters
between the Tampa Convention Center and the Tampa General Hospital at
the base of Seddon Channel. The duration of the zone is intended to
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in these
navigable waters while the Tampa Police exercise is being conducted. No
vessel or person will be permitted to enter the safety zone without
obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative.
Vessels may be directed through the safety zone by on scene law
enforcement personnel.
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. This 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, this rule 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-day of the safety zone. Vessel traffic
will be able to safely transit around this safety zone which would
impact a small, designated area where the Hillsborough River and Seddon
Channel meet. Moreover, the Coast Guard would issue a Broadcast Notice
to Mariners via BHF-FM marine channel 16 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 rule
will 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
V.A above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on any
vessel owner or operator.
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
call or email 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 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.
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.
[[Page 77207]]
F. Environment
We have analyzed this 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 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 a
safety zone lasting only 8 hours during the police exercise. It is
categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60(a) of
Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A
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.
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.
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: 46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1,
6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No.
00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.
0
2. Add Sec. 165.T07-0788 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T07-0788 Safety Zone; Hillsborough River, Tampa, FL.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable
waters of Hillsborough Bay, from surface to bottom, encompassed by a
line connecting the following points: 27[deg]56'16'' N, 082[deg]27'40''
W, thence to position 27[deg]56'18'' N, 082[deg]27'43'' W, thence to
position 27[deg]56'30'' N, 082[deg]27'33'' W, thence to position
27[deg]56'30'' N, 082[deg]27'29'' W, thence to position 27[deg]56'25''
N, 082[deg]27'17'' W, thence to position 27[deg]56'22'' N,
082[deg]27'16'' W, thence to position 27[deg]56'13'' N, 082[deg]27'19''
W, thence to position 27[deg]56'12'' N, 082[deg]27'24'' W, thence to
position 27[deg]56'23'' N, 082[deg]27'32'' W, and along the shoreline
back to the beginning point. These coordinates are based on World
Geodetic System (WGS 84).
(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 St. Petersburg (COTP) 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) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's
representative via VHF radio on channel 16. 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 a.m.
until 3 p.m. on November 29, 2023.
Dated: November 2, 2023.
Michael P. Kahle,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port St. Petersburg.
[FR Doc. 2023-24791 Filed 11-8-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 9, 2023.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.