Rule2024-01450
Safety Zone; Ohio River Mile Markers 2.5-3, Brunot Island, PA
Primary source
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Published
January 25, 2024
Effective
January 25, 2024
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for the Ohio River several days in January and February 2024 at mile marker 2.5 to mile marker 3 from 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. each day. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a helicopter operation to install aerial transverse wirelines. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 17 (Thursday, January 25, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4825-4827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01450]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2024-0010]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Ohio River Mile Markers 2.5-3, Brunot Island, PA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety
zone for the Ohio River several days in January and February 2024 at
mile marker 2.5 to mile marker 3 from 8 a.m. through 6 p.m. each day.
This action is necessary
[[Page 4826]]
to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a
helicopter operation to install aerial transverse wirelines. This rule
prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless
authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated
representative.
DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from January 25,
2024 through February 4, 2024. For the purposes of enforcement, actual
notice will be used from January 22, 2024, until January 25, 2024. The
regulations in this rule will be enforced daily from 8 a.m. through 6
p.m. on the following dates: January 22, 2024, through January 26,
2024, and January 29, 2024, through February 4, 2024.
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-
2024-0010 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 on this rule,
call or email LTJG Eyobe Mills, Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh, U.S.
Coast Guard; telephone 412-221-0807, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#44013d2b26216a006a092d28283704313727236a292d28"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="df9aa6b0bdbaf19bf192b6b3b3ac9faaacbcb8f1b2b6b3">[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)(B)). This
statutory 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 it is impracticable
and contrary to the public interest. This safety zone must be
established by January 22, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on
the navigable waters during a helicopter operation, and we lack
sufficient time to provide a reasonable comment period and then
consider those comments before issuing this rule. The NPRM process
would delay the establishment of the safety zone until after the date
of the helicopter operation. Vessels inside of the safety zone have the
potential of getting hit by derby from the helicopter.
Additionally, 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 and contrary to the public interest
because action is needed by January 22, 2024, to ensure the safety of
the of life on the navigable waters during a helicopter operation.
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 Pittsburgh (COTP) has determined that
potential hazards associated with a helicopter operation on January 22,
2024, through January 26, 2024, and January 29, 2024, through February
4, 2024, will be a safety concern for anyone on the Ohio River from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m. at mile markers 2.5 to mile marker 3. The purpose of
this rule is to ensure safety of the participant, vessels, and the
navigable waters in the safety zone before, during, and after the
scheduled event.
IV. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes a temporary safety zone that will be enforced
each day from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. on January 22 through January 26 and
January 29 through February 4, 2024. The safety zone will cover all
navigable waters on the back channel of the Brunot Island on the Ohio
River from mile markers 2.5 to mile marker 3. The duration of the zone
is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment
in the navigable waters during an installation of aerial transverse
wirelines using a helicopter.
No vessel or person is permitted to enter the safety zone without
obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative of
the COTP. A designated representative is a commissioned, warrant, or
petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) assigned to units under
the operational control of the COTP. To seek permission to enter,
contact the COTP or a designated representative via VHF-FM channel 16,
or through Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh at 412-221-0807. Persons and
vessels permitted to enter the safety zone must comply with all lawful
orders or directions issued by the COTP or designated representative.
The COTP or a designated representative will inform the public of the
effective period for the safety zone as well as any changes in the
dates and times of enforcement through Local Notice to Mariners (LNMs),
Broadcast Notices to Mariners (BNMs), and/or Marine Safety Information
Bulletins (MSIBs), as appropriate.
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 Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this
rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB).
This regulatory action determination is based on size, location,
and duration of the temporary safety zone. This safety zone only
impacts a 0.5-mile stretch on the Ohio River for 10 hours each day from
January 22 through January 26 and January 29 through February 4, 2024.
Moreover, the Coast Guard will issue Local Notice to Mariners and
Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the
zone and the rule allows vessels to seek permission from the COTP to
transit 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.
[[Page 4827]]
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.
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
temporary safety zone lasting 10 hours each day from January 22 through
January 26 and January 29 through February 4, 2024, on the Ohio River.
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
Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Reporting, recordkeeping
requirements, and 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.T08-0010 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T08-0010 Safety Zone Ohio River, Brunot Island, PA.
(a) Location. The following area is a temporary safety zone: On the
Ohio River from mile marker 2.5 to mile marker 3.
(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 Pittsburgh (COTP) in the enforcement of the safety
zone. Designated representative includes safety boat provided by the
event organizers.
(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 on Channel 16 or at 412-670-7288. To seek permission,
concerned traffic may reach contact the event organizers on channel 13
or at (860) 573-6646. 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 each day from
8 a.m. through 6 p.m. from January 22, 2024, through January 26, 2024,
and January 29, 2024, through February 4, 2024. The temporary safety
zone will be enforced during the 10-hour helicopter operation on those
dates.
Eric J. Velez,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, MSU Pittsburgh.
[FR Doc. 2024-01450 Filed 1-24-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 25, 2024.
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