Rule2024-12437
Safety Zone; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Corpus Christi, TX
Primary source
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Published
June 6, 2024
Effective
June 6, 2024
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, in the Corpus Christi Bay, TX, near mile marker 546. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a broken gas pipeline which is leaking methane, and to facilitate repairs. Entry of vessels or persons into this temporary safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 110 (Thursday, June 6, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48325-48327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12437]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2024-0494]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Corpus Christi, TX
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for
certain navigable waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, in the
Corpus Christi Bay, TX, near mile marker 546. The safety zone is needed
to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from
potential hazards created by a broken gas pipeline which is leaking
methane, and to facilitate repairs. Entry of vessels or persons into
this temporary safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized
by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi or a designated
representative.
DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from June 6, 2024
through 11:59 p.m. on June 12, 2024. For the purposes of enforcement,
actual notice will be used from May 29, 2024 until June 6, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule,
call or email Lieutenant Commander Anthony
[[Page 48326]]
Garofalo, Sector Corpus Christi Waterways Management Division, U.S.
Coast Guard; telephone 1-800-874-2143, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#95d6d6c2f4e1f0e7e2f4ece6d5e0e6f6f2bbf8fcf9"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="abe8e8fccadfced9dccad2d8ebded8c8cc85c6c2c7">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
COTP Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi
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 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. Given that the
safety zone must be put into effect as soon as possible to offer
protection from hazards associated with the search and rescue
operations and salvage efforts related to the obstruction, lack
sufficient time to provide notice, take comments, and consider those
comments before issuing the rule.
In addition, 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 contrary to the public interest because immediate
action is needed to respond to the potential safety hazards associated
with the gas leak and repair efforts related to a broken methane
pipeline in the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
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, Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) has
determined that potential hazards associated with the gas leak and
repair efforts related to a broken methane pipeline require that vessel
traffic be rerouted, from 11:59 a.m. on May 29, 2024 through 11:59 p.m.
on June 12, 2024, to ensure safety of vessels and persons on these
navigable waters until the search and rescue operations and salvage
efforts concludes.
IV. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes a temporary safety zone from 11:59 a.m. on
May 29, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. on June 12, 2024. The safety zone
encompasses all navigable waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
within the following coordinates: 27[deg]44'05'' N, 097[deg]13'14'' W;
27[deg]44'02'' N, 097[deg]12'44'' W; 27[deg]43'39'' N, 097[deg]12'48''
W; 27[deg]43'39'' N, 097[deg]13'17'' W. No vessel or person is
permitted to enter the temporary safety zone during the effective
period without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated
representative, who may be contacted on Channel 16 VHF-FM (156.8 MHz)
or by telephone at 1-800-874-2143. The Coast Guard will issue Broadcast
Notices to Mariners, Local Notices to Mariners, and/or Safety Marine
Information Broadcasts 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 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, and duration of the safety zone. The temporary safety zone
will be enforced for a short period of only 15 days. The rule does not
completely restrict the traffic within a waterway and allows mariners
to request 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
temporary 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
contact 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,
[[Page 48327]]
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. If you believe this
rule has implications for federalism or Indian tribes, please contact
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section above.
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, 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 will encompass all navigable waters of the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway within the following coordinates: 27[deg]44'05''
N, 097[deg]13'14'' W; 27[deg]44'02'' N, 097[deg]12'44'' W;
27[deg]43'39'' N, 097[deg]12'48'' W; 27[deg]43'39'' N, 097[deg]13'17''
W. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the
marine environment from potential hazards created by the gas leak and
repair efforts related to a broken methane pipeline in the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway. It is categorically excluded from further review
under paragraph L60(c) Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual
023-01-001-01, Rev. 1.
G. Protest Activities
The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters.
Protesters are asked to contact 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.T08-0494 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T08-0494 Safety Zone; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Corpus
Christi, TX.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: all navigable
waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway within the following
coordinates: 27[deg]44'05'' N, 097[deg]13'14'' W; 27[deg]44'02'' N,
097[deg]12'44'' W; 27[deg]43'39'' N, 097[deg]12'48'' W; 27[deg]43'39''
N, 097[deg]13'17'' W.
(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, Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) in the enforcement of
the safety zone.
(c) Effective period. This section is effective from 11:59 a.m. on
May 29, 2024 through 11:59 p.m. on June 12, 2024.
(d) Regulations. (1) According to the general regulations in Sec.
165.23 of this part, entry into this temporary safety zone is
prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus
Christi (COTP) or a designated representative. They may be contacted on
Channel 16 VHF-FM (156.8 MHz) or by telephone at 1-800-874-2143.
(2) If permission is granted, all persons and vessels shall comply
with the instructions of the COTP or designated representative.
(e) Information broadcasts. The COTP or a designated representative
will inform the public of the enforcement times and date for this
safety zone through Broadcast Notices to Mariners, Local Notices to
Mariners, and/or Safety Marine Information Broadcasts as appropriate.
Michael Cintron,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port Sector Corpus
Christi.
[FR Doc. 2024-12437 Filed 6-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on June 6, 2024.
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