Rule2025-22688
Safety Zone; Between Lights 7 Through 19; Texas City Channel, Texas City, TX
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
December 12, 2025
Effective
December 12, 2025
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters between lights 7 through 19 of the Texas City Channel. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a vessel collision and salvage operation. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Houston-Galveston or a designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 237 (Friday, December 12, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 237 (Friday, December 12, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57697-57698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22688]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2025-1106]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Between Lights 7 Through 19; Texas City Channel,
Texas City, TX
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for
navigable waters between lights 7 through 19 of the Texas City Channel.
The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine
environment from potential hazards created by a vessel collision and
salvage operation. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is
prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port
(COTP) Houston-Galveston or a designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from December 12,
2025, through 3:00 p.m. on December 31, 2025, unless cancelled earlier
by the COTP. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be
used from December 5, 2025, until December 12, 2025.
ADDRESSES: To view available documents go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for USCG-2025-1106.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant Ignacio J.
Fern[aacute]ndez-Cuervo, Marine Safety Unit Texas City, Waterways
Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (281) 309-1617, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#713c222425140910023218050826100514030610080231040212165f1c181d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="58150b0d0c3d20392b1b312c210f392c3d2a2f39212b182d2b3b3f76353134">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background and Authority
On December 5, 2025, the Coast Guard received notification that a
collision occurred between a vessel and a dredge pipeline in the Texas
City Channel, resulting in floating and sunken debris in the channel.
The Captain of the Port (COTP) Houston-Galveston has determined that
this collision has created potential hazards to navigation for anyone
navigating within the Texas City Channel. Therefore, the COTP is
issuing this rule under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034, which is
needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the
navigable waters within the safety zone.
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule without prior notice and
comment. As is authorized by 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. Delaying the effective date of
this rule is impracticable because prompt action is needed to respond
to the potential safety hazards associated with obstructions that
resulted from the vessel collision.
For the same reasons, the Coast Guard finds that under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3), good cause exists for making this rule effective less than
30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
III. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes a safety zone from 3:00 p.m. on December 5,
2025, through 3:00 p.m. on December 31, 2025, unless cancelled earlier
by the COTP. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters between
lights 7 through 19 of the Texas City Channel. The duration of the zone
is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment
in these navigable waters while debris is collected and unaccounted
spud is located. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the
safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or their
designated representative.
IV. 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.
A. Impact on Small Entities
The regulatory flexibility analysis provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, do not apply to rules that
are not subject to notice and comment. Because the Coast Guard has, for
good cause, waived the notice and comment requirement that would
otherwise apply to this rulemaking, the Regulatory Flexibility Act's
flexibility analysis provisions do not apply here.
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), if this rule will affect your
small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have
questions, contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section.
Small businesses may send comments to the Small Business and
Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small
Business Regulatory Fairness Boards by calling 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.
B. 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).
C. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments
We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132, Federalism,
and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental
federalism principles and preemption requirements described in that
Order.
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
[[Page 57698]]
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.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
As required by The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C.
1531-1538), the Coast Guard certifies that this rule will not result in
an annual expenditure of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted for inflation)
by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector.
E. 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 is a safety zone. It is categorically excluded from
further review under paragraph L60(d) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS
Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A Record of Environmental
Consideration supporting this determination will be available in the
docket.
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; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.
0
2. Add Sec. 165.T08-1106 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T08-1106 Safety Zone; Between Lights 7 through 19; Texas
City Channel, Texas City, TX.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters in
the Texas City Channel, from surface to bottom, encompassed by a line
connecting the following points beginning at 29[deg]22'45.2'' N,
094[deg]52'55.4'' W, thence to 29[deg]22'54.6'' N, 094[deg]53'04.4'' W,
thence to 29[deg]23'16'' N, 094[deg]53'15'' W, along the shoreline
thence to 29[deg]21'54.6'' N, 094[deg]48'53.1'' W, thence to
29[deg]21'42.9'' N, 094[deg]49'00.7'' W and back to the beginning
point. These coordinates are based on the World Geodetic System (WGS
84)/North American Datum 83 (NAD 83).
(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 Houston-Galveston (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 on VHF-FM channel 16 or by telephone at (281) 464-4855.
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 3:00
p.m. on December 5, 2025, through 3:00 p.m. on December 31, 2025,
unless cancelled earlier by the COTP.
Ronald J. Caputo, Jr.,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port Sector Houston-
Galveston.
[FR Doc. 2025-22688 Filed 12-11-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 12, 2025.
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