Rule2026-05216
Safety Zone; San Pedro Channel and San Pedro Bay, CA
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
March 17, 2026
Effective
March 17, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters in San Pedro Channel and San Pedro Bay, CA. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the presence and removal of damaged containers and cargo onboard the vessel OOCL SUNFLOWER. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los Angeles--Long Beach, or their designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12689-12690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-05216]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2026-0292]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; San Pedro Channel and San Pedro Bay, CA
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 in San Pedro Channel and San Pedro Bay, CA. The safety
zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine
environment from potential hazards associated with the presence and
removal of damaged containers and cargo onboard the vessel OOCL
SUNFLOWER. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited
unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los
Angeles--Long Beach, or their designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from March 17,
2026, through April 30, 2026. For the purposes of enforcement, actual
notice will be used from March 12, 2026, through March 17, 2026.
ADDRESSES: To view available documents, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for USCG-2026-0292.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule,
contact LCDR Kevin Kinsella, Sector Los Angeles--Long Beach Waterways
Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 310-521-3860, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3f7b0e0e126c727d126c5a5c4b504d737e737d126868727f4a4c5c5811525653"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0d493c3c205e404f205e686e79627f414c414f205a5a404d787e6e6a23606461">[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
RFA Regulatory Flexibility Act
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background and Authority
The Coast Guard received notification that the container vessel
OOCL SUNFLOWER would be transiting through San Pedro Channel and
arriving in San Pedro Bay, CA on or about March 12, 2026, with damaged
and potentially unsecured containers onboard. The Captain of the Port
(COTP) Los Angeles--Long Beach has determined that the presence of
damaged containers, some of which may contain hazardous materials, and
operations to secure or remove these containers, may pose a safety risk
to persons, vessels, and the marine environment within 500 yards.
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.
Because of the risks associated with these potential hazards, 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. The Coast Guard was notified of the damaged
containers on March 4, 2026, but we must establish this safety zone by
March 12, 2026, to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine
environment. Therefore, we do not have enough time to solicit and
respond to comments.
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 on March 12, 2026, through
April 30, 2026. The date and time of actual enforcement will depend on
the vessel's transit progress and arrival and will be announced to the
public in advance. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters in
San Pedro Channel and San Pedro Bay, encompassing a 500 yard radius
around the vessel OOCL SUNFLOWER, IMO # 9949728. Vessels and persons
will not be allowed to enter
[[Page 12690]]
the zone during this time, unless authorized by the Captain of the
Port.
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 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- et seq.), 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(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.
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. 01.4.
0
2. Add Sec. 165.T11-223 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T11-223 Safety Zone; San Pedro Channel and San Pedro Bay, CA
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of
San Pedro Channel and San Pedro Bay, from surface to bottom,
encompassing a 500 yard radius of the vessel OOCL SUNFLOWER, IMO #
9949728.
(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 Los Angeles--Long Beach (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 (310) 521-3801.
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 March
12, 2026, through April 30, 2026.
S.L. Crecy,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Los Angeles--Long
Beach.
[FR Doc. 2026-05216 Filed 3-16-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on March 17, 2026.
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