[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 115 (Thursday, June 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29958-29959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15046]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 3

[CGD 96-025]
RIN 2115-AF32


Reorganization of Coast Guard Areas, Districts, and Marine 
Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: To conform with an internal reorganization of its field 
command structure, the Coast Guard is amending the descriptions of the 
Second and Eighth Coast Guard District boundaries and redesignating 
several Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones. In addition, 
the Coast Guard is amending the description of the location of the 
Atlantic Area, Pacific Area, and Eleventh Coast Guard District offices. 
These changes are administrative and will not impact the type or level 
of Coast Guard services performed.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective June 13, 1996, except for 
Sec. 3.04-1(a) which is effective June 14, 1996, and Sec. 3.04-3(a) 
which is effective June 28, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated, documents referred to in the 
preamble are available for inspection or copying at the Office of the 
Executive Secretary, Marine Safety Council (G-LRS/3406), U.S. Coast 
Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Room 3406, Washington, DC 
20593-0001 between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone number is (202) 267-1477.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ms. Maureen Melton, Plans and Policy Division (G-CPP), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The telephone Number is (202) 267-2299.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

Atlantic Area and Pacific Area

    During 1996, the Coast Guard reorganized the Area field command and 
control structures and relocated the Atlantic Area office from New York 
City, to Portsmouth, VA, and relocated the Eleventh District office 
from Long Beach, CA, to Alameda, CA. The Atlantic and Pacific Area 
Commanders also serve as the Fifth and Eleventh District Commanders, 
respectively. The separate authorities and responsibilities of the Area 
Commanders and District Commanders are unaffected by the consolidated 
of their command staffs.

Second District--Merger Into the Eighth District

    Previously, the Second Coast Guard District and Eighth District 
exercised jurisdiction in their respective regions. In 1996, the Coast 
Guard realigned its field command and control structure in the Gulf of 
Mexico and Midwestern regions through the merger of the Second District 
into the Eighth District. The Second District has been disestablished 
and the Eighth District boundaries have been expanded to include the 
prior Second District area of responsibilities. This realignment 
enables more efficient internal management and enhances mission 
performance in the affected region. The merger streamlined command and 
control of activities within the combined Second and Eighth District 
regions. The Eighth District Commander now exercises authority over the 
combined geographic region. The merger will not adversely affect the 
public, since there will be no change in Coast Guard operational assets 
or Coast Guard services in the respective regions. The descriptions of 
Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones which belonged to the 
Second District are being renumbered to reflect their realignment with 
the Eighth District.

Discussion of Changes

    Sec. 3.01-1. This section, describing generally the Area 
Commanders' responsibilities, is revised to reflect the fact that the 
Atlantic Area Commander also serves as Fifth District Commander and the 
Pacific Area Commander also serves as the Eleventh District Commander.
    Sec. 3.04-1. This section, describing the Area offices and 
jurisdictions, is revised to reflect the relocation of the Atlantic Are 
office from New York, NY to Portsmouth, VA and eliminates reference to 
the Second Coast Guard District which was disestablished with its 
merger into the Eighth District. The section is also revised to 
correctly reflect the location of the Pacific Area office as Alameda, 
CA and to reflect relocation of Eleventh District office from Long 
Beach, CA to Alameda, CA.
    Sec. 3.10-1. This section, describing the Second District, is 
removed to conform with the disestablishment of the Second District as 
a result of its merger into the Eighth District.
    Sec. 3.10-10 through 03.10-50. These sections, describing the six 
Marine Inspection and Captain of the Port Zones within the prior Second 
District, are redesignated under Subpart 3.40 to conform with the 
reassignment of these MI and COTP zones to Eighth District as a result 
of the merger of the Second District into the Eighth District.
    Sec. 3.40-1. This section, describing the Eighth District, is 
revised to describe its new boundaries which incorporate the prior 
Second District boundaries as a result of the merger of the Second 
District into the Eighth District.
    The current CFR descriptions do not reflect the reorganizations in 
the Coast Guard Areas, affected Coast Guard District, and the 
realignment of Marine Inspection (MI) and Captain of the Port (COTP) 
Zones. Since this is a matter relating to agency organization, 
procedure, and management, it is excluded from the requirements of 
section 553(b)(3)(A) of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 551 
et seq.) for a notice of proposed rulemaking and public comment. These 
changes are administrative and will not impact the type of level of 
Coast Guard services performed. Further, since the rule has no 
substantial effect on service to the public, good cause exists under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d) to make the rule effective less than 30 days after 
publication.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) 
of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of 
potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It 
has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget under that 
order. It is not significant under the regulatory policies and 
procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT)(44 FR 11040; 
February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this 
rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 
10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 
This rule merely implements administrative changes within the Coast 
Guard structure. Coast Guard services to the public will not be 
changed.

Collection of Information

    This rule contains no collection-of-information requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

[[Page 29959]]

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that 
this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that, under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B, as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994, this rule is 
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This 
rule is an administrative change under paragraph 2.B.2.1, and will not 
impact the environment. A ``Categorical Exclusion Determination'' is 
available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 3

    Organization and functions (Government Agencies).

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 
CFR part 3 as follows:

PART 3--COAST GUARD AREAS, DISTRICTS, MARINE INSPECTION ZONES, AND 
CAPTAIN OF THE PORT ZONES

    1. The authority citation for part 3 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 14 U.S.C. 633; 49 CFR 1.45, 1.46.

    2. In Sec. 3.01-1, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 3.01-1  General description.

* * * * *
    (b) The two Coast Guard Areas are the Atlantic Area (see Sec. 3.04-
1) and the Pacific Area (see Sec. 3.04-3). The Coast Guard Area 
Commander is in command of a Coast Guard Area; the offices are referred 
to as a Coast Guard Area Office. The office of the Commander, Atlantic 
Area, is located in the Fifth Coast Guard District and the Commander, 
Atlantic Area, also serves as the Fifth District Commander. The office 
of the Commander, Pacific Area, is located in the Eleventh Coast Guard 
District and the Commander, Pacific Area, also serves as the Eleventh 
District Commander. Area Commanders have the responsibility of 
determining when operational matters require the coordination of forces 
and facilities of more than one district.
* * * * *
    3. In Sec. 3.04-1, paragraph (a) is revised, and in paragraph (b), 
the word ``Second'' is removed to read as follows:


Sec. 3.04-1  Atlantic Area.

    (a) The Area Office is in Portsmouth, VA.
* * * * *
    4. In Sec. 3.04-3, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 3.04-3  Pacific Area.

    (a) The Area Office is in Alameda, CA.
* * * * *

Subpart 3.10--Second Coast Guard District [Heading Removed]


Sec. 3.10-1  [Removed]; Sec. 3.10-10 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-40]; 
Sec. 3.10-5 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-45]; Sec. 3.10-30 [Redesignated 
as Sec. 3.40-50]; Sec. 3.10-35 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-55]; 
Sec. 3.10-40 [Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-60]; and Sec. 3.10-50 
[Redesignated as Sec. 3.40-65]

    5. In Subpart 3.10, the subpart heading and Sec. 3.10-1 are 
removed; Sec. 3.10-10 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-40; Sec. 3.10-15 is 
redesignated as Sec. 3.40-45; Sec. 3.10-30 is redesignated as 
Sec. 3.40-50; Sec. 3.10-35 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-55; Sec. 3.10-
40 is redesignated as Sec. 3.40-60; and Sec. 3.10-50 is redesignated as 
Sec. 3.40-65.
    6. In Sec. 3.40-1, paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:


Sec. 3.40-1  Eighth district.

* * * * *
    (b) The Eighth Coast Guard District is comprised of North Dakota, 
South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, 
Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, 
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama; that part of Pennsylvania 
south of 41 deg. N. latitude and west of 79 deg. W. longitude; those 
parts of Ohio and Indiana south of 41 deg. N. latitude; Illinois, 
except that part north of 41 deg. N. latitude and east of 90 deg. W. 
longitude; that part of Wisconsin south of 46 deg.20' N. latitude and 
west of 90 deg. W. longitude; that part of Minnesota south of 
46 deg.20' N. latitude; those parts of Florida and Georgia west of a 
line starting at the Florida coast at 83 deg.50' W. longitude; thence 
northerly to 30 deg.15' N. latitude, 83 deg.50' W. longitude; thence 
due west to 30 deg.15' N. latitude, 84 deg.45' W. longitude; thence due 
north to the southern bank of the Jim Woodruff Reservoir at 84 deg.45' 
W. longitude; thence northeasterly along the eastern bank of the Jim 
Woodruff Reservoir and northerly along the eastern bank of the Flint 
River to Montezuma, GA.; thence northwesterly to West Point, GA.; and 
the Gulf of Mexico area west of a line bearing 199 T. from the 
intersection of the Florida coast at 83 deg.50' W. longitude (the 
coastal end of the Seventh and Eighth Coast Guard District land 
boundary.) [DATUM NAD83]
    13. In Sec. 3.55-1, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:


3.55-1  Eleventh District.

    (a) The District Office is in Alameda, California.
* * * * *
    Dated: May 28, 1996.
Kent H. Williams,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Staff.
[FR Doc. 96-15046 Filed 6-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M