Document ID: USCG-2017-0212-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Drawbridge Operation Regulation; St. Louis River (Duluth-Superior Harbor), Between the Towns of Duluth, MN and Superior, WI
Posted Date: 2017-04-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 74 (Wednesday, April 19, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18407-18409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-07907]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0212]
RIN 1625-AA09

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; St. Louis River (Duluth-Superior 
Harbor), Between the Towns of Duluth, MN and Superior, WI

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to modify the regulations that govern 
the drawbridges over the St. Louis River at Duluth-Superior Harbor. 
This waterway borders Minnesota and Wisconsin and is listed under 
Minnesota as St. Louis River (Duluth-Superior Harbor) and under 
Wisconsin as Duluth-Superior Harbor (St. Louis River) in the CFR. This 
proposed rule would affect both regulations. The owner of the 
Burlington Northern Grassy Point Railroad Bridge at mile 5.44 requested 
the regulation be updated to include permanent winter operating 
schedule. This proposed rule would also align river mile numbers with 
the United States Coast Pilot and delete bridges from the regulations 
that have been removed from the waterway and make the regulation easier 
to read and less confusing to the mariner.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before May 19, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0212 using Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed 
rule, call or email Mr. Lee D. Soule, Bridge Management Specialist, 
Ninth Coast Guard District; telephone 216-902-6085, email 
Lee.D.Soule@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
LWD Low Water Datum
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
SNPRM Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking
Pub. L. Public Law

[[Page 18408]]

Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose and Legal Basis

    The St. Louis River flows eastward through Grassy Point into the 
St. Louis Bay and then into the west side of Superior Bay near its 
north end through Rices Point and Connors Point. The Minnesota Channel, 
the dredged channel, follows the Minnesota shore for 2 miles west of 
Grassy Point before turning south. The buoys in the Minnesota Channel, 
are maintained from April 28 to December 7 each year when the waterway 
is typically ice free. The waterway is used by recreational and 
commercial vessels, including large freighters. Most vessels, including 
the larger freighters, avoid navigating the Minnesota Channel after 
December 7 when the buoys are decommissioned for the winter and ice 
makes navigation difficult.
    The Burlington Northern Grassy Point Railroad Bridge at mile 5.44 
is a center swing bridge that provides 175 feet of horizontal clearance 
in both draws and a vertical clearance of 12 feet in the closed 
position with an unlimited clearance in the open position at LWD. Fixed 
spans, outside of the channel limits, adjoining the bridge have a 
horizontal clearance of 64 feet and a vertical clearance of 13 feet at 
LWD. The bridge currently opens on signal, except that from January 1 
through March 15 the draw opens on signal if at least 24 hours notice 
is provided.
    The bridges listed in the regulation as the Grassy Point Bridge at 
mile 8.0 and the Arrow Head Bridge at mile 8.7, respectively, have been 
removed from the waterway.
    The Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range combined Railroad and Highway 
Bridge, also known as the Oliver Bridge, at mile 13.91, is a center 
swing bridge with a horizontal clearance of 125 feet in both draws and 
a vertical clearance of 22 feet in the closed position at LWD. This 
bridge has been authorized to remain in the closed position for over 20 
years but must return to operable condition when notified by the 
District Commander to do so.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The bridge river/waterway mile numbers in the current regulation 
and the Coast Pilot 6 do not match. To avoid confusion this discussion 
only refers to the bridge mile numbers as published in the current 
Coast Pilot 6. The intent is to correct the mile numbers in this 
proposed rule so both the CFR and Coast Pilot 6 match.
    The bridges referred to as the Grassy Point Bridge at mile 8.0 and 
the Arrow Head Bridge at mile 8.7 in the current regulation will be 
removed from the CFR because the bridges have been removed and are no 
longer crossing the waterway.
    The drawbridge referred to as the Burlington Northern Railroad 
Bridge at mile 5.7 in the current regulation will be revised and 
referred to as the Burlington Northern Railroad Grassy Point Bridge at 
mile 5.44.
    We reviewed the drawtender logs provided by the owners of the 
Burlington Northern Railroad Grassy Point Bridge and found the last 
vessel to request an opening in 2014 was an unknown tug boat on 
December 11, at 9 p.m., and in 2015 the last vessel to request an 
opening was a Coast Guard vessel that requested an opening on December 
6, at 2 p.m., and in 2016 the last vessel to request an opening was a 
Coast Guard vessel that requested an opening on December 2, at 5:45 
p.m. Due to the lack of openings after December 7, we propose to allow 
the bridge to open if a 12-hour notice is given from December 15 
through March 15 each year.
    We propose to rename the Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range combined 
Railroad and Highway Bridge at mile 13.91 to the Canadian National 
Railroad and Highway Bridge to reflect the current ownership of the 
bridge, but continue to allow the bridge to remain in the closed 
position. The bridge will be required to return to operable condition 
when notified by the District Commander to do so.
    The regulatory language for these drawbridges appear under two 
separate sections of 33 CFR; Sec.  117.669 St. Louis River (Duluth-
Superior Harbor) and Sec.  117.1083 Duluth-Superior Harbor (St. Louis 
River). Our intent is to issue a Final Rule for Sec.  117.669 that 
includes all revised language for St. Louis River drawbridges, and 
revise Sec.  117.1083 by removing the regulatory language and referring 
readers to Sec.  117.669 Duluth-Superior Harbor (St. Louis River).

IV. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and Executive Orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on 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. Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of 
quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing 
rules, and of promoting flexibility. This NPRM has not been designated 
a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of Management 
and Budget.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the ability that 
vessels can still transit the bridge from December 15 through March 15 
if a 12-hour advance notice of arrival is provided at a time of year 
when vessel traffic is at its lowest. All other changes to the 
regulation are administrative in nature and required to make the 
regulation consistent with other published navigation information.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. While some owners or operators of 
vessels intending to transit the bridge may be small entities, for the 
reasons stated in section IV.A above this proposed rule would not have 
a significant economic impact on any vessel owner or operator because 
the bridge will still open if advance notice if provided.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have 
a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see 
ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what 
degree this rule would economically affect it.
    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 proposed 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, above. The Coast Guard will

[[Page 18409]]

not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about 
this proposed rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

C. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Government

    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 proposed 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 proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, because it would 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 proposed 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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this 
proposed rule elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction 
M16475.lD, which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and 
have made a preliminary determination that this action is one of a 
category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a 
significant effect on the human environment. This proposed rule simply 
promulgates the operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. 
Normally such actions are categorically excluded from further review, 
under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction.
    Under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, an 
environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion 
determination are not required for this rule. We seek any comments or 
information that may lead to the discovery of a significant 
environmental impact from this proposed rule.

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.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If 
you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal 
Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal 
Register (70 FR 15086).
    Documents mentioned in this document, and all public comments, are 
in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by 
following that Web site's instructions. Additionally, if you go to the 
online docket and sign up for email alerts, you will be notified when 
comments are posted or a final rule is published.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

    Bridges.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 117 as follows:

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; Department of Homeland 
Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

0
2. Revise Sec.  117.669 to read as follows:

Sec.  117.669   St. Louis River (Duluth-Superior Harbor).

    (a) The draw of the Burlington Northern Grassy Point railroad 
Bridge, mile 5.44, shall open on signal except that, from December 15 
through March 15 the draw shall open if at least 12-hour notice is 
given.
    (b) The draw of the Canadian National Combined Railroad and Highway 
Bridge, mile 13.91, need not be opened for the passage of vessels. The 
owner shall return the draw to operable condition within a reasonable 
time when notified by the District Commander to do so.
0
3. Revise Sec.  117.1083 to read as follows:

Sec.  117.1083   Duluth-Superior Harbor (St. Louis River).

    See Sec.  117.669 St. Louis River (Duluth-Superior Harbor), listed 
under Minnesota.

    Dated: March 31, 2017.
J.E. Ryan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-07907 Filed 4-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P