Document ID: USCG-2013-0018-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: NPRM:  Anchorages: Port of New York (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2013-07-25T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 143 (Thursday, July 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44917-44920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-17921]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0018]
RIN 1625-AA01

Anchorage Regulations; Port of New York

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish and modify anchorage 
grounds within the Port of New York. This action is necessary to 
facilitate safe navigation and provide safe and secure anchorages for 
vessels operating in the area. This proposed rule is intended to 
increase the safety of life and property of both the anchored vessels 
and those operating in the area as well as provide for the overall safe 
and efficient flow of commerce.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before September 23, 2013. Requests for public meetings 
must be received by the Coast Guard on or before August 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number using 
any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329. See the 
``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for further instructions on 
submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of these 
three methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Mr. Jeff Yunker, Sector New York, Waterways Management 
Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 718-354-4195, E-Mail 
Jeff.M.Yunker@uscg.mil or Chief Craig Lapiejko, Coast Guard First 
District Waterways Management Branch, telephone 617-223-8385, E-Mail 
Craig.D.Lapiejko@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Barbara

[[Page 44918]]

Hairston, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
WAMS Waterways Analysis and Management System

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

1. Submitting Comments

    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. You may submit your comments and material online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online, it 
will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully 
transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, 
it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when 
it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number [USCG-2013-0018] in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with 
this rulemaking.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8[frac12] by 11 inches, suitable 
for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and 
would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a 
stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all 
comments and material received during the comment period and may change 
the rule based on your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2013-0018) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with 
this rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in 
Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation 
West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

3. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

4. Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one on or before August 15, 2013, using one of the methods 
specified under ADDRESSES. Please explain why you believe a public 
meeting would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this 
rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later 
notice in the Federal Register.

B. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for this rule is: 33 U.S.C. 471, 1221 through 1236, 
2030, 2035, 2071; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1, which collectively authorize the Coast Guard to 
define anchorage grounds.
    This proposal was assessed as part of a Waterways Analysis and 
Management System (WAMS) review of the New York Vessel Traffic Lanes 
and Approaches to New York Harbor with the intent of optimizing the 
waterway and aids to navigation. The Coast Guard received six responses 
to the survey included in the WAMS review. The survey responses 
reported that Anchorage Ground No. 27(ii) Romer Shoal and Anchorage 
Ground No. 27(iii) Flynns Knoll, near Sandy Hook, NJ are not used 
because their locations leave vessels exposed to swells and that there 
are safer anchorage grounds available in Lower New York and Sandy Hook 
Bays.
    The New York District Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) was consulted 
on this regulation and had no objections.
    In addition, the Hudson River Pilots Association requested the 
Coast Guard establish a federal anchorage ground near Yonkers, NY on 
the Hudson River.
    The purpose of this rule is to accommodate ship traffic awaiting 
berthing space, favorable weather, daylight hours, tidal conditions for 
transits, and/or other unforeseen conditions to improve navigation 
safety; clarify positions of current areas being used for vessels 
anchoring; and reduce regulatory burden by disestablishing anchorage 
grounds that are no longer used and therefore deemed unnecessary.

C. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    We propose to establish a new Anchorage Ground No. 18 in the Hudson 
River west of Yonkers, NY. The anchorage ground would be approximately 
0.22 square nautical miles (2,010 yards long by 420 to 470 yards wide). 
The eastern boundary of this anchorage ground would be about 470 yards 
west of the Yonkers Municipal Pier. The Hudson River Pilots requested 
this anchorage ground be established for the following reasons: a) for 
vessels waiting favorable tides and/or daylight to transit to upstream 
ports on the Hudson River, b) for vessels waiting anchorage space in 
New York Harbor to take on bunker fuel and/or stores, and c) to relieve 
congestion in New York Harbor anchorage grounds. The proposed anchorage 
ground would formalize and codify the current anchoring practices of 
commercial vessels in Yonkers, NY. The anchorage ground would 
adequately accommodate two ships at a time and would provide sufficient 
maneuvering clearance for ships entering or departing the anchorage 
ground. An area approximately 1,030 feet east of this anchorage ground 
would be in place for vessels to transit and still not interfere with 
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District designated 600 foot 
wide federal navigation channel. This anchorage ground would only be 
authorized for usage by ships.
    We propose to reduce the size of the current Anchorage Ground No. 
17 by an area of approximately 0.07 square nautical miles (910 yards 
long by 300 yards wide). This proposed reduction at the northeast 
corner of the current Anchorage Ground No. 17 is intended to limit 
confusion caused by the overlapping of the southwest corner of the 
proposed new Anchorage Ground No. 18 with the current northeast corner 
of Anchorage Ground No. 17.

[[Page 44919]]

    We propose to update the description of the Anchorage Ground No. 
27(i) boundary in the Atlantic Ocean. This is necessary due to the 
disestablishment of Sandy Hook Light 15, which was used as a reference 
point. We would update the other anchorage ground coordinates to 
correspond to what is currently displayed on the navigation charts. 
Additionally, we would re-designate the anchorage ground as Anchorage 
Ground No. 27 due to the proposed disestablishment of Anchorage Ground 
No. 27(ii) at 33 CFR 110.155(f)(2)(ii) and Anchorage Ground No. 27(iii) 
at 33 CFR 110.155(f)(2)(iii).
    We propose to disestablish Anchorage Ground No. 27(ii) Romer Shoal 
and Anchorage Ground No. 27(iii) Flynns Knoll, near Sandy Hook, NJ. The 
irregular shaped area of Anchorage Ground No. 27(ii) Romer Shoal is 
about 4.08 square nautical miles (5.5 nautical miles long by 0.3 to 1.3 
nautical miles wide). The irregular bowl-shaped area of Anchorage 
Ground No. 27(iii) Flynns Knoll is about 3.35 square nautical miles. 
These proposals were reviewed as part of a Waterways Analysis and 
Management System (WAMS) review of the New York Vessel Traffic Lanes 
and Approaches to New York Harbor with the intent of optimizing the 
waterway and the aids to navigation therein. The Coast Guard received 
six responses to the survey included in the WAMS review. The survey 
responses reported that these two anchorage grounds are not used 
because their locations leave vessels exposed to swells and there are 
safer anchorage grounds available in the Lower New York and Sandy Hook 
Bays. These anchorage grounds provide better protection from impacts of 
winds and seas on anchored vessels than the offshore Anchorage Grounds 
No. 27(ii) and No. 27(iii).

D. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on a number of these statutes or executive orders.

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 
as supplemented by Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and 
Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential 
costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866 or 
under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and 
Budget has not reviewed it under those Orders.
    We expect minimal additional cost impacts to the industry because 
this rule is not imposing fees, permits, or specialized requirements 
for the maritime industry to utilize these anchorage grounds. The 
effect of this rule would not be significant as it removes two obsolete 
anchorage grounds that are no longer used and codifies one anchorage 
ground that is currently used by commercial vessels as a general 
anchorage area. This would represent an improvement to the safety of 
vessels using the anchorage grounds, facilitate the transit of deep 
draft vessels through the adjoining waterways, and increase mariner 
awareness that they can expect to find anchored vessels in the 
vicinity.

2. 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 will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    This proposed rule would affect the following entities, some of 
which might be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels that 
have a need to anchor or transit through the lower Hudson River near 
Yonkers, NY; and Lower New York Bay near Romer Shoal and Flynns Knoll 
near Sandy Hook, NJ.
    This proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: This 
rule would only codify current navigation practices already in use by 
commercial vessels in these areas. The anchorage grounds would not 
affect vessels' schedules or their abilities to freely transit near 
these areas within the Captain of the Port New York zone. The anchorage 
grounds would not impose any monetary expenses on small entities 
because it does not require them to purchase any new equipment, hire 
additional crew, or make any other expenditures.
    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.

3. Assistance for Small Entities

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

4. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule will not call for a new collection of 
information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-
3520).

5. Federalism

    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 
determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism.

6. 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.

7. 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 rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

[[Page 44920]]

8. Taking of Private Property

    This proposed rule would not cause a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, 
Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected 
Property Rights.

9. Civil Justice Reform

    This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

10. Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13045, 
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and would not 
create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 
disproportionately affect children.

11. Indian Tribal Governments

    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.

12. Energy Effects

    This proposed rule is not a ``significant energy action'' under 
Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use.

13. Technical Standards

    This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we 
did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

14. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction 
M16475.lD, which guide 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 that do not individually or cumulatively have a 
significant effect on the human environment. This proposed rule 
involves disestablishing two unused anchorage grounds, establishing one 
anchorage ground, updates the coordinates of one anchorage ground, and 
reduces the size of one anchorage ground resulting in a reduction in 
the overall size of the anchorage grounds by 7.28 square nautical miles 
in the Captain of the Port New York zone. This rule may be 
categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34(f) of 
Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. A preliminary environmental 
analysis checklist is available in the docket where indicated under 
ADDRESSES. We seek any comments or information that may lead to the 
discovery of a significant environmental impact from this proposed 
rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110

    Anchorage grounds.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 110 as follows:

PART 110--ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 471; 1221 through 1236, 2030, 2035, 2071; 
33 CFR 1.05-1; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

0
2. In Sec.  110.155 revise paragraphs (c) and (f) to read as follows:

Sec.  110.155  Port of New York.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (2) Anchorage No. 17. All waters of the Hudson River bound by the 
following points: 40[deg]56'26.66'' N, 073[deg]55'12.06'' W; thence to 
40[deg]56'22.54'' N, 073[deg]54'49.77'' W; thence to 40[deg]55'56.00'' 
N, 073[deg]54'58.00'' W; thence to 40[deg]55'54.15'' N, 
073[deg]54'46.96'' W; thence to 40[deg]54'18.43'' N, 073[deg]55'21.12'' 
W; thence to 40[deg]52'27.59'' N, 073[deg]56'14.32'' W; thence to 
40[deg]51'34.20'' N, 073[deg]56'52.64'' W; thence to 40[deg]51'20.76'' 
N, 073[deg]57'31.75'' W; thence along the shoreline to the point of 
origin (NAD 83).
    (i) When the use of Anchorage No. 17 is required by naval vessels, 
the vessels anchored therein shall move when the Captain of the Port 
directs them.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) * * *
    (4) Anchorage No. 18. All waters of the Hudson River bound by the 
following points: 40[deg]56'54.0'' N, 073[deg]54'40.0'' W; thence to 
40[deg]56'51.0'' N, 073[deg]54'24.0'' W; thence to 40[deg]55'53.0'' N, 
073[deg]54'40.0'' W; thence to 40[deg]55'56.0'' N, 073[deg]54'58.0'' W; 
thence to the point of origin (NAD 83).
    (i) This anchorage ground is reserved for use by ships only.
    (ii) [Reserved]
* * * * *
    (f) * * *
    (2) Anchorage No. 27. Atlantic Ocean--
    (i) All waters bound by the following points: 40[deg]28'49.27'' N, 
074[deg]00'12.13'' W; thence to 40[deg]28'52.12'' N, 074[deg]00'00.56'' 
W; thence to 40[deg]28'40.88'' N, 073[deg]58'51.95'' W; thence to 
40[deg]25'57.91'' N, 073[deg]54'55.56'' W; thence to 40[deg]23'45.55'' 
N, 073[deg]54'54.89'' W; thence to 40[deg]23'45.38'' N, 
073[deg]58'32.10'' W; thence along the shoreline to the point of origin 
(NAD 83).
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (iii) [Reserved]
* * * * *

    Dated: July 2, 2013.
V.B. Gifford,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2013-17921 Filed 7-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P