Document ID: USCG-2017-0914-0006
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Safety Zone; Taylor Bayou Turning Basin, Port Arthur, TX
Posted Date: 2022-10-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 192 (Wednesday, October 5, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60363-60364]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-21432]

[[Page 60363]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2017-0914]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Taylor Bayou Turning Basin, Port Arthur, TX

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to extend the effective period of the 
temporary safety zone on the upper reaches of Taylor Bayou Turning 
Basin in Port Arthur, TX. This action is necessary to provide 
protection to the levee protection wall located at the north end of the 
turning basin until permanent repairs can be effected. This proposed 
rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety 
zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit 
Port Arthur or a designated representative. We invite your comments on 
this proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before November 4, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0914 using the Federal Decision Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Mr. Scott Whalen, Marine Safety Unit 
Port Arthur, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 409-719-5086, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
USACE U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On August 14, 2017, the Coast Guard established a temporary safety 
zone for the upper reaches of Taylor Bayou Basin in Port Arthur, TX.\1\ 
That emergency action was necessary to protect the damaged flood 
protection levee and bulkhead during stabilization efforts.
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    \1\ See the temporary final rule titled Safety Zone; Taylor 
Bayou Turning Basin, Port Arthur, TX, Docket No. USCG-2017-0797 (83 
FR 4843).
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    On April 16, 2018, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) titled Safety Zone; Taylor Bayou Turning Basin, Port 
Arthur, TX (83 FR 16267). There we stated why we issued the NPRM, and 
invited comments on our proposed regulatory action related to this 
temporary safety zone. During the comment period that ended on June 15, 
2018, we received one comment.
    On July 18, 2018, the Coast Guard published the temporary final 
rule establishing the safety zone until January 31, 2023 (83 FR 33842).
    In August 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) informed 
the Coast Guard that permanent repairs to the flood protection wall 
would not be completed for another two years. Therefore, the Coast 
Guard proposes to extend the effective period of the temporary safety 
zone through January 31, 2025.
    Damage to the temporary repairs would make the surrounding 
community susceptible to flooding during storm surge or extreme tide 
events that may endanger persons and property in the surrounding 
community. The USACE has requested, and the Coast Guard concurs, that 
protection measures must be instituted until permanent repairs are 
completed. The Coast Guard is proposing this rulemaking under authority 
in 46 U.S.C. 70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231).

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur (COTP) is 
proposing to extend the effective period of the temporary safety zone 
for navigable waters of Taylor Bayou for two additional years until 
January 31, 2025. There are no other changes to the regulatory text of 
this rule cited in 33 CFR T08-0914. This rule would continue to 
prohibit all persons and vessel from entering the safety zone unless 
authorized by the COTP or a designated representative.

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 a number of 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. 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 (OMB).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, duration and entities impacted by the safety zone. This 
safety zone affects approximately 350-yards of Taylor Bayou Turning 
Basin north of latitude 29[deg]50'57.45 N. A facility receives vessels 
within this zone and that facility would be permitted to receive 
vessels based on previously agreed to maneuvering calculations and 
plans.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 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 
temporary safety zone 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.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed 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 proposed rule 
would affect your small business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or 
options for compliance, please call or email the person listed in the 
FOR FURTHER

[[Page 60364]]

INFORMATION CONTACT section. 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.

C. Collection of Information

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

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

    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 call or email the person listed in the FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

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 potential effects of 
this proposed rule elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed 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 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 extending 
the effective period of the temporary safety zone on the upper reaches 
of Taylor Bayou Turning Basin in Port Arthur, TX. Normally such actions 
are 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 preliminary Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this 
determination is available in the docket. For instructions on locating 
the docket, see the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. 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 call or email 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.
    Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments through 
the Federal Decision Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. To 
do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2017-0194 in the 
search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the 
Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment 
option. If you cannot submit your material by using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this proposed rule for alternate 
instructions.
    Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this 
proposed rule as being available in the docket, find the docket as 
described in the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & 
Related Material'' in the Document Type column. Public comments will 
also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following 
instructions on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked 
Questions web page. We review all comments received, but we will only 
post comments that address the topic of the proposed rule. We may 
choose not to post off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that 
we receive.
    Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we 
post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal 
information you have provided. For more about privacy and submissions 
to the docket in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking 
System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).

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 is 
proposing to amend 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; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-
6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
00170.1, Revision No. 01.2.

0
2. In Sec.  165.T08-0914 revise paragraph (d) to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T08-0914   Safety Zone; Taylor Bayou Turning Basin, Port 
Arthur, TX.

* * * * *
    (d) Enforcement date. This safety zone is in effect from February 
1, 2022 through January 31, 2025. It will be subject to enforcement 
this entire period unless the COTP determines it is no longer needed, 
in which case the Coast Guard will inform mariners via Notice to 
Mariners.

    Dated: September 28, 2022.
Molly A. Wike,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Marine Safety Unit Port 
Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2022-21432 Filed 10-4-22; 8:45 am]
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