Document ID: USCG-2016-0202-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Safety Zone; Monongahela River Mile 97.5 to Mile 100.5, Morgantown, WV
Posted Date: 2016-05-26T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 102 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33392-33394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12371]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2016-0202]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Monongahela River Mile 97.5 to Mile 100.5, 
Morgantown, WV

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
navigable waters of the Monongahela River from mile 97.5 to mile 100.5. 
The safety zone is needed to protect spectators, participants, and 
personnel involved in the West Virginia Triathlon. Entry of vessels or 
persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by 
the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh.

DATES: This rule is effective from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. on June 19, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2016-0202 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email MST1 Jennifer Haggins, Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh, 
U.S. Coast Guard, at telephone 412-221-0807, email 
Jennifer.L.Haggins@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary rule without prior notice 
and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of 
the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those 
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public 
interest.'' Under 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 the Coast Guard received notice on 
March 1, 2016, that this event would take place. After receiving and 
fully reviewing the event information, circumstances and exact 
location, the Coast Guard determined that a safety zone is necessary to 
protect spectators, participants, and the personnel involved in the 
West Virginia Triathlon. It would be impracticable to complete the full 
NPRM process for this safety zone because it needs to be established by 
June, 19, 2016. The triathlon event has been advertised and the local 
community has prepared for the event. For the same reasons, under 5 
U.S.C. 553(d)(3), we find good cause for making this rule effective 
less than 30 days after publication.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 
1231. The Captain of the Port Pittsburgh (COTP) has determined that a 
safety zone is needed on June 19, 2016. This rule is needed to protect 
personnel, spectators, and participants in navigable waters during the 
swimming portion of the West Virginia Triathlon.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone on June 19, 2016, from 6 a.m. 
until 10 a.m. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters on the 
Monongahela River from mile 97.5 to mile 100.5. The duration of the 
safety zone is intended to protect personnel, spectators, and 
participants while the swimming portion of the West Virginia Triathlon 
takes place. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the

[[Page 33393]]

safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated 
representative.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive order 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. Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of 
quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing 
rules, and of promoting flexibility. This rule has not been designated 
a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, it has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, and duration of the safety zone. This safety zone impacts a 
small portion of the waterway and for a limited duration of four hours. 
Vessel traffic will be informed about the safety zone through local 
notices to mariners. Moreover, the Coast Guard will issue Broadcast 
Notices to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the zone and the 
rule allows vessels to seek permission to transit the zone.

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 rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section 
V.A above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on any 
vessel owner or operator.
    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 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 
section.
    Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal 
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal 
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory 
Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory 
Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and 
rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to 
comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 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.

C. 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).

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 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 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. If 
you believe this 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 rule will not result in 
such expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in 
this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this 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 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), 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 involves a safety zone lasting four hours that will prohibit entry 
on all waters of the Monongahela River from mile 97.5 to mile 100.5 
during the swimming portion of West Virginia Triathlon. It is 
categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34 (g) of 
Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. An environmental analysis 
checklist supporting this determination and a Categorical Exclusion 
Determination are 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 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.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    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:

[[Page 33394]]

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-
1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T08-0202 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T08-0202  Safety Zone, Monongahela River, Pittsburgh, PA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: all waters of 
the Monongahela River, from mile 97.5 to 100.5, extending the entire 
width of the waterway.
    (b) Effective period. This section is effective, and will be 
enforced, from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. on June 19, 2016.
    (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in 
Sec.  165.23 of this part, entry into this zone is prohibited unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated 
representative.
    (2) Persons or vessels requiring entry into or passage through the 
zone must request permission from the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or 
a designated representative. The Captain of the Pittsburgh 
representative may be contacted at 412-221-0807.
    (3) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of 
the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or their designated representative. 
Designated Captain of the Port representatives include United States 
Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, and petty officers.
    (d) Information broadcasts. The Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a 
designated representative will inform the public through broadcast 
notices to mariners of the enforcement period for the safety zone as 
well as any changes in the planned schedule.

    Dated: April 25, 2016.
L. McClain, Jr.,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Pittsburgh.
[FR Doc. 2016-12371 Filed 5-25-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P