Document ID: USCG-2012-0625-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: NPRM:  Drawbridge Operations: Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, PA (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2012-08-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 155 (Friday, August 10, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47792-47794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19603]

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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2012-0625]
RIN 1625-AA09

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Schuylkill River, Philadelphia, 
PA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulations that govern 
the operation of the Conrail Bridge over the Schuylkill River, mile 6.4 
near Christian Street, at Philadelphia, PA. The proposed rule intends 
to change the current regulation to reflect a change in name of the 
bridge and to meet the current lack of demand for openings. The current 
regulation requires the Conrail Bridge to open on signal if at least 
two hours notice is given. CSX Transportation acquired the bridge from 
Conrail 13 years ago and there have been no requests requiring 
openings. Based on this lack of demand for opening, this proposed rule 
would allow the bridge to remain in the closed to navigation position. 
This proposed rule would also rename the bridge from the Conrail Bridge 
to the CSX Bridge.

DATES: Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or 
before September 10, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2012-0625 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: 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.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
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 Jim Rousseau, Bridge

[[Page 47793]]

Management Specialist, Fifth Coast Guard District; telephone 757-398-
6557, email James.L.Rousseau2@uscg.mil. If you have questions on 
viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking (USCG-2012-0625), 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 (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 
via http://www.regulations.gov, 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 phone 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, 
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become 
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu select 
``Proposed Rules'' and insert ``USCG-2012-0625'' in the ``Keyword'' 
box. Click ``Search'' then click on the balloon shape in the 
``Actions'' column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand 
delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 
inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them 
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.

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, 
click on the ``read comments'' box, which will then become highlighted 
in blue. In the ``Keyword'' box insert ``USCG-2012-0625'' and click 
``Search.'' Click the ``Open Docket Folder'' in the ``Actions'' column. 
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.

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).

Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one using one of the four methods specified under 
ADDRESSES. Please explain why one 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.

Regulatory History and Information

    The current operating schedule for the bridge is set out in 33 CFR 
117.905 (e) issued Oct 29, 1984. The current regulation states: The 
draw of the Conrail bridge, mile 6.4 near Christian Street, 
Philadelphia, shall open on signal if at least two hour notice is 
given.

Basis and Purpose

    CSX Transportation has requested a change in the operation 
regulation and name change of the Conrail Bridge across the Schuylkill 
River. CSX Transportation acquired the Conrail Bridge in June 1999 from 
Conrail. Based on a letter from CSX to the Coast Guard there have been 
no requests requiring openings since the acquisition in June 1999. 
Since the 1999 CSX acquisition up to the present day, the Conrail 
Bridge is an active and heavily used CSX railroad line. The bridge 
supports 51 MGT of freight every year. The Coast Guard proposes to 
allow the above mentioned bridge to remain in the closed position to 
navigation in accordance with 33 CFR 117.39. The Coast Guard also 
proposes to rename the bridge from the Conrail Bridge to the CSX Bridge 
to reflect the current ownership.
    The vertical clearance of the Swing Bridge is 26 feet above mean 
high tide in the closed position and unlimited in the open position. 
The current operating schedule for the bridge is set out in 33 CFR 
117.905 (e) but is no longer necessary because of the lack of openings 
since June 1999.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to revise 33 CFR 117.905 (e) for the 
Conrail Bridge over the Schuylkill River. The proposed regulation would 
change the existing bridge name from the Conrail Bridge to the CSX 
Bridge representing the new owner. This proposed rule also allows the 
bridge to not open for the passage of vessels due to lack of opening 
requests over the last 13 years. The change of the operating regulation 
would reflect the current use of the waterway and vessels with a mast 
height less than 26 feet can pass underneath the bridge in the closed 
position at anytime.

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 or executive orders.

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 Order 12866 or under 
section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and Budget 
has not reviewed it under those Orders. The proposed change is expected 
to have minimal impact on mariners due to no requests requiring 
openings for the past 13 years and no anticipated change to vessel 
traffic.

Impact on Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered the impact of this proposed rule on small entities. The 
Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed

[[Page 47794]]

rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities.
    This action will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. There 
have been no vessel requests requiring openings for the past 13 years. 
Vessels that can safely transit under the bridge (with a mast height 
less than 26 feet) may do so at any time.
    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.

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 so that they can better 
evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. 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.

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.).

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 various levels of 
government. We have analyzed this proposed rule under that Order and 
have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.

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.

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

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.

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.

Protection of Children

    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.

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.

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.

Technical Standards

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

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 because it simply 
promulgates the operating regulations or procedures for drawbridges. 
This rule is categorically excluded under figure 2-1, paragraph 
(32)(e), of the Instruction, and 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.

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

    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.

    2. Revise Sec.  117.905 (e), to read as follows:

Sec.  117.905  Schuylkill River

* * * * *
    (e) The draw of the CSX Bridge, mile 6.4 near Christian Street, 
Philadelphia, need not be opened for the passage of vessels.

    Dated: July 26, 2012.
Steven H. Ratti,
Rear Admiral, United States Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 2012-19603 Filed 8-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P