Document ID: USCG-2014-1017-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: NPRM:  Safety Zones: Marine Safety Unit Savannah Safety Zone for Heavy Weather and Other Natural Disasters, Savannah Captain of the Port Zone, Savannah, GA (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2015-02-27T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 10635-10637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04163]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2014-1017]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Marine Safety Unit Savannah Safety Zone for Heavy 
Weather and Other Natural Disasters, Savannah Captain of the Port Zone, 
Savannah, GA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone 
throughout the Marine Safety Unit Savannah Captain of the Port Zone. 
This action is necessary to consolidate, clarify, and otherwise modify 
safety zone regulations to better meet the needs of the Ports of 
Savannah and Brunswick. This action would establish safety zones in the 
event natural or manmade disasters affect navigable waterways within 
the Marine Safety Unit Savannah Captain of the Port Zone.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before April 1st, 2015. Requests for a public meeting must 
be received by the Coast Guard by April 1st, 2015.

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 Marine Science Technician First Class Zeke Rissman, 
Marine Safety Unit Savannah Prevention Department, Coast Guard; 
telephone (912) 652-4353 ext.241, email Harold.E.Rissman@uscg.mil. If 
you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, 
call Cheryl Collins, 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

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-2014-1017] 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\1/2\ 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-2014-1017) 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, 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.

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for the proposed rule is the Coast Guard's 
authority to establish regulated navigation areas and limited access 
areas: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 
191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Department of Homeland 
Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

[[Page 10636]]

    The purpose of these proposed regulations is to ensure the safety 
of life on navigable waters of the United States through the addition 
of regulations in the event of natural and other disasters.

D. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone 
throughout the Marine Safety Unit Savannah Captain of the Port Zone. 
This action is necessary to consolidate, clarify, and otherwise modify 
safety and security zone regulations within the Ports of Savannah and 
Brunswick. This action would establish a safety zone in the event of a 
disaster affecting navigable waterways within the Marine Safety Unit 
Savannah Captain of the Port Zone.

E. 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.
    The regulations that are being added are not expected to have a 
significant regulatory action due to the infrequency of use for the 
safety zones.

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.
    For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Planning and Review 
section above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities.
    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.

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

[[Page 10637]]

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 waterway use restrictions that would be otherwise published as 
a Temporary Final Rule within the Savannah Captain of the Port Zone. 
This rule is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
34(g) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. A preliminary 
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 
proposed rule.

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 proposes 
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: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 50 
U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Pub. L. 107-
295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.732 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.732  Safety Zone; Marine Safety Unit Savannah Safety Zone for 
Heavy Weather and other Natural Disasters, Savannah Captain of the Port 
Zone, Savannah, GA.

    (a) Regulated Areas. The following areas are established as safety 
zones during the specified conditions:
    (1) Savannah, GA. All waters within the Port of Savannah, GA, 
encompassed within following locations: starting at the demarcation 
line drawn across the seaward extremity of the Savannah River entrance, 
and encompassing all of the waters of the Savannah River, Savannah GA.
    (2) Brunswick, GA. All waters starting at the demarcation line 
drawn across the seaward extremity of the Savannah River entrance, and 
encompassing all of the waters of the Brunswick River, Brunswick GA.
    (3) All coordinates are North American Datum 1983.
    (b) Definition.
    (1) The term ``designated representative'' means Coast Guard Patrol 
Commanders, including Coast Guard coxswains, petty officers, and other 
officers operating Coast Guard vessels, and Federal, state, and local 
officers designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port Savannah in 
the enforcement of the regulated area.
    (2) Hurricane Port Condition YANKEE. Set when weather advisories 
indicate that sustained Gale Force winds from a tropical or hurricane 
force storm are predicted to make landfall at the port within 24 hours.
    (3) Hurricane Port Condition ZULU. Set when weather advisories 
indicate that sustained Gale Force winds from a tropical or hurricane 
force storm are predicted to make landfall at the port within 12 hours.
    (c) Regulations.
    (1) Hurricane Port Condition YANKEE. All commercial, oceangoing 
vessels and barges over 500 gross tons are prohibited from entering the 
regulated areas designated as being in Port Condition YANKEE; within 24 
hours of anticipated landfall of gale force winds (39mph) from tropical 
or hurricane force storm; or upon the Coast Guard setting Port 
Condition YANKEE for inbound ocean going commercial vessel traffic over 
500 GT. Oceangoing commercial vessel traffic outbound will be 
authorized to transit through the regulated areas until Port Condition 
ZULU.
    (2) Hurricane Port Condition ZULU. All commercial, oceangoing 
vessels and barges over 500 gross tons are prohibited from entering the 
regulated areas designated as being in Port Condition ZULU; within 12 
hours of anticipated landfall of a tropical storm or hurricane; or upon 
the Coast Guard setting Port Condition ZULU, unless written permission 
is obtained from the Captain of the Port. All ship-to-shore cargo 
operations must cease six hours prior to setting Port Condition Zulu.
    (3) Emergency Waterway Restriction for Other Disasters. Any natural 
or other disasters that are anticipated to affect the Captain of the 
Port Savannah area of responsibility will result in the prohibition of 
commercial vessel traffic transiting or remaining in any of the two 
regulated areas predicted to be affected as designated by the Captain 
of the Port Savannah.
    (4) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain in the regulated area may contact the Captain of the Port 
Savannah via telephone at (912) 247-0073, or a designated 
representative via VHF radio on channel 16, to request authorization. 
If authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain in the 
regulated area is granted by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a 
designated representative, all persons and vessels receiving such 
authorization must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the 
Port Savannah or a designated representative.
    (5) Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Savannah will attempt to notify 
the maritime community of periods during which these safety zones will 
be in effect via Broadcast Notice to Mariners or by on-scene designated 
representatives.
    (6) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area via 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners or by on-scene designated representatives.
    (7) This regulation does not apply to authorized law enforcement 
agencies operating within the regulated area.

    Dated: February 2, 2015.
A.M. Beach,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Savannah.
[FR Doc. 2015-04163 Filed 2-26-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P