Document ID: USCG-2014-0991-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: ANPRM:  Anchorage Grounds: Lower Mississippi River below Baton Rouge, LA, including South and Southwest Passes; New Orleans, LA (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2015-04-03T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18175-18177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07504]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[Docket Number USCG-2014-0991]
RIN 1625-AA01

Anchorage Grounds; Lower Mississippi River Below Baton Rouge, LA, 
Including South and Southwest Passes; New Orleans, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is considering amending the regulations for 
Cedar Grove Anchorage and establishing two new anchorages, Point 
Michele Anchorage and Plaquemines Point Anchorage on the Lower 
Mississippi River (LMR), Above Head of Passes (AHP). These actions are 
being considered to increase the available anchorage areas in this 
section of the river necessary to accommodate vessel traffic and 
improve navigation safety for vessels transiting this area, providing 
for the overall safe and efficient flow of vessel traffic and commerce. 
The Coast Guard is seeking comments and information about what form the 
proposed amendment and new regulations should take and the actual need 
for them.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before June 2, 2015. Requests for a public meeting must be 
received on or before April 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble are part of Docket 
Number USCG-2014-0991. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as 
being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type 
the docket number 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.
    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 Lieutenant Commander (LCDR) Christopher Tuckey, Waterways 
Management, District Eight, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (504) 671-2112, 
email Christopher.B.Tuckey@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing 
or submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl F. Collins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

AHP Above Head of Passes
CFR Code of Federal Regulation
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
LMR Lower Mississippi River
LWRP Low Water Reference Point
MNSA Maritime Navigation Safety Association
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

[[Page 18176]]

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 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 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' 
Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this advance 
notice of proposed rulemaking. The following Web address should take 
you directly to the docket: http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=USCG-2014-0991. 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. 
Requests for a public meeting must be received on or before April 20, 
2015. 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. Regulatory History and Information

    Under title 33 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Sec.  109.05, U.S. 
Coast Guard District Commanders are delegated the authority to 
establish anchorage grounds by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. 
The Coast Guard establishes Anchorage Grounds under authority of the 
authority in section 7 of the act of March 4, 1915, as amended (38 
Stat. 1053; 33 U.S.C. 471) and places these regulations in title 33 CFR 
part 110, subpart B. [CGFR 67-46, 32 FR 17728, Dec. 12, 1967, as 
amended by CGD 86-082, 52 FR 33811, Sept. 8, 1987; USCG-1998-3799, 63 
FR 5526, June 30, 1998]. The Coast Guard is now considering a proposed 
rulemaking to amend an existing anchorage ground, Cedar Grove 
Anchorage, 33 CFR 110.195(a)(12), and to establish two new anchorage 
grounds: Point Michele Anchorage and Plaquemines Point Anchorage.

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis and authorities for this advance notice of proposed 
rulemaking are found in 33 U.S.C. 471, 1221 through 1236, 2071; 33 CFR 
1.05-1, Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, which 
collectively authorize the Coast Guard to propose, establish, and 
define regulatory anchorages. The Coast Guard is considering an 
amendment to increase the size of the existing Cedar Grove Anchorage, 
established under 33 CFR 110.195(a)(12). The Coast Guard is also 
considering establishing two new anchorage grounds; Point Michele 
Anchorage and Plaquemines Point Anchorage.
    The Coast Guard received requests from the Crescent River Port 
Pilot's Association and the New Orleans Baton Rouge River Pilot's 
Association to consider amending an existing anchorage and establishing 
two new anchorages. These requests were presented and discussed at a 
Maritime Navigation Safety Association (MNSA) meeting on August 12, 
2014 and at a Port Safety Council Meeting on September 10, 2014. At 
both meetings, there were no objections or comments received from 
attendees.
    The purpose of this ANPRM is to solicit input and comments on 
potential proposed rulemakings to: (1) Increase the available anchorage 
areas in this section of the river necessary to help accommodate 
increasing vessel traffic; and (2) improve navigation safety for 
vessels transiting this river section. The objective would be to 
establish additional anchorage areas intended to increase the safety of 
life and property on navigable waters, while ensuring that the needs 
and concerns of all stakeholders are addressed through the rulemaking 
process. More specifically, the objective is to improve the safety of 
anchored vessels in Cedar Grove Anchorage and provide for two 
additional anchorage areas to address the increased waterway congestion 
improve the overall safe and efficient flow of vessel traffic and 
commerce.

D. Discussion

    The Coast Guard is considering amending the Cedar Grove Anchorage 
so that the anchorage's overall length would be increased by two (2) 
tenths of a mile, shifting the lower limit down river four (4) tenths 
of a mile from mile 69.9 to mile 69.5 and shifting the upper limit down 
river from mile 71.1 to mile 70.9. With such a change, we would see the 
need to move and rename the Upper Anchorage Daybeacon Light List Number 
(LLNR) 13570 and Lower Anchorage Daybeacon LLNR 13555.
    You may find a picture with an illustration of the amended 
anchorage we are considering in our online docket (http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=USCG-2014-0991). Look for 
Illustration of Contemplated Cedar Grove Anchorage.
    The existing Cedar Grove Anchorage is described in 33 CFR 
110.195(a)(12).
    The Coast Guard is also considering establishing two new 
anchorages. One would be at Point Michele and another at Plaquemines 
Point.
    For the Point Michele anchorage we are considering an area 1.2 
miles in length along the right descending bank of the river extending 
from mile 40.8 to mile 42.0 Above Head of Passes that would be 
approximately 500 feet wide. We are considering making the inner 
boundary of the anchorage a line parallel to the nearest bank 400 feet 
from the water's edge into the river as measured from the low water 
reference plane (LWRP). We are considering making the outer boundary of 
the anchorage a line parallel to the nearest bank 900 feet from the 
water's edge into the river as measured from the LWRP.
    You can find a drawing of this contemplated anchorage in the 
docket. Look for Illustration of Contemplated Point Michele Anchorage.
    For the Plaquemines Point Anchorage we are considering an area 0.5 
miles in length along the right descending bank of the river extending 
from mile 203.9 to mile 204.4 Above Head of Passes

[[Page 18177]]

approximately 500 feet wide. We are considering making the inner 
boundary of the anchorage a line parallel to the nearest bank 500 feet 
from the water's edge into the river as measured from the LWRP and 
making the outer boundary of the anchorage a line parallel to the 
nearest bank 1000 feet from the water's edge into the river as measured 
from the LWRP. Look for Illustration of Contemplated Plaquemines Point 
Anchorage to find a drawing of this contemplated anchorage in the 
docket.

E. Information Requested

    Public participation is requested to assist in determining the best 
way forward in developing a rulemaking to amend and establish anchorage 
areas on the LMR. To aid us in developing a proposed rule, we seek any 
comments, whether positive or negative, including but not limited to 
the impacts an increase in anchorage area may have on navigation safety 
and current vessel traffic in this area of the LMR. Please submit any 
comments or concerns you may have in accordance with the ``submitting 
comments'' section above.
    This document is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552; 33 CFR 
1.05-1, and 1.05-30.

    Dated: March 17, 2015.
K.S. Cook,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2015-07504 Filed 4-2-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P