Document ID: USCG-2010-0929-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: NPRM:  Anchorage Regulations: Newport Bay Harbor, CA (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2011-12-16T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 242 (Friday, December 16, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78185-78188]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-32253]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[Docket No. USCG-2010-0929]
RIN 1625-AA01

Anchorage Regulations: Subpart A--Special Anchorage Regulations, 
Newport Bay Harbor, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to expand the boundaries of the 
special anchorage areas in Newport Bay Harbor, California, to encompass 
and replace temporary anchorage grounds C-1 and C-2, and anchorage 
ground C-3. This proposal would realign anchorage boundaries in order 
to reflect the way the harbor currently is used. This proposed rule 
also would update the description of the existing special anchorage 
areas to use geographic coordinates.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before March 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2010-0929 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 ENS Matt Sanders, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los 
Angeles--Long Beach, Assistant Waterways Chief, telephone (310) 521-
3860, email Stephen.M.Sanders@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-2010-0929), 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 (via 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 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, 
click on the ``submit a comment'' box, which will then become 
highlighted in blue. In the ``Document Type'' drop down menu select 
``Proposed Rule'' and insert ``USCG-2010-0929'' 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 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.

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-2010-0929'' 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. We have an 
agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket 
Management Facility.

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 using one of the four 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.

Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for the proposed rule is 33 U.S.C. 471, 1221 
through 1236, 2030, 2035, and 2071; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, which collectively authorize 
the Coast Guard to define anchorage grounds.
    This proposed rule would expand the designated special anchorage 
areas in Newport Bay Harbor, and remove other anchorage grounds, to 
align with the actual placement of existing mooring areas and reflect 
the way the harbor is currently used.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    Due to enhanced anchorage population over the years, the mooring 
areas being used in Newport Bay Harbor are nominally larger than the 
special anchorage areas originally charted in 33

[[Page 78186]]

CFR 110.95. As moorings were added or overhauled, the new moorings 
would fall outside the existing boundaries, resulting in moorings lying 
outside the charted areas. Similarly, the anchorage grounds designated 
in 33 CFR 110.212 were originally used as temporary overflow 
anchorages, but are now used regularly. Harbor users have been 
accustomed to this placement for the last 10 years.
    The Mooring Master Plan Subcommittee of the City of Newport Harbor 
Commission led an outreach campaign involving a series of public 
meetings about aligning the anchorage regulations with actual harbor 
use patterns, and we understand that the subcommittee did not receive 
any opposition from the waterway users. After these public meetings, 
the City of Newport asked the Coast Guard to amend its anchorage 
regulations.
    The Coast Guard proposes to realign the boundaries in order to 
reflect the way the harbor currently is used. The proposed rule would 
remove Sec.  110.212 and the three anchorage grounds found therein 
(anchorages C-1, C-2, C-3). The area covered by those anchorages would 
be incorporated into the special anchorage area regulations at Sec.  
110.95. Anchorage C-1 would be incorporated into area B-1 under revised 
Sec.  110.95(m), and anchorages C-2 and C-3 would be incorporated into 
area A-11 under revised Sec.  110.95(k). An image of the proposed 
anchorage areas is available in the docket.
    The enlargement of the special anchorage areas does not pose any 
waterway or navigational hazard, or restrict harbor use in any way. The 
Army Corps of Engineers has been consulted and did not have any 
opposition. We anticipate that this proposed rule would have no impact 
on fishing or boating because the proposed amendment would adjust the 
lines to fit the current layout of moorings in Newport Harbor. Small 
craft are not restricted in the harbor.
    Berthing and anchoring in Newport Harbor also is regulated by 
Orange County ordinance and the City of Newport's municipal code. The 
enlargement of the special anchorages does not impact these laws; for 
the convenience of the reader we have included a note in the proposed 
rule referencing local municipal codes. This note consolidates the 
multiple notes currently in the section. Finally, this proposed rule 
would update the other provisions of Sec.  110.95 to designate 
anchorage areas using geographic coordinates rather than channel lights 
and other points in the harbor.

Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on 13 of 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, and does not require an 
assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of 
that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it 
under that Order. The Coast Guard proposes to realign anchorage 
boundaries in order to reflect the way the harbor currently is used. 
The enlargement of the anchorages does not restrict harbor use in any 
way.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered whether this proposed rule would have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. 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. This proposed rule would affect the following 
entities, some of which might be small entities: The owners or 
operators of commercial and recreational vessels intending to transit 
or anchor in the affected area. The impact to these entities will not, 
however, be significant since this area will encompass only a small 
portion of the waterway and vessels can safely navigate around the 
anchored vessels.
    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.

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 State or local 
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial 
direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this proposed rule 
under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications 
for federalism.

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 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.

[[Page 78187]]

Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13211, 
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a ``significant 
energy action'' under that order because it is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy. The Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy 
action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects 
under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards 
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, 
through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why 
using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or 
operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management 
systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies.
    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 guide 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 that do not individually or cumulatively have a 
significant effect on the human environment. This proposed rule 
involves changing the size of special anchorage areas. 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 110

    Anchorage grounds.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 110 as follows:

PART 110--ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 471, 1221 through 1236, 2030, 2035, 2071; 
33 CFR 1.05-1(g); Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

    2. Revise Sec.  110.95 to read as follows:

Sec.  110.95  Newport Bay Harbor, Calif.

    (a) Area A-1. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'09.3'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'52.6'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'11.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'51.2'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'04.0'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'33.4'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'03.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'20.4'' W.; thence to 
33[deg]36'01.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'09.9'' W.; thence to 
33[deg]36'01.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'32.7'' W.; thence to 
33[deg]36'03.9 N., longitude 117[deg]53'41.9'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'09.3'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'52.6'' W.
    (b) Area A-2. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'12.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'44.2'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'14.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'44.3'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'14.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'20.6'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'10.8'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'20.5 W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'12.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'29.9'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'12.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'35.4'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'12.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'37.0'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'12.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'44.2'' W.
    (c) Area A-3. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'22.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'12.6'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'24.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'12.6'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'26.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'11.3'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'18.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'00.5'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'16.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'02.9'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'22.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'12.6'' W.
    (d) Area A-4. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'32.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'56.6'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'33.6'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'56.6'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'33.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'26.2'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'32.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'26.2 W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'32.6'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'33.8'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'32.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'36.7'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'31.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'40.9'' W.; thence to 
33[deg]36'31.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'46.3'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'32.6'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'50.9'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'32.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'56.6'' W.
    (e) Area A-5. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'29.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'55.3'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'27.8'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'55.8'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'24.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'41.8'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'26.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'40.8'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'26.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'46.3'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'29.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'55.3'' W.
    (f) Area A-6. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'43.3'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'26.4'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'51.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'22.8'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'51.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'21.5'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'42.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'25.2'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'43.3'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'26.4'' W.
    (g) Area A-7. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'32.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'12.5'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'37.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'11.0'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'35.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'01.3'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'30.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'02.6'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'31.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'06.7'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'32.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'12.5'' W.
    (h) Area A-8. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'34.2'' N.; longitude 117[deg]55'27.3'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'36.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'26.7'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'39.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'20.9'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'38.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'15.4'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'37.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'11.7'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'32.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'13.3'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'34.2'' N.; longitude 117[deg]55'27.3'' W.
    (i) Area A-9. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'53.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'28.2'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'54.0'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'27.0'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'43.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'20.4'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'42.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'21.6'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'53.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]55'28.2'' W.
    (j) Area A-10. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'07.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'19.2'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'14.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'19.4'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'14.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'06.9'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'08.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'04.9'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'06.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'08.9 '' W.; thence to 
latitude

[[Page 78188]]

33[deg]36'06.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'16.3'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'07.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'19.2'' W.
    (k) Area A-11. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'04.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'01.9'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'06.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'00.5'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'06.2'' N., longitude 117[deg]52'59.0'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]35'59.4'' N., longitude 117[deg]52'51.1'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]35'57.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]52'50.9'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'01.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]52'57.3'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'03.0'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'00.4'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'04.7'' N., longitude 117[deg]53'01.9'' W.
    (l) Area A-12. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'27.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'40.4'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'23.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'41.8'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'20.8'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'29.9'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'28.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'20.2'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'27.9'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'40.4'' W.
    (m) Area B-1. The entire water area within beginning at latitude 
33[deg]36'35.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'28.8'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'32.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'22.1'' W.; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'30.6'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'22.8'' W; thence to latitude 
33[deg]36'30.5'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'30.9'' W.; returning to 
latitude 33[deg]36'35.1'' N., longitude 117[deg]54'28.8'' W.

    Note:  These anchorage areas are reserved for recreational and 
other small craft. Local law, including the City of Newport Beach 
Municipal Code 17.25.020, may provide for fore and aft moorings for 
recreational and small craft of such size and alignment as permitted 
by the harbor master.

Sec.  110.212  [Removed and Reserved]

    3. Remove and reserve Sec.  110.212.

    Dated: December 2, 2011.
J.R. Castillo,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, District Eleven Commander.
[FR Doc. 2011-32253 Filed 12-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P