Document ID: USCG-2021-0057-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Emergency Safety Zone; Richmond Entrance Channel, Richmond, CA
Posted Date: 2021-02-16T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 16, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9460-9462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03101]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2021-0057]
RIN 1625-AA00

Emergency Safety Zone; Richmond Entrance Channel, Richmond, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the 
navigable waters of the Richmond Entrance Channel off of Richmond, CA 
in support of the safe navigation of vessels and environmental response 
efforts to address the hydrocarbon release from the Richmond Long Wharf 
on February 09, 2021. Based on this information, this safety zone is 
necessary to protect life, vessels, and the maritime environment. 
Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, 
transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission 
from the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a Captain of the Port San 
Francisco designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice on February 16, 
2021. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from 
12:01 a.m. February 10, 2021 until February 16, 2021.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2021-0057 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 Chief Warrant Officer Mickey Price, Waterways Management, 
U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (415) 399-7442, email SFWaterways@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port San Francisco
DHS Department of Homeland Security
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 with 
respect to this rule because it is impracticable. The Coast Guard 
received notice of the hydrocarbon release into the waterway and the 
resulting need for this safety zone on February 9, 2021. It is 
impracticable to go through the full rulemaking process, including 
providing a reasonable comment period and considering those comments, 
because the Coast Guard must establish this emergency temporary safety 
zone by February 10, 2021.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause 
exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register. Delaying the effective date of 
this rule would be contrary to public interest because immediate action 
is

[[Page 9461]]

needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the maritime environment from 
potential hazards near the Richmond Long Wharf.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority 46 U.S.C. 
70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231). The Captain of the Port San 
Francisco has determined that potential hazards associated with the 
hydrocarbon release exist near the Richmond Long Wharf. This rule is 
needed because environmental response operations create a significant 
hazard to any vessels transiting the safety zone area. The 
environmental response operations may be complex in nature and involve 
multiple vessels. These operations, when conducted in close proximity 
to transiting vessels, create unpredictable hazards, making it 
necessary to restrict vessel traffic within the impacted area until 
environmental response operations are completed.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a temporary safety zone in navigable waters 
250 yards around the Richmond Long Wharf, Richmond, CA as announced in 
a mariner information broadcast from February 10, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. 
through February 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. The effect of the temporary 
safety zone will be to restrict vessel navigation in this area until 
the Coast Guard determines that the hazards associated with the 
hydrocarbon release and response efforts are no longer present. Except 
for persons or vessels authorized by the Captain of the Port or a 
designated representative, no vessel may enter or remain in the 
restricted area. A ``designated representative'' means a Coast Guard 
Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or 
other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel or a Federal, State, or 
local officer designated by or assisting the COTP in the enforcement of 
the safety zone.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive orders 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. This rule has not been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this 
rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the limited 
duration and narrowly tailored geographic area of the safety zone. 
Although this rule restricts access to the water encompassed by the 
safety zone, the effect of this rule will not be significant because 
the local waterway users will be notified to ensure the safety zone 
will result in minimum impact. The vessels desiring to transit through 
or around the temporary safety zone may do so upon express permission 
from the COTP or the COTP's designated representative.

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 
temporary 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.

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 an 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 
Directive 023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing instructions, and 
Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 (series), 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

[[Page 9462]]

environment. This rule involves a safety zone established to deal with 
an emergency situation, lasting less than one week, that will prohibit 
vessel traffic near the hydrocarbon response efforts in the vicinity of 
the Richmond Long Wharf. It is categorically excluded from further 
review under paragraph L60(c) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction 
Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1.

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

    Harbors, 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:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

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

    Authority:  46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051; 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.T11-048 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T11-048   Emergency Safety Zone; Richmond Entrance Channel, 
Richmond, CA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters 250 yards around the Richmond Long Wharf, Richmond, CA.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section, ``designated 
representative'' means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a 
Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast 
Guard vessel or a Federal, State, or local officer designated by or 
assisting the Captain of the Port San Francisco (COTP) in the 
enforcement of the safety zone.
    (c) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in 
subpart C of this part, you may not enter the safety zone described in 
paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the 
COTP's designated representative.
    (2) The safety zone is closed to all vessel traffic, except as may 
be permitted by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative.
    (3) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the safety 
zone must contact the COTP or the COTP's designated representative to 
obtain permission to do so. Vessel operators given permission to enter 
or operate in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or 
directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative. Persons and vessels may request permission to enter the 
safety zone on VHF-23A or through the 24-hour Command Center at 
telephone (415) 399-3547.
    (d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from February 
10, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. until Febuary 16, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. or as 
announced via marine information broadcast.
    (e) Information broadcasts. The COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative will notify the maritime community of periods during 
which this zone will be enforced in accordance with 33 CFR 165.7.

    Dated: February 9, 2021.
Marie B. Byrd,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, San Francisco.
[FR Doc. 2021-03101 Filed 2-11-21; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P