Document ID: USCG-2019-0243-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River; New Orleans, LA
Posted Date: 2019-04-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 76 (Friday, April 19, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16419-16420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07976]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2019-0243]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River; New Orleans, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety 
zone between mile marker (MM) 99.5 and MM 100.5 Above Head of Passes, 
Lower Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA. This action is necessary to 
provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near New 
Orleans, LA, during a fireworks display on June 20, 2019. This proposed 
rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety 
zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New Orleans or a 
designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed 
rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before May 20, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0243 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant Commander Benjamin 
Morgan, Sector New Orleans, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 504-365-2281, 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

AHP Above Head of Passes
COTP Captain of the Port New Orleans
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
MM Mile marker
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On April 11, 2019, MIP Inc. notified the Coast Guard that they will 
be conducting a fireworks display at 9:45 on June 20, 2019. The 
fireworks are to be launched from a barge at approximately MM 100 Above 
Head of Passes, Lower Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA. Hazards from 
firework displays include accidental discharge of fireworks, dangerous 
projectiles, and falling hot embers or other debris. The Captain of the 
Port New Orleans (COTP) has determined that potential hazards 
associated with the fireworks to be used in this display would be a 
safety concern for anyone within a half mile upbound and downbound of 
the barge.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and the navigable waters within a mile span of the river before, 
during, and after the scheduled event. The Coast Guard is proposing 
this rulemaking under authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034 (previously 33 
U.S.C. 1231).]

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP is proposing to establish a safety zone from 9:30 to 10:30 
p.m. on June 20, 2019. The safety zone would cover all navigable waters 
between mile marker (MM) 99.5 and 100.5 Above Head of Passes, Lower 
Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA. The duration of the zone is 
intended to ensure the safety of vessels and these navigable waters 
before, during, and after the scheduled 9:45 p.m. fireworks display. No 
vessel or person would be permitted to enter the safety zone without 
obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative. The 
regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end of this document.

IV. 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 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. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This NPRM has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the location, 
time, and duration of the safety zone. The safety zone will be enforced 
for one hour on one day on a one mile span of the Lower Mississippi 
River.

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 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section 
IV.A above, this proposed rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on any vessel owner or operator.
    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.
    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 
section. 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.

C. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would not call for a new collection of 
information under

[[Page 16420]]

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 proposed 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 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. If 
you believe this proposed rule has implications for federalism or 
Indian tribes, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section.

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

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, which 
guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (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 a safety zone lasting one hour 
on a one mile span of the Lower Mississippi River. Normally such 
actions are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
L 60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, 
Rev. 01. A preliminary Record of Environmental Consideration supporting 
this determination is 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.

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.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. 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.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket, 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard is 
proposing 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: 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.T08-0243 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T08-0243  Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River, New Orleans, 
LA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters between mile marker (MM) 99.5 and 100.5 Above Head of Passes 
(AHP), Lower Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA.
    (b) Effective period. This section is effective from 9:30 p.m. on 
June 20, 2019 through 10:30 p.m. on June 20, 2019.
    (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in 
Sec.  165.23, entry into or remaining within this zone is prohibited 
unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans (COTP) 
or designated representative. A designated representative is a 
commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard 
assigned to units under the operational control of USCG Sector New 
Orleans.
    (2) Vessels requiring entry into this safety zone must request 
permission from the COTP or a designated representative. They may be 
contacted on VHF-FM Channel 16 or 67 or by telephone at (504) 365-2544.
    (3) Persons and vessels permitted to enter this safety zone must 
transit at their slowest safe speed and comply with all lawful 
directions issued by the COTP or the designated representative.
    (d) Information broadcasts. The COTP or a designated representative 
will inform the public of the enforcement times and date for this 
safety zone through Broadcast Notices to Mariners (BNMs), Local Notices 
to Mariners (LNMs), and/or Marine Safety Information Bulletins (MSIBs) 
as appropriate.

    Dated: April 16, 2019.
K.M. Luttrell,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans.
[FR Doc. 2019-07976 Filed 4-18-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P