Document ID: USCG-2022-0722-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Safety Zone; Sunset Point, San Juan Island, WA
Posted Date: 2022-09-16T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 179 (Friday, September 16, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56887-56889]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20057]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2022-0722]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Sunset Point, San Juan Island, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
navigable waters within a 1000-yard radius of Sunset Point on San Juan 
Island, WA. This rule supplement a safety zone expiring on September 
12, 2022. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and 
the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the 
emergency response efforts and the recovery of a sunken vessel. Entry 
of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Puget Sound.

DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from September 16, 
2022, through September 26, 2022, at 10 p.m. For the purposes of 
enforcement, actual notice will be used from September 12, 2022, at 10 
p.m., until September 16, 2022.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2022-0722 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, in the Document 
Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or

[[Page 56888]]

email Lieutenant Commander Samud I. Looney, Sector Puget Sound, 
Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 206-217-
6051, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    This is the third temporary rule the Coast Guard has published 
related to this sunken vessel. On August 18, 2022, the Coast Guard 
issued a temporary final rule establishing a temporary safety zone in 
effect through August 29, 2022 (87 FR 51909). On August 26, 2022, the 
Coast Guard issued a temporary final rule extending the safety zone to 
be in effect through September 12, 2022 (87 FR 54154). Due to the 
nature of the ongoing operations, additional time is needed to maintain 
safe navigation around response equipment and responders while 
additional damage assessments and salvage operations occur, and, as a 
result, the Coast Guard is establishing through temporary regulations a 
safety zone that will be in effect through September 26, 2022. 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 (NPRM) 
with respect to this rule because immediate action is needed to respond 
to the safety hazards associated with the response measures in product 
recovery of a sunken vessel. It is impracticable to publish an NPRM and 
hold a reasonable comment period for this rulemaking due to the 
emergent nature of the ongoing response and recovery operations.
    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 impracticable because immediate action is needed to 
respond to the safety hazards associated with the response and salvage 
operations.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C. 
70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231). The Captain of the Port Sector Puget 
Sound (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with the 
emergency response and recovery operations will be a safety concern for 
anyone within a 1000-yard radius of Sunset Point, San Juan Island, WA. 
This rule is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine 
environment in the navigable waters within the safety zone while the 
emergency response is ongoing and during the recovery of the sunken 
vessel.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a temporary safety zone that will be enforced 
from September 12, 2022, at 10 p.m., through September 26, 2022, at 10 
p.m. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters within 1,000-yard 
radius of Sunset Point, San Juan Island, WA. The duration of the zone 
is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment 
in these navigable waters while the emergency response of the sunken 
vessel are ongoing. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the 
safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated 
representative. The safety zone may be suspended early at the 
discretion of COTP Sector Puget Sound.

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 size, 
location, duration, and time-of-day of the safety zone. Vessel traffic 
will be able to safely transit around this safety zone which would 
impact a small designated area of Sunset Point on San Juan Island for a 
total of 14 days and operations may be suspended early at the 
discretion of the COTP Sector Puget Sound. Moreover, the Coast Guard 
will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 
about the zone.

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 
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 
call or email 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).

[[Page 56889]]

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 environment. This rule involves a 
safety zone lasting 14 days that will prohibit entry within 1000 yards 
of Sunset Point while vessels, equipment, and personnel are being used 
in the emergency response and removal of a sunken vessel. It is 
categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60[d] of 
Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A 
Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is 
available in the docket. For instructions on locating the docket, see 
the ADDRESSES section of this preamble.

G. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to call or email 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. 
00170.1, Revision No. 01.2.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T13-0722 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T13-0722  Safety Zone; Sunset Point, San Juan Island, WA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zones: all navigable 
waters within a 1,000 yard radius of the sunken vessel located at 
48[deg]33'16.1'' N, 123[deg]10'28.9'' W off of Sunset Point, San Juan 
Island, WA. These coordinates are based 1984 World Geodetic System (WGS 
84).
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section, a designated 
representative means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast 
Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard 
vessel and a Federal, State, and local officer designated by or 
assisting the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Puget Sound 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) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's 
representative by VHF Channel 16. Those in the safety zone must comply 
with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or the 
COTP's designated representative.
    (d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 
September 12, 2022, at 10 p.m. through September 26, 2022, at 10 p.m. 
unless an earlier end is announced by Broadcast Notice to Mariners on 
VHF-FM marine channel 16.

    Dated: September 12, 2022.
P.M. Hilbert,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Puget Sound.
[FR Doc. 2022-20057 Filed 9-15-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P