Document ID: USCG-2020-0612-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Safety Zone: Environmental Response, Breton Sound, LA
Posted Date: 2020-10-22T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 205 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67280-67282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22262]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0612]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Environmental Response, Breton Sound, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
the navigable waters of Breton Sound,

[[Page 67281]]

LA. The safety zone encompasses all navigable waters within a 100-yard 
radius of environmental response activity taking place at 29 27.000N, 
089 17.682W while response operations are being conducted. The safety 
zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine 
environment from potential hazards created by response operations to 
repair a damaged platform. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone 
is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port 
New Orleans.

DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from October 22, 
2020 through November 2, 2020. For the purposes of enforcement, actual 
notice will be used from October 2, 2020 until October 22, 2020.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2020-0612 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 Lieutenant Commander Corinne Plummer, Sector New Orleans, 
U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 504-365-2246, email 
Corinne.M.Plummer@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
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

    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 it is impracticable. It is 
impracticable to publish an NPRM because we must establish this safety 
zone by October 2, 2020 and lack sufficient time to provide a 
reasonable comment period and then consider those comments before 
issuing the rule.
    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 needed to respond to the potential safety hazards associated with 
the environmental response activity.

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 New Orleans 
(COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with 
environmental response operations, consisting of securing and repairs 
to a damaged platform, will be of a safety concern for anyone within a 
100-yard radius of the platform, located at approximately 29 27.000N, 
089 17.682W. This rule is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and 
the marine environment in the navigable waters within the safety zone 
while platform repairs are being carried out.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone on October 2, 2020 until 
approximately November 2, 2020 or until repairs are complete. The 
safety zone will encompass all navigable waters within 100-yards radius 
of the platform located at approximately 29 27.000N, 089 17.682W. The 
duration of the zone is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the 
marine environment in these navigable waters while the platform is 
being repaired. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the 
safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated 
representative. 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) 
365-2200. 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. 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.

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. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. 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), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size and 
duration of the temporary safety zone. This safety zone will restrict 
vessel traffic from entering or remaining within a 100-yard radial 
section of Breton Sound for approximately one month while an 
environmental response activity, repairs to a damaged platform, occurs. 
Moreover, the Coast Guard will issue a BNMs via VHF-FM marine channel 
16 about the zone, and the rule allows vessels to seek permission to 
enter 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

[[Page 67282]]

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).

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 approximately one month in duration that will 
prohibit entry within 100-yard radius of the platform located at 
approximately 29 27.000N, 089 17.682W. It is categorically excluded 
from further review under paragraph L[60a] 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. 0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T08-0612 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T08-0612  Safety Zone; Environmental Response, Breton Sound, 
LA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters within a 100-yard radius of 29 27.000N, 089 17.682W in Breton 
Sound, LA.
    (b) Effective period. This section is effective without actual 
notice from October 22, 2020 until November 2, 2020. For the purposes 
of enforcement, actual notice will be used from October 2, 2020 until 
October 22, 2020.
    (c) Enforcement periods. This section will be enforced from October 
2, 2020 until approximately November 2, 2020.
    (d) 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.
    (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) 365-2200.
    (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.
    (e) 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: October 1, 2020.
W.E. Watson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans.
[FR Doc. 2020-22262 Filed 10-21-20; 8:45 am]
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