Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/05/09/2013-11060/east-bay-st-andrews-bay-and-the-gulf-of-mexico-at-tyndall-air-force-base-florida-restricted-areas
Timestamp: 2018-07-23 03:10:07
Document Index: 645452492

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 334', '§\u2009334', '§\u2009334', 'art 329', 'art 329', 'art 329', 'art 329', 'art 329', 'art 329']

Federal Register :: East Bay, St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; Restricted Areas
East Bay, St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida; Restricted Areas
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-11060 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2013-11060
The purpose of this regulatory action is to establish four new permanent restricted areas in the waters surrounding Tyndall AFB to counter postulated threats against their personnel and equipment at those sites. Additionally, this regulatory action would establish two additional restricted areas which would be activated under conditions of heighten security risks and provide an administrative correction to the existing regulation at 33 CFR 334.660.
The Corps authority to establish these restricted areas is Section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1917 (40 Stat 266; 33 U.S.C. 1) and Chapter XIX of the Army Appropriations Act of 1919 (40 Stat. 892; 33 U.S.C. 3).
Pursuant to its authorities in Section 7 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1917 (40 Stat 266; 33 U.S.C. 1) and Chapter XIX of the Army Appropriations Act of 1919 (40 Stat 892; 33 U.S.C. 3) the Corps is proposing to revise the regulations at 33 CFR part 334 by establishing a total of six new restricted areas in the waters surrounding Tyndall AFB. This amendment to the existing regulation will allow the Commander, Tyndall Start Printed Page 27127AFB to restrict the passage of persons, watercraft, and vessels in waters contiguous to this facility thereby providing greater security for personnel and equipment. The administrative correction at 33 CFR 334.660(b)(3) will clarify who is responsible for enforcing the provisions of § 334.660.
2. In § 334.660, revise paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows:
(3) The regulations in this section shall be enforced by the Installation Commander, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and such other agencies as he/she may designate.
East Bay, St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Restricted Areas, Tyndall Air Force Base, (AFB), Fla.
(a) The areas. (1) The coordinates provided herein are approximations obtained using a commercial mapping program which utilizes Simple Cylindrical projection with a WGS84 datum for its imagery base and imagery dated January 1, 2012.
(2) The areas described in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section will have restricted access on a permanent basis while the areas described in paragraphs (a)(4)(iii) and (iv) of this section will be activated when the need for heighten security measures is anticipated.
(3) Permanent Restricted Areas. (i) Military Point. The restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States as defined at 33 CFR part 329 within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the mean high water line at approximately 30°07′23.23″ N, 85°37′36.91″ W thence directly to 30°07′27.97″ N, 85°37′38.45″ W, the line then meanders irregularly following the shoreline at a distance of 500 feet waterward from the mean high water line to 30°07′17.91″ N, 85°37′04.04″ W thence proceeding directly to the mean high water line at approximately 30°07′19.02″ N, 85°37′09.60″ W. The area also includes all contiguous inland navigable waters which lie within the land boundaries of Tyndall AFB.
(ii) Fred Bayou/Fuels Area. The restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States as defined at 33 CFR part 329 within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the mean high water line at approximately 30°05′46.02″ N, 85°35′20.33″ W thence directly to 30°05′49.40″ N, 85°35′20.49″ W, the line then meanders irregularly following the shoreline at a distance of 500 feet waterward from the mean high water line to 30°05′42.05″ N, 85°34′20.40″ W thence proceeding directly to the mean high water line at approximately 30°05′37.14″ N, 85°34′21.20″ W. The area also includes all contiguous inland navigable waters which lie within the land boundaries of Tyndall AFB.
(iii) Little Cedar Bayou/Flight Line. The restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States as defined at 33 CFR part 329 within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the mean high water line at approximately 30°04′59.40″ N, 85°33′29.12″ W thence directly to 30°05′03.65″ N, 85°33′26.21″ W, the line then meanders irregularly following the shoreline at a distance of 500 feet waterward from the mean high water line to 30°05′00.63″ N, 85°33′23.58″ W thence continuing in a westerly direction maintaining a standoff distance of 500 feet from the mean high water line to 30°04′59.82″ N, 85°33′18.40″ W thence proceeding directly to the mean high water line at approximately 30°04′55.88″ N, 85°33′21.79″ W. The area also includes all contiguous inland navigable waters which lie within the land boundaries of Tyndall AFB.
(iv) Silverflag/Baker Bayou. The restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States as defined at 33 CFR part 329 within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the mean high water line at approximately 30°01′23.75″ N, 85°29′04.94″ W thence directly to 30°01′26.71″ N, 85°29′00.37″ W, the line then meanders irregularly following the shoreline at a distance of 500 feet waterward from the mean high water line to 30°01′23.95″ N, 85°29′00.09″ W thence continuing in a westerly direction maintaining a standoff distance of 500 feet from the mean high water line to 30°01′22.35″ N, 85°28′54.04″ W thence proceeding directly to the mean high water line at approximately 30°01′20.13″ N, 85°29′02.21″ W. The area also includes all contiguous inland navigable waters which lie within the land boundaries of Tyndall AFB.Start Printed Page 27128
(4) Enhanced Security Restricted Areas. (i) Portions of the restricted areas described in paragraphs (a)(4)(iii) and (iv) of this section include barrier islands. Because of the dynamic nature of these geographic features the coordinate points provided may not reflect the current situation regarding the location of a point at the mean high water line or 500 feet waterward of the mean high water line. Even if the landform has shifted, the intent of the area description will be enforced from the existing point at the mean high water line that is closest to that provided herein out to a point located 500 feet waterward of the mean high water line.
(ii) The regulations for the Enhanced Security Restricted Areas described in paragraphs (a)(4)(iii) and (iv) of this section will include the use of the term “Military Security Buffer.” For the purposes of this regulation a Military Security Buffer is considered to be a 500 foot wide buffer area surrounding any United States owned or operated vessel anchoring or mooring within the active Enhanced Security Restricted Area.
(iii) St. Andrew Bay and East Bay. Unless otherwise noted, the boundary for the area described herein is determined by a line paralleling the shoreline at a distance of 500 feet waterward of the mean high water line which connects the coordinate points provided. The restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States as defined at 33 CFR part 329 within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the mean high water line at approximately 30°05′30.53″ N, 85°40′39.00″ W thence directly to 30°05′35.44″ N, 85°40′39.64″ W, thence to 30°04′09.10″ N, 85°37′07.06″ W thence directly to 30°04′13.17″ N, 85°36′55.97″ W thence to 30°08′00.33″ N, 85°39′50.96″ W thence to 30°06′09.36″ N, 85°36′54.80″ W thence to 30°03′33.50″ N, 85°32′10.43″ W thence to 30°02′17.86″ N, 85°30′24.92″ W thence directly to 30°02′11.97″ N, 85°30′23.13″ W thence to 30°01′55.71″ N, 85°29′51.28″ W thence to 30°01′00.38″ N, 85°27′59.87″ W thence to 30°01′13.92″ N, 85°26′54.47″ W thence proceeding directly to the mean high water line at approximately 30°01′09.00″ N, 85°26′55.00″ W. The area also includes all contiguous inland navigable waters which lie within the land boundaries of Tyndall AFB.
(iv) Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Sound. Unless otherwise noted, the boundary for the area described herein is determined by a line paralleling the shoreline at a distance of 500 feet waterward of the mean high water line which connects the coordinate points provided. The restricted area shall encompass all navigable waters of the United States as defined at 33 CFR part 329 within the area bounded by a line connecting the following coordinates: Commencing from the mean high water line at approximately 29°57′13.00″ N, 85°26′42.00″ W thence directly to 29°57′08.00″ N, 85°26′42.00″ W, thence to 29°57′56.43″ N, 85°28′29.36″ W thence to 29°59′02.13″ N, 85°30′05.21″ W thence directly to 29°59′09.05″ N, 85°30′10.25″ W thence to 30°03′07.93″ N, 85°35′01.75″ W thence to 30°05′13.12″ N, 85°40′40.00″ W thence proceeding directly to the mean high water line at approximately 30°05′18.00″ N, 85°40′39.00″ W. The area also includes all contiguous inland navigable waters which lie within the land boundaries of Tyndall AFB.
(b) The regulations. (1) Permanent Restricted Areas. (i) For the areas identified in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section, all persons, vessels and craft, including pleasure vessels and crafts (sailing, motorized, and/or rowed/towed or otherwise self-propelled), private and commercial fishing vessels, other commercial vessels, barges and all other vessels and craft, except vessels owned, operated or contracted by the United States and/or a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, are restricted from transiting, anchoring, trawling, dredging, drifting or attaching any object to the submerged sea-bottom within the above described Permanent Restricted Areas.
(ii) The Permanent Restricted Areas identified in paragraphs (a)(3)(i) through (iv) of this section are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
(2) Enhanced Security Restricted Areas. (i) For the areas identified in paragraphs (a)(4)(iii) and (iv) of this section, a 500-foot Military Security Buffer is automatically placed around any vessel, owned or operated by the United States, which is anchored or moored within an active Enhanced Security Restricted Area. The Military Security Buffer will extend the Enhanced Security Restricted Area beyond the perimeter boundary limits described in paragraphs (a)(4)(iii) and (iv) of this section for as long as the Enhanced Security Restricted Area is active and the vessel is anchored or moored.
(ii) During times of heightened security threats against Tyndall AFB all persons, vessels and craft, including pleasure vessels and crafts (sailing, motorized, and/or rowed/towed or otherwise self-propelled), private and commercial fishing vessels, other commercial vessels, barges and all other vessels and craft, except vessels owned, operated or contracted by the United States and/or a Federal, State, or local law enforcement agency, are restricted from transiting, anchoring, trawling, dredging, drifting or attaching any object to the submerged sea-bottom within the above described Enhanced Security Restricted Areas or the 500-foot Military Security Buffer established around any United States owned or operated vessel when it is anchored or moored within the active Enhanced Security Restricted Area.
(iii) Due to the nature of these Enhanced Security Restricted Areas, closures may occur with little advance notice. Enhanced Security Restricted Areas will be activated based on local and national intelligence information related to threats against military installations and/or resources common to Tyndall AFB in concert with evaluations conducted by Tyndall AFB Threat Working Group and upon direction of the Installation Commander, Tyndall AFB. Public notification of Enhanced Security Restricted Area activation will be made via marine VHF broadcasts (channels 13 and 16), local notice to mariners, local news media through Air Force Public Affairs notifications and on-scene oral notifications.
(c) Enforcement. The regulations in this section shall be enforced by the Installation Commander, Tyndall AFB and/or such persons or agencies as he/she may designate. Military vessels may patrol the areas identified in paragraph (a) of this section at any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any person or vessel encroaching within the permanent restricted areas or active Enhanced Security Restricted Areas identified in paragraph (a) of this section will be asked to immediately leave the area. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a citation and/or the forceful removal of the person or vessel from the area in question.
[FR Doc. 2013-11060 Filed 5-8-13; 8:45 am]