Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2010/01/06/E9-31350/safety-zone-and-regulated-navigation-area-chicago-sanitary-and-ship-canal-romeoville-il
Timestamp: 2017-09-25 11:00:14
Document Index: 252732440

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u2009165', '§\u2009165', '§\u2009165', '§\u2009165', '§\u2009165', '§\u2009165']

754-759 (6 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-31350 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-31350
Start Preamble Start Printed Page 754
Effective Date: In this rule, § 165.T09-1004 is removed, effective January 6, 2010. Section 165.923 is suspended, and a new temporary section, § 165.T09-1080, is added in the CFR effective January 6, 2010 until 5 p.m. on December 1, 2010. This rule is effective with actual notice for purposes of enforcement beginning at 5 p.m. on December 18, 2009.
Comment Date: Comments and related material must reach the Docket Management Facility on or before February 5, 2010.
To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the screen, insert “USCG-2009-1080” in the Docket ID box, press Enter, and then click on the balloon shape in the Actions column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit them by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period and may change this rule based on your comments.
To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the screen, insert USCG-2009-1080 in the Docket ID box, press Enter, and then click on the item in the Docket ID column. You may also visit either the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.
We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a request for one on or before January 29, 2009 using one of the four methods specified under ADDRESSES. Please explain why you believe a public meeting would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.
The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary interim 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.” For the reasons discussed below, 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 based upon data which indicates that Asian carp are much closer to the Great Lakes waterway system than originally thought. The possibility exists that vessels will transport Asian carp eggs, gametes or juvenile fish safely through the electrical dispersal barrier in water attained south of the fish barrier that is then transported and discharged on the other side of the barrier. The Asian carp are the subject of an ongoing multi-agency study aimed at preventing their introduction into the great lakes. The proposed temporary safety zone and RNA will allow that multi-agency effort to progress towards its goal of protecting people, vessels, and the environment from the hazards associated with the Start Printed Page 755possible introduction of invasive species such as Asian carp into the Great Lakes.
A comprehensive, independent analysis of Barrier IIA, conducted in 2008 by the USACE at the one-volt per inch level, found a serious risk of injury or death to persons immersed in the water located adjacent to and over the barrier. Additionally, sparking between barges transiting the barrier (a risk to flammable cargoes) occurred at the one-volt per inch level. The Coast Guard and USACE developed regulations and safety guidelines, with stakeholder input, which addressed the risks and hazards associated with operating the barriers at the one-volt per inch level. These regulations were published in 33 CFR § 165.923, 70 FR 76692 (Dec 28, 2005) and in a series of temporary final rules published in the Federal Register: 71 FR 4488 (Jan 27, 2006); 71 FR 19648 (Apr 17, 2006); 73 FR 33337 (Jun 12, 2008); 73 FR 37810 (Jul 2, 2008); 73 FR 45875 (Aug 7, 2008); and 73 FR 63633 (Oct 27, 2008).
However, both of these rulemakings reflected the prior operating parameters of the dispersal barriers and contemplated further testing of the effects of higher voltages on commercial and recreational vessels as well as people. The USACE began safety testing in consultation with the U.S. Coast Guard on August 17, 2009, to test various configurations of commercial tugs and barges as well as recreational vessels with non-conductive hulls passing through the barriers at increased voltage and operating parameters. Because the USACE decided that the voltage and operating parameters had to be immediately increased prior to the completion of safety testing, the USCG determined that temporary closure of the canal to all vessels through a safety zone was necessary until the risks were better understood. This resulted in successive temporary final rules that suspended the prior temporary interim rule. These temporary final rules enacting safety zones were published in the Federal Register on August 26, 2009 (74 FR 43055), September 2, 2009 (74 FR 45318), September 29, 2009 (74 FR 49815), and November 13, 2009 (74 FR 58545).
A demonstration dispersal barrier (Barrier I) was constructed and has been in operation since April 2002. It is located approximately 30 miles from Lake Michigan and creates an electric field in the water by pulsing low voltage DC current through steel cables secured to the bottom of the canal. A second barrier, Barrier IIA, was constructed 800 to 1300 feet downstream of the Barrier I. The potential field strength for Barrier IIA is up to four times that of the Barrier I. Barrier IIA was successfully operated for the first time for approximately Start Printed Page 756seven weeks in September and October 2009, while Barrier I was taken down for maintenance. Construction on a third barrier (Barrier IIB) is planned; Barrier IIB would augment the capabilities of Barriers I and IIA.
This temporary final rule places additional restrictions on all vessels transiting a safety zone that encompasses a smaller portion of the CSSC. The safety zone consists of all the waters of the CSSC located between 270 feet south of the Romeo Road Bridge (mile marker 296.1) to the south side of the aerial pipeline (mile marker 296.7). Vessels are prohibited from transiting the safety zone with non-potable water on board in any space except for water on board that will not be discharged on the other side of the safety zone. Vessels must notify and obtain permission from the Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan prior to transiting the safety zone if they intend to discharge any non-potable water attained on one-side of the safety zone on the other side of the zone. This includes water in void spaces being unintentionally introduced through cracks or other damage to the hull. The Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan maintains a telephone Start Printed Page 757line that is manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The public can obtain information concerning information about the RNA and safety zone by contacting the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan via the Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan Command Center at 414-747-7182.
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offer to assist small entities in Start Printed Page 758understanding the rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.
2. Remove § 165.T09-1004.
3. Suspend § 165.923 from January 6, 2010 until 5 p.m. on December 1, 2010.
4. Add new temporary § 165.T09-1080 as follows:
(b) Regulated Navigation Area. (1) The following is a regulated navigation area (RNA): All waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Romeoville, IL located between mile marker 295.0 (approximately 1.1 miles south of the Romeo Road Bridge) and mile marker 297.5 (approximately 1.3 miles northeast of the Romeo Road Bridge).
(d) Enforcement Period. The regulated navigation area and safety zone will be enforced from 5 p.m. on December 18, 2009, until 5 p.m. on December 1, 2010. This regulated navigation area and safety zone are enforceable with actual notice by Coast Guard personnel beginning December 18, 2009, until January 6, 2010.
[FR Doc. E9-31350 Filed 1-5-10; 8:45 am]