Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Mare Island Strait, Napa River, Vallejo, CA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation governing the operation of the Mare Island Drawbridge, spanning the Napa River between the City of Vallejo and Mare Island, CA, by eliminating the rush hour closure periods when the drawspan need not open for vessels, and by increasing the hours when vessels provide advance notice for drawspan operation. The action is to reduce bridge operating costs without reducing the ability of vessels to transit the drawbridge, thereby continuing to meet the reasonable needs of waterway traffic.

DATES:

This rule is effective May 24, 2004.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket CGD11-03-006 and are available for inspection or copying at Commander (oan), Eleventh Coast Guard District, Bridge Section, Building 50-3, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA 94501-5100 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The Bridge Section, Eleventh Coast Guard District, maintains the public docket for this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David H. Sulouff, Chief, Bridge Section, Eleventh Coast Guard District, telephone (510) 437-3516.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

On November 25, 2003, the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), entitled Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Mare Island Strait, Napa River, Vallejo, CA, was published in the Federal Register. We received one letter and one telephone call commenting on the proposed rule. No public meeting was requested, and none was held.

Background and Purpose

To reduce drawbridge operating costs, The City of Vallejo requested an increase in rush hour closure periods. However, reduced traffic, following Navy closure of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in the 1990's, no longer justifies rush hour closure periods. The City of Vallejo also requested an increase in hours when vessels provide advance notice for drawspan operation. Drawbridge operation logs justify the increased advance notice hours, as these hours coincide with periods when vessels have not historically requested an opening. The changes made by this rule are expected to reduce bridge operating costs while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of waterway traffic.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

The single letter received during the comment period indicated misinterpretation of the word “normal,” when referring to operational periods of the drawspan. The expressed concern was the possibility for navigational delays to slower vessels, enroute between the Napa River and Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta destinations, eight to ten hours away. The desire was not to have to wait until 9 a.m. for a bridge opening, so as not to make an already long trip longer, and necessitate completing the voyage during hours of darkness. The use of the word normal, concerning drawbridge operating times, has been removed from the regulation.

Since the two-hour advance notice requirement presently does not affect vessel transit times, no change is expected to result from the adjusted advance notice times. The two-hour advance notice request period does not preclude the ability of the drawbridge to open promptly and fully for the passage of vessels when they arrive at the drawbridge for a pre-arranged opening, and no delays in arrival at a destination should result from the rulemaking.

The telephone conversation with the City of Vallejo provided a 24-hour telephone number for communicating bridge opening requirements to the bridge. The city preferred to not direct mariners to contact the Police Department Dispatcher, due to possible conflicts with established dispatcher duties, and the reference has been removed from the regulation. During the time when a drawbridge operator is present, the phone rings at the bridge. During advance notice periods, the phone rings at the appropriate City of Vallejo office to arrange for drawspan operation. The regulatory text has been amended to include the 24-hour telephone number provided by the City of Vallejo.

Since all drawbridges are subject to emergency operation in compliance with 33 CFR 117.31, including public vessels of the United States, the individual emergency operation text has been removed from the regulation.

The City of Vallejo requested consideration for future review of rush hour closure periods at this drawbridge. Nothing in this rule prevents future review of drawbridge operating regulations at this drawbridge.

There are no drawbridges under Coast Guard jurisdiction on the tributaries to Napa River and Mare Island Strait. Therefore, the reference to “tributaries” has been removed from the regulation.

The Mare Island Drawbridge is no longer owned or operated by the U.S. Navy, and the drawbridge structure does not meet the definition of a “causeway.” Therefore, references to the U.S. Navy and Mare Island Causeway have been removed from the regulation.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order. It is not “significant” under the regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The rulemaking will not result in significant negative impacts to the waterway users, while reducing drawbridge operating costs for the City of Vallejo.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 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.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offered to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they could better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.

Collection of Information

This rule calls for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.

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 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.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will not affect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and would not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

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.

Energy Effects

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a “significant energy action” under that order because it is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Environment

We have analyzed this rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)(42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded that there are no factors in this case that would limit the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the Instruction. Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e) of the Instruction, from further environmental documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 117

• Bridges

Regulations

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 117 as follows:

PART 117—DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 499; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g); section 117.255 also issued under the authority of Pub. L. 102-587, 106 Stat. 5039.

2. In § 117.169a revise the section heading and paragraph to read as follows: