Safety Zones; Houston Ship Channel and Morgan's Point, TX

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

COTP Captain of the Port

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

DHS Department of Homeland Security

FR Federal Register

NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

§ Section

U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary rule under authority in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). This statutory 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.” 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. Prompt action is needed to respond to potential safety hazards associated with the transfer of this equipment. It is impracticable to publish an NPRM because we must establish these safety zones by October 29, 2024.

Also, 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 prompt action is needed to respond to the potential safety hazards associated with the transfer of gantry cranes scheduled to begin on October 29, 2024.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034. The Captain of the Port Sector Houston-Galveston (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with the transfer of gantry cranes starting October 29, 2024, will be a safety concern for anyone within a 100-yard radius of the M/V PIETERSGRACHT while in transit and within a 25-yard radius of the M/V PIETERSGRACHT while moored. This rule is needed to protect persons, property, and the marine environment within the navigable waters of the safety zones while the M/V PIETERSGRACHT transits to and unloads gantry cranes in Morgan's Point, Texas.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

This rule establishes two temporary safety zones from 1 a.m. on October 29, 2024, through 5 p.m. on November 15, 2024. The temporary safety zones include a moving safety zone, covering all navigable waters within a 100-yard radius of the M/V PIETERSGRACHT, a general cargo ship, while underway and a fixed safety zone covering all navigable waters within a 25-yard radius of the M/V PIETERSGRACHT while moored. The duration of these zones is intended to ensure the safety of the public, vessels and the navigable waters in the specified areas during the transit of the gantry cranes in the Houston Ship Channel and while the vessel is moored and unloading. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zones without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative.

Moving Safety Zone: This area includes all waters within a 100-yard radius of the M/V PIETERSGRACHT as the vessel transits from the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Galveston and through the Houston Ship Channel. The approximate start position is 29°19′01.21″ N, 094°38′38.1″ W, located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Galveston, Texas.

Fixed Safety Zone: This area includes all waters within a 25-yard radius of the M/V PIETERSGRACHT once the M/V PIETERSGRACHT is moored at Barbours Cut Terminal in Morgan's Point, Texas, at coordinates 29°41′03″ N, 094°59′40″ W.

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 the 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 section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as amended by Executive Order 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review). Accordingly, the Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed this rule.

This regulatory action determination is based on the safety zones' size, location, duration, and time-of-day. The safety zones will be subject to enforcement the entire duration of the effective period to facilitate the safe transfer of gantry cranes in the Houston Ship Channel. Although the rule prohibits persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area without authorization from the COTP or a designated representative, persons and vessels may be present in the surrounding areas during the enforcement period. The Coast Guard will provide advance notification of the safety zones to the local maritime community by Local Notice to Mariners or Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and the rule will allow persons and vessels to seek permission to enter the zones.

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 businesses. 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 principles of federalism 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 Polic1y 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 safety zones that will prohibit persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zones around the M/V PIETERSGRACHT while underway and moored in the Houston Ship Channel. It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60(a) 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.

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

2. Add § 165.T08-0957 to read as follows:

[FR Doc. 2024-24757 Filed 10-24-24; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9110-04-P