
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 28, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15290-15291]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06109]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 117

[Docket No. USCG-2017-0070]
RIN 1625-AA09


Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Elizabeth River, Elizabeth, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation 
regulations for five bridges across the Elizabeth River. These bridges 
were either removed in their entirety or replaced with a fixed bridge, 
making the operating regulations no longer necessary.

DATES: This rule is effective March 28, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2017-0070 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Mr. Jeffrey Stieb, Project Officer, First Coast Guard 
District Bridge Program, telephone 617-223-8364, email 
Jeffrey.D.Stieb@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
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 final 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), the Coast Guard finds that good 
cause exists for not publishing an NPRM with respect to this rule 
because the New Jersey Transit Rail Operations railroad bridge, mile 
0.7, the Baltic Street bridge, mile 0.9, the Summer Street bridge, mile 
1.3, the South Street bridge, mile 1.8, and the Bridge Street bridge, 
mile 2.1 at the Elizabeth River that once required draw operations in 
33 CFR 117.718(b), have been removed in their entirety or converted to 
a fixed bridge. Therefore, the regulation is no longer necessary or 
applicable and shall be removed from publication. It is unnecessary to 
publish an NPRM because this regulatory action does not purport to 
place any restrictions on mariners but rather removes restrictions that 
have no further use or value.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause 
exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days after 
publication in the FR. This rule merely requires an administrative 
change to the CFR in order to omit a regulatory requirement that is no 
longer applicable or necessary. The modifications have already taken 
place and the removal of the regulation will not affect mariners 
currently operating on this waterway. Therefore, a delayed effective 
date is unnecessary.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority 33 U.S.C. 499.
    The New Jersey Transit Rail Operations railroad bridge, mile 0.7, 
the Baltic Street bridge, mile 0.9, the Summer Street bridge, mile 1.3, 
the South Street bridge, mile 1.8, and the Bridge Street bridge, mile 
2.1, at the Elizabeth River that once required draw operations in 33 
CFR 117.718(b) were removed in their entirety or converted to fixed 
bridges over thirty years ago. It has come to the attention of the 
Coast Guard that the governing regulation for these drawbridges was 
never removed subsequent to the removal of the drawbridge or conversion 
to a fixed bridge. The elimination of these drawbridges necessitates 
the removal of the drawbridge operation regulation in 33 CFR 117.718(b) 
that pertains to these former drawbridges.
    The purpose of this rule is to remove 33 CFR 117.718(b), which 
refers to these bridges, from the CFR since the bridges are no longer 
able to be opened.

IV. Discussion of Final Rule

    The Coast Guard is changing the regulation in 33 CFR 117.718 by 
removing restrictions related to the draw operations for bridges that 
are no longer drawbridges. The change removes paragraph (b) of the 
regulation governing these bridges. This change does not affect nor 
does it alter the operating schedule that is currently designated 
paragraph (a), which governs the remaining drawbridge on the Elizabeth 
River.

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 protesters.

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 13563 emphasizes the importance of 
quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing 
rules, and of promoting flexibility. This rule has not been designated 
a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, it has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and 
Budget.

[[Page 15291]]

    This regulatory action determination is based on the fact that 
these bridges either no longer exist or no longer operate as a 
drawbridge. The removal of the operating schedule from 33 CFR part 117, 
subpart B, will have no effect on the movement of waterway or land 
traffic.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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.
    For the reasons stated in section IV.A above this final rule would 
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 
contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 
above.
    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 calls for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Government

    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 
Management Directive 023-01 and 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 made a 
determination that this action is one of a category of actions which do 
not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This rule simply promulgates the operating regulations or 
procedures for drawbridges. This action is categorically excluded from 
further review, under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the 
Instruction.
    Under figure 2-1, paragraph (32)(e), of the Instruction, an 
environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion 
determination are not required for this rule.

G. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to contact 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 117

    Bridges.

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

PART 117--DRAWBRIDGE OPERATION REGULATIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 117 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 499; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and Department of 
Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.


Sec.  117.718  [Amended]

0
2. In Sec.  117.718, remove paragraph (b) and redesignate paragraph (a) 
as an undesignated paragraph.

    Dated: March 10, 2017.
S.D. Poulin,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2017-06109 Filed 3-27-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


