[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53670-53672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18880]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2022-0623]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Swim, Columbia River, Cascade Locks, OR

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
certain waters of the Columbia River. This action is necessary to 
provide for the safety of participants and the maritime public during a 
cross-channel swim on the Columbia River near Cascade Locks, Oregon, to 
Stevenson, Washington, on the morning of September 5, 2022. This 
regulation prohibits non-participant persons and vessels from being in 
the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia 
River or a designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 7 to 11 a.m. on September 5, 2022.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2022-0623 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, in the Document 
Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
rulemaking, call or email LT Carlie Gilligan, Waterways Management 
Division, Marine Safety Unit Portland, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 503-
240-9319, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port Columbia River
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    On April 20, 2022, True West LLC with Visit Hood River notified the 
Coast Guard that the Roy Webster Cross Channel Swim, an annually 
recurring marine event, will be occurring at Cascade Locks to 
Stevenson. The event consists of a cross-channel swim from 7:30 to 
10:30 a.m. on September 5, 2022. In response, on August 3, 2022, the 
Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled 
Safety Zone; Swim, Columbia River, Cascade Locks, OR (87 FR 47661). 
There we stated why we issued the NPRM and invited comments on our 
proposed regulatory action related to this swim event. During the 
comment period that ended August 19, 2022, we received no comments.
    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 and contrary to the public interest 
because immediate action is needed to protect persons and vessels from 
the safety hazards associated with the planned swim event on September 
5, 2022.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C. 
70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231). The Captain of the Port Columbia 
River (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with the 
swim event will be a concern for those in and on the waterway during 
the event. The purpose of this rule is to ensure safety of participants 
in the safety zone before, during, and after the scheduled event.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    As noted above, we received no comments on our NPRM published 
August 3, 2022. There are no changes in the regulatory text of this 
rule from the proposed rule in the NPRM.
    This rule establishes a safety zone from 7 to 11 a.m. on September 
5, 2022. The safety zone covers all navigable waters of the Columbia 
River between RM 149 and RM 150 near Cascade Locks, Oregon. The 
duration of the zone is intended to ensure the safety of vessels and 
these navigable waters before, during, and after the scheduled 7:30 to 
10:30 a.m. swim. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the 
safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated 
representative.

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 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 Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, this 
rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, and duration of the safety zone. The safety zone created by 
this proposed rule is designed to minimize its impact on navigable 
waters. This proposed rule would prohibit entry into certain navigable 
waters of the Columbia River and is not anticipated to exceed four 
hours in duration. Thus, restrictions on vessel movement within that 
particular area are expected to be minimal. Moreover, under certain 
conditions, vessels may still transit through the safety zone when 
permitted by the COTP. The Coast Guard will issue a Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the zone, and the rule 
would allow vessels to seek permission to enter the zone.

[[Page 53671]]

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 received no comments from the Small Business 
Administration on this rulemaking. 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 affects 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 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 does 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 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 
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 Policy 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 
zone lasting 4 hours that would prohibit entry between RM 149 to RM 150 
on the Columbia River. Normally such actions are 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.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

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

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-
6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
00170.1, Revision No. 01.2.


0
2. Add Sec.  165.T13-0623 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T13-0623   Safety Zone; Columbia River, Cascade Locks, OR.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters of the Columbia River, from surface to bottom, starting 
approximately RM 150 to RM 149.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section--
    Designated representative means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, 
including a Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer 
operating a Coast Guard vessel and a Federal, State, and local officer 
designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port Columbia River 
(COTP) in the enforcement of the regulations in this section.
    Participant means all persons and vessels registered with the event 
sponsor as a participant in the race.
    (c) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in 
subpart C of this part, you may not enter the safety zone described in 
paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the 
COTP's designated representative.
    (2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's 
representative by calling (503) 209-2468 or the Sector Columbia River 
Command Center on Channel 16 VHF-FM. Those in the safety zone must 
comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP 
or the designated representative.
    (3) The COTP will provide advance notice of the regulated area via 
broadcast notice to mariners. The COTP may also designate on-scene

[[Page 53672]]

representatives to provide such advance notice.
    (d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 7 until 
11 a.m. on September 5, 2022. It will be subject to enforcement this 
entire period unless the COTP determines it is no longer needed, in 
which case the Coast Guard will inform mariners via Notice to Mariners.

    Dated: August 24, 2022.
M. Scott Jackson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River.
[FR Doc. 2022-18880 Filed 8-31-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


