Safety Zone; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Lake Charles, LA, 73938-73940 [2022-26298]

Agencies

• Coast Guard
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 231 (Friday, December 2, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73938-73940]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26298]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2022-0931]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Lake Charles, LA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
navigable waters of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway between the 
Calcasieu Lock at Mile Marker 238.2 and Mile Marker 240 at the Lake 
Charles Industrial Canal. The safety zone is needed to protect 
personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from hazards created by 
a large spill of heavy crude oil. Entry of vessels or persons into this 
zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the 
Port Port Arthur.

DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from December 2, 
2022, through December 4, 2022. For the purposes of enforcement, actual 
notice will be used from November 28, 2022, until December 2, 2022.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2022-0931 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 on this rule, 
call or email Mr. Scott Whalen, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, TX, 
U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 409-719-5086, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
COTP Captain of the Port, Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur
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 temporary 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)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good 
cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
with respect to this rule because an approximately 95 barrel spill of 
heavy oil occurred on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway west of the 
Calcasieu Lock in Lake Charles, LA, and immediate action is needed to 
respond to the spill and protect persons, vessels, and the environment 
from hazards associated with the spill and response effors. It is 
impracticable to publish an NPRM

[[Page 73939]]

because we must establish this safety zone by immediately.
    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 immediate action is needed to 
respond to the spill and protect persons, vessels, and the environment 
from hazards associated with the spill and response effors.

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 Port Arthur 
(COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with a 95 
barrel spill of heavy oil into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is a 
safety concern for the environment and persons or vessels transiting 
through the area. This rule is needed to protect personnel, vessels, 
and the marine environment from the hazards of the spill and associated 
response efforts.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone from 6 p.m. on November 28, 
2022, through 6 p.m. on December 4, 2022. The safety zone will cover 
all navigable waters, shoreline to shoreline, of the Gulf Intracoastal 
Waterway between the Calcasieu Lock at Mile Marker 238.2 west to Mile 
Marker 240 near the Lake Charles Industrial Canal. The duration of the 
zone is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine 
environment in these navigable waters while spill response operations 
are ongoing. 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 limited size 
and duration of the rule.

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 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 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 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 a 
safety zone lasting only 6-days that will prohibit entry into the Gulf 
Intracoastal Waterway, shoreline to shoreline, between the Calcasieu 
Lock at Mile Marker 238.2 west to Mile Marker 240. It is categorically 
excluded from further review under paragraph L60(c) of Appendix A, 
Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1.

[[Page 73940]]

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.T08-0931 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T08-0931   Safety Zone; Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Lake 
Charles, LA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of 
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, shoreline to shoreline, from the 
Calcasieu Lock at Mile Marker 238.2 west to Mile Marker 240 at the Lake 
Charles Industrial Canal.
    (b) 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 Captain of the 
Port Port Arthur (COTP) or the COTP's designated representative.
    (2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's 
representative by calling the Command Duty Officer at (337) 912-0073. 
Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or 
directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative.

    Dated: November 28, 2022.
James B. Suffern,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port, Marine Safety 
Unit Port Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2022-26298 Filed 12-1-22; 8:45 am]
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