Safety Zone; East River, New York, NY

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the east channel of the East River between the Roosevelt Island Bridge (mile 6.4) and Gibbs Point approximately 800 yards northeast of the bridge. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the retrieval, maintenance and reinstallation of one TriFrame with three attached underwater turbines, associated cabling, and three Private Aids to Navigation. When enforced, entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port New York.

DATES:

This rule is effective without actual notice from May 26, 2021 through 11:59 p.m., May 27, 2021. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from 3:30 p.m., May 3, 2021 until May 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov,, type USCG-2021-0206 in the “SEARCH” box and click “SEARCH.” Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this rule, call or email Mr. Jeff Yunker, Sector New York Waterways Management Division; U. S. Coast Guard; telephone 718-354-4195, email jeffrey.m.yunker@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

DHS Department of Homeland Security

FR Federal Register

NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking

PATON Private Aids to Navigation

RITE Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy Project

§ 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 it is impracticable. Four barges, four tugs, and three work vessels will be conducting heavy lift operations and removing and reinstalling three PATON in the east channel of the East River, north of the Roosevelt Island Bridge, while removing, maintaining and reinstalling one TriFrame with three underwater turbines for the RITE Project. It is impracticable to publish an NPRM because we must establish this safety zone by May 3, 2021 to respond to the potential safety hazards associated with heavy lift operations and lack sufficient time to provide a reasonable comment period and then consider those comments before issuing the rule. The Coast Guard is publishing this rule to be effective through May 27, 2021 in case the project is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.

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 against the public interest because immediate action is needed to respond to the potential safety hazards associated with multiple construction vessels operating within a confined area of the East River.

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 New York (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with the installation of the RITE Project TriFrame with three turbines and associated PATON marking this installation on May 3-6, 2021, will be a safety concern for anyone in the East River, east of Roosevelt Island, between the Roosevelt Island Bridge (mile 6.4) and Gibbs Point. This rule is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable waters within the safety zone while eleven tugs, barges and work vessels are installing one TriFrame with three underwater turbines and three PATON marking the RITE Project area.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

This rule establishes a temporary safety zone from May 3, 2021 through May 27, 2021. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters of the East River east of Roosevelt Island between the Roosevelt Island Bridge (mile 6.4) and Gibbs Point being used by vessels and personnel to retrieve, conduct maintenance, and reinstall Phase 1 of the RITE Project.

We anticipate enforcing the safety zone during the heavy lift operations for retrieval, maintenance, and reinstallation of the RITE Project TriFrame with three turbines and three associated PATON scheduled from approximately 3:30 p.m. on May 3, 2021, until 2:30 p.m. on May 6, 2021. The duration of the zone is intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in these constrained navigable waters while the project and PATON marking the project area are being retrieved for maintenance and reinstallation. When enforced, no vessel or person will be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative. The Coast Guard is publishing this rule to be effective through May 27, 2021 in case the project is delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.

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, duration, and time-of-year of the safety zone. Vessel traffic will be able to safely transit around this safety zone which would impact a small designated area of the East River for approximately 71 hours when vessel traffic is normally low. Moreover, the Coast Guard will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the zone, publish the zone in the Local Notice to Mariners, and the rule will allow vessels to seek permission to enter the zone.

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 71 hours that will prohibit entry between the Roosevelt Island Bridge (mile 6.4) and Gibbs Point being used by vessels, machinery and personnel to retrieve, maintain, and reinstall Phase 1 of the RITE Project and three PATON marking the project area. 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.

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

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. 0170.1.

2. Add § 165.T01-0206 to read as follows: