Regulated Navigation Area; Olympic View EPA Superfund Cleanup Site, Commencement Bay, Tacoma, WA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard proposes to create a permanent regulated navigation area on a portion of Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington. This regulated navigation area would be used to preserve the integrity of a clean sediment cap placed over the seabed as part of the remediation process at the Olympic View Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) superfund cleanup site. This regulated navigation area would prohibit activities that would disturb the seabed, such as anchoring, dredging, spudding, laying cable or other disturbance of the bottom. It would not affect transit or navigation of the area.

DATES:

Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before January 31, 2003.

ADDRESSES:

You may mail comments to U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Puget Sound, 1519 Alaskan Way South, Building 1, Seattle, Washington 98134, or deliver them to room 523 at the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (206) 217-6232. Comments and documents as indicated in this preamble will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at the above address and times.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

MST2 C.R. Petersen, c/o Captain of the Port Puget Sound, 1519 Alaskan Way South, Seattle, Washington 98134, at (206) 217-6232.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include their names, addresses, identify this rulemaking (CGD13-02-016) and the specific section of this proposal to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or envelopes.

The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the comment period. It may change this proposal in view of the comments.

The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a public hearing by writing to the Marine Safety Council at the address under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons why a hearing would be beneficial. If it is determined that the opportunity for oral presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a public hearing at a time and place to be announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

The Olympic View Superfund Site is located between the eastern boundary of the Thea Foss Waterway and the western boundary of the Middle Waterway of Commencement Bay, Washington. The site includes property owned and or leased by the now closed Puget Sound Plywood Company, contaminated sediments in Commencement Bay, and other upland sources of contamination. The site is approximately 12.4 acres in size and includes 10.6 acres of intertidal and shallow subtidal marine aquatic land. An area of 2.2 acres of marine sediments is contaminated within the site.

Part of the remediation process for this site consists of covering the contaminated sediments with a layer of clean medium to course grained sand approximately one-meter (3-feet) thick. This cap is used to isolate contaminants and limit their vertical migration and release into the water column. The cap will also limit the potential for marine organisms to reach the contaminated sediment.

Discussion of Proposed Rules

This is to be a permanent regulation restricting activities such as anchoring, salvage or dredging, which would disturb the sediment cap covering the contaminated seabed. The regulation would not affect normal transit or navigation of the area. The Olympic View Restoration Area is located offshore of the peninsula between the Thea Foss and Middle Waterways in Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington. The sediment cap includes approximately 480 feet of shoreline extending approximately 420 feet into the bay. This area is relatively unprotected and is rarely utilized as an anchorage.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order. It is not significant under the regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26, 1979). We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. This expectation is based on the fact that the regulated area established by the rule would encompass a small area that should not impact commercial or recreational traffic. The Olympic View Resource Area does not appear to have any viable industrial or commercial use. Moreover, and any land or water use on the site that would be at odds with the regulated navigation area (RNA) would likely be restricted through the site's designation by the City of Tacoma as a Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) settlement site, pursuant to a Consent Decree between the City of Tacoma and the Natural Resource Trustees. Furthermore, on May 24, 2000, the State Commissioner of Public Lands established the project area as part of an environmental reserve under RCW 79.68.060. This designation removes the site from potential development or commercial leasing. For the above reasons, the Coast Guard does not anticipate any significant economic impact.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. “Small entities” include 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. This rule would affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to anchor, dredge, spud, lay cable or disturb the seabed in any fashion when this rule is in effect. The zone would not have a significant economic impact due to its small area. Because the impacts of this proposal are expected to be so minimal, the Coast Guard certifies under 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) that this final rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what degree this rule would economically affect it.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), we want to assist small entities in understanding this proposed rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. 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) section.

Collection of Information

This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those costs. This proposed rule would not impose an unfunded mandate.

Taking of Private Property

This proposed rule would not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

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.

Energy Effects

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a “significant energy action” under that Order because it is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Environment

We considered the environmental impact of this proposed rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g) of Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, this proposed rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion Determination is available in the docket for inspection and copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

Proposed Regulation

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 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: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6 and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

2. Add § 165.1311 to read as follows: