[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 170 (Friday, September 1, 1995)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 45669-45670] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 95-21692] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 33 CFR Part 165 [CGD09-95-009] RIN 2115-AA97 Safety Zone; Lake Erie, in the Vicinity of Euclid, OH AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT. ACTION: Temporary final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie with a one quarter mile radius centered on 41-47.6' N, 081- 36.1' W. This safety zone is needed in the warmer summer months to prevent recreational and commercial divers from tampering with the exposed valves on the sunken tank barge Cleveco. Such tampering may lead to the release of oil in quantities that may be harmful to the environment, as the Cleveco contains approximately 165,000 gallons of oil. In addition, the Coast Guard is making preparations to remove the oil from the tank barge this summer. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port. EFFECTIVE DATES: This regulation becomes effective at 12 noon EST on May 29, 1995, and terminates at 12 noon EST on October 1, 1995, unless terminated earlier by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Cleveland, Ohio. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Eric M. King, Chief, Port Operations, Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Cleveland, 1055 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH 44114, (216) 522-4405. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:. Background and Purpose On July 14, 1994, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard located the tank barge Cleveco, sunk nine miles offshore from Euclid, Ohio in Lake Erie. The tank barge rests keel up in 70 feet of water and contains approximately 165,000 gallons of oil. On July 16, 1994 a safety zone was established for 180 days to prevent unauthorized personnel from conducting underwater activities on or around the Cleveco, and from impeding the preliminary salvage activities of the Coast Guard and those under their supervision (59 FR 44317; August 29, 1994). Now that the waters of Lake Erie are again warming, establishment of the safety zone is again required for the same reasons. Additionally, the Coast Guard will supervise the removal of oil from the Cleveco this summer. Commercial underwater salvage equipment will be utilized to remove the oil from the barge, requiring heavy equipment and diving apparatus to support below-surface operations. Therefore, persons and vessels will be prohibited from transiting this area. Persons or vessels requiring entry into or passage through the safety zone must first request authorization from the Captain of the Port or one of his designated representatives. The designated representatives of the Captain of the Port are the senior Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer on the vessel enforcing the safety zone, and the Command Duty Officer at Marine Safety Office Cleveland, Ohio. The senior officer on the vessel enforcing the safety zone can be contacted on VHF-FM Channel 16. The Captain of the Port, Cleveland, and the Command Duty Officer at Marine Safety Office Cleveland can be contacted at telephone number (216) 522-4405. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rulemaking was not published for this regulation and good cause exists for making it effective less than 30 days after Federal Register publication. There were no comments received for the July 16, 1994 safety zone covering the same geographic location. Publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking and delay in the effective date would be contrary to the public interest because the safety zone is necessary to prevent possible loss of life, injury, or damage to property or the environment. In the event that unauthorized recreational or commercial divers tamper with the barge and its associated valves, a major oil release could occur, threatening lives and the environment. Drafting Information The drafters of this regulation are Lieutenant Eric M. King, project officer, Chief, Port Operations, Marine Safety Office Cleveland, Ohio, Commander M. Eric Reeves, program staff officer, Chief, Marine Port and Environmental Safety Branch, Ninth Coast Guard District, and [[Page 45670]] Lieutenant Karen E. Lloyd, project attorney, Ninth Coast Guard District Legal Office. Regulatory Evaluation This regulation 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. It has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 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). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of the proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. Collection of Information This rule contains no information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Federalism The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment. Environment The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that, under section 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction M16475.1B, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165 Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirement, Security measures, Waterways. For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR Part 165 as follows: 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; and 49 CFR 1.46. 2. A new temporary section Sec. 165.T09-009 is added to read as follows: Sec. 165.T09-009 Safety Zone; Lake Erie, in the Vicinity of Euclid, OH. (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: one quarter mile radius centered on 41-47.6N, 081-36.1W, covering the surface waters of Lake Erie down to the lake's bottom. (CNAD 83) (b) Effective dates. This section becomes effective at 12 noon EST on May 29, 1995, and terminates at 12 noon EST on October 1, 1995 unless terminated earlier by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port. (c) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in Sec. 165.23 of this part, entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or his designated representative. The senior officer on the vessel enforcing the safety zone can be contacted on VHF-FM Channel 16. The Captain of the Port, Cleveland, and the Command Duty Officer at Marine Safety Office Cleveland can be contacted at telephone number (216) 522-4405. Dated: May 12, 1995. J.J. Davin, Jr., Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Cleveland. [FR Doc. 95-21692 Filed 8-31-95; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-14-M