FR 2025-02368

The document published by the Coast Guard pertains to the reinstatement of a temporarily modified operating schedule for the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge located across the Okeechobee Waterway in Stuart, Florida. This temporary rule is set to remain effective until May 31, 2025, and is designed to ensure the smooth operation of both rail and marine traffic by providing predictable and reliable drawbridge openings. The document invites public comments on the rule until March 10, 2025, indicating a willingness to reconsider the rule based on the feedback received.

General Summary

The Coast Guard is focused on maintaining a modified schedule for the operation of the FEC Railroad Bridge. The goal of this temporary rule is to manage increased railway traffic while accommodating the needs of marine navigation. The rule departs from the bridge's standard operating schedule due to concerns about predictability and reliability in drawbridge openings which are crucial for both train and boat transit. This measure will be in place until the final decision on a permanent schedule is made, and additional comments from the public are being solicited.

Significant Issues and Concerns

Several concerns can be raised about the provisions outlined in the document:

• Costs and Benefits: The document does not explicitly outline any costs associated with the rule or who bears them, which poses a challenge in assessing its economic impact or any potential wasteful expenditure.

• Stakeholder Identification: The document does not specify which parties might benefit from the temporary extension, leaving a gap in understanding potential favoritism.

• Complex Language: The technical language filled with regulatory jargon may be challenging for the general public to decode.

• Mobile Application Costs: While the document mentions a mobile application for updates, it lacks details on how this will be maintained and who will be responsible for any associated costs.

• Definition of Reliability: Though the rule emphasizes the need for reliable drawbridge operations, it fails to quantify what constitutes reliability or detail the previous schedule's shortcomings.

• Impact on Small Entities: Although the rule acknowledges the need to consider impacts on small entities, it does not specifically address how these impacts will be mitigated.

Public Impact

The temporary rule is structured to balance two significant modes of transport—railway and marine traffic. The public is likely to experience effects that vary depending on their reliance on these services. Those needing to navigate the bridge by water could benefit from increased predictability in scheduling. Similarly, train services might operate more efficiently given the fixed times for drawbridge openings, potentially reducing delays.

Specific Stakeholder Impact

• Marine Operators: The modifications aim to offer consistent scheduling for boat operations, which can help marine operators plan their passages with greater certainty, though it might require adaptation to the adjusted schedule.

• Railway Operations: Extending the temporary rule seems advantageous for the railway operations by accommodating increased rail traffic and preventing disruptive delays due to bridge openings.

• Small Business and Local Economy: By achieving a balanced approach, local businesses, especially those in transportation and logistics, might avoid significant disruptions. However, the lack of detailed consideration of small entities' needs raises potential concerns about overlooked impacts on their economic activities.

This document provides an essential regulatory update for managing the Okeechobee Waterway's FEC Railroad Bridge operations, showcasing the complex interplay between rail and boat transit needs while inviting public feedback on its temporary regulations.

In the document addressing the operation regulation of the Florida East Coast Railroad Bridge in Stuart, FL, there is a notable mention of the potential financial implications associated with regulatory actions. This primarily revolves around the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 and its requirements for federal agencies to evaluate the financial effects of their regulations.

Financial References

The document highlights that any regulatory action resulting in expenditure by state, local, or tribal governments, or by the private sector, could lead to financial implications amounting to $100,000,000 or more in any single year. This figure is adjusted for inflation and serves as a threshold to assess significant financial impacts.

Relation to the Identified Issues

Despite the mention of this substantial financial threshold, the document does not provide a detailed breakdown or analysis of the actual costs associated with the temporary interim rule for the drawbridge operation. The lack of specificity makes it challenging to ascertain whether the rule will lead to financial outlays nearing or exceeding this threshold, leading to an issue of transparency regarding potential wasteful spending.

Additionally, while the document references the operation and maintenance of a mobile application for drawbridge operations, there is no clear explanation of the funding or resources allocated for this component. This absence of financial details could be a concern for stakeholders interested in understanding who is financially responsible for the upkeep of new technological implementations.

Lastly, the document mentions the potential impact on small entities but does not expand on how the rule will manage to avoid significant economic impact, particularly concerning the financial burden. The lack of clear financial delineations here makes it difficult to evaluate how small businesses or other entities might be financially affected or supported under the rule.

In conclusion, the financial references in this document, while touching on potential significant expenditures, lack comprehensive detail, leaving important questions about responsibility and budgeting unanswered. This gap calls for more detailed financial analysis and disclosure to ensure transparency and accountability in federal regulatory actions.