Homeland Security Department Docket USCG-2024-0667 Proposed Rule

2026-16832: Anchorages; Bolivar Roads Channel, Galveston, TX

Comment Period Closed

Public comment closed · opened August 18, 2026.

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Summary

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the regulation for the Galveston Harbor, Bolivar Roads Channel, Texas Anchorage grounds (the "Bolivar Anchorage") to institute a 48 hour time limit for anchorage area (A) East. Amending this regulation would align the time limit for anchorage area (A) East with the already established 48 hour time limits for Bolivar Anchorage areas (A), (B) and (C). We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

The rule, in full

1,555 words as published, August 18, 2026. View the original →

Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 158 (Tuesday, August 18, 2026) [Federal Register Volume 91, Number 158 (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 53395-53396] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2026-16832] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 110 [Docket Number USCG-2024-0667] RIN 1625-AA01 Anchorages; Bolivar Roads Channel, Galveston, TX

Agency

Coast Guard, DHS.

Action

Notice of proposed rulemaking. -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Summary

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the regulation for the Galveston Harbor, Bolivar Roads Channel, Texas Anchorage grounds (the ``Bolivar Anchorage'') to institute a 48 hour time limit for anchorage area (A) East. Amending this regulation would align the time limit for anchorage area (A) East with the already established 48 hour time limits for Bolivar Anchorage areas (A), (B) and (C). We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

Dates

Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before September 17, 2026.

Addresses

To submit comments and view available documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for USCG-2024-0667.

For Further Information Contact

If you have questions about this proposed rulemaking, call or email MST1 Christopher Morgan, Sector Houston-Galveston, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 713-398-5823, email [email protected].

Supplementary Information

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations DHS Department of Homeland Security FR Federal Register NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking Sec. Section U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background and Authority

In 2018 the Coast Guard established the Bolivar Anchorage area (A) East at 33 CFR 110.197, to address port security, port congestion and navigation safety concerns (83 FR 18412, April 27, 2018). At the time when the anchorage area was established it did not include a time limit of 48 hours like the Bolivar Anchorage areas (A), (B) and (C). After discussion with the local maritime community during a Harbor Safety Committee meeting, it was determined that having a 48 hour time limit in the regulations for the Bolivar Anchorage area (A) East was needed to ensure consistency among these anchorage areas. The purpose of this proposed rule is to amend the Bolivar Anchorage regulation to establish a 48-hour time limit for vessels within the Bolivar Anchorage area (A) East, to bring its timeline requirements in line with the rest of the Bolivar Anchorage areas. The Coast Guard is proposing this rulemaking under authorities in 33 U.S.C. 2071; 46 U.S.C. 70006 and 70034; 33 CFR 1.05-1; and Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.

III. Discussion of the Rule

This proposed rule would amend the already existing Bolivar Anchorage 48-hour time limit regulation at 33 CFR 110.197(b)(2), by adding anchorage area (A) East. As amended, the 48-hour time limit would then apply to all Bolivar Anchorage areas: (A), (A) East, (B), and (C). This amendment would ensure uniformity across the entirety of the Bolivar Anchorage areas and reduce confusion from the local maritime community about the time limit restrictions. The regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end of this document.

IV. Regulatory Analyses

We developed this proposed 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.

A. 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. Section 605 of the RFA allows an agency to certify a rule, in lieu of preparing an analysis, if the rulemaking is not expected to have a significant [[Page 53396]] economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because it merely institutes a 48-hour time limitation in an already existing anchorage area. If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed 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. Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), if the proposed rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions, contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section. Small businesses may send comments to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards by calling 1-888- REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247).

B. Collection of Information

This proposed rule would 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

We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism principles and preemption requirements described in that Order. Also, this proposed 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.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

As required by The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538), the Coast Guard certifies that this proposed rule will not result in an annual expenditure of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted for inflation) by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector.

E. Environment

We have analyzed this proposed 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 et seq.), and have made a preliminary determination 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 proposed rule amends an existing anchorage regulation by implementing a 48 hour time restriction. Since this proposed rule would neither increase nor decrease the size of existing anchorage and does not increase the existing use of the anchorage, no environmental impact is anticipated. Normally such actions are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph. We seek any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a significant environmental impact from this proposed rule.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking and will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2024-0667 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment option. If you cannot submit your material by using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this proposed rule for alternate instructions. Viewing material in docket. To view available documents, find the docket as described in the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & Related Material'' in the Document Type column. We will post public comments in our online docket. Additional information is on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked Questions web page. Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and submissions to the docket in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020). List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110 Anchorage grounds. For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard is proposing to amend 33 CFR part 110 as follows: PART 110--ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS 0

1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 2071; 46 U.S.C. 70006, 70034; 33 CFR 1.05- 1; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1, Revision No. 01.4. 0

2. Revise 110.197(b)(2) to read as follows:

Sec. 110.197 Galveston Harbor, Bolivar Roads Channel, Texas * * * * * (b) * * * (2) Except when stress of weather makes sailing impractical or hazardous, vessels shall not anchor in anchorage areas (A), (A) East, (B), or (C) for more than 48 hours unless expressly authorized by the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston. Permission to anchor for longer periods may be obtained through Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service Houston/Galveston on VHF-FM channels 12 (156.60 MHz) or 13 (156.65 MHz). * * * * * W.E. Watson, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Coast Guard Heartland District. [FR Doc. 2026-16832 Filed 8-17-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

What this changes

Amends 1 part of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

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