Security Zones; Old Port Tampa, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Manbirtee Key, Seaport Manatee, MacDill Air Force Base, Port of Tampa, Port Sutton, St. Petersburg Harbor, Crystal River, Big Bend, and Weedon Island, FL

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <SUBAGY>Coast Guard</SUBAGY> <CFR>33 CFR Part 165</CFR> <DEPDOC>[Docket Number USCG-2025-0223]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1625-AA87</RIN> <SUBJECT>Security Zones; Old Port Tampa, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Manbirtee Key, Seaport Manatee, MacDill Air Force Base, Port of Tampa, Port Sutton, St. Petersburg Harbor, Crystal River, Big Bend, and Weedon Island, FL</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Coast Guard, DHS. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent security zone in the vicinity of Seaport Manatee facilities and ship berths. This action is necessary to enhance safety and protect vessels, facilities and infrastructure from potential threats. This regulation will allow for controlled access of authorized vessels and facility personnel within the security zone. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This rule is effective December 22, 2025. </EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD> To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to <E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E> type USCG-2025-0223 in the search box and click “Search.” Next, in the Document Type column, select “Supporting & Related Material.” <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> If you have questions about this rule, call or email Lieutenant Ryan McNaughton, Sector St. Petersburg, Ports & Waterways Branch Chief, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (571) 608-7131, email <E T="03">Ryan.A.McNaughton@uscg.mil.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Table of Abbreviations</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS Department of Homeland Security</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">FR Federal Register</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">§ Section </FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-1">U.S.C. United States Code</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Background Information and Regulatory History</HD> In February 2024, Seaport Manatee requested the establishment of a Coast Guard security zone in vicinity of Seaport Manatee facilities and ship berths to bolster protection of the port. In response, on August 4, 2025, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled Security Zones; Tampa Bay: Big Bend, Boca Grande, Crystal River, East Bay, Hillsborough Bay, MacDill Air Force Base, Manbirtee Key, Old Port Tampa, Port Manatee, Port Tampa, Port St. Petersburg, Port Sutton and Weedon Island, FL (90 FR 36412). There we stated why we issued the NPRM and invited comments on our proposed regulatory action related to this security zone. Under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70051 and 70124, the COTP has determined that this rule is necessary to enhance safety and protect vessels, facilities, and infrastructure from potential threats. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the security zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or their designated representative. <HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Discussion of Comments and the Rule</HD> During the comment period that ended on September 3, 2025, we received one comment. The commenter recommended against establishing a security zone, based on concerns about using taxpayer money for this purpose. We decline to adopt this recommendation. We have determined that the security zone is necessary to protect the infrastructure of Seaport Manatee. We also made the following technical changes to the final rule. We moved the new Seaport Manatee security zone from paragraph (a)(1)(xii) to paragraph (a)(1)(iv) of 33 CFR 165.703, and renumbered the remaining security zones in paragraph (a) accordingly. We moved the security zone to paragraph (a)(1)(iv) because the Seaport Manatee security zone is geographically close to the Manbirtee Key security zone in paragraph (a)(1)(iii), and we believe this will make the security zones easier to locate within the regulation. We also revised the title of § 165.703 to match the order the security zone locations are listed in paragraph (a). This rule establishes a permanent security zone in the vicinity of Seaport Manatee facilities and ship berths to bolster protection of the port. Entry into this security zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by COTP or their designated representative. A designated representative is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard assigned to units under the operational control of the U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. The regulatory text appears at the end of this document. <HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Regulatory Analyses</HD> 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. <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Impact on Small Entities</HD> The Coast Guard certifies that, although some small entities may intend to transit the security zone above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, as mandated by the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612 for the following reasons. Vessel traffic will be able to safely transit around this security zone. This security zone will only impact a small designated area, and the rule allows vessels to request permission to enter the zone from the COTP. Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), if this rule will affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions, contact the person listed in the <E T="02">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT</E> 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). <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Collection of Information</HD> This rule will not call for a new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments</HD> We have analyzed this 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 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. <HD SOURCE="HD2">D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</HD> As required by The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538), the Coast Guard certifies that this 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. <HD SOURCE="HD2">E. Environment</HD> 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 security zone that will prohibit entry within a very small area alongside piers at Seaport Manatee. 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. <LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165</HD> Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways. </LSTSUB> For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS</HD> <REGTEXT TITLE="33" PART="165"> 1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority:</HD> 46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4. </REGTEXT> <REGTEXT TITLE="33" PART="165"> 2. Revise § 165.703 to read as follows: <SECTION> <SECTNO>§ 165.703</SECTNO> <SUBJECT> Security Zones; Old Port Tampa, Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Manbirtee Key, Seaport Manatee, MacDill Air Force Base, Port of Tampa, Port Sutton, St. Petersburg Harbor, Crystal River, Big Bend, and Weedon Island, FL.</SUBJECT> (a) <E T="03">Regulated areas.</E> The following areas, denoted by coordinates fixed using the North American Datum of 1983 (World Geodetic System 1984) are security zones: (1) <E T="03">Security zones for facilities and structures</E> —(i) <E T="03">Old Port Tampa, Tampa, FL.</E> All waters, from surface to bottom, in Old Tampa Bay encompassed within the following points: 27°51.62′ N, 082°33.14′ W; thence to 27°51.71′ N, 082°32.5′ W; thence to 27°51.76′ N, 082°32.5′ W; thence to 27°51.73′ N, 082°33.16′ W; thence to 27°51.62′ N, 082°33.14′ W, closing off the Old Port Tampa Channel. (ii) <E T="03">Sunshine Skyway Bridge, FL.</E> All waters in Tampa Bay, from surface to bottom, in Cut “A” channel beneath the bridge's main span encompassed within the following points: 27°37.30′ N, 082°3 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 22k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━