Regattas and marine parades: Sharptown Outboard Regatta,

[Federal Register: June 20, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 119)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 41834-41836]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr20jn02-14]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD05-02-013]

RIN 2115-AE46

Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Nanticoke River, Sharptown, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations for the Sharptown Outboard Regatta, a marine event to be held on the waters of the Nanticoke River, near Sharptown, Maryland, on June 29 and 30, 2002. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Nanticoke River during the event.

DATES: This rule is effective from 11 a.m. (local time) on June 29, 2002 to 6 p.m. local time on June 30, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket CGD05-02-013 and are available for inspection or copying at Commander (Aoax), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. L. Phillips, Project Manager, Auxiliary and Recreational Boating Safety Section, at (757) 398-6204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

On May 2, 2002, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Nanticoke River, Sharptown, Maryland, in the Federal Register (67 FR 22023). We received no letters commenting on the proposed rule. No public hearing was requested and none was held.

Background and Purpose

The North-South Racing Association will sponsor the Sharptown Outboard Regatta on June 29 and 30, 2002. The event consists of approximately 50 hydroplanes and runabouts conducting high-speed competitive races on the waters of the Nanticoke River between the Maryland S.R. 313 Bridge at Sharptown, Maryland and the

[[Page 41835]]

Nanticoke River Light 43 (LLN-24175). A fleet of spectator vessels normally gathers nearby to view the event. Due to the need for vessel control during the races, vessel traffic will be temporarily restricted to provide for the safety of participants, spectators and transiting vessels.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

No comments were received. No changes have been made to the proposed regulatory text.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 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).

Although this rule will prevent traffic from transiting a portion of the Nanticoke River during the event, the effect of this rule will not be significant due to the limited duration that the regulated area will be in effect and the extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime community via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly. Additionally, the regulated area has been narrowly tailored to impose the least impact on general navigation yet provide the level of safety deemed necessary. The Patrol Commander will also allow non-participating vessels to transit the regulated area between races, whenever safe to do so.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 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.

The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605 (b) that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This rule will affect the owners or operators of vessels, some of which may be small entities, intending to transit or anchor in the effected portions of the Nanticoke River during the event.

Although this rule prevents traffic from transiting a portion of the Nanticoke River during the event, the effect of this proposed regulation will not be significant because of the limited duration that the regulated area will be in effect and the extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime community via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly. Additionally, the regulated area has been narrowly tailored to impose the least impact on general navigation yet provide the level of safety deemed necessary. The Patrol Commander will also allow non-participating vessels to transit the regulated area between races, whenever it is safe to do so.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213 (a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offered to assist small entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. No assistance was requested by any small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction.

Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247).

Collection of Information

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

Federalism

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will 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 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 rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and would not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 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

[[Page 41836]]

significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Environment

We prepared an ``Environmental Assessment'' in accordance with Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, and determined that this rule will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The ``Environmental Assessment'' and ``Finding of No Significant Impact'' is available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Waterways.

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:

   Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 49 CFR 1.46.

2. From 11 a.m. on June 29 to 6 p.m. on June 30, add a temporary Sec. 100.35-T05-013 to read as follows:

   Sec. 100.35-T05-013 Nanticoke River, Sharptown, Maryland.

   (a) Definitions.

   Coast Guard Patrol Commander means a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Activities Baltimore.

   Official Patrol means any vessel assigned or approved by Commander, Coast Guard Activities Baltimore with a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer on board and displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

   (b) Regulated area. Includes all waters of the Nanticoke River, near Sharptown, Maryland, between Maryland S.R. 313 Bridge and the Nanticoke River Light 43 (LLN-24175), bounded by a line drawn between the following points: southeasterly from latitude 38 deg.32'46" N, longitude 075 deg.43'14" W; to latitude 38 deg.32'42" N, longitude 75 deg.43'09" W; thence northeasterly to latitude 38 deg.33'04" N, longitude 075 deg.42'39" W; thence northwesterly to latitude 38 deg.33'09" N, longitude 75 deg.42'44" W; thence southwesterly to latitude 38 deg.32'46" N, longitude 75 deg.43'14" W. All coordinates reference Datum NAD 1983.

   (c) Special local regulations:

   (1) Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area.

   (2) The operator of any vessel in this area shall:

   (i) Stop the vessel immediately when directed to do so by any Official Patrol, including any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer on board a vessel displaying a Coast Guard ensign; and

   (ii) Proceed as directed by any Official Patrol, including any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer on board a vessel displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

   (c) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time on June 29 and 30, 2002.

   Dated: June 12, 2002. T.C. Paar, Captain, Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.

   [FR Doc. 02-15609Filed6-19-02; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 4910-15-P