Safety Zones:

Federal Register Volume 76, Number 161 (Friday, August 19, 2011)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 51885-51887

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]

FR Doc No: 2011-21186

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 165

Docket No. USCG-2011-0718

RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Thunder on Niagara, Niagara River, North Tonawanda,

NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on

Niagara River, North Tonawanda, NY. This temporary safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Niagara River during the Thunder on Niagara powerboat races. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with powerboat races.

DATES: This rule is effective from 10 a.m. on August 20, 2011 until 6 p.m. on August 21, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket USCG-2011-0718 and are available online by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2011-0718 in the

``Keyword'' box, and then clicking ``Search.'' This material is also available for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility

(M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor,

Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this temporary rule, call or e-mail Lieutenant Chris Mercurio, Waterways

Management Division Chief, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Buffalo; telephone 716-843-9573, e-mail Chris.F.Mercurio@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket

Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior

Page 51886

notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because doing so would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest. The permit application was not received in sufficient time for the Coast Guard to solicit public comments before the start of the event. Thus, waiting for a notice and comment period to run would inhibit the Coast Guard from protecting the public and vessels from the hazards associated with powerboat races on navigable waters.

Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Delaying this rule would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest for the same reasons discussed in the preceding paragraph.

Background and Purpose

On August 20th and 21st of 2011, the Thunder on Niagara powerboat races will be held on the Niagara River near North Tonawanda, NY. Based on recent accidents that have occurred in other Captain of the Port zones, the Captain of the Port Buffalo, has determined that powerboat races present significant risks to public safety and property. The likely combination of large numbers of recreational vessels, congested waterways, and alcohol use, presents a significant risk of serious injuries or fatalities.

Discussion of Rule

Because of the aforementioned hazards, the Captain of the Port

Buffalo has determined that this temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of spectators and vessels during the Thunder on

Niagara event. The safety zone will be enforced from 10 a.m. on August 20, 2011 until 6 p.m. on August 21, 2011. The safety zone will encompass all waters of the Niagara River, North Tonawanda, NY starting at position 42[deg] 03'36'' N, 078[deg] 54'45'' W to 43[deg] 03'09'' N, 078[deg] 55'21'' W to 43[deg] 03'00'' N, 078[deg] 53'42'' W to 43[deg] 02'42'' N, 078[deg] 54'09'' W, then returning to the point of origin.

(DATUM: NAD 83).

Regulatory Analyses

We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.

Regulatory Planning and Review

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 Homeland

Security (DHS). We conclude that this rule is not a significant regulatory action because we anticipate that during the short time this zone will be in effect, it will have minimal impact on the economy, will not interfere with other agencies, will not adversely alter the budget of any grant or loan recipients, and will not raise any novel or legal policy issue. The safety zone will be enforced for a relatively short amount of time, and vessels may still pass through the zone with permission of the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

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 temporary final rule may affect the following entities, some of which might be small entities: The owners of operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in a portion of the Niagara River near

North Tonawanda, New York between 10 a.m. on August 20, 2011 to 6 p.m. on August 21, 2011.

This temporary final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: This rule will be in effect for a relatively short amount of time and vessels may still transit through the safety zone with permission from the Captain of the Port Buffalo or his on-scene representative.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement

Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offer to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.

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). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

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 (adjusted for inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in such expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will not cause a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental

Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property

Rights.

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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 does not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may 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. The Administrator of the Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15

U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.

This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security

Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental

Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded 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 is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of the Instruction because it involves the establishment of a safety zone.

An environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion determination are available in the docket where indicated under

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS 0 1. The authority citation for Part 165 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapters 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Pub.

L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security

Delegation No. 0170.1. 0 2. Add Sec. 165.T09-0718 to read as follows:

Sec. 165.T09-0718 Safety Zone; Thunder on Niagara, Niagara River,

North Tonawanda, NY.

(a) Location. The safety zone will encompass all waters of the

Upper Niagara River, North Tonawanda, NY starting at position 42[deg] 03'36'' N, 078[deg] 54'45'' W to 43[deg] 03'09'' N, 078[deg]55'21'' W to 43[deg] 03'00'' N, 078[deg] 53'42'' W to 43[deg] 02'42'' N, 078[deg] 54'09'' W. (DATUM:NAD 83).

(b) Effective and Enforcement Period. This regulation is effective and will be enforced from 10 a.m. on August 20, 2011 until 6 p.m. on

August 21, 2011.

(c) Regulations.

(1) In accordance with the general regulations in Sec. 165.23 of this part, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone established by this section is prohibited unless authorized by the

Captain of the Port Buffalo or his on-scene representative.

(2) This safety zone is closed to all vessel traffic, except as may be permitted by the Captain of the Port Buffalo or his on-scene representative.

(3) The ``on-scene representative'' of the Captain of the Port

Buffalo, is any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been designated by the Captain of the Port Buffalo to act on his behalf.

(4) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within an enforced safety zone shall contact the Captain of the Port Buffalo or his on-scene representative to obtain permission to do so. The Captain of the Port Buffalo or his on-scene representative may be contacted via

VHF Channel 16. Vessel operators given permission to enter or operate in the safety zone must comply with all directions given to them by the

Captain of the Port Buffalo, or his on-scene representative.

Dated: August 8, 2011.

S.M. Wischmann,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Buffalo.

FR Doc. 2011-21186 Filed 8-18-11; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 9110-04-P