Special Local Regulation; Ohio River, Portsmouth, OH

Published date15 August 2019
Citation84 FR 41670
Record Number2019-17415
SectionProposed rules
CourtCoast Guard
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 158 (Thursday, August 15, 2019)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 41670-41672]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-17415]
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                DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
                Coast Guard
                33 CFR Part 100
                [Docket Number USCG-2019-0329]
                RIN 1625-AA08
                Special Local Regulation; Ohio River, Portsmouth, OH
                AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
                ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a Special Local
                Regulation on the Ohio River. This action is necessary to provide for
                safety of life on the Ohio River from mile marker 355.5 to mile marker
                356.8 during a regatta from August 31, 2019 through September 2, 2019.
                This proposed rulemaking would restrict access to this portion of the
                river unless otherwise authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector
                Ohio Valley or a designated representative. We invite your comments on
                this proposed rulemaking.
                DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast
                Guard on or before September 16, 2019.
                ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
                2019-0329 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for
                Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further
                instructions on submitting comments.
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
                proposed rulemaking, call or email MST3 Cornelius, MSU Huntington, U.S.
                Coast Guard; 304-733-0198, [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, Purpose, and Legal Basis
                 The Breakwater Powerboat Association submitted an application to
                Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley for a marine event permit to conduct a
                power boat race from August 31, 2019 through September 02, 2019. This
                race will be the National Championship for two classes of powerboats.
                The race course will be the area from Ohio River Mile Marker (MM) 355.5
                to MM 356.8. Hazards from the regatta include collision of vessels,
                wake, capsizing, and interference to Aids to Navigation. The Captain of
                the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) has determined that potential
                hazards associated with the regatta would be a safety concern for
                anyone within the race course area.
                 The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels
                and the navigable waters within the race course before, during, and
                after the scheduled event. The Coast Guard is proposing this rulemaking
                under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70041 (previously 33 U.S.C 1233)
                III. Discussion of Proposed Rule
                 The COTP is proposing to establish a Special Local Regulation from
                August 31, 2019 through September 02, 2019. The special local
                regulation would cover all navigable waters from Ohio River Mile Marker
                (MM) 355.5 to MM 356.8. The duration of the regulation is intended to
                ensure the safety of vessels and these navigable water before, during,
                and after the scheduled regatta. No person would be permitted to enter
                the area without obtaining approval from the Captain of the Port or a
                designated representative. The event sponsor has scheduled commercial
                traffic breaks to prevent a back-up of vessels. 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. Regulatory Planning and Review
                 Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the
                costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if
                regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize
                net benefits. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control
                regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This NPRM has not been
                designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order
                12866. Accordingly, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of
                Management and Budget (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt
                from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
                 This regulatory action determination is based on size, location,
                and duration of the special local regulation. The safety zone will be
                enforced on a small
                [[Page 41671]]
                area of the Ohio River from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. on August 31, 2019,
                from 7 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. on September 1, 2019, and from 7 a.m.
                through 4 p.m. on September 2, 2019. Breaks have been scheduled so that
                the event does not significantly impede commercial traffic. Moreover,
                the Coast Guard would issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM
                marine channel 16 about the zone and the rule would allow vessels to
                seek permission to enter or transit the zone.
                B. 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. 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.
                 While some owner or operators of vessels intending to transit the
                area may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section IV.A
                above, this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact
                on any vessel owner or operator
                 If you think that your business, organization, or governmental
                jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this 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), we want to assist small
                entities in understanding this proposed rule. If the rule would affect
                your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you
                have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance,
                please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
                section. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that
                question or complain about this proposed rule or any policy or action
                of the Coast Guard.
                C. 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
                 A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132
                (Federalism), if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on
                the relationship between the national government and the States, or on
                the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels
                of government. We have analyzed this proposed rule under that Order and
                have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism
                principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order
                13132.
                 Also, this proposed rule does not have tribal implications under
                Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal
                Governments) because it would 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. If
                you believe this proposed rule has implications for federalism or
                Indian tribes, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
                INFORMATION CONTACT section.
                E. 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 proposed rule would not
                result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule
                elsewhere in this preamble.
                F. Environment
                 We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland
                Security Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, which
                guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental
                Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), 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 involves a special local regulation
                lasting from August 31, to September 02, 2019 that would restrict entry
                into the race course from MM 355.5 to MM 356.8. Normally such actions
                are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L[61] of
                Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 01.
                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.
                 We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking
                Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be
                submitted using https://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate
                instructions.
                 We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted
                without change to https://www.regulations.gov and will include any
                personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the
                docket, visit https://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
                 Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket,
                and all public comments, will be in our online docket at https://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's
                instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up
                for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a
                final rule is published.
                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 is
                proposing to amend part 100 as follows:
                PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON THE NAVIGABLE WATERS
                0
                1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:
                 Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70041; 33 CFR 1.05-1.
                0
                2. Add Sec. 100.T08-0329 to read as follows:
                [[Page 41672]]
                Sec. 100.T08-0329 Special Local Regulation; Ohio River, Portsmouth,
                OH.
                 (a) Location. All navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile
                marker (MM) 355.5 to MM 356.8 Portsmouth, OH.
                 (b) Effective period. This section is effective from August 31,
                2019 through September 2, 2019.
                 (c) Enforcement period. The section will be enforced from 9 a.m.
                through 6 p.m. on August 31, 2019, from 7 a.m. through 5:30 p.m. on
                September 1, and from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. on September 2, 2019.
                 (d) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into this area is
                prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio
                Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.
                 (2) Recreational vessels are permitted to transit the regulated
                area during scheduled breaks for commercial traffic. There shall be no
                anchoring or loitering in the navigation channel. Recreational vessels
                transiting into and away from this area are restricted to the slowest
                safe speed creating minimum wake.
                 (3) The COTP may terminate the event or the operation of any vessel
                at any time it is deemed necessary for the protection of life or
                property.
                 (4) All persons or vessels desiring entry into or passage through
                the area must request permission from the COTP or a designated
                representative. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley may be contacted on
                VHF Channel 13 or 16, or at 1-800-253-7465.
                A.M. Beach,
                Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley.
                [FR Doc. 2019-17415 Filed 8-14-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
                

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