Special Local Regulation; Zimovia Strait, Wrangell, AK

Published date29 May 2019
Citation84 FR 24732
Record Number2019-11195
SectionProposed rules
CourtCoast Guard
Federal Register, Volume 84 Issue 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2019)
[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2019)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 24732-24734]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2019-11195]
                =======================================================================
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
                Coast Guard
                33 CFR Part 100
                [Docket Number USCG-2019-0223]
                RIN 1625-AA08
                Special Local Regulation; Zimovia Strait, Wrangell, AK
                AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
                ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
                -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent special
                local regulation to enable vessel movement restrictions for certain
                waters of the Zimovia Strait. This action is necessary to provide for
                the safety of life on these navigable waters near Wrangell Harbor
                during power boat races on July 4, 2019 and every subsequent year on
                July 4. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels
                from transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within the special local
                regulation race area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port
                Southeast Alaska 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 June 28, 2019.
                ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
                2019-0223 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://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 LT Kristi Sloane, Sector Juneau,
                Waterways Management Division, Coast Guard: Telephone 907-463-2846,
                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, Purpose, and Legal Basis
                 On January 16, 2019, the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce notified the
                Coast Guard that it will be conducting high speed boat races from 11
                a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 4, 2019, as part of the Wrangell 4th of July
                Celebration. The boat races will be taking place approximately 100
                yards off of the city dock in Wrangell, AK. The Captain of the Port
                Southeast Alaska (COTP) has determined that potential hazards
                associated with the high speed races is a safety concern for anyone
                within the zone.
                 The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels
                and the navigable waters within a race area before, during, and after
                the scheduled event. The Coast Guard proposes this rulemaking under
                authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231.
                III. Discussion of Proposed Rule
                 The COTP proposes to establish a special local regulation from 11
                a.m. to 7 p.m. on July 4, 2019, and every subsequent year on July 4th.
                The special local regulation would cover all navigable waters within
                the race area to include Wrangell Harbor entrance and an area extending
                Northwest along the shoreline approximately 1000 yards and Southwest
                approximately 500 yards. No vessel or person would be permitted to
                enter the special local regulation area without obtaining permission
                from the COTP or a designated representative. The regulatory text we
                are proposing appears at the end of this document.
                [[Page 24733]]
                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 the size,
                location, duration, and time-of-day of the special local regulation.
                Vessel traffic would be able to safely transit around the proposed race
                area, which would impact a small designated area in Wrangell Harbor for
                8 hours. Moreover, the Coast Guard would issue a Broadcast Notice to
                Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the race area, and the rule
                would allow vessels to seek permission to enter or transit through the
                race area.
                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 owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the
                special local regulation 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 eight (8) hours that would prohibit entry or transit through
                the area without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated
                representative. Normally such actions are categorically excluded from
                further review under paragraph L61 of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS
                Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 01. A preliminary Record of
                Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available
                in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. 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 we 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 http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be
                submitted using http://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 http://www.regulations.gov and will include any
                personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and
                [[Page 24734]]
                the docket, visit http://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 http://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 proposes
                to amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:
                PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON 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. 100.1701 to read as follows:
                Sec. 100.1701 Special Local Regulation; Wrangell 4th of July
                Celebration Boat Races, Wrangell, AK.
                 (a) Regulated area. The following area is specified as a race area:
                All waters of Zimovia Straits, Wrangell, AK, approximately 1,000 yards
                to the Northwest and 500 yards to the Southwest of Wrangell Harbor
                entrance bounded by the following points: 56[deg]28.077 N,
                132[deg]23.074 W, 56[deg]28.440 N, 132[deg]23.685 W, 56[deg]28.277 N,
                132[deg]24.020 W, and 56[deg]27.910 N, 132[deg]23.400 W.
                 (b) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in this
                part, the regulated area shall be closed immediately prior to, during
                and immediately after the event to all persons and vessels not
                participating in the event and authorized by the event sponsor.
                 (c) Authorization. All persons or vessels who desire to enter the
                designated area created in this section while it is enforced must
                obtain permission from the on-scene patrol craft on VHF Ch 9.
                 (d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 11 a.m.
                to 7 p.m. on July 4, each year unless otherwise specified in the
                Seventeenth District Local Notice to Mariners.
                 Dated: May 23, 2019.
                Melissa L. Rivera, CAPT,
                Acting Commander, Seventeenth Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard.
                [FR Doc. 2019-11195 Filed 5-28-19; 8:45 am]
                 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
                

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT