Special Local Regulations:

Federal Register Volume 76, Number 174 (Thursday, September 8, 2011)

Rules and Regulations

Pages 55558-55561

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

FR Doc No: 2011-22917

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 100

Docket No. USCG-2011-0545

RIN 1625-AA08

Special Local Regulation for Marine Events; Temporary Change of

Dates for Recurring Marine Events in the Fifth Coast Guard District,

John H. Kerr Reservoir, Clarksville, VA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will temporarily change the enforcement period of special local regulations for one recurring marine event in the

Fifth Coast Guard District, specifically, the ``Clarksville Hydroplane

Challenge,'' hydroplane races on the waters of the John H. Kerr

Reservoir. Because this event will consist of approximately 80 hydroplane powerboats conducting high-speed competitive races in heats counter-clockwise around an oval racecourse on the water of the John H.

Kerr Reservoir, this regulation 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 John H. Kerr Reservoir in

Clarksville, Virginia during the event.

DATES: This rule is effective from 9 a.m. September 24, 2011 until 6 p.m. on September 25, 2011. This rule will be enforced from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 24 and 25, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket USCG-2011-0545 and are available online by going to http://www.

Page 55559

regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2011-0545 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 LCDR Christopher A. O'Neal, Waterways

Management Division Chief, Sector Hampton Roads, Coast Guard; telephone 757-668-5581, e-mail Christopher.A.Oneal@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

On June 27, 2011, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM) entitled Special Local Regulation for Marine Events; Temporary

Change of Dates for Recurring Marine Events in the Fifth Coast Guard

District, John H. Kerr Reservoir, Clarksville VA. in the Federal

Register (76 FR 123). We received no comments on the proposed rule. No public meeting was requested, and none was held.

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. The Coast Guard was informed about the changed date too late for the full delayed-effective date period to run. In addition, the public interest favors allowing the event to take place at its scheduled time. The burden on the boating public will be low, consisting of a short restriction on vessel traffic in a limited area, with passage allowed when safe to do so. The benefit of allowing the event to continue as scheduled will be enjoyed by a large number of participants and spectators.

Background and Purpose

Marine events are frequently held on the navigable waters within the boundary of Fifth Coast Guard District. The water activities that typically comprise marine events include sailing regattas, power boat races, swim races and holiday parades. For a description of the geographical area of each Coast Guard Sector--Captain of the Port Zone, please see 33 CFR 3.25.

This regulation will temporarily change the enforcement period of special local regulations for one recurring marine event within Fifth

Coast Guard District. This regulation applies to one marine event in 33

CFR 100.501, Table to Sec. 100.501.

On September 24 and 25, 2011, the Cambridge Power Boat Racing

Association will sponsor the ``Clarksville Hydroplane Challenge'' hydroplane races on the waters of the John H. Kerr Reservoir. The regulation at 33 CFR 100.501 is effective annually for this hydroplane boat race marine event. The event will consist of approximately 80 hydroplane powerboats conducting high-speed competitive races in heats counter-clockwise around an oval racecourse on the water of the John H.

Kerr Reservoir adjacent to Occoneechee State Park, Clarksville,

Virginia and State Route 15 Highway Bridge. A fleet of spectator vessels is expected to gather near the event site to view the competition. To provide for the safety of participants, spectators, support and transiting vessels, the Coast Guard will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in the event area during the hydroplane races.

The regulation at 33 CFR 100.501 will be enforced for the duration of the event. Under the provisions of 33 CFR 100.501, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 24 and 25, 2011, vessels may not enter the regulated area unless they receive permission from the Coast Guard Patrol

Commander.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

The Coast Guard did not receive comments in response to the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register.

Accordingly, the Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the specified waters of John H. Kerr Reservoir, Clarksville,

Virginia.

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, as supplemented by Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and

Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Executive Order 12866 or under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that those Orders.

We expect the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. Although this rule prevents traffic from transiting a portion of certain waterways during specified times, the effect of this regulation 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 marine information broadcasts, local radio stations and area newspapers so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Additionally, this rulemaking does not change the permanent regulated areas that have been published in 33 CFR 100.501, Table to Sec. 100.501. In some cases vessel traffic may be able to transit the regulated area when the coast Guard Patrol Commander deems it is 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 would affect the following entities, some of which might be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in the area where the marine event is being held.

This regulation will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities because it will be enforced only during the marine events that have been permitted by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port. The Captain of the Port will ensure that small entities are able to operate in the areas where the event is occurring when it is safe to do so. In some cases vessels will be able to safely transit around the regulated area at various times, and, with the permission of the Patrol Commander, vessels may transit through the regulated area.

Before the enforcement period, the Coast Guard will issue maritime advisories so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Assistance for Small Entities

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

Page 55560

Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), in the NPRM we offered to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they could 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 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 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 which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment.

This rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph

(34)(h), of the Instruction. This rule involves implementation of regulations within 33 CFR Part 100 that apply to organized marine events on the navigable waters of the United States that may have potential for negative impact on the safety or other interest of waterway users and shore side activities in the event area. The category of water activities includes but is not limited to sail boat regattas, boat parades, power boat racing, swimming events, crew racing, and sail board racing. Under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(h), of the Instruction, an environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion determination will be 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 0 1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233. 0 2. In Sec. 100.501, suspend line No. 47 in the Table to Sec. 100.501. 0 3. In Sec. 100.501, add line No. 62 in Table to Sec. 100.501 to read as follows:

Sec. 100.501 Special Local Regulations; Marine Events in the Fifth

Coast Guard District.

* * * * *

Table To Sec. 100.501.--All coordinates listed in the Table to

Sec. 100.501 reference Datum NAD 1983.

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Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads--COTP Zone

Number

Date

Event

Sponsor

Location

* * * * * * * 62............... September 24 and

Clarksville

Cambridge Power

The waters of the John H. Kerr 25, 2011.

Hydroplane

Boat Racing Assoc. Reservoir, adjacent to the State

Challenge.

Route 15 Highway Bridge and

Occoneechee State Park,

Clarksville, Virginia, from shoreline to shoreline, bounded on the south by a line running northeasterly from a point along the shoreline at latitude 36[deg]37'14'' N, longitude 078[deg]32'46.5'' W, thence to latitude 36[deg]37'39.2'' N, longitude 078[deg]32'08.8'' W, and bounded on the north by the

State Route 15 Highway Bridge.

* * * * *

Dated: August 19, 2011.

Mark S. Ogle,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Hampton Roads.

FR Doc. 2011-22917 Filed 9-7-11; 8:45 am

BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

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