Safety Zone; USMMA Fireworks, Long Island Sound, Kings Point, NY
Federal Register, Volume 77 Issue 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)
Federal Register Volume 77, Number 113 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)
Rules and Regulations
Pages 34798-34800
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office www.gpo.gov
FR Doc No: 2012-14219
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
Docket Number USCG-2012-0404
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; USMMA Fireworks, Long Island Sound, Kings Point, NY
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Long Island Sound in the vicinity of Kings Point, NY for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This rule is intended to restrict all vessels from a portion of Long Island Sound before, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.
DATES: This rule will be effective from 9:00 p.m. on June 16, 2012 until 10:08 p.m. on June 17, 2012. This rule will be enforced from 9:00 p.m. until 10:08 p.m. on June 16, 2012, with a rain date of June 17, 2012 from 9:00 p.m. until 10:08 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble are part of docket USCG-2012-0404. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type the docket number in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 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 rule, call or email Ensign Kimberly Farnsworth, Coast Guard; Telephone (718) 354-4163, email Kimberly.A.Farnsworth@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Acronyms
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
COTP Captain of the Port
-
Regulatory History and Information
The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior 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 sufficient information about the event was not received in time to publish a NPRM followed by a final rule before the effective date, thus making the publication of a NPRM impractical. The Coast Guard received the information about the event on May 3, 2012. Any delay encountered in this regulation's effective date by publishing a NPRM would be contrary to public interest, since immediate action is needed to provide for the safety of life and property on navigable waters from the hazards associated with fireworks including unexpected detonation and burning debris.
The event sponsor advised that the event is in correlation with the graduation ceremony of the United
Page 34799
States Merchant Marine Academy, where the graduating class, faculty, and family members are anticipating this event taking place as scheduled, therefore the sponsor is unable to cancel or delay the event date. In addition, any change to the date of the event would cause economic hardship on the event sponsor, negatively impacting other activities being held in conjunction with the event.
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 rule must become effective on the date specified in order to provide for the safety of spectators and vessels operating in the area near this event. Delaying the effective date of this rule would be contrary to the public interest and would expose spectators, vessels to the hazards associated with the fireworks event. Also a delay or cancellation of the fireworks event in order to allow for the publication in the Federal Register is contrary to the public's interest in having this event occur as scheduled.
-
Basis and Purpose
The legal basis for this rule is 33 U.S.C. 1231; 46 U.S.C Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Public Law 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
This temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of spectators and vessels from hazards associated with the fireworks display. The safety zone will be enforced starting at 9:00 p.m. which is a half hour before the launch time in order to ensure the barge can safely get in position. The fireworks launch will begin at 9:30 p.m. and last for approximately 8 minutes. The zone will continue to be enforced for 30 minutes after the display as a cool down for the barge, to ensure the safe movement as it transits back to homeport.
-
Discussion of the Final Rule
This rule establishes a temporary safety zone on the waters of Long Island Sound in the vicinity of Kings Point, NY. All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the COTP New York or the designated representative during the enforcement of the temporary safety zone. Entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the temporary safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP New York, or the designated representative.
Based on the inherent hazards associated with fireworks, the Captain of the Port (COTP) New York has determined that fireworks launches in close proximity to water crafts pose a significant risk to public safety and property. The combination of increased number of recreational vessels, congested waterways, darkness punctuated by bright flashes of light, and debris especially burning debris falling on passing or spectator vessels has the potential to result in serious injuries or fatalities. This temporary safety zone will restrict vessels from a portion of the Long Island Sound around the location of the fireworks launch platform before, during, and immediately after the fireworks display.
The Coast Guard determined that this regulated area will not have a significant impact on vessel traffic due to its temporary nature and limited size and the fact that vessels are allowed to transit the navigable waters outside of the regulated area.
Advanced public notifications will also be made to the local maritime community through appropriate means, which will include, but is not limited to, the Local Notice to Mariners as well as Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
-
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 Executive Order 12866 or under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under those Orders.
The Coast Guard's implementation of this temporary safety zone will be of short duration and is designed to minimize the impact to vessel traffic on the navigable waters. This temporary safety zone will only be enforced for approximately 70 minutes. Due to the location, vessels will be able to transit around the zone in a safe manner.
-
Impact on Small Entities
The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as amended, requires federal agencies to consider the potential impact of regulations on small entities during rulemaking. 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 following entities, some of which may be small entities: The owners and operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in a portion of the navigable waters in the vicinity of the marine event during the effective period.
This safety zone would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: This rule will be in effect for 68 minutes; late at night when vessel traffic is low. Vessel traffic could pass safely around the safety zone. Before the effective period, the Coast Guard will issue maritime advisories widely available to users of the waterway.
-
Assistance for Small Entities
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 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, above.
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 will not call for a 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 the States, on the relationship between the national government and
Page 34800
the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism.
-
Protest Activities
The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INTFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or security of people, places or vessels.
-
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.
-
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
This action is not a ``significant energy action'' under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use.
-
Technical Standards
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 determined 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 rule involves establishment of a temporary safety zone. This rule is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. An environmental analysis checklist supporting this determination and a Categorical Exclusion Determination are 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 rule.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 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 AREA
0
-
The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Pub. L. 107-
295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
0
-
Add Sec. 165.T01-0404 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T01-0404 Safety Zone; USMMA Fireworks, Long Island Sound, Kings Point, NY.
(a) Regulated Area. The following area is a temporary safety zone: all navigable waters of the Long Island Sound within a 164-yard radius of the fireworks barge located in approximate position 40deg48'44.69'' N, 073deg46'7.69'' W, in the vicinity of Kings Point, NY, approximately 300-yards west of the Kings Point Marina.
(b) Effective Dates and Enforcement Periods. This rule will be effective from 9:00 p.m. on June 16, 2012 until 10:08 p.m. on June 17, 2012. This rule will be enforced from 9:00 p.m. until 10:08 p.m. on June 16, 2012, with a rain date of June 17, 2012 from 9:00 p.m. until 10:08 p.m.
(c) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section:
(1) Designated Representative. A ``designated representative'' is any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard who has been designated by the Captain of the Port Sector New York (COTP), to act on his or her behalf. The designated representative may be on an official patrol vessel or may be on shore and will communicate with vessels via VHF-FM radio or loudhailer. In addition, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary may be present to inform vessel operators of this regulation.
(2) Official Patrol Vessels. Official patrol vessels may consist of any Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, state, or local law enforcement vessels assigned or approved by the COTP.
(d) Regulations.
(1) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR 165.23, as well as the following regulations, apply.
(2) No vessels, except for fireworks barge and accompanying vessels, will be allowed to transit the safety zone without the permission of the COTP.
(3) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the COTP or the designated representative. Upon being hailed by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel by siren, radio, flashing light, or other means, the operator of a vessel shall proceed as directed.
(4) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the regulated area shall contact the COTP or the designated representative via VHF channel 16 or 718-354-4353 (Sector New York command center) to obtain permission to do so.
Dated: May 28, 2012.
G.P. Hitchen,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port New York.
FR Doc. 2012-14219 Filed 6-11-12; 8:45 am
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
-
