[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3036-3037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1270]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD11-97-004]
RIN 2115-AE46
Special Local Regulation; Laughlin, Nevada
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Final Rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard amends the table of events in 33 CFR 100.1102
by adding the Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo being
conducted in the waters of the Colorado River from Davis Dam south to
Harrah's Hotel and Casino on the following dates: annually, commencing
on the last Thursday of May every year, and lasting a total of 4 days,
ending on Sunday. These regulations are necessary to provide for the
safety of life, property, and navigation on the navigable waters of the
United States during scheduled events.
EFFECTIVE DATE: May 28, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant Mike A. Arguelles, Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San
Diego; telephone number (619) 683-6484.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
On March 27, 1997, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation in the Federal Register (62 FR
14379). The comment period ended May 10, 1997. The Coast Guard received
one letter commenting on the proposal. A public hearing was not
requested and no hearing was held. The only change the Coast Guard has
made to the language of this regulation since the publication of the
NPRM is to specify a more certain date and time schedule for the annual
Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo.
Background and Purpose
The Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo will consist of
five various styles of watercraft racing. The races will take place,
annually, over a four day period beginning on the last Thursday of May,
and ending on Sunday. These regulations are necessary to provide for
the safety of life, property, and navigation on the navigable waters of
the United States during scheduled events. The race zone encompasses
the Colorado River from the Davis Dam south to Harrah's Hotel and
Casino. The race courses will be marked by vessels with signs, and both
north and south boundaries of the race zone will have major signs to
alert non-participants using the river. On the following days and
times, the race zone will be in use by vessels competing in the event:
(1) the first day of the event, the last Thursday of each May each
year, from 3:00 PM PDT to 5:00 PM PDT, (2) the second day of the event,
Friday, from 8:00 AM PDT to 2:00 PM PDT, and from 3:30 PM PDT to 6:00
PM PDT, (3) the third day of the event, Saturday, from 8:00 AM PDT to
1:30 PM PDT, and from 4:00 PM PDT to 5:00 PM PDT; and, (4) the fourth
and final day of the event, Sunday, from 9:00 AM PDT to 1:30 PM PDT,
from 3:00 PM PDT to 4:00 PD PDT, and from 6:00 PM PDT to 7:00 PM PDT.
During these times the Colorado River from Davis Dam south to Harrah's
Hotel and Casino will be closed with the exception of emergency
vessels. No vessels other than participants or official patrol vessels
will be allowed to enter this zone unless specifically cleared by or
through an official patrol vessel. Once the zone is established,
authorization to remain within the zone is subject to termination at
any time.
The Patrol Commander may impose other restrictions within the zone
if circumstances dictate. Restrictions will be tailored to impose the
least impact on maritime interests yet provide the level of security
deemed necessary to safely conduct the Aquamoto and Expo.
Discussion of Comments
The only comment received was from a local business that sought
notice of the exact date of the event. The comment also expressed
concern that closure of the area of the Colorado River specified in the
NPRM for an entire Saturday afternoon in May or June might prejudice
business; suggested that the river be open for unrestricted use on
Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. PDT until Sunday morning. The language
of this Final Rule provides the public with more specific notice of the
date and time schedule for the annual Laughlin Aquamoto Sports
Challenge and Expo. It also alleviates the concern that the river not
be closed for an entire Saturday afternoon, because on Saturday, the
river will be open from 1:30 P.M. PDT to 4 P.M. PDT, and from 5 P.M.
PDT on.
Regulatory Evaluation
This regulation is not a significant regulatory action under
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require assessment
of potential cost and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It
has been exempted from review by the Office of Management and Budget
under that Order.
It is not significant under the regulatory policies and procedures
of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26,
1979). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this regulation
to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph
10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of
Transportation is unnecessary.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this rule will have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small
entities'' may include small businesses and not-for-profit
organizations that are not dominant in their fields and (2)
governmental jurisdictions with populations less than 50,000. Because
it expects the impact of this proposal to be so minimal, the Coast
Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this proposal, if adopted, will not have a
substantial impact on a significant number of small entities.
Collection of Information
This rule contains no collection of information requirements under
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Federalism
The Coast Guard has analyzed this regulation under the principles
and criteria in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that this rule
does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environment
The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact and concluded
that under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction M16475.1B as
revised in 59 CFR 38654, July 29 1994 and 61 FR 13563, March 27, 1996,
it will have no significant environmental impact and it is
categorically excluded from further environmental
[[Page 3037]]
documentation. A Categorical Exclusion Determination and environmental
analysis checklist will be available for inspection and copying in the
docket to be maintained at the address listed in ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Regattas and Marine parades.
Regulation
For the reasons set out in the preamble the Coast Guard proposes to
amend 33 CFR Part 100, section 100.1102, Table I, as follows:
PART 100--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 100 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 49 CFR 1.46.
2. Section 100.1102, Table I is amended by adding an entry for the
Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo immediately following the
entry for the Laughlin Classic to read as follows:
Sec. 100.102-- Marine Events on the Colorado River, between Davis Dam
(Bullhead City, Arizona) and Headgate Dam (Parker, Arizona).
* * * * *
Table 1
* * * * *
Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo
Sponsor: Baja Promotions
Dates: The last Thursday of May every year, lasting a total of 4
days, ending on Sunday, per the following schedule: 1.) the first day
of the event, the last Thursday of May each year, from 3 p.m PDT to 5
p.m. PDT, 2.) the second day of the event, Friday, from 8 a.m. PDT to 2
p.m. PDT, and from 3:30 p.m. PDT to 6 p.m. PDT, 3.) the third day of
the event, Saturday, from 8 a.m. PDT to 1:30 p.m. PDT, and from 4 p.m.
PDT to 5 p.m. PDT; and, 4.) the fourth and final day of the event,
Sunday, from 9 a.m. PDT to 1:30 p.m. PDT, from 3 p.m. PDT to 4 p.m.
PDT, and from 6 p.m. PDT to 7 p.m. PDT.
Where: That portion of the Colorado River near Laughlin, Nevada,
from Davis Dam to Harrah's Hotel and Casino.
Dated: December 19, 1997.
J.C. Card,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 98-1270 Filed 1-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
