00-25269. Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Fountain Power Boats Offshore Race, Pamlico River, Washington, North Carolina

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is adopting temporary special local regulations during the Fountain Power Boats Offshore Race, to be held October 13, 14 and 15, 2000, on the waters of the Pamlico River, Washington, North Carolina. These special local regulations are 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 Pamlico River during the event.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 6 a.m. on October 13, 2000, to 5 p.m. on October 15, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and materials received from the public as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket CGD05-00-043 and are available for inspection or copying at Commander (Aoax), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

S. L. Phillips, Marine Events Coordinator, Commander (Aoax), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, telephone number [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was not published for this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a NPRM and for making the rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. The Coast Guard received confirmation of the request for special local regulations on August 24, 2000. We were notified of the event with insufficient time to publish a NPRM, allow for comments, and publish a final rule prior to the event.

Background and Purpose

On October 13, 14, and 15, 2000, Fountain Power Boats will sponsor the Fountain Power Boats Offshore Race, on the Pamlico River, Washington, North Carolina. The event will consist of approximately 50 high speed power boats racing in heats along a 5 mile oval course. A fleet of spectator vessels is anticipated. Due to the need for vessel control during the event, vessel traffic will be temporarily restricted to provide for the safety of participants, spectators and transiting vessels.

Discussion of Regulations

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations on specified waters of the Pamlico River. The temporary special local regulations will be enforced from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 13, 14 and 15, 2000. The effect will be to restrict general navigation in the regulated area during the event. Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area. The Patrol Commander will allow non-participating vessels to transit the regulated area between races. These regulations are needed to control vessel traffic during the event to enhance the safety of participants, spectators and transiting vessels.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it 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).

We expect the economic impact of this temporary final rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

Although this regulation prevents traffic from transiting a portion of the Pamlico River during the event, the effect of this regulation will not be significant due to the limited duration of the regulation and the extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime community via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), we 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 will affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in the effected portions of the Pamlico River during the event.

Although this regulation prevents traffic from transiting or anchoring in a portion of the Pamlico River during the event, the effect of this regulation will not be significant because of its limited duration and the extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime community via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

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

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those costs. This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate.

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 concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

Environment

We prepared an “Environmental Assessment” in accordance with Commandant Instruction M16475.1C and determined that this rule will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. The “Environmental Assessment” and “Finding of No Significant Impact” is 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

Regulation

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends Part 100 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 100—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 100 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233 through 1236; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35.

2. A temporary § 100.35-T05-043 is added to read as follows:

§ 100.35-T05-043

Fountain Power Boats Offshore Race, Pamlico River, Washington, North Carolina

(a) Definitions—(1) Regulated Area. The waters of the Pamlico River from shoreline to shoreline, bounded on the south by a line running northeasterly from Hills Point at latitude 35°28′30″ North, longitude 076°59′20″ West, to Broad Creek Point at latitude 33°29′05″ North, longitude 076°58′50″ West, and bounded on the north by the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge. All coordinates reference Datum NAD 1983.

(2) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Group Fort Macon.

(3) Official Patrol. The Official Patrol is any vessel assigned or approved by Commander, Coast Guard Group Fort Macon with a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard on board and displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

(b) Special Local Regulations. (1) Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area.

(2) The operator of any vessel in these areas shall:

(i) Stop the vessel immediately when directed to do so by any official patrol.

(ii) Proceed as directed by any official patrol.

(c) Effective Dates. This section will be effective from 6 a.m. on October 13, 2000 to 5 p.m. on October 15, 2000.

(d) Enforcement Times. This section will be enforced from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 13, 14 and 15, 2000.

Dated: September 15, 2000.

T.C. Paar,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.