[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 205 (Monday, October 25, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57418-57419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27736]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[CGD01-99-179]
RIN 2115-AA97
Safety Zone: Christmas Party Fireworks, Hudson River, Manhattan,
New York
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone
on the Hudson River for the Christmas Party Fireworks display. This
action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable
waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel
traffic on a portion of the Hudson River.
DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before November 24,
1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Waterways Oversight Branch
(CGD01-99-179), Coast Guard Activities New York, 212 Coast Guard Drive,
Staten Island, New York 10305, or deliver them to room 205 at the same
address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
federal holidays.
The Waterways Oversight Branch of Coast Guard Activities New York
maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments, and
documents as indicated in this preamble, will become part of this
docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room 205,
Coast Guard Activities New York, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant J. Lopez, Waterways
Oversight Branch, Coast Guard Activities New York (718) 354-4193.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments.
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses,
identify this rulemaking (CGD01-99-179) and the specific section of
this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for
each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of
receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or
envelopes.
The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the
comment period. It may change this proposed rule in view of the
comments.
The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a
public hearing by writing to the Waterways Oversight Branch at the
address under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons why a
hearing would be beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for
oral presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold
a public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the
Federal Register.
Background and Purpose
Fireworks by Grucci has submitted an Application for Approval of a
Marine Event for a fireworks display on the Hudson River. This proposed
regulation establishes a temporary safety zone in all waters of the
Hudson River within a 360-yard radius of the fireworks barge in
approximate position 40 deg.44'49''N 074 deg.01'02''W (NAD 1983), about
500 yards west of Pier 60, Manhattan, New York. The proposed safety
zone would be effective from 8:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on December 14,
1999. If the event is cancelled due to inclement weather, then this
event will be held from 8:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. on December 15, 1999.
The proposed safety zone prevents vessels from transiting a portion of
the Hudson River and is needed to protect boaters from the hazards
associated with fireworks launched from a barge in the area. Marine
traffic will still be able to transit through the eastern 150 yards of
the 850-yard wide Hudson River during the event. The Captain of the
Port does not anticipate any negative impact on vessel traffic due to
this event. Public notifications will be made prior to the event via
local notice to mariners, and marine information broadcasts. The Coast
Guard is limiting the comment period for this NPRM to 30 days because
the proposed safety zone is only for a one and a half hour long local
event and it should have negligible impact on vessel transits. The
Coast Guard expects to receive no comments on this NPRM due to the
limited duration of the event and the fact that it should not interfere
with vessel transits.
Discussion of Proposed Rule
The proposed safety zone is for a Christmas Party Fireworks display
held on the Hudson River at Pier 60, Chelsea Piers, Manhattan, New
York. This event will be held on Tuesday, December 14, 1999. If the
event is canceled due to inclement weather, then the event will be held
on Wednesday, December 15, 1999. This rule is being proposed to provide
for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event and to give
the marine community the opportunity to comment on this event.
Regulatory Evaluation
This proposed 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. It has not been reviewed 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 proposed 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 Lower Hudson River during the
event, the effect of this regulation will not be significant for
several reasons: the minimal time that vessels will be restricted from
the area, that vessels are not precluded from getting underway, or
mooring at, Piers 59-62 and the Piers at Castle Point, New Jersey, that
vessels may safely transit to the east of the zone, and advance
notifications which will be made to the local maritime community by the
Local Notice to Mariners, and marine information broadcasts.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposed rule, if adopted, will
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. ``Small entities'' include 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.
[[Page 57419]]
For reasons stated in the Regulatory Evaluation section above, the
Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule, if
adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities. If, however, you think that your business or
organization qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed rule
will have a significant economic impact on your business or
organization, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) explaining why
you think it qualifies and in what way and to what degree this proposed
rule will economically affect it.
Collection of Information
This proposed rule does not provide for a collection of information
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Federalism
The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposed rule under the
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has
determined that this proposed rule does not have sufficient
implications for federalism to warrant the preparation of a Federalism
Assessment.
Unfunded Mandates
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) [Pub.
L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48] requires Federal agencies to assess the effects
of certain regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal governments,
and the private sector. UMRA requires a written statement of economic
and regulatory alternatives for rules that contain Federal mandates. A
``Federal mandate'' is a new or additional enforceable duty imposed on
any State, local, or tribal government, or the private sector. If any
Federal mandate causes those entities to spend, in the aggregate, $100
million or more in any one year, the UMRA analysis is required. This
proposed rule would not impose Federal mandates on any State, local, or
tribal governments, or the private sector.
Environment
The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this
proposed rule and concluded that under figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g), of
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded
from further environmental documentation. A written Categorical
Exclusion Determination is available in the docket for inspection or
copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.
Proposed Regulation
For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes
to amend 33 CFR part 165 as follows:
PART 165--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g),
6.04-1, 6.04.6, 160.5; 59 CFR 1.46.
2. Add temporary Sec. 165.T01-179 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T01-179 Safety Zone: Christmas Party Fireworks, Hudson River,
Manhattan, New York.
(a) Location: The following area is a safety zone: All waters of
the Hudson River within a 360-yard radius of the fireworks barge in
approximate position 40 deg.44'49''N 074 deg.01'02''W (NAD 1983), about
500 yards west of Pier 60, Manhattan, New York.
(b) Effective Period. This section is effective from 8:30 p.m. to
10 p.m. on December 14, 1999. If the event is cancelled due to
inclement weather, then this section is effective from 8:30 p.m. until
10 p.m. on December 15, 1999.
(c) Regulations. (1) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR
165.23 apply.
(2) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of
the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or the designated on-scene-patrol
personnel. These personnel comprise commissioned, warrant, and petty
officers of the Coast Guard. 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.
Dated: October 18, 1999.
R.E. Bennis,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, New York.
[FR Doc. 99-27736 Filed 10-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M
