01-31843. Safety Zone and Anchorage Regulations; Chicago Harbor, Chicago, Illinois

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone and suspending a portion of an anchorage area encompassed by the safety zone for the City of Chicago's New Year Celebration. This rulemaking is necessary for the protection and safety of passengers and vessels during the fireworks display. This rulemaking is intended to restrict vessel traffic from a portion of Lake Michigan in the area of the Chicago Harbor, in particular, the Monroe Street Harbor. During this event, vessels will be unable to enter or exit the Monroe Harbor.

DATES:

This temporary final rule is effective from 11 p.m. (local) December 31, 2001 until 12:45 a.m. (local) January 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket [CGD09-01-153] and are available for inspection or copying at: U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Chicago, 215 W. 83rd Street, Suite D, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60521, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

MST3 Mike E. Esquivel, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Chicago, 215 W. 83rd Street, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60521. The telephone number is [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing an NPRM. 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 permit application was not received in time to publish an NPRM followed by a final rule before the effective date. Delaying this rule would be contrary to the public interest of ensuring the safety of spectators and vessels during this event and immediate action is necessary to prevent possible loss of life or property. The Coast Guard has not received any complaints or negative comments previously with regard to this event.

Background and Purpose

A temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. Based on recent accidents that have occurred in other Captain of the Port zones, and the explosive hazard of fireworks, the Captain of the Port Chicago has determined firework launches in close proximity to watercraft pose significant risks to public safety and property. The likely combination of large numbers of recreational vessels, congested waterways, darkness punctuated by bright flashes of light, alcohol use, and debris falling in the water could easily result in serious injuries or fatalities. Establishing a safety zone to control vessel movement around the location of the launch platforms will help ensure the safety of person and property at this event and help minimize the associated risk.

The safety zone encompasses the waters of the Chicago Harbor bounded by the following positions: 41° 52.43 N, 087° 36.43 W, thence east to 41° 52.43 N, 087° 36.16 W, thence south to 41° 52.28 N, 087° 36.16 W, thence west to 41° 52.28 N, 087° 36.43 W, thence north back to the point of origin. These coordinates are based upon North American Datum 1983 (NAD 83). This area includes a portion of the Monroe Street Harbor including the Grant Park anchorage areas (33 CFR 110.83), the entrance to the Monroe Street Harbor, as well as a portion outside the breakwall for the Monroe Street Harbor. Only that portion of the anchorage area encompasses by the safety zone will be suspended.

All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or the designated on scene patrol personnel. Entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Chicago or his designated on scene representative. The Captain of the Port or his designated on scene representative may be contacted via VHF Channel 16.

Regulatory Evaluation

This temporary 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 proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

This determination is based on the minimal time that vessels will be restricted from the zone, and the zone is in an area where the Coast Guard expects insignificant adverse impact to mariners from the zones' activation.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) the Coast Guard considered whether this rule will have a significant impact on a substantial number of small businesses and not-for-profit organizations that are not dominant in their respective fields, and government jurisdictions with populations less than 50,000. For the same reasons set fourth in the above regulatory evaluations, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605 (b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C.601 et seq.) that this temporary final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. At this time of year there the amount of vessel traffic is at a minimum level and the safety zone will only be in place for a very short duration. In addition, those vessels requiring transit of the area may request permission from the Captain of the Port Chicago to transit the zone.

Assistance for Small Entities

In accordance with section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-121), the Coast Guard wants to assist small entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate its effectiveness and participate in the rulemaking process. If your small business or organization is affected by this rule, and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact the office listed in ADDRESSES in this preamble.

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).

Collection of Information

This rule contains no information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that this rule does not federalism implication under that order.

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 or more in any one year. Though this proposed rule would 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

The Coast Guard has 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

The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this regulation and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, it is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. A “Categorical Exclusion Determination” is available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

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 proposed 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. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

List of Subjects

33 CFR Part 110

• Anchorage grounds

33 CFR Part 165

• Harbors
• Marine safety
• Navigation (water)
• Reporting and record keeping requirements
• Security measures
• Waterways

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR parts 110 and 165 as follows:

PART 110—ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS

1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 1221 through 1236, 2030, 2035, 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 1.05-1(g).

§ 110.83

[Amended]

2. In § 110.83, suspend paragraph (a) from 11 p.m. December 31, 2001(local time) until 12:45 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2002.

PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

3. 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; 49 CFR 1.46.

4. A new temporary § 165.T09-123 is added to read as follows:

§ 165.T09-123

Safety Zone; Chicago Harbor, Chicago, Illinois.

(a) Location. The safety zone will encompass the waters of the Lake Michigan in the Chicago Harbor, including a portion of the Monroe Street harbor and the entrance to the Monroe Street Harbor, bounded by the following positions: starting at 41° 52.43 N, 087° 36.43 W, thence east to 41° 52.43 N, 087° 36.16 W, thence south to 41° 52.28 N, 087° 36.16 W, thence west to 41° 52.28 N, 087° 36.43 W, thence north back to the point of origin.

(b) Effective time and date. This section is effective from 11 p.m. (local time) December 31, 2001 until 12:45 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2002.

(c) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in § 165.23 of this part, entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Chicago, or his designated on-scene representative. The Captain of the Port Chicago or his designated on-scene representative may be contacted via VHF Channel 16. The designated on-scene representative will be the Patrol Commander.

Dated: December 17, 2001.

James D. Hull,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, District Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.