[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 248 (Monday, December 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 67570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33682]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD 95-054]
RIN 2115-AF17
Regattas and Marine Parades
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Interim rule; delay of effective date.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is delaying the effective date of the interim
rule on regatta and marine parades published in the Federal Register on
June 26, 1996. The interim rule more precisely identifies those marine
events which require a permit, those which require only written notice
to the Coast Guard, and those which require neither. A change in the
effective date from January 1, 1998, to January 1, 1999, is necessary
to allow additional time to further assess the potential impact, if
any, of the interim rule on the environment.
EFFECTIVE DATE: The interim rule published on June 26, 1996 (61 FR
33027) and delayed by a document published on November 26, 1996 (61 FR
60027) is effective on January 1, 1999.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr. Carlton Perry, Project Manager, Office of Boating Safety, Program
Management Division, 202-267-0979. You may obtain a copy of the interim
rule and subsequent notices by calling the U.S. Coast Guard Infoline at
1-800-368-5647 or read it on the Internet at the Web Site for the
Office of Boating Safety at URL address www.uscgboating.org.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 26, 1996, the Coast Guard published
an interim rule and notice of availability of environmental assessment
(CGD 95-054) entitled ``Regattas and Marine Parades'' in the Federal
Register (61 FR 33027). The interim rule, which was to become effective
on January 1, 1997, revised the Coast Guard's marine event regulations
to eliminate unnecessary requirements while continuing to protect the
safety of life. The rule more precisely identifies those events which
require a permit, those which require only written notice to the Coast
Guard, and those which require neither. The environmental assessment
and proposed finding of no significant impact which support this
rulemaking were made available to the public.
Approximately 85 comments were received in response to the interim
rule and notice of availability of the environmental assessment and to
the Coast Guard's previous requests for comments. Many of these
comments raised concerns regarding the reporting requirements placed on
the marine event sponsors and the potential environmental effects
associated with changing the current regulations on regatta and marine
parade permitting procedures. In addition, several comments received in
response to a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) entitled
``U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Protected Living Marine Resources
Initiative'' reiterated concerns raised by the comments on the interim
rule. Based on these comments and on the concerns raised during the
ongoing consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and
the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Coast Guard delayed
the effective date of the interim rule to January 1, 1998 (61 FR 60027;
November 26, 1996) to reconsider whether to proceed with a revision of
the regulations on regatta and marine parade permitting procedures, as
published, and to complete its consultation with FWS and NMFS. Because
the Coast Guard has not yet completed its reconsideration and
consultation with the FWS and NMFS or the required environmental
documentation, the Coast Guard is delaying the effective date to
January 1, 1999.
Accordingly, in FR Doc. 96-16319 published in the Federal Register
on June 26, 1996, at 61 FR 33027, as amended by the notice of delay
effective date published on November 26, 1996, at 61 FR 60027, the
effective date for the referenced interim rule is changed from January
1, 1998, to January 1, 1999.
Dated: December 18, 1997.
Ernest R. Riutta,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Operations.
[FR Doc. 97-33682 Filed 12-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
