E9-30936. Special Local Regulation; Ironman 70.3 California; Oceanside Harbor, Oceanside, CA

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard proposes temporary Special Local Regulation within the navigable waters of Oceanside Harbor for the Ironman 70.3 California. This temporary Special Local Regulation is necessary to provide safety for the swimmers, crew, spectators, vessels and other users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this Special Local Regulation unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

DATES:

Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before January 29, 2010. Requests for public meetings must be received by the Coast Guard on or before January 20, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-2009-0965 using any one of the following methods:

(1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

(2) Fax: [phone].

(3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.

(4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.

To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. See the “Public Participation and Request for Comments” portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this proposed rule, call or e-mail Petty Officer Corey McDonald, Waterways Management, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego, Coast Guard; telephone [phone], e-mail [e-mail]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any personal information you have provided.

Submitting Comments

If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2009-0965), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online (via http://www.regulations.gov) or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online via http://www.regulations.gov,, it will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you include your name and a mailing address, an e-mail address, or a telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions regarding your submission.

To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov,, click on the “submit a comment” box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In the “Document Type” drop down menu select “Proposed Rule” and insert “USCG-2009-0965” in the “Keyword” box. Click “Search” then click on the balloon shape in the “Actions” column. If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period and may change the rule based on your comments.

Viewing Comments and Documents

To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov,, click on the “read comments” box, which will then become highlighted in blue. In the “Keyword” box insert “USCG-2009-0965” and click “Search.” Click the “Open Docket Folder” in the “Actions” column. You may also visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.

Privacy Act

Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Public Meeting

We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a request for one using one of the four methods specified under ADDRESSES. Please explain why you believe a public meeting would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

World Triathlon Corporation is sponsoring the Ironman 70.3 California. The event will consist of 2,200 participants. The waterside swim course consists of a 1.2 mile loop in the South Oceanside Harbor. The course requires a Special Local Regulation while the swimmers are on the course, thus restricting vessel traffic within the Oceanside Harbor for three hours. There will be 25 to 30 safety vessels provided by the sponsor to enforce the Special Local Regulation.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a Special Local Regulation from 6:40 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2010 for the Ironman 70.3 California. This temporary Special Local Regulation is necessary for the safety of the swimmers and staff and will affect the use of the waterway during the period of the event. The limits of this temporary Special Local Regulation are the waters of Oceanside Harbor encompassed by the following coordinates:

33°12.54′ N, 117°24.12′ W;

33°12.52′ N, 117°23.75′ W;

33°12.49′ N, 117°23.66′ W;

33°12.37′ N, 117°23.54′ W;

33°12.32′ N, 117°23.55′ W;

33°12.43′ N, 117°23.69′ W;

33°12.46′ N, 117°23.79′ W;

33°12.41′ N, 117°23.96′ W;

33°12.44′ N, 117°23.98′ W;

33°12.45′ N, 117°24.12′ W;

33°12.54′ N, 117°24.12′ W.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Special Local Regulation and may be assisted by other Federal, State, or local agencies, including the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Special Local Regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the swimmers, spectators, vessels and other users of the waterway. Persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this Special Local Regulation unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

Regulatory Analyses

We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.

Regulatory Planning and Review

This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 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. We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. This determination is based on the size, location, and duration of the Special Local Regulation. Commercial vessels will not be hindered by the Special Local Regulation. Recreational vessels will not be allowed to transit through the designated Special Local Regulation during the specified times.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this proposed 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 proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This proposed rule would affect the following entities, some of which might be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in a portion of the Oceanside Harbor from 6:40 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on March 27, 2010.

This Special Local Regulation would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. This rule would be in effect for less than 3 hours early in the day when vessel traffic is low. Although the Special Local Regulation would apply to the entire width of the south harbor, traffic would be allowed to pass through the zone with the permission of the Coast Guard patrol commander. Before the effective period, the Coast Guard will publish a local notice to mariners (LNM) and will issue broadcast notice to mariners (BNM) alerts via marine channel 16 VHF before the Special Local Regulation is enforced.

If you think that your business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what degree this rule would economically affect it.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small entities in understanding this proposed rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact Petty Officer Corey McDonald, Waterways Management, U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego, Coast Guard at [phone]. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this proposed rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

Collection of Information

This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this proposed rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.

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 proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 proposed rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and would not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

This proposed rule does not have Tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it would 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. The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.

This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)(42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have made a preliminary determination that this action is one of a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. The proposed rule involves a special local regulation for a swimming race and is categorically excluded under paragraph 34(h) of COMDTINSTM 16475.1D, figure 2-1. A preliminary environmental analysis checklist supporting this determination is available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. We seek any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a significant environmental impact from this proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

• Marine safety
• Navigation (water)
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Waterways

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100—SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

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

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233.

2. Add a new temporary Special Local Regulation § 100.35T11-254 to read as follows:

§ 100.35T11-254

Special Local Regulation; Ironman 70.3 California; Oceanside Harbor, Oceanside, CA.

(a) Location. The limits of this temporary Special Local Regulation are the waters of Oceanside Harbor encompassed by drawing a line from point to point along the following coordinates:

33°12.54′ N, 117°24.12′ W;

33°12.52′ N, 117°23.75′ W;

33°12.49′ N, 117°23.66′ W;

33°12.37′ N, 117°23.54′ W;

33°12.32′ N, 117°23.55′ W;

33°12.43′ N, 117°23.69′ W;

33°12.46′ N, 117°23.79′ W;

33°12.41′ N, 117°23.96′ W;

33°12.44′ N, 117°23.98′ W;

33°12.45′ N, 117°24.12′ W;

33°12.54′ N, 117°24.12′ W.

(b) Enforcement Period. This section will be enforced from 6:40 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on March 27, 2010. If the event concludes prior to the scheduled termination time, the Captain of the Port will cease enforcement of this Special Local Regulation and will announce that fact via Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

(c) Definitions. The following definition applies to this section: designated representative means any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard on board a Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel, or onboard a local, State, or Federal law enforcement vessel who have been authorized to act on the behalf of the Captain of the Port.

(d) Special Local Regulations. (1) All persons and/or vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels are considered spectators. The official patrol consists of any Coast Guard vessels, any Federal, State or local law enforcement vessels and any sponsor provided vessels assigned by or approved by the Captain of the Port, San Diego, to patrol the events.

(2) No spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of participants or official patrol vessels in the regulated area during the effective dates and times, unless cleared for such by or through an official patrol vessel.

(3) When hailed by an official patrol vessel, a spectator shall come to an immediate stop. Vessels shall comply with all directions given. Failure to do so may result in a citation.

(4) The Patrol Commander is empowered to forbid and control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area. The Patrol Commander shall be designated by the Captain of the Port, San Diego, and as his or her representative and may terminate the event for the protection of life and property. He or she may be reached on VHF Channel 16 (156.8 MHz) when required, by the call sign “PATCOM”

(5) The Coast Guard may be assisted by other Federal, State, or local agencies.

Dated: December 3, 2009.

D.L. LeBlanc,

Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port, San Diego.