[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 77 (Friday, April 19, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17270-17271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-9657]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD 09-96-001]
Special Local Regulation; Idle Hour South Channel Challenge, St.
Clair River, MI
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local
regulation for the United States waters of the St. Clair River South
Channel during the Idle Hour South Channel Challenge. This event will
be held on the St. Clair River South Channel, MI, from Saturday June 8,
through Monday June 10, 1996, on the St. Clair River South Channel.
This event will have an estimated 25 race boats racing a closed course
on the St. Clair River South Channel which could pose hazards to
navigation in the area. This regulation will restrict general
navigation between the St. Clair Flats Canal Lighted Buoy 7 and Harsens
Island Light 11. This regulation is needed to provide for the safety of
life, limb, and property on navigable waters during the event.
DATE: Comments must be received on or before May 20, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander (oan), Ninth Coast
Guard District, 1240 East 9th Street, Cleveland, Ohio 44199-2060. The
comments will be available for inspection and copying at the Aids to
Navigation and Waterways Management Branch, Room 2083, 1240 East 9th
Street, Cleveland, Ohio. Normal office hours are between 8 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Comments may also be hand
delivered to this address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant F.J. Milbry, Ninth Coast Guard District, Recreational
Boating Safety Affairs Branch, 1240 East Ninth Street, Cleveland, Ohio
44199-2060, (216) 522-3932.
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 name and address,
identify this rulemaking [CGD09-96-001] and the specific section of
this proposal to which each comment applies, and give a reason for each
comment. Persons wanting acknowledgment of receipt of comments should
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. The Coast Guard
will consider all comments
[[Page 17271]]
received during the comment period. It may change this proposal in view
of the comments. The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may
request a public hearing by writing to the Project Officer at the
address under ADDRESSES. 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.
Discussion of Proposed Regulations
The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on
specified waters of the St. Clair River South Channel, MI during the
Idle Hour South Channel Challenge. This event will have an estimated 25
high performance power boats racing a closed course race on St. Clair
River South Channel which could pose hazards to navigation in the area.
This event is expected to draw an estimated 200-300 spectator craft.
Pleasure craft will be able to transit the area on the north side of
the Channel during the event. Commercial vessels transit the St. Clair
Cutoff and will not be affected. This regulation is necessary to ensure
the protection of life, limb and property during this event.
Federalism Implications
This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined
that the rulemaking does not have sufficient federalism implications to
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environment.
The Coast Guard is conducting an environmental analysis for this
event pursuant to section 2.B.2.c of Coast Guard Commandant Instruction
M16475.1B, and the Coast Guard Notice of final agency procedures and
policy for categorical exclusions found at 59 FR 38654; July 29, 1994.
Regulatory Evaluation
This regulation 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 been exempted from review 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 regulation to be so minimal that a full
Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies
and procedures of the DOT is unnecessary.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal, if adopted, will have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. ``Small entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-
for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and
are not dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions
with populations of less than 50,000.
Commercial vessel traffic will not be affected by any restrictions
because they transit a different area then that affected by this
proposal. Pleasure craft will be able to transit the area on the north
side of the Channel during the event. Therefore, because it expects the
impact of this proposal to be minimal, the Coast Guard certifies under
5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposal, if adopted, will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Collection of Information
This regulation will impose no collection information requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Waterways.
Proposed Regulations
In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard proposes to
amend 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; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35.
2. A temporary Sec. 100.35-T09-001 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 100.35-T09-001 Idle Hour South Channel Challenge, St. Clair
River, MI.
(a) Regulated area. That portion of the St. Clair River South
Channel, in United States waters, between the St. Clair Flats Canal
Lighted Buoy 7 and Harsens Island Light 11. (NAD 83).
(b) Special local regulation. This section restricts general
navigation in the regulated area for the safety of spectators and
participants. Any vessel desiring to transit the regulated area may do
so only with prior approval of the Patrol Commander.
(c) Patrol Commander. (1) The Coast Guard will patrol the regulated
areas under the direction of a designated Coast Guard Patrol Commander
(Officer in Charge, U.S. Coast Guard St. Clair Shores, MI). The Patrol
Commander may be contacted on channel 16 (156.8 MHZ) by the call sign
``Coast Guard Patrol Commander.''
(2) The Patrol Commander may direct the anchoring, mooring, or
movement of any boat or vessel within the regulated areas. A succession
of sharp, short signals by whistle or horn from vessels patrolling the
area under the direction of the U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Commander shall
serve as a signal to stop. Any vessel so signaled shall stop and shall
comply with the orders of the Patrol Commander. Failure to do so may
result in expulsion from the area, citation for failure to comply, or
both.
(3) The Patrol Commander may terminate the marine event or the
operation of any vessel at any time it is deemed necessary for the
protection of life, limb, or property.
(4) All persons in the area shall comply with the orders of the
Coast Guard Patrol Commander.
(d) Effective date. This section is effective from 11:30 a.m. until
2:30 p.m., June 8, 9, and 10, 1996, unless extended or terminated
sooner by Coast Guard Group Commander Detroit, MI.
Dated: April 10, 1996.
G. F. Woolever,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-9657 Filed 4-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
