[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 78 (Monday, April 24, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20065-20066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-10068]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD01-95-017]
RIN 2115-AE46
Special Local Regulation: Harvard-Yale Regatta, Thames River, New
London, CT
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR Sec. 100.101
governing the Harvard-Yale Regatta. The specified race time of 10 a.m.
until 1:30 p.m. would be deleted to allow for a flexible race period.
Notice of each year's race time would be published in a Local Notice to
Mariners and the Federal Register. A flexible time period is warranted
because the actual race schedule is based on specific tidal conditions
which occur at various hours of the day and which differ from year to
year
DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 23, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Commander(b), First Coast Guard
District, Captain John Foster Williams Federal Building, 408 Atlantic
Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02110-3350. Comments also may be hand-
delivered to room 428 at the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant (junior grade) B.M. Algeo, Chief, Boating Safety Affairs
Branch, First Coast Guard District, (617) 223-8311.
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 notice (CGD01-95-017), the specific section of the
proposal to which each comment applies, and give reasons for each
comment. The Coast Guard requests that all comments and attachments be
submitted in an 8\1/2\'' x 11'' unbound format suitable for copying and
electronic filing. If that is not practical, a second copy of any bound
material is requested. Persons requesting acknowledgment of receipt of
comments should enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
The Coast Guard will consider all comments 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 Commander(b), First Coast Guard District at the
address under ADDRESSES. The request should include 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.
Drafting Information
The drafters of this notice are LTJG B.M. Algeo, Project Manager,
Boating Safety Affairs Branch and LCDR S.R. Watkins, Project Counsel,
District Legal Office.
Background and Purpose
The annual Harvard-Yale Regatta is a long-standing traditional race
entering its 130th year. The race is held in the Thames River, New
London, CT, between the Penn Central Drawbridge [[Page 20066]] and
Bartlett Cove. The regatta consists of three races of two, nine-men
racing shells. The event is expected to draw up to 100 spectator craft.
The Coast Guard expects no significant difference in the race from
years past. This proposal would give the race sponsors greater
flexibility in scheduling race times around the prevailing tidal
conditions.
Discussion of Proposed Amendments
The Coast Guard proposes to permanently amend the Special Local
Regulation found in 33 CFR Sec. 100.101 governing the Harvard-Yale
Regatta. The existing regulation provides for an effective period of 10
a.m. until 1:30 p.m. for the regulated area. Because a race of this
nature is dependent upon certain tidal conditions which differ in time
from year to year, the Coast Guard proposes to delete the specific time
period from the regulation. A provision allowing for annual notice of
the race time would be made a part of the permanent regulation. This
notice of specific race times for any given year would be published in
a Local Notice to Mariners and the Federal Register prior to the event.
Regulatory Evaluation
This proposal 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 to be
so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation, under paragraph 10e of
the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT, is unnecessary. This
conclusion is based on the limited duration of the race, the extensive
advisories that have been and will be made to the affected maritime
community, and the fact that the event is taking place in an area where
the only commercial interests affected are a few marinas. This
regulation also will allow vessels to transit to and from these
affected marinas under Coast Guard escort or as otherwise directed by
the Patrol Commander.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal will have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small
entities'' include independently owned and operated small businesses
that are not dominant in their fields and that otherwise qualify as
``small business concerns'' under section 3 of the Small Business Act
(15 U.S.C. 632).
For reasons set forth in the above Regulatory Evaluation, 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 proposal contains no collection of information requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Federalism
The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposal in accordance with the
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has
determined that this proposal does not have sufficient federalism
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environment
The Coast Guard is considering the environmental impact of this
proposal, and it is expected that preparation of an environmental
impact statement will not be necessary. An Environmental Assessment and
a Finding of No Significant Impact will be made available in the docket
for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Waterways.
For reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to
amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:
PART 100--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 100 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 USC 1233; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35.
2. In section 100.101 paragraph (b) is revised to read as follows:
Sec. 100.101 Harvard-Yale Regatta, Thames River, New London, CT.
* * * * *
(b) Effective period. This regulation will be effective annually on
the first or second Saturday in June at times to be determined and as
published in the Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners and a Federal
Register Notice. In case of postponement, this regulation will be in
effect the following day.
* * * * *
Dated: March 10, 1995.
J.L. Linnon,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 95-10068 Filed 4-21-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M
