[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 84 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18944-18946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-10557]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 110
[CGD07-95-033]
RIN 2115-AA98
Special Anchorage Areas; Herb River, Thunderbolt, GA; Bull River,
Savannah, GA; South Channel Savannah River East, Savannah, GA; South
Channel Savannah River West, Savannah, GA; Calibogue Sound, Hilton
Head, SC; May River, Hilton Head, SC
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing six temporary special
anchorage areas during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. These special
anchorage areas become effective on July 4, 1996, at 7 a.m. EDT
(Eastern Daylight Time), and terminate on August 5, 1996, at 11 p.m.
EDT. The Coast Guard expects a significant number of spectator vessels
to participate in the festivities surrounding the 1996 Olympic Games.
By designating special anchorage areas the Coast Guard expects to
minimize the problems associated with a large congestion of boaters in
the area.
EFFECTIVE DATES: This rule is effective at 7 a.m. EDT, on July 4, 1996,
and terminates at 11 p.m. EDT, on August 5, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Copies of documents referenced in this document are
available for inspection or copying from Marine Safety Office,
Savannah, 222 W. Ogelthorpe Avenue, Suite 402, Savannah, Georgia
between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. A copy of the environmental assessment is available from CEU
Miami, 909 S.E. 1st Ave., Miami, Florida 33131.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LT J. Simmerman, project officer for the Captain of the Port, or BMC P.
Webber, Marine Safety Office Savannah at Tel: (912) 652-4353, between
the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, except
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
On October 13, 1995, the Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (60 FR 53317) entitled
``Special Anchorage Areas; Herb River, Thunderbolt, GA; Bull River,
Savannah, GA; South Channel Savannah River East, Savannah, GA; South
Channel Savannah River West, Savannah, GA; Calibogue Sound, Hilton
Head, SC; May River, Hilton Head, SC'' (CGD07-95-033). Three comments
were received in response to the NPRM.
Discussion of Comments and Changes
All of the comments received addressed the proposed May River
special anchorage area, proposed Sec. 110.T72e(f). These comments
addressed concerns that establishment of the May River anchorage as
proposed would not allow for safe navigation of recreational and
commercial vessels by residents who live along the May River west of
the proposed anchorage area. Based on these comments, proposed
Sec. 110.T72e(f) has been modified in this final rule to decrease the
anchorage area, restricting the anchorage area to the southern half of
the May River. This change in area will allow for safe passage of
commercial and recreational vessels in the northern side of the
channel. The description of the May River anchorage area now appears in
Sec. 110.72e(a)(6). Additionally, an
[[Page 18945]]
effective date paragraph has been added to the section to make it clear
that these special anchorage areas will only be in effect from July 4,
1996 until August 5, 1996.
Discussion of Regulations
Approximately 1,000 to 2,000 spectator vessels are expected to
arrive and participate in the festivities of the 1996 Olympic sailing
competition. The Coast Guard is establishing six special anchorage
areas to alleviate the problems of a large congestion of recreational
boats in a small area. By designating these special anchorages, the
Coast Guard anticipates minimizing the associated problems with
security and pollution, as well as the commercial congestion that a
large influx of boaters might cause in the area. Vessels no more than
sixty-five feet in length when anchored at any special anchorage area
are not required to carry or exhibit the white anchor lights normally
required by the Navigation Rules. These special anchorage regulations
will be effective from July 4, 1996, at 7 a.m. EDT, until August 5,
1996, 11 p.m. edt.
Six special anchorage areas are being established in the following
locations: (1) Herb River; from the mouth of the Herb River to just
before Country Club Creek. (2) Bull River; south from the Bull River
Bridge to the mouth of Lazaretto Creek. (3) The South Channel of the
Savannah River west; extending from Elba Island Cut southeast to the
Fort Pulaski Bridge. (4) The South Channel of the Savannah River east;
extending from Fort Pulaski Bridge east to the entrance of Lazaretto
Creek. (5) Calibogue Sound; south of the entrance of Harbourtown to
Braddock Point. (6) May River; west of buoy 4 in the vicinity of Bass
Creek to buoy 5 prior to the mouth of Bull Creek.
Regulatory Evaluation
This 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 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
rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph
10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.
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 effect
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.
Over 1100 athletes and coaches representing over 80 countries, over
300 competition vessesls, as well as approximately 1,000 to 2,000
support and spectator vessels are expected to arrive and participate in
the festivities of the 1996 Olympic yatching competition. The special
anchorage areas described in this rule will be established for a
limited time period to help accommodate this large volume of spectator
vessels in the port of Savannah. The boundaries of the anchorage areas
have been tailored to reduce congestion while still allowing for safe
navigation of the waterways by commercial and recreational vessels.
For the reasons discussed above, the Coast Guard certifies under
section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. et seq.)
that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.
Collection of Information
This rule contains no collection-of-information requirements under
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Federalism
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.
Environmental Assessment
The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this
action and has determined pursuant to Section 2.B.2. of Commandant
Instruction M16475.1B, that this action is categorically excluded from
further environmental documentation.
A Categorical Exclusion Determination and Categorical Exclusion
Checklist are available in the docket for inspection or copying at the
location listed in ADDRESSES. In addition the environmental analysis
above, an Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant
Impact (FONSI) has been issued for the area during the 1996 Olympic
Yachting Competition. A copy of the EA and FONSI is available for
copying and inspection at the location listed in ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110
Anchorage grounds.
Final Regulations
In consideration of the foregoing, Part 110 of Title 33, Code of
Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:
PART 110--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 110 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 2030, 2035, and 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and
33 CFR 1.05-1(g). Section 110.1a and each section listed in 110.1a
are also issued under 33 U.S.C. 1223 and 1231.
2. A new temporary Sec. 110.72e is added to read as follows:
Sec. 110.72e Savannah Olympic Anchorage Areas, GA.
(a) Anchorage Areas. The following locations are special anchorage
areas (All coordinates referenced used Datum: NAD 1983):
(1) Herb River Anchorage. The waters in Herb River within the area
bounded at latitude 32 deg.01'.2'' N, extending south to a line at
latitude 32 deg.00'.0'' N.
(2) Bull River Anchorage. The waters of Bull River within the area
bounded at latitude 32 deg.02'.2'' N, east to a line at latitude
31 deg.59'.7'' N across Bull River.
(3) South Channel of the Savannah River West Anchorage. The waters
of the South Channel of the Savannah River lying between latitude
32 deg.04'.1'' N, extending east to a line of longitude 080 deg.54'.9''
W in the vicinity of the Fort Pulaski Bridge.
(4) South Channel of the Savannah River East Anchorage. The waters
of the South Channel of the Savannah River lying east of the Fort
Pulaski Bridge, beginning at longitude 080 deg.54'.9'' W, extending
east to longitude 080 deg.53'.9'' W across South Channel.
(5) Calibogue Sound Anchorage. The waters of Calibogue Sound lying
within the following coordinates, the area west of the west shore of
Hilton Head Island; starting at
32 deg.08'12.0'' N, 080 deg.48'55.0'' W; thence to,
32 deg.08'12.0'' N, 080 deg.49'13.0'' W; thence to,
32 deg.06'50.0'' N, 080 deg.49'55.0'' W; thence to,
32 deg.06'50.0'' N, 080 deg.49'43.0'' W; back north on the west shore
of Hilton Head Island to the point of beginning.
(6) May River Anchorage. The waters of May River within the
following
[[Page 18946]]
coordinates, the area north of the north shore of Bull Island;
beginning at
32 deg.11'45.0'' N, 080 deg.48'03.0'' W; thence to,
32 deg.11'52.0'' N, 080 deg.48'02.0'' W; thence to,
32 deg.12'00.0'' N, 080 deg.48'17.0'' W; thence to,
32 deg.12'19.0'' N, 080 deg.49'35.0'' W; thence to,
32 deg.12'09.0'' N, 080 deg.49'43.0'' W; back east along the north
shore of Bull Island to the point of beginning.
(b) Effective dates. This section is effective on July 4, 1996, at
7 a.m. EDT, and terminates on August 5, 1996, at 11 p.m. EDT.
Dated: April 23, 1996.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-10557 Filed 4-29-96; 8:45 am]
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