[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34814-34815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17073]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 110
[CGD01-97-014]
RIN 2115-AA98
Special Anchorage Area: Groton, CT
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will extend the boundaries of the special
anchorage area currently existing off Groton, Connecticut, between Pine
Island and Avery Point. This action is taken at the request of the City
of Groton, and is intended to make space available within the special
anchorage area for approximately 20 additional moorings.
DATES: This final rule is effective July 27, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Documents as indicated in this preamble are available for
inspection or copying at the office of the First Coast Guard District
(oan), 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-3350, between
9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
The telephone number is 617-223-8337.
[[Page 34815]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Matthew Stuck, Aids to Navigation
Branch, First Coast Guard District, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston,
Massachusetts, 02110-3350, (617) 223-8347.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
On February 6, 1998, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed
rulemaking entitled ``Special Anchorage Area: Groton, CT'' in the
Federal Register (63 FR 6141). The Coast Guard received no letters
commenting on the propose rulemaking. No public hearing was requested,
and none was held.
Background and Purpose
The rule is in response to a request made by the City of Groton to
accommodate the increased number of vessels mooring in this area. The
final rule will expand the existing special anchorage near Groton,
Connecticut, described in 33 CFR 110.51, to allow its use by
approximately 20 additional boats. Vessels not more than 65 feet in
length when at anchor in any special anchorage shall not be required to
carry or exhibit the white anchor lights required by the Navigation
Rules. The rule will provide approximately twenty additional moorings
in which vessel owners may enjoy the convenience of a special
anchorage. The existing anchorage, located near Pine Island and Avery
Point, is split into two areas by a 210-foot wide fairway channel. The
change will reduce the width of the existing fairway to approximately
135 feet and extend the western boundary of the southern section of the
anchorage by 75 feet. The note following section 33 CFR 110.51 is also
updated to indicate the decrease in fairway channel width.
Regulatory Evaluation
This final 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 not been reviewed 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 10(e) of the
regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. No person
will be required to spend any money in order to comply with this
regulation. The regulation will exempt persons operating in the
expanded area from complying with the more stringent vessel lighting
regulations they would ordinarily be obliged to follow.
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
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small
entities'' include 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. For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation section
above, the Coast Guard expects that this rule will not have a
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this final rule
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities.
Assistance for Small Entities
In accordance with section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), the Coast Guard
offered to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they
could better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the
rulemaking process.
Collection of Information
This rule does not provide for a collection of information under
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
Federalism
The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that
this rule does not have sufficient implications for federalism to
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environment
The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this
rule and concluded that under Figure 2-1, paragraph 34(f) Coast Guard
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C that this rule is categorically
excluded from further environmental documentation. A ``Categorical
Exclusion Determination'' and Environmental Analysis Checklist are
available in the docket for inspection and copying where indicated
under ADDRESSES in this final rule.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110
Anchorage grounds.
Final Regulation
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends
33 CFR part 110 as follows:
1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 1.05-
1(g). Section 110.1a and each section listed in it are also issued
under 33 U.S.C. 1223 and 1231.
2. Revise Sec. 110.51 to read as follows:
Sec. 110.51 Groton, Conn.
The waters between an unnamed cove and Pine Island.
(a) Beginning at a point on the shoreline of Avery Point at
latitude 41 deg.19'01.4'', longitude 072 deg.03'42.8''; thence to a
point in the cove at latitude 41 deg.19'02.5'', longitude
72 deg.03'36.2''; thence southeasterly to a point at latitude
41 deg.18'56.2'', longitude 072 deg.03'34.2''; thence northeasterly to
latitude 41 deg.19'02.5'', longitude 072 deg.03'19.2'' thence
terminating at the tip of Jupiter Point at latitude 41 deg.19'04.4'',
longitude 072 deg.03'19.7''. DATUM: NAD 83
(b) Beginning at a point on the shoreline of Pine Island at
latitude 41 deg.18'47.1'', longitude 072 deg.03'36.8''; thence
northerly to latitude 41 deg.18'54.1'', longitude 072 deg.03'35.4'';
thence northeasterly to a point at latitude 41 deg.19'01.2'', longitude
072 deg.03'19.3''; thence terminating at a point at latitude
41 deg.18'54.0'', longitude 072 deg.03 deg.17.5''. DATUM: NAD 83
Note: The areas designated by (a) and (b) are principally for
the use of recreational vessels. Vessels shall be anchored so that
part of the vessel obstructs the 135 foot wide channel. Temporary
floats or buoys for marking the location of the anchor of a vessel
at anchor may be used. Fixed mooring pilings or stakes are
prohibited.
Dated: June 11, 1998.
R.M. Larrabee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-17073 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
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