[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28503-28504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13997]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD07-96-021]
RIN 2115-AE46
Special Local Regulations: Augusta Southern National Drag Boat
Races; Augusta, GA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing permanent special local
regulations for the Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races. As a
permanent event, except this year, the Augusta Southern National Drag
Boat Races will be held annually on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday during the third week of July, between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. edt
(Eastern Daylight Time). However, due to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games,
this year's Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races will be held on
July 18-21, 1996 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. edt. Historically, there
have been approximately 160, 16-18 foot drag boats racing two vessels
per heat on a quarter mile long course on that portion of the Savannah
River at Augusta, GA, between U.S. Highway 1 (Fifth St) Bridge at mile
marker 199.45 and Eliot's Fish Camp at mile marker 197. The boats will
be competing at high speeds and at close range. The nature of the event
and the closure of the Savannah River create an extra or unusual hazard
on the navigable waters. These regulations are necessary to provide for
the safety of life on navigable waters during the event.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 5, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ENS M. J. DaPonte, project officer, Coast Guard Group Charleston at
(803) 724-7621.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
On April 18, 1996, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed
rulemaking entitled [CGD07-96-021] in the Federal Register (61 FR
16885). The comment period ended on May 20, 1996. The Coast Guard
received no comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking. A public
hearing was not requested and no hearing was held.
Discussion of Comments and Changes
No comments were received during the comment period. However, the
regulations dates for this year are being changed due to the 1996
Olympic Yachting Competition. The Augusta Southern National Drag Races
will occur permanently on an annual basis, except this year, on
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the third week in July from 6
a.m. to 8 p.m. edt. However, due to the Olympics this year's Augusta
Southern National Drag Races will be held on July 18-21 from 6 a.m. to
8 p.m. edt.
Discussion of Regulations
These regulations are needed to provide for the safety of life
during Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races. These regulations are
intended to promote safe navigation on the waters off Augusta on the
Savannah River during the races by controlling the traffic entering,
exiting, and traveling within these waters. The anticipated
concentration of spectator and event participant vessels associated
with the Drag Boat Races poses a safety concern, which is addressed in
these special local regulations.
These regulations will not permit the entry or movement of
spectator vessels and other non-event participating vessel traffic
between the U.S. Highway Route
[[Page 28504]]
1 (Fifth Street) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and Eliot's Fish Camp at
mile marker 197 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. edt, on July 18, 19, 20, and 21,
1996, and then thereafter, annually on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday of the third week in July. These regulations will permit the
movement of spectator vessels and other non-event participants after
the termination of race each day, and during intervals between
scheduled events at the discretion of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.
Regulatory Evaluation
This regulation is not a significant regulatory action under
Section 3(f) of the Executive Order 12866 and does not require an
assessment of the 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. These regulations will only last for
14 hours each day of the event. No public comments were received during
the notice of proposed rulemaking comment period.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this rulemaking 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 field 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 rulemaking, would not
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities.
Collection of Information
These regulations contain 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
rulemaking consistent with Section 2.B.2. of Commandant Instruction
M16475.1B. In accordance with that section, this action has been
environmentally assessed (EA completed), and the Coast Guard has
concluded that it will not significantly affect the quality of the
human environment. An environmental assessment and a finding of no
significant impact have been prepared and are available for copying and
inspection.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Waterways.
Final Regulations
In consideration of the foregoing, Part 100 of Title 33, Code of
Federal Regulations, the Coast Guard amends 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 new section 100.709 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 100.709 Annual Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races;
Savannah River, Augusta GA.
(a) Definitions. (1) Regulated area. The regulated area is formed
by a line drawn directly across the Savannah River at the U.S. Highway
1 (Fifth Street) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and directly across the
Savannah River at Eliot's Fish Camp at mile marker 197. The regulated
area encompasses the width of the Savannah River between these two
lines.
(2) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander
is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has
been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Group Charleston,
Charleston, South Carolina.
(b) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into the regulated area is
prohibited to all non-event participants.
(2) After the termination of the Augusta Southern National Drag
Boat Races each day, and during intervals between scheduled events, at
the discretion of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, all vessels may
resume normal operations.
(c) Effective Dates. This section is effective annually on
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the third week of July from 6
a.m. to 8 p.m. edt, except in 1996, the section is effective on July
18-21, 1996 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. edt.
Dated: May 22, 1996.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 96-13997 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
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