[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28502-28503]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13998]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD07-96-005]
RIN 2115-AE46
Special Local Regulations: Fort Myers Beach Offshore Grand Prix;
Fort Myers Beach, FL
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing permanent special local
regulations for the Fort Myers Offshore Grand Prix. This event will be
held annually during the first Saturday and Sunday of June, between 12
p.m. and 3 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). Historically, there have been
approximately 170 participant and spectator craft. The resulting
congestion of navigable channels creates an extra or unusual hazard in
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: LTJG T. Stuhlreyer, project officer,
Coast Guard Group St. Petersburg, FL at (813) 824-7533.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
On March 20, 1996, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed
rulemaking entitled [CGD07-96-005] in the Federal Register (61 FR
11354). The Coast Guard received no written or oral comments during the
proposed rulemaking comment period. A public hearing was not requested
and one was not held.
Discussion of Regulations
These regulations are needed to provide for the safety of life
during the Fort Myers Beach Offshore Grand Prix. These regulations are
intended to promote safe navigation on the waters off Fort Myers Beach
during the races by controlling the traffic entering, exiting, and
traveling within these waters. The anticipated concentration of
spectator and participant vessels associated with the Grand Prix poses
a safety concern, which is addressed in these special local
regulations. These regulations will not permit anchoring shoreward of
the shoreside legs of the racecourse, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the
first Saturday and Sunday of June. Spectator craft will be permitted
near the race area but will be required to stay clear of the race
lanes. These regulations will permit anchoring for spectators seaward
of the seaside legs of the racecourse, but only in the designated
spectator area defined in paragraph (b) of the regulations. All vessel
traffic, not involved with the Fort Myers Beach Offshore Grand Prix,
exiting Matanzas Pass between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. will exit the marked
channel at Matanzas Pass Channel daybeacon #3 (26 deg.25.9' N,
82 deg.58.2' W, LLNR 16365) and #4 (26 deg.26.1' N, 82 deg.57.8' W,
LLNR 16370), and will proceed in a southwesterly direction seaward of
the designated spectator area defined in paragraph (b) of these
regulations, taking action to avoid a close-quarters situation until
the vessel finally is past and clear of the racecourse. All coordinates
referenced use datum: NAD 83. All vessel traffic, not involved with the
Fort Myers Beach Offshore Grand Prix, exiting Big Carlos Pass between
11 a.m. and 3 p.m. will proceed in a southwesterly direction seaward of
the designated spectator area defined in paragraph (b) of these
regulations, taking action to avoid a close-quarters situation until
finally past and clear of the racecourse.
Regulatory Evaluation
This rule 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 last for only 4 hours each day of the event.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider whether this action 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 that this action will 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
action and has concluded that preparation of an Environmental Impact
Statement is not necessary. An Environmental Assessment and Finding of
No Significant Impact are available in the docket for inspection or
copying. The
[[Page 28503]]
Coast Guard has concluded that this action will not significantly
affect the quality of the human environment.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and record keeping
requirements, Waterways.
Proposed Regulations
For reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR
Part 100 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 100.717 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 100.717 Annual Fort Myers Beach Offshore Grand Prix; Fort Myers,
FL.
(a) Regulated Area. The regulated area is formed by a line drawn
from the start/finish position, at the Fort Myers Beach pier
(26 deg.28.07' N, 81 deg.58.30' W), thence to position 26 deg.26.08' N,
81 deg.55.29' W, thence to position 26 deg.24.76' N, 81 deg.54.68' W,
thence to position 26 deg.23.74' N, 81 deg.55.10' W, thence to position
26 deg.23.91' N, 81 deg.55.40' W, thence to position 26 deg.24.94' N,
81 deg.55.24' W, thence to position 26 deg.26.93' N, 81 deg.58.53' W,
thence to position 26 deg.27.32' N, 81 deg.58.16' W, thence back to the
start/finish position, at the Fort Myers Beach pier (26 deg.28.07,
81 deg.58.30' W). All coordinates referenced use datum: NAD 83.
(b) Special local regulations. (1) No vessel may anchor shoreward
of the shoreside boundaries of the regulated area, from 11 a.m. to 3
p.m. edt.
(2) Spectator craft will be permitted to anchor seaward of the
seaside boundaries of the regulated area, in the spectator area formed
by a line drawn from the position 29 deg.26.54' N, 81 deg.58.12' W,
thence to position 28 deg.25.06' N, 81 deg.55.42' W, thence to position
26 deg.24.45' N, 81 deg.55.50' W, thence to position 26 deg.26.54' N,
81 deg.58.30' W, thence back to position 29 deg.26.54' N, 81 deg.58.12'
W, and in the spectator area formed by a line drawn from the position
26 deg.25.06' N, 81 deg.54.18' W, thence to position 26 deg.23.47' N,
81 deg.54.00' W, thence to position 25 deg.24.05' N, 81 deg.54.47' W,
thence back to position 26 deg.25.06' N, 81 deg.54.18' W. All
coordinates referenced use datum: NAD 83.
(3) All vessel traffic, not involved with the Fort Myers Beach
Offshore Grand Prix, exiting Matanzas Pass between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
will exit the marked channel at Matanzas Pass Channel daybeacon #3
(26 deg.25.9' N, 82 deg.58.2' W, LLNR 16365) and #4 (26 deg.26.1' N,
82 deg.57.8' W, LLNR 16370), and shall proceed in a southwesterly
direction seaward of the spectator area defined in paragraph (b)(2) of
this section, taking action to avoid a close-quarters situation until
finally past and clear of the racecourse. All coordinates referenced
use datum: NAD 83.
(4) All vessel traffic, not involved with the Fort Myers Beach
Offshore Grand Prix, exiting Big Carlos Pass between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
edt will exit the pass in a southwesterly direction seaward of the
spectator area defined in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, taking
action to avoid a close-quarters situation with the spectator craft
until finally past and clear of the racecourse. All coordinates
referenced use datum: NAD 83.
(5) Entry into the regulated area shall be in accordance with this
regulation. Spectator vessels shall stay seaward of the seaside legs of
the racecourse at all times in the spectator areas defined in paragraph
(b)(2) of this section.
(c) Effective Dates. This section is effective at 11 a.m. and
terminates at 3 p.m. edt annually during the first Saturday and Sunday
of June.
Dated: May 22, 1996.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 96-13998 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
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