[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36181-36182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17651]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD07-98-008]
RIN 2115-AE46
Special Local Regulations; Around Alone Sailboat Race,
Charleston, SC
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local
regulations creating a regulated area in the coastal waters off
Charleston, SC, for the Around Alone single-handed sailboat race,
sponsored by Great Adventure, Ltd. These regulations will prohibit
entry into the regulated area by non-participating vessels during the
event. These regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of
life on navigable waters because of the expected presence of numerous
spectator craft.
DATES: This regulation is effective from 10 a.m. (EDT) until 2 p.m.
(EDT) on September 26, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LTJG S. Brisco, Project Manager, Coast Guard Group Charleston at (803)
724-7628.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
The Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the
Federal Register on March 30, 1998 (63 FR 15115). No comments were
received during the comment period.
Background and Purpose
These regulations are needed to provide for the safety of life
during the start of the Around Alone 1998-99 sailing race. These
regulations are intended to promote safe navigation offshore Charleston
Harbor immediately before, during, and after the start of the race, by
controlling the traffic entering, exiting, and traveling within the
regulated area. The anticipated concentration of commercial traffic,
spectator vessels, and participating vessels associated with the race
poses a safety concern which is addressed in these proposed safety
regulations.
The regulated area will encompass a trapezoidal area south of
Charleston Harbor entrance lighted buoy 7 (LLNR 2405). Four conspicuous
markers will indicate the corners of the regulated area. These
regulations prohibit the movement of spectator vessels and other non-
participants within the regulated area on September 26, 1998, between
10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the discretion of the Coast Guard Patrol
Commander.
Regulatory Evaluation
This rule is not a major 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
[[Page 36182]]
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. The regulations will only be in
effect for approximately 4 hours on September 26, 1998.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the
Coast Guard must consider 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
field, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than
50,000.
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that
this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial
number of small entities because the regulated area would be in effect
for only 4 hours in a limited area outside Charleston harbor.
Collection of Information
This rule 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 action in accordance with the
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has
determined that this rule 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
proposal, and has determined pursuant figure 2-1, paragraph #34(h) of
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, that this proposal is categorically
excluded from further environmental documentation. A Categorical
Exclusion Determination is available in the docket for inspection and
copying.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Waterways.
Temporary Regulations
In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends Part 100
of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:
PART 100--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 100 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 40 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35
2. A new section 100.35T-07-008 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 100.35T-07-008 Around Alone 1998-99 Sailing Race; Charleston, SC.
(a) Definitions:
(1) Regulated area. The regulated area includes the waters off
Charleston, SC, in an area bounded by four corner points located at 32-
42.72N, 79-47.64W; 32-42.09N, 79-46.96W; 32-41.61N, 79-47.28W; and 32-
41.78N, 79-48.27W. All coordinates reference Datum: NAD 83. These four
points will be conspicuously marked with four markers.
(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, SC.
(b) Special Local Regulations.
(1) Entry into the regulated area by other than event participants
is prohibited, unless otherwise authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol
Commander.
(2) The Coast Guard Patrol Commander may delay, modify, or cancel
the race as conditions or circumstances require. The Coast Guard Patrol
Commander shall monitor the start of the race with the race committee,
to allow for a window of opportunity for the race participants to
depart the harbor with minimal interference with inbound or outbound
commercial traffic.
(3) Spectator and other non-participating vessels may only follow
the participants out of Charleston Harbor to the race starting area if
they maintain a minimum distance of 500 yards behind the last
participant, at the discretion of the Patrol Commander. Upon completion
of the start of the race and when the last race participant has passed
the outermost boundary of the regulated area, all vessels may resume
normal operations.
(c) Date. This section becomes effective at 10 a.m. and terminates
at 2 p.m. EDT on September 26, 1998.
Dated: June 24, 1998.
Norman T. Saunders,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-17651 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M