[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41324-41325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20334]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[CGD01-97-071]
RIN 2121-AA97
Safety Zone: New York Super Boat Race, New York
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone
in the lower Hudson River, for the New York Super Boat Race. The
proposed safety zone would restrict vessel traffic in the Lower Hudson
River between Battery Park and Pier 76 in Manhattan.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 2, 1997. The
temporary safety zone would be in effect on Sunday, September 7, 1997,
from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed to Lieutenant Junior Grade Dave
Gefell, Waterways Oversight Branch, Coast Guard Activities New York,
212 Coast Guard Drive, Staten Island, New York 10305.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant Junior Grade Dave Gefell, Waterways Oversight Branch, Coast
Guard Activities New York, (718) 354-4195.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments.
Persons submitting comments should include their names and
addresses, identify this notice (CGD01-97-071) and the specific section
of the proposal to which their comments apply, and give reasons for
each comment. Persons wanting acknowledgement of receipt of comments
should enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the
comment period. It may change this proposal in view of the comments.
The Coast Guard plans no public hearing; however, persons may request a
public hearing by writing to the Waterways Oversight Branch at the
address under ADDRESSES. If it is determined that the opportunity for
oral presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold
a public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the
Federal Register.
Background and Purpose
Super Boat International Productions, Inc. has submitted an
Application for Approval of Marine Event for a Super Boat Race in the
waters of the Lower Hudson River. This regulation would establish a
temporary safety zone in the waters of the Lower Hudson River south of
a line drawn from pier 76 in Manhattan and a point in Weehawken, New
Jersey at 40 deg.45'52''N latitude, 074 deg.01'01''W longitude, and
north of a line connecting the following points:
Latitute Longitude
40 deg.42'16.0'' N 074 deg.01'09.0'' W, then south
to
40 deg.41'55.0'' N 074 deg.01'16.0'' W, then west
to
40 deg.41'47.0'' N 074 deg.01'36.0'' W, then
northwest to
40 deg.41'55.0'' N 074 deg.01'59.0'' W, then to
shore at
40 deg.42'20.5'' N 074 deg.02'06.0'' W
The safety zone would be effective on Sunday, September 7, 1997,
from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. This safety zone would restrict vessel
traffic in the Lower Hudson River south of a line drawn from Pier 76 in
Manhattan to a point located directly opposite on the New Jersey
shoreline and north of a line drawn between Battery Park in Manhattan
and the southern most point of Ellis Island in the Upper New York Bay.
This safety zone is needed to protect mariners from the hazards
associated with a boat race in which the participants transit at
excessive speeds.
This event will include up to 40 powerboats, 24 to 50 feet in
length, racing on an 8 mile oval course at speeds in excess of 100 mph.
No more than 100 spectator craft are expected for the event.
Regulatory Evaluation
This proposal 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
proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under
paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is
unnecessary. Although this regulation would prevent traffic from
transiting this area, the effect of this regulation would not be
significant for several reasons: The volume of commercial vessel
traffic transiting the Lower Hudson River on a Sunday is less than half
of the normal daily traffic volume; pleasure craft desiring to view the
event will be directed to designated spectator viewing areas outside
the safety zone; pleasure craft can take an alternate route through the
East River and the Harlem River; the duration of the event is limited
to four hours; the extensive advisories which will be made to the
affected maritime community by Local Notice to Mariners, Safety Voice
Broadcast, and facsimile notification.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Coast
Guard must consider whether this proposal 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
(21 U.S.C. 632).
For reasons set forth in the above Regulatory Evaluation, the Coast
Guard expects the impact of this proposal to be minimal. The Coast
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposal will not have
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. If, however, you think that your business or organization
qualifies as a small entity and that this rule will have significant
economic impact on your business or organization, please submit a
comment explaining why you think it qualifies and in what way and to
what degree this rule will economically affect it.
Collection of Information
This proposal contains no collection of information requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
Federalism
The Coast Guard has analyzed this action in accordance with the
principles and criteria contained in Executive
[[Page 41325]]
Order 12612 and has determined that this proposal does not raise
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
Federalism Assessment.
Environment
The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this
proposal and concluded that under section 2.B.2.e. of Commandant
Instruction M16475.1B, it is categorically excluded from further
environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion Determination and
Environmental Analysis Checklist is included in the docket.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.
Proposed Regulations
For reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to
amend 33 CFR part 165 as follows:
PART 165--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g),
6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.
2. A temporary Sec. 165.T01-072, is added to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T01-072 Safety Zone; New York Super Boat Race, Hudson River,
New York and New Jersey.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of
the Lower Hudson River between Pier 76 in Manhattan and a point on the
New Jersey shore in Weehawken, New Jersey at 40 deg.45'52'' N latitude,
074 deg.01'01'' W longitude and north of a line connecting the
following points:
Latitude Longitude
40 deg.42'16.0'' N 074 deg.01'09.0'' W, then south
to
40 deg.41'55.0'' N 074 deg.01'16.0'' W, then west
to
40 deg.41'47.0'' N 074 deg.01'36.0'' W, then
northwest to
40 deg.41'55.0'' N 074 deg.01'59.0'' W, then to
shore at
40 deg.42'20.5'' N 074 deg.02'06.0'' W
(b) Effective period. This safety zone would be in effect on
Sunday, September 7, 1997, from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m.
(c) Regulations. (1) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR
165.23 apply.
(2) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of
the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or the designated on scene patrol
personnel. U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned,
warrant, and petty officers of the Coast Guard. Upon being hailed by a
U.S. Coast Guard vessel via siren, radio, flashing light, or other
means, the operator of a vessel shall proceed as directed.
Dated: July 20, 1997.
Richard C. Vlaun,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, New York.
[FR Doc. 97-20334 Filed 7-31-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-14-M
