E9-19549. Safety Zone; MS Harborfest Tugboat Races in Casco Bay, ME

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the MS Harborfest Tugboat Races in Casco Bay, Maine. This temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters by prohibiting spectators, vessels, and other users of the waterway from entering the area surrounding the tugboat races due to the hazards associated with the tugboat races.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on August 16, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket are part of docket USCG-2009-0524 and are available online by going to http://www.regulations.gov, selecting the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the screen, inserting USCG-2009-0524 in the “Keyword” box, and then clicking “Search.” They are also available for inspection or copying at the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions on this temporary rule, call or e-mail Chief Petty Officer Randy Bucklin, Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, Waterways Management Division; telephone [phone], e-mail [e-mail]. If you have questions on viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those procedures are “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because a notice and comment period would be impracticable due to the time constraints resulting from the immediacy of the upcoming event. The Coast Guard did not receive notification of the exact location or proposed date for the boating event in sufficient time to issue a NPRM and hold a comment period for this rulemaking. The expeditious implementation of this rule is in the public interest because it will help ensure the safety of those involved in the tugboat races, the spectators, and users of the waterway during the boating event. Finally, a delay or cancellation of the tugboat races in order to accommodate a notice and comment period is contrary to the public's interest in this event occurring as scheduled.

Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Any delay in the effective date of this regulation would be contrary to the public interest as immediate action is necessary to protect the maritime community from the hazards associated with tugboat races. A delay or cancellation of the MS Harborfest tugboat races to accommodate a 30 day comment period would be contrary to public interest.

Background and Purpose

The MS Harborfest is an annual marine boating event held in the month of August, in Casco Bay, Maine.

These regulations will establish a fixed safety zone around the perimeter of the tugboat race course located in Casco Bay. The tugboat race involves several heavy vessels that are limited in their ability to quickly maneuver if an unexpected vessel were to enter the race area. Hazards also include the potential risks to persons and property that could come in contact with the tugboats, their wakes, or their gear. There is also a potential risk to the tugboats and their crew should they come into contact with unauthorized vessels traversing through the safety zone. Therefore this safety zone is designed to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with the tugboat races, and to protect the race participants from the dangers of nearby vessel traffic by preventing entry into the zone during the enforcement time. Entry into the safety zone is prohibited unless prior authorization is received by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England.

Discussion of Rule

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for the MS Harborfest Tugboat Races. The safety zone is being established by reference to geographical coordinates as follows: All navigable waters of Casco Bay bounded by a line connecting the following geographic coordinates: Latitude 43°40′24″ N, longitude 070°14′20″ W, to latitude 43°40′36″ N, longitude 070°13′56″ W, to latitude 43°39′58″ N, longitude 070°13′21″ W, to latitude 43°39′46″ N, longitude 070°13′51″ W.

During the effective time of the safety zone, all vessels and persons are prohibited from entering, anchoring, remaining within or transiting in the zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England, or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard has determined that the safety zone will not have a significant impact on commercial vessel traffic due to the temporary nature of the zone's time and scope. The zone has been limited to the area surrounding the event and it will be enforced only during the time of the tugboat races. Public notifications will be made via marine information broadcasts during the effective period of this safety zone.

Regulatory Analyses

We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.

Regulatory Planning and Review

This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order.

The Coast Guard determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory action for the following reasons: The safety zone will be of limited duration, cover only a small portion of the navigable waterway, and the event is designed to avoid, to the extent practicable, deep draft, fishing, and recreational boating traffic routes. In addition, vessels may be authorized to transit the zone with permission of the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England and maritime advisories will be broadcast during the duration of the enforcement periods.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term “small entities” comprises 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.

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. This rule will affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in the designated safety zone during the enforcement period stated above.

The safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: The safety zone is of limited size and of short duration and vessels that can safely do so may navigate in all other portions of the waterway except for the area designated as a safety zone. Additionally, before the enforcement period, the Coast Guard will issue maritime advisories via marine broadcasts and advisories.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offer to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process.

Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal regulations, to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR (1-888-734-3247). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

Collection of Information

This rule calls for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for federalism.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b) (2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, because it does not have a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

Energy Effects

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a “significant energy action” under that order because it is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. The Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus standards bodies.

This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded this action is one of a category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. This rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of the Instruction. This rule involves the establishment of a safety zone. An environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion determination will be available for review in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

• Harbors
• Marine safety
• Navigation (water)
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Security measures, and Waterways

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Public Law 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

2. Add § 165.T01-0524 to read as follows:

§ 165.T01-0524

Safety Zone; MS Harborfest Tugboat Races in Casco Bay, ME.

(a) Location: all navigable waters of Casco Bay in the vicinity of Fish Point and Diamond Island Ledge that are bounded by a line connecting the following geographic coordinates: Latitude 43°40′24″ N, longitude 070°14′20″ W, to latitude 43°40′36″ N, longitude 070°13′56″ W, to latitude 43°39′58″ N, longitude 070°13′21″ W, to latitude 43°39′46″ N, longitude 070°13′51″ W.

(b) Effective Period: This Safety Zone is effective on August 16, 2009, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(c) Regulations.

(1) The general regulations in 33 CFR 165.23 apply.

(2) This safety zone is closed to all vessel traffic. Entry into, transiting, remaining within or anchoring in this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England or his designated representatives.

(3) The “designated representative” is any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been designated by the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England to act on his behalf. The designated representative will be aboard either a Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel.

(4) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the safety zones shall contact the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England or his designated representative via VHF Channel 16 to obtain permission to do so.

(5) Vessel operators given permission to enter or operate in the safety zones must comply with all directions given to them by the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England or his designated representatives.

Dated: August 4, 2009.

J.B. McPherson,

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Sector Northern New England.