01-16485. Tall Ships Challenge 2001, Moving Safety Zone, Muskegon Lake, Muskegon, MI

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary Moving Safety Zone during the Tall Ships Challenge 2001 of tall ships in Muskegon Lake and vicinity, Muskegon, Michigan, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Monday, August 13, 2001. This regulation is necessary to control vessel traffic within the immediate vicinity of the event and to ensure the safety of life and property during this event. This rule is intended to restrict vessel traffic from a portion of Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 11 a.m. (local) until 5 p.m. (local) on Monday, August 13th, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and related material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket CGD09-01-009 and are available for inspection of copying at U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Chicago, 215 W. 83rd Street suite D, Burr Ridge, IL. 60521. Marine Safety Office between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

BM3 Joe C. Corpuz, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Chicago, 215 W. 83rd street suite D, Chicago, IL 60521, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

On April 4th, 2001 we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled Tall Ships Challenge 2001, Moving Safety Zone, Muskegon Lake, Muskegon, MI in the Federal Register (66 FR 17832). We received no letters commenting on the proposed rule. No public hearing was requested, and none was held.

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 of this effective rule would be contrary to the public interest because immediate action is necessary to protect the spectators, spectator vessels, as well as the participating Tall Ships from possible loss of life, injury, or damage to property. Due to their design, the Tall Ships have restricted maneuverability and, in addition, will be transiting an area where maneuverability is restricted by water depths. A moving safety zone around the vessels will help ensure their safety as well as the safety of spectator vessels watching the vessels.

Background and Purpose

The Port of Muskegon American Sail Training Association Tall Ships Challenge 2001 will take place in Muskegon, Michigan, from August 9, 2001, through August 13, 2001. During the Tall Ships Challenge 2001, a large number of tall ships will visit Muskegon Lake, with waterside events, in-port tours, and waterside moored vessel viewing. On Monday, August 13, 2001, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the tall ships will take part in a ceremonial departure parade of tall ships, which is expected to attract a large number of spectator vessels. The Coast Guard is establishing a Moving Safety Zone surrounding the participating tall ships to ensure the safety of participating and spectator vessels and personnel.

The Moving Safety Zone will include the areas around and between all the vessels participating in the Tall Ships Challenge 2001 parade of tall ships during their transit in Muskegon Lake and vicinity on Monday, August 13, 2001. The Moving Safety Zone will include the area extending a distance of 100 yards ahead of the lead vessel in the parade, 100 yards abeam each vessel in the parade, and 100 yards astern of the last vessel in the parade. The Moving Safety Zone will ensure that spectator craft do not impede the path of any of the parade vessels.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposed rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review and therefore 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 this rule under that order. It is non-significant under Department of Transportation regulatory policies and procedures (DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26, 1979).

We expect 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. The moving safety zone will be in effect for a limited time, and extensive advance notice will be made to the maritime community via Local Notice to Mariners and marine safety information broadcasts. This temporary regulation is tailored to impose minimal impact on maritime interests without compromising safety. Compensating for economic impacts are the favorable economic impacts that these events will have on commercial activity in the area as a whole from the boaters and tourists these events are expected to attract.

Small Entities

In accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have determined that this rule will not have a significant 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 would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The rule will affect the following entities, some of which might be small entities: the owners of businesses along Muskegon Lake and vicinity. The rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: the rule will be in effect for a short time, and we will issue extensive advance notice of the event to the maritime community via the methods discussed above.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), the Coast Guard wants to assist small entities in understanding this rule so that they can better evaluate its effects 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).

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

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.

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 would 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

The Coast Guard has 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 concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

Environment

The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. A written categorical exclusion determination is available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

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 regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

• Harbors
• Marine safety
• Navigation (water)
• Reporting and record keeping requirements
• Security measures
• 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. 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. Add temporary § 165.T09-013 to read as follows:

§ 165.T09-013

Moving Safety Zone: tall ships challenge 2001, Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan, Muskegon, Michigan.

(a) Location. The waters of Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan, Muskegon, Michigan.

(b) Effective date. This rule is effective from 11 a.m. EDT until 5 p.m. EDT on Monday, August 13th, 2001.

(c) Regulations. (1) The following area is designated as a Moving Safety Zone for the Tall Ships Challenge 2001 parade of tall ships: All waters in an area extending a distance of 100 yards ahead of the lead vessel in the parade, 100 yards abeam of each vessel in the parade, and 100 yards astern of the last vessel in the Tall Ships Challenge 2001 parade of tall ships. The Moving Safety Zone for the parade will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, August 13th, 2001 in Muskegon Lake at approximate position 43°14′36″ N, 086°15′44″ W, and will remain in effect for the parade of tall ships past waypoint 43°14′07″ N, 086°19′21″ W, then outbound through Muskegon Lake Entrance Channel to the final parade waypoint in Lake Michigan at 43°13′11″ N, 086°21′36″ W. These coordinates are based upon North American Datum 1983 (NAD 83).

(2) All vessel operators shall comply with the instructions of the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Chicago or the designated on-scene patrol personnel. Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned, warrant, and petty officers. Permission to deviate from the above rules must be obtained from the Captain of the Port Chicago or his representative by VHF/FM radio, Channel 9 or by telephone at [phone].

Dated: June 21, 2001.

James D. Hull,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, District Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District.