[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 198 (Friday, October 13, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53316-53318]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-25457]



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[[Page 53317]]


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[CGD07-95-033]
RIN 2115-AA98


Special Anchorage Areas; Herb River, Thunderbolt, GA; Bull River, 
Savannah, GA; South Channel Savannah River East, Savannah, GA; South 
Channel Savannah River West, Savannah, GA; Calibogue Sound, Hilton 
Head, SC; May River, Hilton Head, SC

agency: Coast Guard, DOT.

action: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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summary: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish temporary special 
anchorage areas during the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games. The Coast 
Guard expects a significant number of spectator vessels to participate 
in the festivities surrounding the 1996 Olympic Games. By designating 
special anchorage areas, which will be administered by Georgia and 
South Carolina, the Coast Guard expects to minimize the problems 
associated with a large congestion of boaters in the area.

dates: Comments must be received on or before December 12, 1995.

addresses: Comments should be mailed to the Captain of the Port 
Savannah, P.O. Box 8191, Marine Safety Office Savannah, Georgia 31412-
8191. The comments will be available for inspection and copying at 222 
W. Oglethorpe Ave., Suite 402, Savannah, GA between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Comments may also be 
hand delivered to this address.

for further information contact: LT Jeff Simmerman, Tel: (912) 652-
4353.

supplementary information: Interested persons are invited to 
participate in this rulemaking by submitting written views, data, or 
arguments. Persons submitting comments should include their names and 
addresses, identify this notice (CGD07-95-033) and the specific section 
of this proposal to which their comments apply, and give reasons for 
each comment. The regulations may be changed in the light of comments 
received. All comments received before the expiration of the comment 
period will be considered before final action is taken on this 
proposal. A meeting was held on July 27, 1995 at 7 p.m. at the Juliet 
Low Federal Building in Savannah, Georgia. Approximately eight persons 
attended. These individuals voice no concerns or opinions over the 
proposed regulations.
    No public hearing is planned, but one may be held if the written 
requests for a hearing are received, and it is determined that the 
opportunity to make oral presentations will aid the rulemaking process.

Drafting Information

    The drafters of these regulations are LT J.A. Simmerman, project 
officer for the Captain of the Port Savannah, Georgia, and LTJG J. 
Diaz, project attorney, Seventh Coast District Legal Office.

Discussion of Proposed Regulations

    Approximately 1,000 to 5,000 spectators vessels are expected to 
arrive and participate in the festivities of the 1996 Olympic sailing 
competition. The Coast Guard proposes to establish six special 
anchorage areas to alleviate the problems of a large congestion of 
recreational boats in a small area. By designating these special 
anchorage areas that are administered by Georgia and South Carolina the 
Coast Guard anticipates minimizing the associated problems with 
security and pollution, as well as the commercial congestion that a 
large influx of boaters might cause on the area. These proposed special 
anchorage areas provide that vessels no more than sixty-five feet in 
length when anchored at any special anchorage area shall not be 
required to carry or exhibit the white anchor lights required by the 
Navigation Rules.

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 proposed 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 
proposal and has determined pursuant to Section 2.B.2. of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B, that this action is categorically excluded from 
further environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion 
Determination and Environmental Analysis Checklist are available in the 
docket for inspection or copying at the same location listed in 
ADDRESSES.

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 10e of 
the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. The 
proposed special anchorage areas described in this notice will be 
established for a limited time period to help accommodate spectator 
vessels that arrive in the port of Savannah for the 1996 Olympic Games.
    Since the impact of this proposal is expected to be minimal, the 
Coast Guard certifies that, if adopted, it will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110

    Anchorage ground.

Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard proposes to 
amend Part 110 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 110--ANCHORAGE REGULATIONS

    1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 2030, 2035 and 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and 
33 CFR 1.05-1(g). Section 110.1a and each section listed in 110.1a 
are also issued under 33 U.S.C. 1223 and 1231.

    2. Section 110.T72e is added to read as follows:


Sec. 110.T72e  Savannah Olympic Anchorage Areas, GA.

    The following locations are special anchorage areas:
    (a) Herb River Anchorage. The waters in the Herb River within the 
area bounded at the latitude 32 deg.01'.2'' N extending south to a line 
at latitude 32 deg.00'.0'' N.
    (b) Bull River Anchorage. The waters of the Bull River within the 
area bounded at latitude 32 deg.02'.2'' N east to a line at latitude 
31 deg.59'.7'' N across Bull River.
    (c) South Channel of the Savannah River West Anchorage. The waters 
of the South Channel of The Savannah River lying between latitude 
32 deg.04'.1'' N extending east to a line of longitude 080 deg.54'.9'' 
W in the vicinity of the Fort Pulaski Bridge.

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    (d) South Channel of the Savannah River East Anchorage. The waters 
of the South Channel of The Savannah River lying east of the Fort 
Pulaski Bridge beginning at longitude 080 deg.54'.9'' W extending east 
to longitude 080 deg.53'.9'' W across South Channel.
    (e) Calibogue Sound Anchorage. The waters of the Calibogue Sound 
lying within the following coordinates, the area west of the west shore 
of Hilton Head Island; starting at 32 deg.08'12.0'' N, 
080 deg.48'55.0'' W; thence to 32 deg.08'12.0'' N, 080 deg.49'13.0'' W; 
thence to 32 deg.06'50.0'' N, 080 deg.49'55.0'' W; thence to 
32 deg.06'50.0'' N, 080 deg.49'43.0'' W; back north on the west shore 
of Hilton Head Island to the point of beginning.
    (f) May River Anchorage. The waters of the May River within the 
following coordinates, the area north of the north shore of Bull 
Island; starting at 32 deg.11'45.0'' N, 080 deg.48'03.0'' W; thence to 
32 deg.11'56.0'' N, 080 deg.48'02.0'' W; thence to 32 deg.12'06.0'' N, 
080 deg.48'17.0'' W; thence to 32 deg.12'38.0'' N, 080 deg.49'35.0'' W; 
thence to 32 deg.12'14.0'' N, 080 deg.49'43.0'' W; back east along the 
north shore of Bull Island to the point of beginning.
    Datum: NAD 1983.

    Dated: September 17, 1995.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 95-25457 Filed 10-12-95; 8:45 am]
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