[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8216-8217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4917]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-96-003]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations: Manatee River, Palmetto, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: Special local regulations are being adopted for the A.P.B.A. 
(American Power Boat Association) Green Bridget Regatta. This event 
will be held on Saturday, March 23, and Sunday, March 24, 1996 between 
10 a.m. and 6 p.m. edt (eastern daylight time). This event will attract 
large spectator crowds and create congestion. Therefore, these 
regulations are needed to provide for the safety of life on navigable 
waters during the event.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. edt on 
March 23 and 24, 1996.


[[Page 8217]]

ADDRESSES: Unless otherwise indicated, documents referred to in this 
preamble are available for inspection or copying at U.S. Coast Guard 
Group ST. Petersburg, 600 8th Avenue SE., St. Petersburg, FL 33701-
5099, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. edt, Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LTJG J.W. Nelson, U.S. Coast Guard Group St. Petersburg, FL at (813) 
824-7533.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of 
proposed rulemaking has not been published for these regulations. The 
permit application was not received until late January. Following 
normal rulemaking procedures would have been impracticable, as there 
was insufficient time to publish the proposed rule in advance of the 
event or to provide for a delayed effective date.

Discussion of Regulations

    This rule is needed to provide for the safety of life on navigable 
waters, to protect the vessels participating in the races, and to 
protect marine mammals during the A.P.B.A. (American Power Boat 
Association) Green Bridge Regatta. There will be approximately 50-75 
power boats, 21 to 50 feet in length, engaged in a power boat race, and 
no spectator craft are expected. A regulated area is established 
between daybecacons #1 (27 deg.30.6N, 82 deg.34.6W, LLNR 19525) and 
#21A (27 deg.30.5N, 82 deg.34.7W, LLNR 19570) in the Manatee River. All 
coordinates referenced are datum: NAD 83. The Manatee River will be 
closed to all inbound and outbound vessel traffic, other than spectator 
craft, at various times between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. edt, 
March 23 and 24, 1996. Vessel traffic will be allowed to transit the 
area during intermissions.

Regulatory Evaluation

    These regulations are 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 not been reviewed 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 rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation 
under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is 
unnecessary. Entry into the area is prohibited for only 10 hours each 
day of the event.
    Since the impact of these regulations is to be minimal, the Coast 
Guard certifies that it will not have a significant economic impact on 
a substantial number of small entities.

Collection of Information

    These regulations contain no collection-of-information requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that these regulations do 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 
action consistent with Section 2.B.2. of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B (as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29m, 1994). In accordance 
with that section, this action has been environmentally assessed (EA 
completed), and the Coast Guard has determined that it will not 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment. An 
environmental assessment and finding of no significant impact have been 
prepared and are available for inspection and copying at the address 
listed under Addresses. Specifically, the Coast Guard has consulted 
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine 
Fisheries Service regarding the environmental impact of this event, and 
it was determined that the event does not jeopardize the continued 
existence of protected species. As a condition to this permit, the 
applicant is required to educate the operators of spectator craft and 
race participants regarding the possible presence of manatees and the 
appropriate precautions to take if the animals are sighted.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waterways.
Temporary Final Regulations
    In consideration of the foregoing, Part 100 of Title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:
PART 100--[AMENDED]
    1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35.

    2. A temporary Sec. 100.35-T07-003 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 100.35-T07-003  Manatee River, Palmetto, FL.

    (a) Regulated area. A regulated area is established in the Manatee 
River with the northwest corner point at Pt Ogden, position 
27 deg.30'41'' N, 82 deg.34'47'' W, extending to the northeast corner 
point at northern approach to Green Bridge, position 27 deg.30'35'' N, 
82 deg.34'22'' W, then extending to the southeast corner point at 
southern approach to Green Bridge, position 27 deg.29'58'' N, 
82 deg.34'17'' W, and then to the southwest corner point at Point 
Pleasant, position 27 deg.30'07'' N, 82 deg.34'42'' W. All coordinates 
referenced use Datum: NAD 83.
    (b) Special local regulations (1) In accordance with these 
regulations, the regulated area is designated as a no entry zone. 
Vessel traffic is permitted into the area during intermission, but is 
prohibited from entering the course area described in paragraph (b)(2) 
of this section during the race.
    (2) Inside the no entry zone is a designated area surrounding the 
race course. The course consists of two \1/2\ mile straight-aways and 
two \1/3\ mile turns. The course is bounded by a line connecting the 
northeast corner point at position 27 deg.30'10'' N, 82 deg.34'30'' W, 
a southeast corner point at position 27 deg.30'10'' N, 82 deg.34'27'' 
W, a southwest corner point at position 27 deg.30'15'' N, 
82 deg.34'38'' W, and a northwest corner point at position 
27 deg.30'30'' N, 82 deg.34'40'' W. All coordinates referenced use 
Datum: Nad 83.
    (c) Effective dates. This section is effective at 9 a.m. and 
terminate at 7 p.m. edt on March 23 and 24, 1996.

    Dated: February 20, 1996.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 96-4917 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M