[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13120-13122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7306]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD07-96-014]
RIN 2115-AE46
Special Local Regulations; River Race Augusta; Augusta, GA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish permanent special local
regulations for the River Race Augusta. This event will be held
annually on Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the second week of June,
between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Historically, there
have been
[[Page 13121]]
approximately sixty participants racing 16 to 18 foot outboard power
boats on that portion of the Savannah River at Augusta, GA, between
U.S. Highway 1 (Fifth St) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and Eliot's Fish
Camp at mile marker 197. The boats would be competing at high speeds
and at close range on a prescribed course. The nature of the event and
the closure of the Savannah River creates an extra or unusual hazard in
the navigable waters. These proposed regulations are necessary to
provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. By
establishing these proposed permanent regulations, the Coast Guard
expects to give better notice of requirements related to marine events,
and also avoid the recurring costs of publication related with
temporary regulations. However, the establishment of these proposed
permanent regulations would not relieve the event organizers from
applying for an annual marine event permit.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 15, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Group
Charleston, 196 Tradd Street, Charleston, SC 29401, or may be delivered
to operations office at the same address between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. The telephone
number is (803) 724-7621. Comments will become a part of the public
docket and will be available for copying and inspection at the same
address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ENS M.J. DaPonte, Coast Guard Group Charleston at (803) 724-7621.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Request for Comments
The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in
this rulemaking by submitting written views, data, or arguments.
Persons submitting comments should include their names, addresses,
identify the notice (CGD07-96-014) and the specific section of this
proposal to which their comments apply, and give reasons for each
comment. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the
comment period. The regulations may be changed in view of the comments
received. All comments received before the expiration of the comment
period will be considered before final action is taken on this
proposal.
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 add to the rulemaking
process.
Discussion of Proposed Regulations
The proposed regulations are needed to provide for the safety of
life during the River Race Augusta. These proposed regulations are
intended to promote safe navigation on the waters off Augusta on the
Savannah River during the races by controlling the traffic entering,
exiting, and traveling within these waters. Historically, the
anticipated concentration of spectator and participant vessels
associated with the River Race has posed a safety concern, which is
addressed in these proposed special local regulations. The proposed
regulations would not permit the entry or movement of spectator vessels
and other nonparticipating vessel traffic between the U.S. Highway
Route 1 (Fifth Street) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and Eliot's Fish
Camp at mile marker 197 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. annually, Friday,
Saturday and Sunday of the second week of June. The proposed
regulations would permit the movement of spectator vessels and other
non-participants after the termination of race each day, and during
intervals between scheduled events at the discretion of the Coast Guard
Patrol Commander.
Regulatory Evaluation
This proposal is not a significant regulatory action under Section
3(f) of the Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of
the 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
proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is
unnecessary. The proposed regulation would last for only 10 hours each
day of the event.
Small Entities
Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), 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
(15 U.S.C. 632).
For reasons set forth in the above Regulatory Evaluation, the Coast
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605 (b) that this proposal, if adopted,
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of
small entities.
Collection of Information
These proposed 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 the 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 on this
proposal consistent with Section 2.B.2. of Commandant Instruction
M16475.1B. In accordance with that section, this proposed action has
been environmentally assessed (EA completed), and the Coast Guard has
concluded that it will not significantly affect the quality of the
human environment. An environmental assessment and a finding of no
significant impact have been prepared and are available in the docket
for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and record keeping
requirements, Waterways.
Proposed Regulations
In consideration of the foregoing, Part 100 of Title 33, Code of
Federal Regulations, is proposed for amendment as follows:
1. The authority citation for Part 100 continues to read as
follows:
PART 100--[AMENDED]
Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35
2. A new section 100.712 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 100.712 Annual River Race Augusta; Savannah River, Augusta GA.
(a) Definitions: (1) Regulated area. The regulated area is formed
by a line drawn directly across the Savannah River at the U.S. Highway
1 (Fifth Street) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and directly across the
Savannah River at Eliot's Fish Camp at mile marker 197. The regulated
area would encompass
[[Page 13122]]
the width of the Savannah River between these two lines.
(2) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander
is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has
been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Group Charleston, South
Carolina.
(b) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into regulated area is
prohibited to all non-participants.
(2) After termination of the River Race Augusta each day, and
during intervals between scheduled events, at the discretion of the
Coast Guard Patrol Commander, all vessels may resume normal operations.
(c) Effective Dates. This section is effective at 7 a.m. and
terminates at 5 p.m. annually on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the
second week of June. However, the requirements of this section may be
waived by a Coast Guard Notice to mariners.
Dated: March 13, 1996.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard
District.
[FR Doc. 96-7306 Filed 3-25-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M