[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 59 (Tuesday, March 26, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13119-13120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-7307]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-96-015]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations; Harborwalk Boat Race, Sampit River, 
Georgetown, SC

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 Harborwalk Boat Race. This event held annually on 
the last Sunday of June, between 12 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight 
Time. Historically, there have been approximately sixty participants 
racing 14 to 20 foot outboard power boats on a prescribed course on a 
portion of the Sampit River, Georgetown, SC. The nature of the event 
and the closure of the Sampit 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 28, 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 Comment

    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,

[[Page 13120]]
addresses, identify the notice (CGD07-96-015) 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 Harborwalk Boat Race. These proposed rules are intended 
to promote safe navigation on the waters off East Bay Park on the 
Sampit River during the race by controlling the traffic entering, 
exiting, and traveling within these waters. Historically, the 
anticipated concentration of spectator and participant vessels 
associated with the Harborwalk Boat Race has posed a safety concern, 
which is addressed in these proposed special local regulations. The 
proposed regulations would not permit movement of spectator vessels and 
other nonparticipating vessel traffic within the regulated area, 
bounded by a line drawn from

33 deg.21.5' N, 079 deg.17.10' W, thence to
33 deg.21.7' N, 079 deg.16.8' W, thence along the shore to
33 deg.21.1' N, 079 deg.16.7' W, thence to
33 deg.21.1' N, 079 deg.16.9' W, thence back to
33 deg.21.5' N, 079 deg.17.10' W

from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. annually during the last Sunday of June. All 
coordinates use Datum: NAD 83. The proposed regulations would permit 
the movement of spectator vessels and other nonparticipants after the 
termination of race, and during intervals between scheduled events at 
the discretion of the Captain of the Port.

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 5 and a half 
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 implication to 
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of 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 to be amended 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 100.713 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 100.713  Harborwalk Boat Race, Sampit River, Georgetown, SC.

    (a) Regulated Area. The regulated area is formed by a line from:

33 deg. 21.5' N, 079 deg. 17.10' W; thence to
33 deg. 21.7' N, 079 deg. 16.8' W; thence along the shore to
33 deg. 21.1' N, 079 deg. 16.7' W; thence to
33 deg. 21.1' N, 079 deg. 16.9' W; thence back to
33 deg. 21.5' N, 079 deg. 17.10' W.

    All coordinates use datum: NAD 83.
    (b) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into the regulated area is 
prohibited to all nonparticipants.
    (2) After the termination of the Harborwalk Boat Race, and during 
intervals between scheduled events, at the discretion of the Captain of 
the Port, all vessels may resume normal operations.
    (c) Effective Dates. This section is effective at 12 p.m. and 
terminate at 5:30 p.m. annually during the last Sunday of June. 
However, the requirements of this section may be waived by a Coast 
Guard Notice to mariners.

    Dated: March 12, 1996.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 96-7307 Filed 3-25-96; 8:45 am]
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