[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 93 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21959-21960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-11903]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100

[CGD01-95-017]
RIN 2115-AE 46


Special Local Regulation: Harvard-Yale Regatta, Thames River, New 
London, CT

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The annual Harvard-Yale Regatta is a rowing competition held 
on the Thames River in New London, CT. This regulation establishes the 
date and time for this year's event and amends the permanent 
regulation. These regulations are necessary to control vessel traffic 
within the immediate vicinity of the event due to the confirmed nature 
of the waterway and anticipated congestion at the time of the event, 
thus providing for the safety of life and property on the affected 
navigable waters.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This section is effective on June 12, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Benjamin M. Algeo, Chief Boating Affairs 
Branch, First Coast Guard District, (617) 223-8310.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History

    A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was published on April 24, 
1995, (60 FR 20065) in the Federal Register proposing a permanent 
change to the effective period in 33 CFR 100.101. No comments were 
received and no hearing was requested.

[[Page 21960]]

Background and Purpose

    The NPRM published on April 24, 1995, proposed to eliminate the 
specific rate times to allow for a flexible time period. The Harvard/
Yale Regatta is a rowing competition which is scheduled around 
favorable tidal conditions. Therefore, a flexible effective period is 
necessary to avoid having to publish, annually, a NPRM and final rule 
changing the race times. This rule varies from the NPRM in one regard; 
it provides notice of the dates and times of this 1996 event in 
addition to changing the permanent regulation. Notice of specific race 
dates and times for following years will be specified each year in a 
Federal Register notice.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule 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 
rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation, under 
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT, is 
unnecessary. This conclusion is based on the fact that the race is of 
short duration, there is little commercial traffic on the affected 
portion of the Thames River, and the advance notice which will be made 
to the affected maritime community.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider the economic impact on small entities of a 
rule for which a general notice of proposed rulemaking is required. 
``Small entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-for-profit 
organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not 
dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation, the Coast 
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Collection of Information

    This rule contains no collection of information requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has 
determined that this rule does not raise sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impacts of this 
rule and concluded that, under paragraph 2.B.2.e.34(h) of COMDTINST 
16475.1B, (as revised by 61 FR 13563, March 27, 1996) this rule is a 
special local regulation issued in conjunction with a regatta or marine 
parade and is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waterways.

Final Regulation

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR Part 100 as follows:
    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. Section 100.101, is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 100.101  Harvard-Yale Regatta, Thames River, New London, CT.

 * * * * *
    (b) Effective period. This section is in effect on June 8, 1996, 
from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and each year thereafter on a date and 
times specified in a Federal Register notice. If the regatta is 
canceled due to weather, this section will be in effect on the 
following Sunday.
 * * * * *
    Dated: May 1, 1996.
J.L. Linnon,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-11903 Filed 5-10-96; 8:45 am]
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