[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 199 (Friday, October 11, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 53321-53322]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26150]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100

[CGD08-96-041]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulation; Big River Rendezvous, Mississippi River 
Mile 483.0-493.0

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: A special local regulation is being adopted for the Big River 
Rendezvous which will be held on the Mississippi River in Davenport, IA 
on October 10-13, 1996. The sponsor of this event is the Scott County 
Sesquicentennial Association. This regulation is needed to control 
vessel traffic in the vicinity of the event. The regulation will 
restrict general navigation in the regulated area for the safety of 
spectators, participants and commercial traffic.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This regulation is effective on October 10-14, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LT R. G. Moulton, Supervisor, Designated Patrol Commander, U.S. Coast 
Guard, MSD Quad Cities, Rock Island Arsenal Bldg 218, P.O. Box 3220, 
Rock Island, IL 61204. The telephone

[[Page 53322]]

number is (309) 782-0627, fax (309) 782-0604.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rulemaking 
has not been published for this regulation and good cause exists for 
making it effective in less than 30 days from the date of publication. 
Following normal rulemaking procedures would have been impracticable.

Background and Purpose

    The Big River Rendezvous consists of a national celebration of the 
steamboat era in America. The event will run from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. 
local time, October 10 through October 13, 1996. In order to provide 
for the safety of spectators and participants, and for safe passage of 
through traffic, the Coast Guard will restrict vessel movement in the 
regulated area. The river will be closed during part or all of the 
affected period to all vessel traffic except official regatta vessels 
and patrol craft.

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 exempt 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 
10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary 
because of the event's short duration.

Federalism Assessment

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

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that under section 2.B.2.C of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B, (as revised by 61 FR 13563; March 27, 1996) this rule is 
excluded from further environmental documentation

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and record keeping 
requirements, Waterways.

Temporary Regulation

    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 section 100.35T08-041 is added, to read as follows:


Sec. 100.35-T08-041  Upper Mississippi River, Davenport, IA

    (a) Regulated Area. Mississippi River mile 483.0 to 493.0.
    (b) Special Local Regulations:
    (1) Except for official regatta vessels and patrol craft no person 
or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area without permission 
of the Patrol Commander.
    (2) The Coast Guard Patrol Commander will be a commissioned officer 
designated by the Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office, St. Louis, 
MO, and may be contacted, during the event, on VHF-FM Channel 16 (156.8 
MHZ) by the call sign ``Scioto Control.'' The Patrol Commander may:
    (i) Direct the anchoring, mooring, or movement of any vessel within 
the regulated area,
    (ii) Restrict vessel operation within the regulated area to vessels 
having particular operating characteristics,
    (iii) Terminate the marine event or the operation of any vessel 
when necessary for the protection of life and property.
    (iv) Allow vessels to transit the regulated area whenever an event 
is not being conducted and the transit can be completed.
    (3) Coast Guard commissioned or petty officers will patrol the 
event on board patrol vessels which display the Coast Guard Ensign. If 
radio or other voice communications are not available with a vessel, 
they will use a series of sharp, short blast by whistle or horn to 
signal the operator of any vessel in the vicinity of the regulated area 
to stop. When signaled, the operator of any vessel in the immediate 
vicinity of the regulated area shall stop the vessel immediately and 
shall proceed as directed.
    (4) Vessels desiring to transit the regulated area may do so only 
with the prior approval and direction of the Patrol Commander.
    (5) The Patrol Commander will terminate enforcement of this section 
at the conclusion of the marine event if earlier than the announced 
termination time.
    (c) Effective Dates. This section is effective from 7 a.m. October 
10 to 1 a.m. October 11; 7 a.m. October 11 to 1 a.m. October 12; 7 a.m. 
October 12 to 1 a.m. October 13; and 7 a.m. October 13 to 1 a.m. 
October 14, local time, 1996.

    Dated: September 19, 1996.
T.W. Josiah,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-26150 Filed 10-10-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M