[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 236 (Friday, December 6, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64645-64647]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31032]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-96-063]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations; Invitational Rowing Regatta, Augusta, 
GA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local 
regulations for the Augusta Invitational Rowing Regatta. This event 
would be held annually on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in the 
third week of March from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The nature of the event and 
the closure of the Savannah River creates an extra or unusual hazard on 
the navigable waters of the Savannah

[[Page 64646]]

River at Augusta, GA. Therefore, these proposed regulations are 
necessary for the safety of life on the navigable waters.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Group 
Charleston, 196 Tradd Street, Charleston, SC 29401, or may be delivered 
to the 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.
    The Group Commander maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be 
available for inspection or copying at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ENS M.J. DaPonte, Project Officer, Coast Guard Group Charleston, SC at 
(803) 724-7621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their name and address, 
identify this rulemaking [CGD07-96-063] and the specific section of 
this proposal to which each comment applies, and give a reason for each 
comment. Persons desiring acknowledgement of receipt of comments should 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period. It may change this proposal in the view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Project Manager at the address under 
ADDRESSES. If if is determined that the opportunity for oral 
presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a 
public hearing at the time and place announced by a later notice in the 
Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    The proposed regulations are needed to provide for the safety of 
life during the Augusta Invitational Rowing Regatta. These proposed 
regulations are intended to promote safe navigation on the Savannah 
River during the rowing regatta by controlling the traffic entering, 
exiting, and traveling within these waters. Historically, the 
anticipated concentration of spectator and participant vessels 
associated with the Invitational Rowing Regatta has posed a safety 
concern, which is addressed in these proposed special local regulation.
    The proposed regulations would not permit the entry or movement of 
spectator vessels and other non-participating vessel traffic between 
U.S. Highway Route 1 (Fifth Street) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and 
Eliot's Fish Camp at mile marker 197, from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
annually on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the third week of 
March. The proposed regulations would permit the movement of spectator 
vessels and other non-participants after the termination of the regatta 
each day, and during intervals between scheduled events at the 
discretion of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposal is not a major 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 if the Department of Transportation 
(DOT) (44 FR 11040; February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the 
economic impact of this proposal to be so minimal that a full 
Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies 
and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. The proposed regulations would 
last for only 10 hours on 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 quality as 
``small business concerns'' under section 3 of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 632).
    The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this proposal to be 
minimal, and certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that his proposal, if 
adopted, will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. These proposed regulations will not have a significant 
economic impact on small entities because the limited area regulated 
and limited duration of the regulation.

Collection of Information

    This proposal 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 proposal in accordance with the 
principals and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has 
determined that this proposal does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    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 instruction, specifically section 
2.B.4.g. and h., this proposal 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 for inspection or copying where 
indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Proposed Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends Part 100 
of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, 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 new Sec. 100.724 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 100.724  Annual Augusta Invitational Rowing Regatta; Savannah 
River, Augusta, GA.

    (a) Definitions.
    (1) Regulated area. The regulated area is formed by a line drawn 
directly across the Savannah River at 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 the width of the Savannah River between these two lines.
    (2) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard patrol Commander 
is

[[Page 64647]]

a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has 
been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Group Charleston, SC.
    (b) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into the regulated area is 
prohibited to all non-participants.
    (2) After the termination of the Invitational Rowing Regatta 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 7:00 a.m. and 
terminates at 5:00 p.m. annually, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 
Sunday of the third week of March.

    Dated: November 12, 1996.
J.D. Hull,
U.S. Coast Guard Acting Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 96-31032 Filed 12-5-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M