[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7970-7971]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4357]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100

[CGD 05-97-004]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Southern Branch, 
Elizabeth River, Portsmouth, Virginia

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to amend permanent special local 
regulations for the Crawford Bay Crew Classic, a marine event held 
annually in the Southern Branch, Elizabeth River, Portsmouth, Virginia, 
by changing the dates on which the regulations are in effect. This 
action is intended to update the regulation in order to enhance the 
safety of life and property during the event.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander (Aosr), Fifth Coast 
Guard District, 431 Crawford Street,

[[Page 7971]]

Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or hand delivered to Room 516 at the 
same address between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The telephone number is (757) 398-6204. 
Comments will become part of this docket and will be available for 
inspection and copying at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
S. L. Phillips, Project Manager, Search and Rescue Branch, at (757) 
398-6204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    This Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written views, data, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this rulemaking (CGD 05-97-004) and the specific section of 
this proposal to which each comment applies, and give the reason for 
each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. Persons waiting acknowledgement of 
receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or 
envelopes. The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during 
the comment period. It may change this proposal in view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the address listed under ADDRESSES. The 
request should include the reasons why a hearing would be beneficial. 
If it determines that the opportunity for oral presentations will aid 
this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a public hearing at a time 
and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    Ports Events, Inc., the sponsor of the Crawford Bay Crew Classic, 
has requested to change the dates of this annual event from the third 
Friday and Saturday in March to the fourth Friday and Saturday in April 
to conduct the event in warmer weather conditions. To enhance the 
safety of participants, spectators, and transiting vessels, special 
local regulations are necessary to control vessel traffic during the 
event. This proposal would update the regulations to reflect the new 
dates of the event.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to amend the effective period of special 
local regulations previously established for this event from the third 
Friday and Saturday in March to the fourth Friday and Saturday in April 
to reflect the new event dates. Since this action will not increase the 
period of time that the channel is restricted and the Coast Guard 
patrol commander will be allowing vessels to transit whenever a race 
heat is not being run, commercial traffic should not be severely 
disrupted.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposal 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 
proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under 
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is 
unnecessary. This proposal merely changes the effective date of an 
existing regulation and does not impose any new restriction on vessel 
traffic.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal, if adopted, 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). Because it expects the impact of 
this proposal to be minimal, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 
605(b), that this proposal, if adopted, will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

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 under the principles 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 considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal and concluded that, under section 2.b.2.e(34)(h) of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1b (as amended, 61 FR 13564; 27 March 1996), this 
proposal is categorically excluded form further environmental 
documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR Part 100 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.

    2. Section 100.523 is amended by revising paragraph (c) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 100.523  Southern Branch, Elizabeth River, Portsmouth, Virginia.

* * * * *
    (c) Effective periods. This section is effective on the fourth 
Friday of April and on the fourth Saturday of April, unless otherwise 
specified in the Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners and a Federal 
Register notice.

    Dated: February 5, 1997.
Kent H. Williams,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-4357 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
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