[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7936-7937]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4358]


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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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing permanent special local 
regulations for the Augusta Invitational Rowing Regatta. The Augusta 
Invitational Rowing Regatta will be held annually on Thursday, Friday, 
Saturday, and Sunday of the third week of March, between the hours of 7 
a.m. and 5 p.m. local time. The nature of the event and the closure of 
the Savannah River creates an extra or unusual hazard on the navigable 
waters. These regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of 
life on the navigable waters. These regulations are necessary to 
provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the 
event.

DATES: March 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: The docket for this rulemaking is maintained at Commander, 
U.S. Coast Guard Group, Charleston, 196 Tradd St., Charleston, SC, 
29401. Hours are 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday except 
Federal holidays.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History

    On December 6, 1996 the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled [CGD07-96-063] in the Federal Register (61 FR 
64645). The comment period ended on February 4, 1997. The Coast Guard 
received no comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking. A public 
hearing was not requested, and no hearing was held.

Background and Purpose

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

Regulatory Evaluation

    This regulation 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 10(e) of the regulatory policies 
and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. The proposed regulations will 
last for only 10 hours on each day of the event. No public comments 
were received during the notice of proposed rulemaking comment period.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this rulemaking 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).
    The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this regulation to 
be minimal and certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rulemaking 
will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small 
entities because the limited area regulated and limited duration of the 
regulation.

Collection of Information

    These 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 has determined that the 
rulemaking does not have sufficient Federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact on this 
rulemaking consistent with Section 2.B.2. of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B, (as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994). In accordance 
with that instruction, specifically sections 2.B.4.g. and h., this 
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 for 
inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

[[Page 7937]]

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Final 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.

    2. A new section 100.724 is added to read as follows:


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

    (a) Definitions. (1) Regualted 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 includes the width of the Savannah River between these two lines.
    (2) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard patrol Commander 
is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who 
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 a.m. and 
terminates at 5 p.m. local time annually, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday 
and Sunday of the third weekend of March.

    Dated: February 6, 1997.
R.D. Utley,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District 
Acting.
[FR Doc. 97-4358 Filed 9-20-97; 8:45 am]
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