[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 35 (Friday, February 21, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 7969-7970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4359]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD 05-97-007]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Norfolk Harbor, 
Elizabeth River, Norfolk, Virginia and 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 established for marine events held in the Norfolk Harbor, 
Elizabeth River, between Norfolk and Portsmouth, Virginia by 
identifying specific annual events for which the regulated area will be 
in effect. This action is intended to update the regulation in order to 
enhance the safety of life and property during the events.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 22, 1997.

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

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written views, data, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comment should include their names and addresses, 
identify this rulemaking (CGD 05-97-007) 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 wanting 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.

[[Page 7970]]

    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

    33 CFR 100.501 established special local regulations for marine 
events held in the Norfolk Harbor, Elizabeth River, between Norfolk and 
Portsmouth, Virginia. The effect of these regulations is the control of 
vessel traffic during marine events to enhance the safety of 
participants, spectators, and transiting vessels. The regulations are 
implemented at various times, for various events throughout the year by 
publishing notice in the Federal Register and the Fifth Coast Guard 
District Local Notice to Mariners. This proposal would update the 
regulations to reflect specific events for which the regulations will 
be in effect.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to amend the special local regulations 
previously established for this event area by incorporating a table 
which identifies the specific events during which the regulated area 
will be in effect. Since this action will not increase the period of 
time that the channel is restricted and the Coast Guard patrol 
commander may stop any event to assist transit of vessels through the 
regulated area, normal marine 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 provides additional information to an 
existing regulation and does not impose any new restrictions 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 (14 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 from 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 100.501 is amended by revising paragraph (c) and adding 
Table 1 to read as follows:


Sec. 100.501  Norfolk Harbor, Elizabeth River, Norfolk, Virginia and 
Portsmouth, Virginia.

* * * * *
    (c) Effective periods. This section is effective annually for the 
duration of each marine event listed in Table 1, or as otherwise 
specified in the Coast Guard Local Notice to Mariners and a Federal 
Register notice. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander will announce by 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners the specific time periods during which the 
regulations will be enforced.

Table 1 of Sec. 100.501

Harborfest

    Sponsor: Norfolk Harborfest, Inc.
    Date: First Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June

Great American Picnic

    Sponsor: Festevents, Inc.
    Date: July 4

Cock Island Race

    Sponsor: Ports Events, Inc.
    Date: Third Saturday in July

Rendezvous at Zero Mile Marker

    Sponsor: Ports Events, Inc.
    Date: Third Saturday in August

U.S. Navy Fleet Week Celebration

    Sponsor: U.S. Navy
    Date: Second Friday in October

Holidays in the City

    Sponsor: Festevents, Inc.
    Date: Fourth Saturday in November

New Years Eve Fireworks Display

    Sponsor: Festevents, Inc.
    Date: December 31.

    Dated: February 5, 1997.
Kent H. Williams,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-4359 Filed 2-20-97; 8:45 am]
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