[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 20102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10732]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

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


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

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is amending 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 rule 
updates the regulation in order to enhance the safety of life and 
property during the event.

DATES: This final rule is effective on April 25, 1997.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History

    On February 21, 1997, the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking entitled Special Local Regulations for Marine 
Events; Southern Branch, Elizabeth River, Portsmouth, Virginia, in the 
Federal Register (62 FR 7970). The Coast Guard received no comments on 
the proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was requested, and none was 
held.
    Ports Events, Inc., the sponsor of the Crawford Bay Crew Classic, 
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 rule updates the regulations to reflect the new dates of 
the event.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard received no comments on the proposed rulemaking. 
Therefore, the proposed rule is being implemented without change.

Good Cause Statement

    This final rule is effective in less than 30 days because it is 
contrary to the public interest to delay the effective date because 
action is required to protect vessel traffic and event participants 
during the event.

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 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 
final rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under 
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is 
unnecessary. This rule merely changes the effective date of 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 rule 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). This rule does not impose any new restrictions on 
vessel traffic, but merely changes effective dates of a regulation. 
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under Section 605(b) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

Collection of Information

    This final rule does not provide for a collection of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

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

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
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 
rule 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 amends 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 regulation will be 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: April 11, 1997.
Kent H. Williams,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-10732 Filed 4-24-97; 8:45 am]
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