[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 126 (Tuesday, July 1, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35402-35403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17090]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[CGD01-97-042]
RIN 2115-AA97


Safety Zone: BT Global Challenge Race, Boston Harbor, MA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
the BT Global Challenge Race in Boston Harbor. The safety zone is in 
effect on June 29, 1997, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. The safety 
zone temporarily closes all waters of Boston Harbor in an area between 
a western boundary line drawn from the northern most pier of Rowes 
Wharf (42 deg.21'27'' N, 071 deg.02'58'' W) in Boston to the southeast 
corner of Pier 1 in East Boston (42 deg.21'51'' N, 071 deg.02'32'' W), 
and an eastern boundary line drawn from the northeast corner of the 
Boston Fish Pier in South Boston (42 deg.21'13'' N, 071 deg.02'23'' W) 
to the Cashmans Dry Dock in East Boston (42 deg.21'39'' N, 
071 deg.02'01'' W). The safety zone is needed to protect the yachts 
participating in the BT Global Challenge Race while they set up and 
during their departure of Boston Harbor.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective on June 29, 1997, from 12 p.m. 
until 2:30 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
MSTC Daniel Dugery, Vessels and Waterways Management Division, Coast 
Guard Marine Safety Office Boston, (617) 223-3002.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
was not published for this regulation, and good cause exists for making 
it effective in less than 30 days after Federal Register publication. 
Publishing a NPRM and delaying its effective date would be contrary to 
the public interest since immediate action is needed to prevent injury 
and damage to persons and vessels involved.

[[Page 35403]]

Background and Purpose

    The BT Global Challenge Race, an around the world race consisting 
of 14 yachts approximately 67 feet in length. Boston, MA has been 
designated as one of the port calls for this event. The sponsor, 
Challenge Business Limited, has requested for Coast Guard assistance 
when the yachts line up to begin the race, and while they are departing 
Boston Harbor. Due to the public interest expected in this event, and 
the natural flow of commercial traffic a safety zone is needed to 
protect the yachts from the hazards of collision. The safety zone is in 
effect on June 29, 1997, from 12 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. The safety zone 
temporarily closes all waters of Boston Harbor within 200 yards of the 
yachts while they set up for the race and during their departure of 
Boston Harbor.

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 not been reviewed 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 
rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 
10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 
Costs to the shipping industry from these regulations, if any, will be 
minor and have no significant adverse financial effect on vessel 
operators. Deep draft vessel traffic, fishing vessels, and tour boats 
may experience minor delays in departures or arrivals due to the safety 
zone. In addition, due to the limited number and duration of the 
arrivals, departures and harbor transits, the Coast Guard expects the 
economic impact of this regulation to be so minimal that a Regulatory 
Evaluation is unnecessary.

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 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.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider the economic impact on small entities of a 
rule for which a general notice of proposed rulemaking is required. 
``Small entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-for-profit 
organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not 
dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    For the reasons addressed under the Regulatory Evaluation above, 
the Coast Guard finds that this rule will not have a significant impact 
on a substantial number of small entities. If, however, you think that 
your business or organization qualifies as a small entity and that this 
rule will have a significant impact on your business or organization, 
please submit a comment explaining why you think it qualifies and in 
what way and to what degree this rule will economically affect it.

Environment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this 
rule and concluded that, under section 2.B.2.e. of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B (as revised by 59 FR 38654, July 29, 1994), this 
rule is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

Regulation

    For reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to 
amend 33 CFR part 165 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 
6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

    2. A temporary 165.T01-042, is added to read as follows:


Sec. 165.T01-042  Safety Zone: BT Global Challenge Race, Boston Harbor, 
MA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of 
Boston Harbor between a western boundary line drawn from the northern 
most pier of Rowes Wharf (42 deg.21'27'' N, 071 deg.02'58'' W) in 
Boston to the southeast corner of Pier 1 in East Boston (42 deg.21'51'' 
N, 071 deg.02'32'' W) and an eastern boundary line drawn from the 
northeast corner of the Boston Fish Pier in South Boston 
(42 deg.21'13'' N, 071 deg.02'23'' W) to the Cashmans Dry Dock in East 
Boston (42 deg.21'39'' N, 071 deg.02'01'' W) [Datum: NAD 1983]
    (b) Effective Date. This regulation becomes effective on June 29, 
1997, from 12:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m.
    (c) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in 
165.23 of this part, entry into or movement within this zone is 
prohibited unless authorized by the COTP Boston.

    Dated: June 11, 1997.
J.J. O'Brien, Jr.,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port, Boston, 
Massachusetts.
[FR Doc. 97-17090 Filed 6-26-97; 10:13 am]
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