[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 171 (Thursday, September 4, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 46669-46670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-23445]


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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: Final rule.

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

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective on June 6, 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; Norfolk Harbor, Elizabeth River, Norfolk, Virginia and 
Portsmouth, Virginia, in the Federal Register (62 FR 7969). The Coast 
Guard received no comments on the proposed rulemaking. No public 
hearing was requested, and none was held. The final rule was 
inadvertently published as a quarterly on 8 August 1997 (62 FR 42671).

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 rule updates the regulations to 
reflect specific events for which the regulated area will be in effect.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard received no comments on the proposed rulemaking; 
however, the Coast Guard has learned that the sponsoring organization 
for the Harborfest event will be Festevents, Ltd. Therefore, Table 1 of 
the proposed rule has been amended to reflect this 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 
timely action is required to protect vessel traffic and event 
participants during these events.

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 period 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 the effective period of the 
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 contains no collection of information requirement 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

[[Page 46670]]

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 and 33 CFR 100.35.

    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                        
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Harborfest:                                                             
  Sponsor: Festevents, Ltd.                                             
  Date: First Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June                      
Great American Picnic:                                                  
  Sponsor: Festevents, Ltd.                                             
  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                                        
US Navy Fleet Week Celebration:                                         
  Sponsor: U.S. Navy                                                    
  Date: Second Friday in October                                        
Holidays in the City:                                                   
  Sponsor: Festevents, Ltd.                                             
  Date: Fourth Saturday in November                                     
New Years Eve Fireworks Display:                                        
  Sponsor: Festevents, Ltd.                                             
  Date: December 31                                                     
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    Dated: May 30, 1997.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-23445 Filed 9-3-97; 8:45 am]
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