[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50506-50507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25602]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD8-97-038]
RIN 2115-AE46
Special Local Regulations; 1997 Galveston Offshore Powerboat
Festival, Galveston, TX
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: Special local regulations are being adopted for the Galveston
Offshore Powerboat Festival. This event will be held on October 11,
1997 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Galveston Ship Channel and on
October 12, 1997 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. offshore of Galveston Island at
Galveston, Texas. These regulations are needed to provide for the
safety of life on the navigable waters during the event.
DATES: These regulations become effective on October 11, 1997 at 10:30
a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and on October 12, 1997 at 9:30 a.m. until 6:30
p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LT Harry Schmidt, Operations Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Group Galveston.
Tel: (409) 766-5603.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Regulatory History
In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rule making
for these regulations has not been published, and good cause exists for
making them effective in less than 30 days from the date of
publication. Following normal rule making procedures would be
impracticable. The details of the event were not finalized in
sufficient time to publish proposed rules in advance of the event or to
provide for a delayed effective date.
Background and Purpose
The marine event requiring this regulation is a power boat race
called the ``1997 Galveston Offshore Powerboat Festival''. This event
is sponsored by Texas Gulf Coast Racing, Inc. It will consist of an
inshore powerboat race in the Galveston Ship Channel on October 11,
1997 and an offshore race on October 12, 1997. Approximately 60
offshore V-hull and catamaran-hull outboard and inboard race boats from
22 to 50 feet in length operating at high speeds are expected to
participate in the races. The courses to be followed by the races will
be marked by patrol vessels positioned at various points along each
route. Fifty to two hundred spectator boats are expected for this
event.
While viewing the event at any point outside the regulated area is
not prohibited spectators will be encouraged to congregate within areas
designated by the sponsor. Non-participating vessels will be permitted
to transit the area every hour on the hour at No Wake Speed with the
permission of the patrol commander.
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 the 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
because of the event's short duration.
Small Entities
The Coast Guard finds that the impact on small entities, if any, is
not substantial. Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section
605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq) that
this temporary rule will not have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities because of the event's short
duration.
Collection of Information
This rule contains no information collection requirements under the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)
Federalism Assessment
The Coast Guard has analyzed this action in accordance with the
principles and criteria of Executive Order 12612 and has determined
that this rule does not raise sufficient federalism implications to
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
Environmental Assessment
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 revised by 61 FR 13563; March 27, 1996) this
rule is excluded from further environmental documentation.
List of Subjects In 33 CFR Part 100
Mine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Waterways
Temporary Regulations
In consideration of the foregoing, Part 100 of Title 33, Code of
Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:
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. A temporary Sec. 100.35-T08-038 is added to read as follows:
Sec. 100.35-T08-038 Galveston, TX.
(a) Regulated Area: The Galveston Ship Channel from the Pelican
Island Bridge to Pier 9 on October 11, 1997 and The Gulf of Mexico
within the area bounded by a point on the shoreline at 29-18.7N, 094-
45.5W southeast to 29-18.2N, 094-45.0W thence southwest to 29-16.0N,
094-46.4W thence west to 29-14.8.0N, 094-49.6W thence northwest to the
shoreline at 29-15.7N, 094-52.0W on October 12, 1997.
(b) Special Local Regulation: All persons and vessels not
registered with the sponsors as participants or official patrol vessels
are considered spectators.
[[Page 50507]]
Participants are those persons and vessels identified by the sponsor as
taking part in the event. The official patrol consists of any Coast
Guard, public, state, or local law enforcement and sponsor provided
vessel assigned to patrol the event. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander
is a Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been
designated by Commanding Officer, U.S. Coast Guard Group Galveston.
(1) No spectator shall anchor, block, loiter in or impede the
through transit of participants or official patrol vessels in the
regulated area during the effective dates and times, unless cleared for
entry by or through an official patrol vessel.
(2) When hailed and signaled, by an official patrol vessel, a
spectator shall come to an immediate stop. Vessels shall comply with
all directions given; failure to do so may result in a citation.
(3) The patrol commander is empowered to forbid and control the
movement of all vessels in the regulated area. He may terminate the
event at any time it is deemed necessary for the protection of life or
property. He may be reached on VHF-FM Channel 16, when required by the
call sign PATCOM.
(c) Effective Dates: This section is effective from 10:30 a.m.
until 5:30 p.m. on October 11, 1997 and from 9:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m.
on October 12, 1997.
Dated: September 19, 1997.
T.W. Josiah,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 97-25602 Filed 9-25-97; 8:45 am]
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