[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 25, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 62733-62734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30923]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD11-97-008]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations; U.S. National Waterski Racing 
Championship

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to amend the table of events in 33 
CFR 100.1101 by adding the U.S. National Waterski Racing Championship 
conducted in the waters of Mission Bay in San Diego, California, from 
Government Island south to Ski Beach on the following dates: annually, 
commencing on the first Friday of October every year, and, including 
the first Friday of October, lasting a total of three days. The special 
local regulations applicable to this event are necessary to provide for 
the safety of life, property, and navigation on the navigable waters of 
the United States during scheduled events. The Coast Guard is also 
making a technical amendment to paragraph (a) of 33 CFR 100.1101 to 
reflect a change of address for the Eleventh Coast Guard District staff 
element responsible for the Local Notice to Mariners.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before January 9, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Lieutenant Michael A. Arguelles, 
U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, 2716 North Harbor Drive, San 
Diego, California 92101, or deliver them to the same address between 9 
a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The telephone 
number is (619) 683-6484.
    The Marine Safety Office maintains the public docket for this 
rulemaking. Comments, and any documents referenced in this preamble, 
will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection 
and copying at the Marine Safety Office between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant Michael A. Arguelles, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, 
2716 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, California 92101. The telephone 
number is (619) 683-6484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identifying this rulemaking (CGD11-97-008) and the specific section of 
this document 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 8.5 by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment 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 proposed rule in view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Marine Safety Office at the address 
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

    The U.S. National Waterski Racing Championship will consist of 
various waterski racing events. The races will take place, annually, 
over a three day period beginning on the first Friday of October. The 
special local regulations applicable to this event are necessary to 
provide for the safety of life, property, and navigation on the 
navigable waters of the United States during scheduled events. A 
technical amendment to paragraph (a) of 33 CFR 100.1101 is necessary 
because the Eleventh Coast Guard District staff element responsible for 
the Local Notice to Mariners has moved from Long Beach, CA to Alameda, 
CA.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The race zone encompasses the water of Mission Bay in San Diego, 
California, from Government Island south to Ski Beach in Mission Bay. 
The race course will be marked by buoys to alert non-participants. Each 
year, the race zone will be in use by vessels competing in the event 
from and including the first Friday of October, for a total of three 
days, during the hours of 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. (PDT). During these times 
the waters of Mission Bay from Government Island to Ski Beach will be 
closed to all traffic with the exception of emergency vessels, official 
patrol vessels, and participant vessels. No vessels other than 
emergency, participant, or official patrol vessels will be allowed to 
enter this zone unless specifically cleared by or through an official 
patrol vessel.
    Pursuant to 33 CFR 100.1101(b)(3), Commander, Coast Guard 
Activities San Diego, is designated Patrol Commander for this event; he 
has the authority to delegate this responsibility to any commissioned, 
warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard. Once the zone is 
established, authorization to remain within the zone is subject to 
termination by the Patrol Commander at any time. The Patrol Commander 
may impose other restrictions within the zone if circumstances dictate. 
Restrictions will be tailored to impose the least impact on maritime 
interests yet provide the level of security deemed necessary to safely 
conduct the race.
    With respect to the technical amendment to paragraph (a) of 33 CFR 
100.1101, the correct address of the

[[Page 62734]]

Eleventh Coast Guard District staff element responsible for Local 
Notice to Mariners now reads: Commander (Pow), Eleventh Coast Guard 
District, Coast Guard Island, Building 50-6, Alameda, CA 94501-5100.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require assessment 
of potential cost 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 
regulation to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under 
paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of the 
Department of Transportation is unnecessary.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposed rule, if adopted, will 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. ``Small entities'' may include small businesses, not-for-
profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are 
not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with 
populations less than 50,000.
    Because it expects the impact of this proposal to be so minimal, 
the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this proposal, if adopted, 
will not have a substantial impact on a significant number of small 
entities. If, however, you think that your business or organization 
qualifies as a small entity and this proposed rule will have a 
significant economic impact on your business or organization, please 
submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies 
and in what way and to what degree this proposed rule will economically 
affect it.

Collection of Information

    This proposed rule 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 proposed 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 
proposed rule and concluded that under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1B, it will have no significant environmental impact 
and it is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Regattas and Marine Parades.

Proposed Regulation

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR Part 100, section 100.1101, as follows:

PART 100--MARINE EVENTS

    1. The authority citation for Part 100 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233 through 1236; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 
100.35.

    2. In Sec. 100.1101 revise paragraph (a) and amend Table 1 of that 
section by adding an entry for the U.S. National Waterski Racing 
Championship immediately following the last entry to read as follows:


Sec. 100.1101  Southern California annual marine events.

    (a) Special local regulations will be established for the events 
listed in Table 1. Further information on exact dates, times, details 
concerning number and type of participants and an exact geographical 
description of the areas are published by the Eleventh Coast Guard 
District in the Local Notice to Mariners at least 20 days prior to each 
event. To be placed on the mailing list contact: Commander (pow), 
Eleventh Coast Guard District, Coast Guard Island, Building 50-6, 
Alameda, CA 94501-5100.
* * * * *

Table 1

* * * * *
U.S. National Waterski Racing Championship
    Sponsor: U.S. National Waterski Racing Association.
    Date: First Friday of October every year, lasting a total of 3 
days (including the first Friday of October).
    Location: Mission Bay, San Diego, California, from Government 
Island south to Ski Beach.

    Dated: October 15, 1997.
J.C. Card,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 97-30923 Filed 11-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M