[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 21, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3036-3037]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-1270]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD11-97-004]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulation; Laughlin, Nevada

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard amends the table of events in 33 CFR 100.1102 
by adding the Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo being 
conducted in the waters of the Colorado River from Davis Dam south to 
Harrah's Hotel and Casino on the following dates: annually, commencing 
on the last Thursday of May every year, and lasting a total of 4 days, 
ending on Sunday. These regulations are necessary to provide for the 
safety of life, property, and navigation on the navigable waters of the 
United States during scheduled events.

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 28, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant Mike A. Arguelles, Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San 
Diego; telephone number (619) 683-6484.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History

    On March 27, 1997, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation in the Federal Register (62 FR 
14379). The comment period ended May 10, 1997. The Coast Guard received 
one letter commenting on the proposal. A public hearing was not 
requested and no hearing was held. The only change the Coast Guard has 
made to the language of this regulation since the publication of the 
NPRM is to specify a more certain date and time schedule for the annual 
Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo.

Background and Purpose

    The Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo will consist of 
five various styles of watercraft racing. The races will take place, 
annually, over a four day period beginning on the last Thursday of May, 
and ending on Sunday. These regulations are necessary to provide for 
the safety of life, property, and navigation on the navigable waters of 
the United States during scheduled events. The race zone encompasses 
the Colorado River from the Davis Dam south to Harrah's Hotel and 
Casino. The race courses will be marked by vessels with signs, and both 
north and south boundaries of the race zone will have major signs to 
alert non-participants using the river. On the following days and 
times, the race zone will be in use by vessels competing in the event: 
(1) the first day of the event, the last Thursday of each May each 
year, from 3:00 PM PDT to 5:00 PM PDT, (2) the second day of the event, 
Friday, from 8:00 AM PDT to 2:00 PM PDT, and from 3:30 PM PDT to 6:00 
PM PDT, (3) the third day of the event, Saturday, from 8:00 AM PDT to 
1:30 PM PDT, and from 4:00 PM PDT to 5:00 PM PDT; and, (4) the fourth 
and final day of the event, Sunday, from 9:00 AM PDT to 1:30 PM PDT, 
from 3:00 PM PDT to 4:00 PD PDT, and from 6:00 PM PDT to 7:00 PM PDT. 
During these times the Colorado River from Davis Dam south to Harrah's 
Hotel and Casino will be closed with the exception of emergency 
vessels. No vessels other than participants or official patrol vessels 
will be allowed to enter this zone unless specifically cleared by or 
through an official patrol vessel. Once the zone is established, 
authorization to remain within the zone is subject to termination 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 Aquamoto and Expo.

Discussion of Comments

    The only comment received was from a local business that sought 
notice of the exact date of the event. The comment also expressed 
concern that closure of the area of the Colorado River specified in the 
NPRM for an entire Saturday afternoon in May or June might prejudice 
business; suggested that the river be open for unrestricted use on 
Saturday afternoon from 1 p.m. PDT until Sunday morning. The language 
of this Final Rule provides the public with more specific notice of the 
date and time schedule for the annual Laughlin Aquamoto Sports 
Challenge and Expo. It also alleviates the concern that the river not 
be closed for an entire Saturday afternoon, because on Saturday, the 
river will be open from 1:30 P.M. PDT to 4 P.M. PDT, and from 5 P.M. 
PDT on.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This regulation 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 rule will have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small 
entities'' may include small businesses and not-for-profit 
organizations that are not dominant in their fields and (2) 
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.

Collection of Information

    This 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 regulation under the principles 
and criteria 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 and concluded 
that under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction M16475.1B as 
revised in 59 CFR 38654, July 29 1994 and 61 FR 13563, March 27, 1996, 
it will have no significant environmental impact and it is 
categorically excluded from further environmental

[[Page 3037]]

documentation. A Categorical Exclusion Determination and environmental 
analysis checklist will be available for inspection and copying in the 
docket to be maintained at the address listed in ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Regattas and Marine parades.

Regulation

    For the reasons set out in the preamble the Coast Guard proposes to 
amend 33 CFR Part 100, section 100.1102, Table I, 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 100.1102, Table I is amended by adding an entry for the 
Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo immediately following the 
entry for the Laughlin Classic to read as follows:


Sec. 100.102--  Marine Events on the Colorado River, between Davis Dam 
(Bullhead City, Arizona) and Headgate Dam (Parker, Arizona).

* * * * *
Table 1
* * * * *
Laughlin Aquamoto Sports Challenge and Expo
Sponsor: Baja Promotions
    Dates: The last Thursday of May every year, lasting a total of 4 
days, ending on Sunday, per the following schedule: 1.) the first day 
of the event, the last Thursday of May each year, from 3 p.m PDT to 5 
p.m. PDT, 2.) the second day of the event, Friday, from 8 a.m. PDT to 2 
p.m. PDT, and from 3:30 p.m. PDT to 6 p.m. PDT, 3.) the third day of 
the event, Saturday, from 8 a.m. PDT to 1:30 p.m. PDT, and from 4 p.m. 
PDT to 5 p.m. PDT; and, 4.) the fourth and final day of the event, 
Sunday, from 9 a.m. PDT to 1:30 p.m. PDT, from 3 p.m. PDT to 4 p.m. 
PDT, and from 6 p.m. PDT to 7 p.m. PDT.
    Where: That portion of the Colorado River near Laughlin, Nevada, 
from Davis Dam to Harrah's Hotel and Casino.

    Dated: December 19, 1997.
J.C. Card,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 98-1270 Filed 1-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M