[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 39 (Friday, February 27, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 9979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5104]



[[Page 9979]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD 05-98-006]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; New Jersey Offshore 
Grand Prix

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to amend permanent special local 
regulations established for the New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix, a 
marine event held annually in the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of New 
Jersey between Asbury Park and Seaside Park, by identifying the 
specific date on which the regulated area will be in effect. This 
action is intended to provide more accurate notice of the date on which 
the event will occur.

DATES: Coments must be received on or before April 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander (Aoax) Fifth Coast Guard 
District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, or 
hand-delivered to Room 119 at the same address between 7:30 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is (757) 398-6204. Comments will become part of this docket and 
will be available for inspection and copying at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
S.L. Phillips, Project Manager, Operations Division, Auxiliary Section, 
at (757) 398-6204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written views, data, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this rulemaking (CGD 05-98-006) and the specific section of 
this proposal 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\1/2\ 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 proposal in view of the comments. 
The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a public 
hearing by writing to the address listed 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 current regulations at 33 CFR 100.505 establish special local 
regulations for the New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix, a marine event held 
annually in the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of New Jersey between 
Asbury Park and Seaside Park. The purpose of these regulations is to 
control vessel traffic during the event to enhance the safety of 
participants, spectators, and transiting vessels. In the past, these 
regulations were implemented by publishing a notice in the Federal 
Register.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to amend the special local regulations 
previously established for this event area by identifying the specific 
date on which the regulated area will be in effect.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposal 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 
proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under 
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is 
unnecessary. This proposal merely identifies the effective date of an 
existing regulation and does not impose nay new restrictions on vessel 
traffic.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Coast 
Guard must consider whether this proposal 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). Because it expects the impact of this proposal to be 
minimal, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that this 
proposal, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.

Collection of Information

    This proposal contains no Collection of Information requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposal under the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that 
this proposal does not have sufficient federalism implications to 
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal 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 proposal 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 proposes 
to amend 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 100.505 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 100.505  New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix.

* * * * *
    (b) Effective Period: This section is effective annually on the 
third Wednesday in July. If the event is canceled due to weather, this 
section is effective the following day. The Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander will announce by Broadcast Notice to Mariners the specific 
time periods during which the regulations will be enforced.
* * * * *
    Dated: February 17, 1998.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Vice Admiral, USGC Commander Atlantic Area.
[FR Doc. 98-5104 Filed 2-26-98; 8:45 am]
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