[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 60 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15115-15116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8256]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-98-008]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations; Around Alone Sailboat Race, 
Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish temporary special local 
regulations creating a regulated area in the coastal waters off 
Charleston, SC, for the Around Alone single-handed sailboat race, 
sponsored by Great Adventures, Ltd. These regulations will prohibit 
entry into the regulated area by non-participating vessels during the 
event. These regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of 
life on navigable waters because of the expected presence of numerous 
spectator craft.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 29, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Group 
Charleston, 196 Tradd Street, Charleston, SC 29401, or may be delivered 
to the Operations Office at the above address between 7:30 a.m. and 
3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. The telephone 
number is (803) 724-7628. Comments will become part of this docket and 
will be available for inspection or copying at the Operations Office at 
the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LTJG S.S. Brisco, Project Manager, 
Coast Guard Group Charleston at (803) 724-7628.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourage interested persons to participate in this 
rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. Persons 
submitting comments should include their name and address, identify 
this rulemaking (CGD07-98-008) and the specific section of this 
proposal to which each comment applies, and give a reason for each 
comment. Persons desiring acknowledgment of receipt of comments should 
enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.
    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 Project Manager at the address under 
ADDRESSES. The request should include why a hearing would be 
beneficial. If the Coast Guard determines that the opportunity for oral 
presentations will aid this rulemaking, it will hold a public hearing 
at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal 
Register.

Background and Purpose

    The proposed regulations are needed to provide for the safety of 
life during the start of the Around Alone 1998-99 sailing race. These 
proposed regulations are intended to promote safe navigation offshore 
of Charleston harbor immediately before, during, and after the start of 
the race by controlling the traffic entering, exiting, and traveling 
within the regulated area. The anticipated concentration of commercial 
traffic, spectator vessels, and participating vessels associated with 
the race poses a safety concern which is addressed in these proposed 
safety regulations.
    The proposed regulations will encompass a trapezoidal area south of 
the Charleston Harbor entrance lighted buoy 7 (LLNR 2405). Four 
conspicuous markers will indicate the corners of the regulated area. 
These proposed regulations would prohibit the movement of spectator 
vessels and other non-participants within the regulated area on 
September 26, 1998, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the discretion of the 
Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposal is not a major 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 10(e) of the regulatory policies 
and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. The proposed regulations will 
only be in effect for approximately 4 hours on September 26, 1998.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this proposal will have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small 
entities'' include small businesses, not-for-profit organizations that 
are independently owned and operated and are not dominant in their 
field, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000.
    Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that 
this proposed rule, if adopted, will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities because the proposed 
regulated area would be in effect for only 4 hours in a limited area 
outside Charleston harbor. If, however, you think that your business or 
organization qualifies as a small entity and that 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 proposal 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 proposal in accordance with 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.

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal, and has determined pursuant to section 2.B.2.a (CD 
34(h)) of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, that 
this proposal is categorically excluded from further environmental 
documentation.

Lists of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waterways.

[[Page 15116]]

Proposed Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard proposes to 
amend Part 100 of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, 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. A new section 100.35T-07-008 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 100.35T-07-008  Around Alone 1998-99 Sailing Race; Charleston, SC

    (a) Definitions. (1) Regulated area. The regulated area includes 
the waters off Charleston, SC, in an area bounded by four corner points 
located at 32-42.72N, 79-47.64W; 32-42.09N, 79-46.96W; 32-41.61N, 79-
47.28W; and 32-41.78N, 79-48.27W. All coordinates reference Datum: NAD 
83. These four points will be conspicuously marked with four markers.
    (2) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander 
is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has 
been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Group Charleston, SC.
    (b) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into the regulated area by 
other than event participants is prohibited, unless otherwise 
authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.
    (2) The Coast Guard Patrol Commander may delay, modify, or cancel 
the race as conditions or circumstances require. The Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander shall monitor the start of the race with the race committee, 
to allow for a window of opportunity for the race participants to 
depart the harbor with minimal interference with inbound or outbound 
commercial traffic.
    (3) Spectator and other non-participating vessels may only follow 
the participants out of Charleston Harbor to the race starting area if 
they maintain a minimum distance of 500 yards behind the last 
participant, at the discretion of the Patrol Commander. Upon completion 
of the start of the race and when the last race participant has passed 
the outermost boundary of the regulated area, all vessels may resume 
normal operations.
    (c) Date. This section becomes effective at 10 a.m. and terminates 
at 2 p.m. EDT on September 26, 1998.

    Dated: March 16, 1998.
Norman T. Saunders,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 98-8256 Filed 3-27-98; 8:45 am]
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