[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16115-16116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8254]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD7-98-017]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations; Fort Lauderdale, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: Special local regulations are being adopted for the start of 
the Fort Lauderdale-Baltimore leg of the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the 
World Sailboat Race. The event will be held offshore of Fort Lauderdale 
on April 19, 1998. The regulations are needed to provide for the safety 
of life on navigable waters during the event.

DATES: These regulations become effective at 12 p.m. and terminate at 1 
p.m. EDT on April 19, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: QMCS Thomas E. Kjerulff, Coast Guard 
Group Miami, Florida at (305)535-4492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    Whitbread Race Americas Inc., is sponsoring the start of the Fort 
Lauderdale to Baltimore leg of the 1997-98 Whitbread Round the World 
Sailboat Race. The event will be held on April 19, 1998: from 12:10 
p.m. to 1 p.m. These regulations will create two regulated areas one 
mile offshore of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for the start and turning 
point of the race involving the ten 60 foot offshore racing sailboats 
participating. Entry into the regulated areas will be prohibited to 
non-participating vessels. These regulations are necessary for the 
protection of life on the navigable waters of the United States, as 
there will be approximately two thousand spectator craft in the 
vicinity.
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rulemaking 
has not been published for these regulations and good cause exists for 
making it effective in less than 30 days after Federal Register 
publication. Following normal rulemaking procedures would have been 
impracticable, as there was not sufficient time remaining after notice 
of the event to publish proposed rules or to provide for a delayed 
effective date.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This regulation 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 Cost 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. Entry into the regulated area is 
prohibited for only 3 hours on the day of the event.

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'' 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 section 5 U.S.C. 605(b) 
that this rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities as the regulations will only be in 
effect for approximately 3 hours in a limited area off Fort Lauderdale.

Federalism

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that the rulemaking 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 
action and has determined pursuant to section 2.B.2.a (CE#34(h)) of 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C that this action is categorically 
excluded from further environmental documentation.

[[Page 16116]]

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Temporary Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends 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 temporary section 100.35-T07-017 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 100.35-T07-017  Whitbread Race; Fort Lauderdale, FL

    (a) Regulated Areas (all coordinates reference Datum: NAD 1983). 
(1) A regulated area is established for the starting line by a line 
joining the following corner points: Corner point 1: 26-07.9N--080-
04.4W, Corner point 2: 26-07.1N--080-04.4W, Corner point 3: 26-07.9N--
080-05.6W, Corner point 4: 26-07.1N--080-05.6W.
    (2) A regulated area is established for the turning point by a line 
joining the following corner points: Corner point 1: 26-10.1N--080-
04.6W, Corner point 2: 26-10.1N--080-05.2W, Corner point 3: 26-10.9N--
080-04.6W, Corner point 4: 26-10.9N--080-05.2W.
    (b) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into the regulated area by 
other than event participants is prohibited unless otherwise authorized 
by the Patrol Commander. After departure of participants from the 
regulated area, traffic may resume normal operations.
    (2) A succession of not fewer than 5 short whistle or horn blasts 
from a patrol vessel will be the signal for any and all vessels to take 
immediate steps to avoid collision. The display of an orange distress 
smoke signal from a patrol vessel will be the signal for any and all 
vessels to stop immediately.

    (c) Dates. This section is effective at 12 p.m. and terminates at 1 
p.m. EDT on April 19, 1998.

    Dated: March 18, 1998.
Norman T. Saunders,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 98-8254 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
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