[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16114-16115]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8255]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-98-014]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations: Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, 
FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: Special local regulations are being adopted for the ``Blessing 
of the Fleet'' ceremony on the Matanzas River in St. Augustine, 
Florida. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastern Standard 
Time (EST) on April 5, 1998. The regulations are needed to provide for 
the safety of life on navigable waters during the event because of the 
expected concentration of participant and spectator craft in a limited 
area of the Matanzas River.

DATES: These regulations become effective at 9 a.m. and terminate at 3 
p.m. EST on April 5, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ensign G. Watson, Coast Guard Group 
Mayport, Florida. Tel: (904) 247-7398.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Purpose

    The event requiring this regulation is a ``Blessing of the Fleet'' 
ceremony. There will be approximately 150 participating vessels in 
single file, parade style formation, transiting the Intracoastal 
Waterway on the Matanzas River from the Bridge of Lions south to 
Daybeacon number #2, and returning north to the Bridge of Lions. 
Approximately ten spectator craft are expected. The total number of 
vessels in the regatta area create an extra hazard to the safety of 
life on the navigable waters, requiring that vessel traffic control be 
implemented within the area.
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a notice of proposed rulemaking 
was not published for this regulation and good cause exists for making 
it effective in less than 30 days from the date of publication. 
Following normal rulemaking procedures would have been impractical. The 
information concerning the event was not received until January 28, 
1998, leaving insufficient time to publish proposed rules prior to the 
event or to provide a delayed effective date.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This action 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 
rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 
10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 
The regulated area will be in effect for a total of six hours on the 
date 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 605(b) that this 
rule will not have a significant effect upon a substantial number of 
small entities because the regulations are only in effect in a limited 
area for six hours on the day of the event.

Collection of Information

    This rule contains no collection of information requirements under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order

[[Page 16115]]

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 M17475.1C that this action is categorically 
excluded from further environmental documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Temproary 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 new temporary section 100.35-T07-014 is added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 100.35-TO7-014  Special Local Regulations; Intracoastal Waterway; 
St. Augustine, FL.

    (a) Regulated area. The regulated area is located in the waters of 
the Matanzas River, Intracoastal Waterway, St. Augustine, Florida. Its 
northern boundary is formed by the Bridge of Lions. The western 
boundary begins where the Bridge of Lions meets the west bank of the 
Matanzas River and runs along the west bank of the river to approximate 
position 29-52.1N, 081-18.2W. The southern boundary is formed by a 
line, perpendicular to the centerline of the Matanzas River, drawn from 
Fish Island Mariana Daybeacon #2, (LLNR 39080), in approximate position 
29-52.IN, 081-18.2W (near the entrance of the San Sebastian River), to 
the west bank of the Matanzas River. the eastern boundary is formed by 
the eastern bank of the Matanzas River. All coordinates referenced use 
Datum: NAD 83.
    (b) Special local Regulations. (1) Entry into this regulated area, 
by other than parade participants or spectator craft, is prohibited, 
unless authorized by the Patrol Commander. After termination of the 
``Blessing of the Fleet'' ceremony, all vessels may resume normal 
operations.
    (2) Spectator craft will be allowed to enter the regulated area; 
however, vessel mooring, anchoring, and movement restrictions will be 
directed by Coast Guard and local law enforcement officials.
    (3) The Bridge of Lions will remain in the closed position during 
the event.
    (c) Date. This section becomes effective at 9 a.m. and terminates 
at 3 p.m. EST on April 5, 1998.

    Dated: March 18, 1998.
[FR Doc. 98-8255 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M