[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16687-16688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8958]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD11-97-008]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations; U.S. National Waterski Racing 
Championship

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard amends the table of events by adding the US 
National Waterski Racing Championship conducted in the waters of 
Mission Bay in San Diego, California, from Government Island south to 
Ski Beach on the following dates: annually, commencing on the first 
Friday of October every year, and, including the first Friday of 
October, lasting a total of three days. The special local regulations 
applicable to this event are necessary to provide for the safety of 
life, property, and navigation on the navigable waters of the United 
States during scheduled events.

    The Coast Guard also makes a technical amendment to reflect a 
change of address for the Eleventh Coast Guard District staff element 
responsible for the Local Notice to Mariners.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 3, 1998.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: .

Regulatory History

    On November 25, 1997, the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation in the Federal Register 
(62 FR 62733). The comment period ended January 09, 1998. The Coast 
Guard received no comments on the proposal. A public hearing was not 
requested and no hearing was held.

Background and Purpose

    The U.S. National Waterski Race will consist of various waterski 
racing events. The races will take place, annually, over a three day 
period beginning on the first Friday of October, 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 waters of Mission Bay in San Diego, 
California, from government Island south to Ski beach in Mission Bay. 
The race course will be marked by buoys to alert non-participants. Each 
year, the race zone will be in use by vessels competing in the event 
from and including the first Friday of October, for a total of three 
days, during the hours of 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. (PDT). During these times 
the waters of Mission Bay from Government Island to Ski Beach will be 
closed to all traffic with the exception of emergency vessels, official 
patrol vessels, and participant vessels. No vessels other than 
emergency, participant, or official patrol vessels will be allowed to 
enter this zone unless specifically cleared by or through an official 
patrol vessel.
    Pursuant to 33 CFR 100.1101(b)(3), Commander, Coast Guard 
Activities San Diego, is designated Patrol Commander for this event; he 
has the authority to delegate this responsibility to any commissioned, 
warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard. Once the zone is 
established, authorization to remain within the zone is subject to 
termination by the Patrol Commander at any time. The Patrol Commander 
may impose other restrictions within this 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 race.
    A technical amendment to paragraph (a) of 33 CFR 100.1101 is 
mecessary because the Eleventh Coast Guard District staff element 
responsible for the Local Notice to Mariners has moved from Long Beach, 
California, to Alameda, California. The correct address of the Eleventh 
Coast Guard District staff element responsible for Local Notice to 
Mariners now reads: Commander (Pow), Eleventh Coast Guard District, 
Coast Guard Island, Building 50-6, Alameda, CA 94501-5100.

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 rule 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 rule 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 rule 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.

[[Page 16688]]

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B, it will have no significant environmental impact and it is 
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. A 
Categorical Exclusion Determination and environmental analysis 
checklist will be available for inspection and copying in the docket to 
be maintained by the local Coast Guard Marine Safety Office.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Regattas and Marine parades.

Regulation

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 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 through 1236; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 
100.35.

    2. In Sec. 100.1101, paragraph (a) is revised, and Table 1 is 
amended by adding an entry for the U.S. National Waterski Racing 
Championship immediately following the last entry, to read as follows:


Sec. 100.1101  Southern California annual marine events.

    (a) Special local regulations will be established for the events 
listed in Table 1. Further information on exact dates, times, details 
concerning the number and type of participants and an exact 
geographical description of the areas are published by the Eleventh 
Coast Guard District in the Local Notice to Mariners at least 20 days 
prior to each event. To be placed on the mailing list contact: 
Commander (Pow), Eleventh Coast Guard District, Coast Guard Island, 
Building 50-6, Alameda, CA 94501-5100.
* * * * *

Table 1

US National Waterski Racing Championship
    Sponsor: U.S. National Waterski Racing Association
    Date: First Friday of October every year, lasting a total of 3 days 
(including the first Friday of October).
    Location: Mission Bay, San Diego, California, from Government 
Island south to Ski Beach.
    Dated: March 20, 1998.
J. C. Card,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 98-8958 Filed 4-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M