[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 67 (Wednesday, April 8, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17098-17099]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9209]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[COTP San Francisco Bay; 98-005]
RIN 2115-AA98


Safety Zone: San Francisco Bay, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the 
waters of San Francisco Bay, California, between Pier 35 and the Golden 
Gate Bridge. This temporary regulation will apply to the powerboat race 
sponsored by the Pacific Offshore Powerboat Racing Association taking 
place on April 19, 1998 between Blossom Rock and the south tower of the 
Golden Gate Bridge. The temporary safety zone will be bounded by the 
following positions: commencing at Latitude 37 deg.49'10''N, Longitude 
122 deg.24'07''W; thence to 37 deg.48'50''N, 122 deg.24'07''W; thence 
to 37 deg.48'56''N, 122 deg.28'48''W; thence to 37 deg.48'48''N, 
122 deg.28'48''W; thence returning to the point of origin. This 
temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of 
participants, spectators, and property during the event. Persons and 
vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or 
anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of 
the Port, or the Patrol Commander. Commercial vessels may request 
authorization to transit this safety zone by contacting Vessel Traffic 
Service on channel 14. Vessel Traffic Service will coordinate 
commercial vessel transits with the Patrol Commander.

DATES: This safety zone will be in effect on April 19, 1998 from 1 p.m. 
to 3 p.m. PDT.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, San Francisco Bay, 
Building 14, Coast Guard Island, Alameda, CA 94501-5100.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Andrew B. Cheney, U.S. 
Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, San Francisco Bay at (510) 437-3073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553, a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 
(NPRM) was not published for this regulation, and good cause exists for 
making it effective prior to, or less than 30 days after, Federal 
Register publication. Publication of an NPRM and delay of its effective 
date would be contrary to the public interest since the precise 
location of the powerboat race necessitating the promulgation of this 
safety zone, and other pertinent logistical details surrounding the 
event, were not finalized until a date fewer than 30 days prior to the 
event date.

Discussion of Regulation

    The Pacific Offshore Powerboat Racing Association has been granted 
a permit by Commander, Coast Guard Group San Francisco to sponsor a 
multiple lap powerboat race on April 19, 1998 on the waters of San 
Francisco Bay between the south tower of the Golden Gate Bridge and 
Blossom Rock. This safety zone is necessary to protect participants, 
spectators, and property from hazards associated with this race. Entry 
into, transmit through, or anchoring within this safety zone is 
prohibited, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or the Patrol 
Commander. Commercial vessels may

[[Page 17099]]

request authorization to transit the regulated area by contacting 
Vessel Traffic Service on Channel 14 VHF-FM. Vessel Traffic Service 
will coordinate commercial vessel transits with the Patrol Commander. 
For purposes of this temporary regulation, ``commercial vessels'' are 
defined as all vessels other than those used and registered/documented 
exclusively for recreational purposes.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This 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 (44 FR 11040; February 
26, 1979). Due to the short duration and limited scope of the 
implementation of the safety zone, and because commercial traffic will 
have an opportunity to request authorization to transit, the Coast 
Guard expects the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that 
full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory 
policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation is 
unnecessary.

Collection of Information

    This rule contains no collection information requirements under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this temporary regulation under the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has 
determined that this rule 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 
temporary regulation and concluded that under section 2.B.2 of 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1B as revised in 59 FR 38654, July 29, 
1994, it will have no significant environmental impact and is 
categorically excluded from further environmental documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

Regulation

    In consideration of the foregoing, Subpart F of Part 165 of Title 
33, Code of Federal Regulations, is amended as follows:
    1. The authority citation for Part 165 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 
6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

    2. A new section 165.T11-098 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 165T11-098  Safety Zone, San Francisco Bay, CA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: the waters of 
San Francisco Bay, California, between Pier 35 and the Golden Gate 
Bridge, located immediately adjacent to the Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area. The safety zone is bounded by the following positions: 
commencing at Latitude 37 deg.49'10''N, Longitude 122 deg.24'07''W; 
thence to 37 deg.48'50''N, 122 deg.24'07''W; thence to 37 deg.48'56''N, 
122 deg.28'48''W; thence to 37 deg.48'48''N, 122 deg.28'48''W; thence 
returning to the point of origin. All coordinates referred use datum 
NAD 83.
    (b) Effective date. This safety zone will be in effect on April 19, 
1998, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., PDT, unless canceled earlier by the 
Captain of the Port.
    (c) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in 
Section 165.23 of this part, entry into, transit through, or anchoring 
within this zone is prohibited, unless authorized by the Captain of the 
Port or the Patrol Commander. Commercial vessels may request 
authorization to transit the safety zone by contacting Vessel Traffic 
Service on Channel 14 VHF-FM. Vessel Traffic Service will coordinate 
commercial vessel transits with the Patrol Commander.

    Dated: March 27, 1998.
H. Henderson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, San Francisco Bay.
[FR Doc. 98-9209 Filed 4-7-98; 8:45 am]
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