[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30632-30633]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15034]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD01-98-017]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulation: Harvard-Yale Regatta, Thames River, New 
London, CT

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is issuing a temporary rule to change the 
effective dates for the special local regulations for this year's 
Harvard-Yale Regatta. The Harvard-Yale Regatta will be held on June 6, 
1998, on the Thames River in New London, Connecticut. This regulation 
is necessary to control vessel traffic within the immediate vicinity of 
the event due to the confined nature of the event, thus providing for 
the safety of life and property on the affected navigable waters.

DATES: This rule is effective on June 6, 1998, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. If 
the regatta is canceled due to weather, this rule will be in effect on 
the following day, Sunday June 7, 1998, from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Commander Mark A. Cawthorn, 
Assistant Chief, Search and Rescue Branch, First Coast Guard District, 
(617) 223-8460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    The special local regulation in 33 CFR 100.101 for the annual 
Harvard-Yale Regatta was published on May 13, 1996 at 62 FR 21960. The 
regulation's effective date does not allow automatic implementation of 
the rule each year. This regulation is necessary to suspend paragraph 
(b) of 33 CFR 100.101 and add paragraph (d) specifying the effective 
dates for this year's event. Good cause exists for providing for this 
regulation to become effective in less than 30 days after Federal 
Register publication. Publishing an NPRM would require a 30-day comment 
period and the final rule would not be effective before the scheduled 
event. The Coast Guard believes delaying the event in order to provide 
a 30-day delayed effective date would be contrary to the public 
interest given this event's local popularity.

Background and Purpose

    The Harvard-Yale regatta is an annual rowing race sponsored by the 
Harvard-Yard Regatta Committee. Participating rowboats require 
favorable navigable conditions. A portion of the Thames River in New 
London, Connecticut will be closed during the effective period. The 
regulated area is that area of the river between the Penn Central 
Drawbridge and Bartlett's Cove. This regulated area is needed to 
protect life and property during the event. For further information and 
restrictions regarding this event see 33 CFR 100.101.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule 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. The 
Office of Management and Budget has exempted this temporary rule from 
review under that order. This temporary rule 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 effect of this temporary 
rule will not be significant for several reasons: Entry into the 
regulated area is restricted for a short duration; vessels may transit 
around the regulated area; and the extensive advance advisories that 
will be made.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard considered whether this rule would have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small 
entities'' may include (1) small businesses and not-for-profit 
organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not 
dominant in their fields and (2) governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation, the Coast 
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial 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 contained in Executive Order 12612 and

[[Page 30633]]

have determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism 
implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this 
rule and concluded that under Figure 2-1, paragraph 34(h), of 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded 
from further environmental documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Final Regulation

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard 
temporarily amends 33 CFR part 100 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233 through 1236; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 
100.35.

    2. From 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 6, 1998, in Sec. 100.101, 
paragraph (b) is suspended and a new paragraph (d) is added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 100.101  Harvard-Yale Regatta, Thames River, New London, CT.

    (d) Effective period. This section is in effect on June 6, 1998, 
from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. If the regatta is canceled due to weather, this 
section will be in effect on the following day, Sunday, June 7, 1998 
from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m.

    Dated: May 26, 1998.
James D. Garrison,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, First Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 98-15034 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M