[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 146 (Thursday, July 30, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40652-40653]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20418]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD 05-98-063]
RIN 2115-AE 46


Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Prospect Bay, 
Maryland

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: Temporary special local regulations are being adopted for the 
``Thunder on the Narrows'' hydroplane races to be held on the waters of 
Prospect Bay near Kent Narrows, Maryland. These regulations are needed 
to protect boaters, spectators and participants from the dangers 
associated with the event. This action is intended to enhance the 
safety of life and property during the event.

DATES: This temporary final rule is effective from 12 p.m. EDT (Eastern 
Daylight Time) to 6 p.m. EDT on August 1 and August 2, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Chief Warrant Officer R. Houck, Marine Events Coordinator, Commander, 
Coast Guard Activities Baltimore, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore 
Maryland, 21226-1791, telephone number (410) 576-2674.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History

    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 less than 30 days after Federal Register publication. The 
application for this event was not received until June 24, 1998. 
Following normal rulemaking procedures would have been impractical 
since there is not sufficient time remaining to publish a proposed rule 
in advance of the event or to provide for a delayed effective date. 
Immediate action is needed to protect vessel traffic from the potential 
hazards associated with congested waterways.

Background and Purpose

    The Kent Narrows Racing Association has submitted a marine event 
application to the U.S. Coast Guard for the ``Thunder on the Narrows'' 
hydroplane races, to be held on the waters of Prospect Bay on August 1 
and 2, 1998. The event will consist of 75 hydroplanes racing in heats 
counter-clockwise around an oval race course. A large fleet of 
spectator vessels is anticipated. Due to the need for vessel control 
during the races, vessel traffic will be temporarily restricted to 
provide for the safety of spectators, participants and transiting 
vessels.

Discussion of Regulations

    The Coast Guard will establish temporary special local regulations 
on specified waters of Prospect Bay. The temporary special local 
regulations will be in effect from 12 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) 
to 6 p.m. EDT on August 1 and 2, 1998, and will restrict general 
navigation in the regulated area during the event. Except for persons 
or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, no person or 
vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area. These regulations are 
needed to control vessel traffic during the marine event to enhance the 
safety of participants, spectators, and transiting vessels.

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. 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. 
This conclusion is based on the fact that the regulated areas will only 
be in effect for a limited amount of time, and extensive advisories 
have been and will be made to the affected Maritime Community so that 
they may adjust their schedules accordingly.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), the Coast 
Guard must consider whether this rule will have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small entities'' 
include independently owned and operated small businesses that are not 
dominant in their field and that otherwise qualify as ``small business 
concerns'' under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 
Because it expects the impact of this rule to be minimal, the Coast 
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this temporary final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities because of the event's short duration.

Collection of Information

    These regulations contain no Collection of Information requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule 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.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(h) of COMDTINST 
M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further 
environmental documentation. Special local regulations issued in 
conjunction with a regatta or marine parade are excluded under that 
authority.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Temporary Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, Part 100 of Title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations is amended 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.


[[Page 40653]]


    2. A temporary section, Sec. 100.35-T05-063 is added to read as 
follows:


Sec. 100.35-T05-063  Prospect Bay, Maryland.

    (a) Definitions.
    (1) Regulated area. The waters of Prospect Bay, between Kent Island 
and Hog Island enclosed by:

Latitude                             Longitude                          
                                                                        
38 deg.57'52.0'' North               76 deg.14'48.0'' West, to          
38 deg.58'02.0'' North               76 deg.15'05.0'' West, to          
38 deg.57'38.0'' North               76 deg.15'29.0'' West, to          
38 deg.57'28.0'' North               76 deg.15'23.0'' West, to          
38 deg.57'52.0'' North               76 deg.14'48.0'' West              
                                                                        

[Datum: NAD 1983]

    (2) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander 
is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has 
been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Activities Baltimore.
    (b) Special local regulations. (1) All persons and/or vessels not 
authorized as participants or official patrol vessels are considered 
spectators. The ``official patrol'' consists of any Coast Guard, 
public, state, county or local law enforcement vessels assigned and/or 
approved by Commander, Coast Guard Activities Baltimore.
    (2) Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard 
Patrol Commander, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the 
regulated area.
    (3) The operator of any vessel in this area shall:
    (i) Stop the vessel immediately when directed to do so by any 
official patrol, including any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer 
on board a vessel displaying a Coast Guard ensign.
    (ii) Proceed as directed by any official patrol, including any 
commissioned, warrant, or petty officer on board a vessel displaying a 
Coast Guard ensign.
    (c) Effective dates. This section is effective from 12 p.m. EDT 
(Eastern Daylight Time) to 6 p.m. EDT on August 1 and 2, 1998.

    Dated: July 14, 1998.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-20418 Filed 7-29-98; 8:45 am]
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