[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 219 (Friday, November 13, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63426-63428]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30446]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD01-98-125]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations: Greenwood Lake Powerboat Classic, 
Greenwood Lake, New Jersey

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish permanent special local 
regulations for the annual Greenwood Lake Powerboat Classic. This 
action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable 
waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel 
traffic in the southern end of Greenwood Lake, New Jersey.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 12, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to the Waterways Oversight Branch

[[Page 63427]]

(CGD01-98-125), Coast Guard Activities New York, 212 Coast Guard Drive, 
Staten Island, New York 10305, or deliver them to room 205 at the same 
address between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays.
    The Waterways Oversight Branch of Coast Guard Activities New York 
maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments, and 
documents as indicated in this preamble, will become part of this 
docket and will be available for inspection or copying at room 205, 
Coast Guard Activities New York, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant Junior Grade A. Kenneally, 
Waterways Oversight Branch, Coast Guard Activities New York (718) 354-
4195.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in 
this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments. 
Persons submitting comments should include their names and addresses, 
identify this rulemaking (CGD01-98-125) and the specific section of 
this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for 
each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of 
receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or 
envelopes.
    The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the 
comment period. It may change this proposed rule in view of the 
comments.
    The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a 
public hearing by writing to the Waterways Oversight Branch at the 
address under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons why a 
hearing would be beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for 
oral presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold 
a public hearing at a time and place announced by a later notice in the 
Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

    The Greenwood Lake Powerboat Association and the West Milford, New 
Jersey Chamber of Commerce sponsor this annual high-speed powerboat 
race with approximately 60 race boats, up to 20 feet in length, 
participating in the event. An average of 125 spectator craft view this 
event each year. The race will take place on the southern end of 
Greenwood Lake, New Jersey. The regulated area encompasses all waters 
of Greenwood Lake north of 41 deg.08'N, south of 41 deg.09'N, with the 
shoreline comprising the eastern and western boundaries. The northern 
boundary will be marked by 6 temporary buoys. The more narrow southern 
boundary will be marked by 4 temporary buoys. The proposed regulation 
is effective annually from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, 
the first weekend before Memorial Day weekend. The race boats will be 
competing at high speeds with numerous spectator crafts in the area, 
creating an extra or unusual hazard in the navigable waterway. The 
proposed regulation prohibits all vessels not participating in the 
event, swimmers, and personal watercraft from transiting this portion 
of Greenwood Lake during the races. It is needed to protect the 
waterway users from the hazards associated with high-speed powerboats 
racing in confined waters. Marine traffic will be able to transit 
through the area at various times between races at the direction of the 
Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The proposed special local regulation is for the annual Greenwood 
Lake Powerboat Classic held on the southern end of Greenwood Lake, New 
Jersey. This event is held annually on the weekend before Memorial Day 
weekend. This rule is being proposed to provide for the safety of life 
on navigable waters during the event, to give the marine community the 
opportunity to comment on this event, and to decrease the amount of 
annual paperwork required for this event.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This proposed 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 not been reviewed 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 proposed rule 
to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e 
of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 
Although this regulation prevents traffic from transiting a portion of 
the southern end of Greenwood Lake during the races, the effect of this 
regulation will not be significant for several reasons: the limited 
duration that the regulated area will be in effect, marine traffic will 
be able to transit through the regulated area at various times between 
races at the direction of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, the event 
is taking place on an inland lake that has no commercial traffic, it is 
an annual event with local support, and advance notifications will be 
made to the local maritime community via facsimile. Vessels, swimmers, 
and personal watercraft of any nature not participating in this event 
will be unable to transit through or around the regulated area during 
this event unless authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard considers whether this proposed rule, if adopted, 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 fields, and governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000.
    For the reasons stated in the Regulatory Evaluation section above, 
the Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed 
rule, if adopted, will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. If, however, you think that your 
business or organization qualifies as a small entity and that this 
proposed rule will have a significant economic impact on your business 
or organization, please submit a comment (see ADDRESSES) explaining why 
you think it qualifies and in what way and to what degree this proposed 
rule will economically affect it.

Collection of Information

    This proposed rule does not provide for a collection of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposed rule under the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has 
determined that this proposed rule does not have sufficient 
implications for federalism to warrant the preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment.

Unfunded Mandates

    Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), the

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Coast Guard must consider whether this rule will result in an annual 
expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate 
of $100 million (adjusted annually for inflation). If so, the Act 
requires that a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives be 
considered, and that from those alternatives, the least costly, most 
cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative that achieves the 
objective of the rule be selected. No state, local, or tribal 
government entities will be affected by this rule, so this rule will 
not result in annual or aggregate costs of $100 million or more. 
Therefore, the Coast Guard is exempt from any further regulatory 
requirements under the Unfunded Mandates Act.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this 
proposed rule and concluded that under figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g), of 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this proposed rule is categorically 
excluded from further environmental documentation. A ``Categorical 
Exclusion Determination'' is available in the docket for inspection or 
copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Proposed Regulation

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 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. Add Sec. 100.120 to read as follows:


Sec. 100.120  Special Local Regulations: Greenwood Lake Powerboat 
Classic, Greenwood Lake, New Jersey.

    (a) Regulated Area. All waters of Greenwood Lake, New Jersey north 
of 41 deg.08'N and south of 41 deg.09'N (NAD 1983). The shoreline 
comprises the eastern and western boundaries.
    (b) Special local regulations.
    (1) Vessels not participating in this event, swimmers, and personal 
watercraft of any nature are prohibited from entering or moving with 
the regulated area unless authorized by the Patrol Commander.
    (2) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of 
the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or the designated on scene patrol 
personnel. U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel include commissioned, 
warrant, and petty officers of the Coast Guard. Upon being hailed by a 
U.S. Coast Guard vessel via siren, radio, flashing light, or other 
means, the operator of a vessel shall proceed as directed.
    (c) Effective period. This regulation is in effect annually on 
Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. on the first weekend 
before Memorial Day weekend.

    Dated: October 19, 1998.
R.M. Larrabee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-30446 Filed 11-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-M