[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 32 (Thursday, February 18, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7999-8000]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3941]


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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, NJ

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing permanent special local 
regulations that will be enacted annually 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: This final rule is effective March 22, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Documents as indicated in this preamble are available for 
inspection or copying at 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 telephone number is (718) 354-4193.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lieutenant J. Lopez, Waterways 
Oversight Branch, Coast Guard Activities New York (718) 354-4193.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On November 13, 1998, the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking entitled Special Local Regulations: Greenwood Lake 
Powerboat Classic, Greenwood Lake, New Jersey in the Federal Register 
(63 FR 63426). The Coast Guard did not receive any letters commenting 
on the proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was requested, and none 
was held.

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 and south 41 deg.09'N (NAD 
1983). The shoreline comprises 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. This 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 craft in the area, 
creating an extra or unusual hazard in the navigable waterway. This 
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.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This final 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 final 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

[[Page 8000]]

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 is in effect, marine traffic is able to transit through 
the regulated area at various times between races at the direction of 
the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, the event takes 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 considered whether this final rule 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 final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

Collection of Information

    This final 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 final rule under the principles 
and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that 
this final 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 
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 effected 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 final 
rule and concluded that under figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g) of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1C, this final 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.

Regulation

    For the reasons discussed 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. 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 within 
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 section 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: February 5, 1999.
R.M. Larrabee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 99-3941 Filed 2-17-99; 8:45 am]
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