[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22554-22555]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10431]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[CGD07-99-002]
RIN 2115-AA98


Anchorage Grounds; Atlantic Ocean off Miami and Miami Beach, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is amending the Anchorage Regulations for the 
Atlantic Ocean off Miami and Miami Beach, FL. The amendment is needed 
to strengthen existing anchoring requirements and guidelines in order 
to provide a higher degree of protection to the coastal area during 
periods of adverse weather which could cause anchored vessels to drag 
anchor and strike other vessels, or become grounded.

DATES: This rule becomes effective May 27, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CWO Marcos DeJesus, Coast Guard Marine 
Safety Office Miami, at (305) 535-8762.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History

    The Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the 
Federal Register on January 26, 1999 (64 FR 3888) proposing to amend 
the Anchorage Regulations for Miami and Miami Beach. No comments were 
received during the comment period.

Background and Purpose

    The east coast of Florida is susceptible to many erratic weather 
changes, and mariners who are not vigilant to the seas often discover 
themselves in dangerous situations. In recent years, a number of vessel 
groundings have resulted from vessels dragging anchor and drifting into 
the beach or into reefs during bad weather. These amendments are 
intended to reduce these incidents by modifying the existing anchoring 
requirements and guidelines to account for possible adverse weather 
situations. The amended regulations will require vessels to notify the 
Captain of the Port when entering the anchorage areas and when any 
casualty or work affects the main propulsion or steering equipment. All 
vessels will also be required to have an English speaking watchstander 
monitor Channel 16 VHF at all times.

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 
proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under 
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is 
unnecessary.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et. seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this rule will have a significant 
economic effect upon 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.
    Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
entities as it will only effect anchored vessels in the waters off 
Miami and Miami Beach and the changes are minor in nature.

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

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded under Figure 2-1, paragraph 34(f) of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.1C, that this rule is categorically excluded from 
further environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion 
Determination has been prepared and is available in the docket for 
inspection or copying.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110

    Anchorage grounds.

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends Part 110 
of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations as follows:

PART 110--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 110 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 2030, 2035, and 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and 
33 CFR 1.05-1(g). Section 110.1a and each section listed in 110.1a 
is also issued under 33 U.S.C. 1223 and 1231.

    2. In Sec. 110.188, add new paragraphs (b)(9) through (b)(12) to 
read as follows:


Sec. 110.188  Atlantic Ocean off Miami and Miami Beach, Florida.

* * * * *
    (b) The regulations.
* * * * *
    (9) All vessels desiring to use the Anchorage must notify the Coast 
Guard

[[Page 22555]]

Captain of the Port, via the Biscayne Bay Pilots on VHF-FM Channel 12 
or 16.
    (10) All vessels anchored within the anchorage area shall maintain 
a 24-hour bridge watch by an English speaking licensed deck officer 
monitoring VHF-FM Channel 16. This individual shall perform frequent 
checks of the vessel's position to ensure the vessel is not dragging 
anchor.
    (11) Vessels experiencing casualties such as a main propulsion, 
main steering or anchoring equipment malfunction or which are planning 
to perform main propulsion engine repairs or maintenance, shall 
immediately notify the Coast Guard Captain of the Port via the Coast 
Guard Group Miami on VHF-FM Channel 16.
    (12) The Coast Guard Captain of the Port may close the anchorage 
area and direct vessels to depart the anchorage during periods of 
adverse weather or at other times as deemed necessary in the interest 
of port safety.

    Dated: April 13, 1999.
G.W. Sutton,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 99-10431 Filed 4-26-99; 8:45 am]
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