[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 89 (Monday, May 10, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24945-24947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-11686]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[CGD1-98-170]
RIN 2121-AA97


Safety Zone; Port of New York/New Jersey Fleet Week

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing five safety zones in New York 
Harbor's Upper Bay and the Hudson River that will be activated annually 
for the Fleet Week Parade of Ships, for Air and Sea demonstrations, and 
for the departure of the participating U.S. Navy Aircraft or Helicopter 
Carrier. 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 on a portion of New York Harbor's Upper Bay and the 
Hudson River .

DATES: This final rule is effective annually from 8 a.m. on the 
Wednesday before Memorial Day until 4 p.m. on the Wednesday following 
Memorial Day.

ADDRESSES: Documents as indicated in this preamble are available for 
inspection or copying at Coast Guard Activities New York, 212 Coast 
Guard Drive, room 205, Staten Island, New York 10305, 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 February 24, 1999, the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM), entitled Safety Zone: Port of New York/New 
Jersey Fleet Week in the Federal Register (64 FR 9107). The Coast Guard 
received no letters commenting on the proposed rulemaking. No public 
hearing was requested, and none was held.
    Good cause exists for making this regulation effective less than 30 
days after Federal Register publication. Due to the date of publication 
for this regulation's NPRM with 60-day comment period, there was 
insufficient time to draft and publish the final rule 30 days before 
its effective date. Any delay encountered in this regulation's 
effective date would be contrary to pubic interest since immediate 
action is needed to prevent traffic from transiting a portion of New 
York Harbor's Upper Bay and Hudson River and provide for the safety of 
life on navigable waters during this annual event. Additionally, the 
public was notified of this event when the NPRM was published in the 
Local Notice of Mariners on March 2, 1999.

Background and Purpose

    The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Manhattan, NY, sponsors the 
annual Fleet Week Parade of Ships, as well as associated Sea and Air 
demonstrations. These events take place annually from the Wednesday 
before Memorial Day to the Wednesday following Memorial Day on the 
waters of New York Harbor's Upper Bay and the Hudson River. The Coast 
Guard expects no more than 500 spectator craft for these events.

Parade of Ships

    The Coast Guard is establishing three safety zones for the actual 
parade of ships on the Wednesday before Memorial Day. The first zone is 
a moving safety zone for the Parade of Ships to include all waters 500 
yards ahead and astern, and 200 yards on each side of the designated 
column of parade vessels as the column transits the Port of New York 
and New Jersey from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to Riverside State 
Park on the Hudson River between West 137th and West 144th Streets, 
Manhattan.
    The second zone established for the parade of ships expands from 
the column of parade vessels east to the Manhattan shoreline between 
Piers 83 and 90. This expansion gives the public an unobstructed view 
of the parade of ships from the pierside reviewing stand.
    The third zone activates as each vessel leaves the parade of ships 
and proceeds to its berthing area. The moving safety zone will expand 
to include all waters within a 200-yard radius of each vessel until it 
is safely berthed.
    These three safety zones are effective annually from 8 a.m. until 5 
p.m. on the Wednesday before Memorial Day. They are needed to protect 
the maritime public from possible hazards to navigation associated with 
a parade of naval vessels transiting the waters of New York Harbor and 
the Hudson river in close proximity. These vessels have limited 
maneuverability and require a clear traffic lane to safely navigate.

Air and Sea Demonstration

    The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for the Fleet Week 
Sea and Air demonstrations held on and over the Hudson River between 
Piers 83 and 90. This safety zone includes all waters of the Hudson 
River bound by the following points: from the southeast corner of Pier 
90, Manhattan, where it intersects the seawall, west to approximate 
position 40 deg.46'10''N 074 deg.00'13''W (NAD 1983), south to 
approximate position 40 deg.45'54''N 074 deg.00'25''W (NAD 1983), then 
east to the northeast corner of Pier 83 where it intersects the 
seawall. This safety zone is effective annually from 10 a.m. until 5 
p.m., Friday through Monday, Memorial Day weekend. It is needed to 
protect boaters and demonstration participants from the hazards 
associated with military personnel demonstrating the capabilities of 
aircraft and watercraft in a confined area of the Hudson River. This 
safety zone prevents vessels from transiting only a portion of the 
Hudson River. Marine traffic will still be able to transit through the 
western 600 yards of the 950-yard wide Hudson River during the Sea and 
Air demonstrations. Vessels moored at piers within the safety zone, 
however, will not be allowed to transit from their moorings without 
permission from the captain of the Port, New York, during the effective 
periods of the safety zone. The Captain of the Port does not anticipate 
any negative impact on recreational or commercial vessel traffic due to 
this safety zone.

U.S. Navy Vessel Departure

    Finally, the Coast Guard is establishing a moving safety zone for 
the departure of the participating U.S. Navy Aircraft or Helicopter 
Carrier in this annual event. This safety zone includes all waters 500 
yards ahead and astern, and 200 yards on each side of the vessel as it 
transits the Port of New York and New Jersey from its mooring at the 
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, Manhattan, to the COLREGS 
Demarcation line at Ambrose Channel Entrance Lighted Bell Buoy 2 (LLNR 
34805). The regulation is effective

[[Page 24946]]

annually, on the Wednesday following Memorial Day. Departure time is 
dependent on tide, weather, and granting of authority for departure by 
the Captain of the Port, New York. The safety zone is needed to protect 
the maritime public from possible hazards to navigation associated with 
a large naval vessel transiting the Port of New York and New Jersey 
with limited maneuverability in restricted waters. It provides a clear 
traffic lane for the U.S. Navy ship to safely navigate from its berth. 
The specific ship which this moving safety zone applies to will be 
published in the Local Notice to Mariners and broadcast by maritime 
information broadcasts and facsimile prior to the start of Fleet Week 
events.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard received no letters commenting on the proposed 
rulemaking. No changes were made to the proposed rule.

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 New York 
Harbor's Upper Bay and the Hudson River during the event, the effect of 
this regulation will not be significant for the following reasons: the 
regulations will be in effect for barely a week a year; the maritime 
community will receive extensive advance notice through Local Notices 
to Maritimers, facsimile, and marine information broadcasts; Fleet Week 
is an annual event with local support; at no time will any of the 
affected waterways be entirely closed to marine traffic; alternative 
routes are available for commercial and recreational vessels that can 
safely navigate the Harlem and East Rivers, Kill Van Kull, Arthur Kill, 
and Buttermilk Channel; and similar safety zones have been established 
for several past Fleet Week parades and Sea and Air demonstrations with 
minimal or no disruption to vessel traffic or other interests in the 
port. These safety zones have been narrowly tailored to impose the 
least impact on maritime interests yet provide the level of safety 
deemed necessary.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard considered whether this 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

    Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) [Pub. 
L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48] requires Federal agencies to assess the effects 
of certain regulatory actions on State, local, and tribal governments, 
and the private sector. UMRA requires a written statement of economic 
and regulatory alternatives for rules that contain Federal mandates. A 
Federal mandate is a new or additional enforceable duty imposed on any 
State, local, or tribal government, or the private sector. If any 
Federal mandate causes those entities to spend, in the aggregate, $100 
million or more in any one year, the UMRA analysis is required. This 
final rule does not impose Federal mandates on any State, local, or 
tribal governments, or the private sector.

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.

Other Executive Orders on the Regulatory Process

    In addition to the statutes and Executive Orders already addressed 
in this preamble, the Coast Guard considered the following executive 
orders in developing this final rule and reached the following 
conclusions:
    E.O. 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with 
Constitutionally Protected Property Rights. This final rule will not 
effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking 
implications under this Order.
    E.O. 12875, Enhancing the Intergovernmental Partnership. This final 
rule will not impose, on any State, local, or tribal government, a 
mandate that is not required by statute and that is not funded by the 
Federal government.
    E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform. This final rule meets applicable 
standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of this Order to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.
    E.O. 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks 
and Safety Risks. This final rule is not an economically significant 
rule and does not concern an environmental risk to safety 
disproportionately affecting children.

List of Subject in 33 CFR Part 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reports and 
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

Regulation

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR 165 as follows:

PART 165--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 
6.04-6, 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46. Section 165.100 is also issued under 
authority of Sec. 311, Pub. L. 105-383.

    2. Add Sec. 165.163 to read as follows:


Sec. 165.163  Safety Zones; Port of New York/New Jersey Fleet Week.

    (a) The following areas are established as safety zones:
    (1) Safety Zone A--(i) Location. A moving safety zone for the 
Parade of Ships including all waters 500 yards ahead and astern, and 
200 yards of each

[[Page 24947]]

side of the designated column of parade vessels as it transits the Port 
of New York and New Jersey from the Verrazano Narrows Bridge to 
Riverside State Park on the Hudson River between West 137th and West 
144th Streets, Manhattan.
    (ii) Enforcement period. Paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section is 
enforced annually from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before 
Memorial Day.
    (2) Safety Zone B--(i) Location. A safety zone including all waters 
of the Hudson River between Piers 83 and 90, Manhattan, from the parade 
column east to the Manhattan shoreline.
    (ii) Enforcement period. Paragraph (a)(2)(i) of this section is 
enforced annually from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before 
Memorial Day.
    (3) Safety Zone C--
    (i) Location. A moving safety zone including all waters of the 
Hudson River within a 200-yard radius of each parade vessel upon its 
leaving the parade of ships until it is safely berthed.
    (ii) Enforcement period. Paragraph (a)(3)(i) of this section is 
enforced annually from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. on the Wednesday before 
Memorial Day.
    (4) Safety Zone D--
    (i) Location. A safety zone including all waters of the Hudson 
River bound by the following points: from the southeast corner of Pier 
90, Manhattan, where it intersects the seawall, west to approximate 
position 40 deg.46'10''N 074 deg.00'13''W (NAD 1983), south to 
approximate position 40 deg.45'54''N 074 deg.00'25''W (NAD 1983), then 
east to the northeast corner of Pier 83 where it intersects the 
seawall.
    (ii) Enforcement period. Paragraph (a)(4)(i) of this section is 
enforced annually from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., from Friday through 
Monday, Memorial Day weekend.
    (5) Safety Zone E--
    (i) Location. A moving safety zone including all waters 500 yards 
ahead and astern, and 200 yards on each side of the departing U.S. Navy 
Aircraft or Helicopter Carrier as it transits the Port of New York and 
New Jersey from its mooring at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, 
Manhattan, to the COLREGS Demarcation line at Ambrose Channel Entrance 
Lighted Bell Buoy 2 (LLNR 34805).
    (ii) Enforcement period. Paragraph (a)(5)(i) of this section is 
enforced annually on the Wednesday following Memorial Day. Departure 
time is dependent on tide, weather, and granting of authority for 
departure by the Captain of the Port, New York.
    (b) Effective period. This section is effective annually from 8 
a.m. on the Wednesday before Memorial Day until 4 p.m. on the Wednesday 
following Memorial Day.
    (c) Regulations. (1) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR 
165.23 apply.
    (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. these personnel comprise commissioned, warrant, and petty 
officers of the Coast Guard. Upon being hailed by a U. S. Coast Guard 
vessel by siren, radio, flashing light, or other means, the operator of 
a vessel shall proceed as directed.

    Dated: April 29, 1999.
L.M. Brooks,
Captain, U. S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port, New York.
[FR Doc. 99-11686 Filed 5-7-99; 8:45 am]
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