[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 230 (Wednesday, December 1, 1999)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 67168-67169] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-31127] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Coast Guard 33 CFR Part 100 [CGD 05-99-089] RIN 2115-AE46 Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; New Year's Celebration Fireworks, Patapsco River, Baltimore, MD AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT. ACTION: Temporary final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is adopting temporary special local regulations for the New Year's Celebration Fireworks, to be held over the waters of the Patapsco River, Baltimore, Maryland. These special local regulations are needed to protect spectators and other vessels transiting the event area from the dangers associated with the fireworks displays. The effect will be to restrict general navigation in the regulated areas in order to enhance the safety of life and property during the event. DATES: This rule is effective from 11:45 p.m. on December 31, 1999 to 12:35 a.m. on January 1, 2000, and from 6:45 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. on January 1, 2000. ADDRESSES: Comments and materials received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket [CGD 05-99-089] and are available for inspection or copying at Commander (Aoax), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia, 23704-5004, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: S. L. Phillips, Project Manager, Operations Division, Auxiliary Section, at (757) 398-6204. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulatory Information On October 8, 1999, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; New Year's Celebration Fireworks, Patapsco River, Baltimore, MD'' in the Federal Register (64 FR 54849). We received no letters commenting on the proposed rule. No public hearing was requested, and none was held. Background and Purpose The Baltimore Office of Promotions will sponsor the New Year's Celebration Fireworks, to be held over the waters of the Patapsco River, Baltimore, Maryland. The event will consist of pyrotechnic displays fired from 2 barges positioned in the Inner Harbor and Northwest Harbor. A fleet of spectator vessels is anticipated. Due to the need for vessel control during the fireworks displays, vessel traffic will be temporarily restricted to provide for the safety of 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. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it 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 temporary 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 area will only be in effect for a limited amount of time, extensive advisories will be made to the affected maritime community so that they may adjust their schedules accordingly, and the event schedule will allow commercial interests to coordinate their activities to allow for minimum disruption to their enterprise. Small Entities Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term ``small entities'' comprises 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. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b), that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Coast Guard expects the impact of this proposed rule to be minimal. The regulated area will only be in effect for a limited amount of time, extensive advisories will be made to the affected maritime community so that they may adjust their schedules accordingly, and the event schedule will allow commercial interests to coordinate their activities to allow for minimum disruption to their enterprise. Assistance for Small Entities Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offered to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they could better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process. No requests for assistance were received. Collection of Information This rule calls for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). Federalism We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those costs. This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate. Taking of Private Property This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under E.O. 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights. Civil Justice Reform This rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. [[Page 67169]] Protection of Children We have analyzed this rule under E.O. 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children. Environment The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(h), of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. An ``Environmental Analysis Checklist'' and 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 set out 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 and 33 CFR 100.35. 2. A temporary Sec. 100.35-T05-089 is added to read as follows: Sec. 100.35-T05-089 New Year's Celebration Fireworks, Patapsco River, Baltimore, MD. (a) Regulated areas: (1) Inner Harbor Regulated Area. The waters of the Patapsco River enclosed within the arc of a circle with a radius of 400 feet and with its center located at latitude 39 deg.16'54'' North, longitude 076 deg.36'18'' West. All coordinates reference Datum NAD 1983. (2) Northwest Harbor Regulated Area. The waters of the Patapsco River enclosed within the arc of a circle with a radius of 500 feet and with its center located at latitude 39 deg.16'36'' North, longitude 076 deg.35'48'' West. All coordinates reference Datum NAD 1983. (b) 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. (c) Special local regulations: (1) All persons and/or vessels not authorized as 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 the official patrol, including any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer on board a vessel displaying a Coast Guard ensign. (ii) Proceed as directed by the official patrol, including any commissioned, warrant, or petty officer on board a vessel displaying a Coast Guard ensign. (d) Effective dates. This section is effective from 11:45 p.m. on December 31, 1999 to 12:35 a.m. on January 1, 2000, and from 6:45 p.m. to 7:35 p.m. on January 1, 2000. Dated: 22 November 1999. J.E. Shkor, Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander Fifth Coast Guard District. [FR Doc. 99-31127 Filed 11-30-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-15-P