[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 50351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19549]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[CGD05-01-046]
RIN 2115-AE84


Regulated Navigation Area; Chesapeake Bay Entrance and Hampton 
Roads, VA and Adjacent Waters

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; confirmation of effective date.

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SUMMARY: On January 28, 2002, we published a direct final rule. The 
rule notified the public of our excluding warships or other vessels 
owned, leased, or operated by the U.S. Government from certain carriage 
requirements for navigational charts and publications by allowing the 
use of approved electronic systems for charting and navigation while 
operating in the Chesapeake Bay Regulated Navigation Area. We received 
no comments on the rule; therefore, this rule will go into effect as 
scheduled.

DATES: The effective date of this direct final rule was April 29, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LTjg Anne Grabins, Fifth Coast Guard 
District Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management Branch, at (757) 
398-6559.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    On May 2, 2001, the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register a 
direct final rule that amended 33 CFR part 164, specifically 
Sec. 164.01 paragraphs (a) and (c) (66 FR 21864). The amendment exempts 
public vessels equipped with electronic charting and navigation systems 
from paper chart carriage requirements. This geographically broad rule, 
which became effective July 31, 2001 (66 FR 42753, August 15, 2001), 
applies to public vessels operating in the navigable waters of the 
United States. A separate section of the CFR, however, still requires 
public vessels operating in the Chesapeake Bay Regulated Navigation 
Area (RNA) to carry paper charts (33 CFR 165.501(d)(7)). We amended the 
Chesapeake Bay RNA regulation to bring its navigation requirements for 
public vessels operating in this area in alignment with the 
requirements for all other U.S. waters.
    The direct final rule (67 FR 3812, January 28, 2002) excludes 
public vessels from the corrected paper chart requirements contained in 
33 CFR 165.501(d)(7), when operating in the Chesapeake Bay RNA. This 
exclusion only applies to public vessels equipped with an electronic 
charting and navigation systems that meet the standards approved by the 
Federal agency exercising operational control of the vessel.

    Dated: July 19, 2002.
Arthur E. Brooks,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Commander, Fifth Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 02-19549 Filed 8-1-02; 8:45 am]
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