[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 40914-40916]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-11377]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD05-06-043]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Patapsco River, 
Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations 
during the ``Catholic Charities Dragon Boat Races'', a marine event to 
be held September 9, 2006 on the waters of the Patapsco River, Inner 
Harbor, Baltimore, MD. These special local regulations are necessary to 
provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. 
This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a 
portion of the Baltimore Inner Harbor during the event.

DATES: This rule is effective from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on September 
9, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket, are part of docket (CGD05-06-043) and are available for 
inspection or copying at Commander (dpi), Fifth Coast Guard District, 
431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, between 9 a.m. 
and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Sens, Project Manager, Fifth 
Coast Guard District, Inspections and Investigations Branch, at (757) 
398-6204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory Information

    On May 4, 2006, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
entitled Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Patapsco River, 
Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD in the Federal Register (71 FR 26285). We 
received no letters commenting on the proposed rule. No public meeting 
was requested, and none was held.

Background and Purpose

    On September 9, 2006, Associated Catholic Charities, Inc. will 
sponsor Dragon Boat Races in the Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD. The 
event will consist of 40 teams rowing Chinese Dragon Boats in heats of 
2 to 4 boats for a distance of 400 meters. Due to the need for vessel 
control during the event, the Coast Guard will temporarily restrict 
vessel traffic in the event area to provide for the safety of 
participants, spectators and other transiting vessels.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    The Coast Guard did not receive comments in response to the notice 
of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register. 
Accordingly, the Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local 
regulations on specified waters of the Patapsco River, Inner Harbor, 
Baltimore, Maryland.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under section 
3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 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 Homeland 
Security (DHS).
    We expect the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a 
full Regulatory Evaluation under the regulatory policies and procedures 
of DHS is unnecessary. Although this regulation will prevent traffic 
from transiting a portion of the Baltimore Inner Harbor during the 
event, the effect of this regulation will not be significant due to the 
limited duration that the regulated area will be in effect and the 
extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime 
community via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information 
broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans 
accordingly. Additionally, the regulated area has been narrowly 
tailored to impose the least impact on general navigation yet provide 
the level of safety deemed necessary. Vessel traffic will be able to 
transit the regulated area at slow speed between heats, when the Coast 
Guard Patrol Commander deems it is safe to do so.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
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 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. This rule would affect the following entities, some of 
which might be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels 
intending to transit or anchor in the affected portions of the 
Baltimore Inner Harbor during the event.
    Although this regulation prevents traffic from transiting a portion 
of the Baltimore Inner Harbor during the event, this rule would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities for the following reasons. This rule would be in effect for 
only a limited period. Vessel traffic will be able to transit the 
regulated area between heats, when the Coast Guard Patrol Commander 
deems it is safe to do so. Before the enforcement period, we will issue 
maritime advisories so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

[[Page 40915]]

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.
    Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal 
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal 
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory 
Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory 
Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and 
rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to 
comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR 
(1-888-734-3247).

Collection of Information

    This rule would call for no new collection of information under the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.).

Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local 
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial 
direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under 
that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for 
federalism.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 or more in any 
one year. Though this rule would not result in such an expenditure, we 
do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

    This rule would not effect a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 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 Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, 
eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

    We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection 
of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule 
is not an economically significant rule and would not create an 
environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 
disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

    This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 
13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, 
because it would not have a substantial direct effect on one or more 
Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Government and 
Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities 
between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions 
Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a ``significant 
energy action'' under that order because it is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy. The Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy 
action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects 
under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards 
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, 
through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why 
using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or 
operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management 
systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies.
    This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not 
consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

    We have analyzed this rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.lD 
and Department of Homeland Security Management Directive 5100.1, which 
guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)(42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded 
that there are no factors in this case that would limit the use of a 
categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the Instruction. 
Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, 
paragraph (34)(h), of the Instruction, from further environmental 
documentation. Special local regulations issued in conjunction with a 
regatta or marine parade permit are specifically excluded from further 
analysis and documentation under that section.
    Under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(h), of the Instruction, an 
``Environmental Analysis Check List'' and a ``Categorical Exclusion 
Determination'' are not required for this rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waterways.

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to 
amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1.


0
2. Add temporary Sec.  100.35--T05-043 to read as follows: Sec.  
100.35--T05-043 Patapsco River, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD.
    (a) Definitions: The following definitions apply to this section:
    (1) Coast Guard Patrol Commander means a commissioned, warrant, or 
petty officer of the Coast Guard who has been designated by the 
Commander, Coast Guard Sector Baltimore.
    (2) Official Patrol means any vessel assigned or approved by 
Commander, Coast Guard Sector Baltimore with a commissioned, warrant, 
or petty officer on board and displaying a Coast Guard ensign.
    (3) Participant inclues all vessels participating in the Catholic 
Charities Dragon Boat races under the auspices of a Marine Event Permit 
issued to the event sponsor and approved by Commander, Coast Guard 
Sector Baltimore.
    (4) Regulated area inclues the waters of the Patapsco River, 
Baltimore, MD,

[[Page 40916]]

Inner Harbor from shoreline to shoreline, bounded on the east by a line 
drawn along longitude 076[deg]36'30'' West. All coordinates reference 
Datum NAD 1983.
    (b) Special local regulations: (1) Except for event participants 
and persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, 
no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area.
    (2) The operator of any vessel in the regulated area shall: (i) 
Stop the vessel immediately when directed to do so by any Official 
Patrol.
    (ii) Proceed as directed by any Official Patrol.
    (iii) When authorized to transit the regulated area, all vessels 
shall proceed at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course 
that minimizes wake near the race course.
    (c) Effective period. This section will be enforced from 5:30 a.m. 
to 6:30 p.m. on September 9, 2006.

    Dated: July 6, 2006.
Larry L. Hereth,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
 [FR Doc. E6-11377 Filed 7-18-06; 8:45 am]
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