[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 113 (Wednesday, June 11, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33005-33007]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-13092]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2008-0448]
RIN 1625-AA00


Temporary Safety Zone: Richland Regatta Hydroplane Races, Howard 
Amon Park, Richland, WA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
the Richland Regatta Hydroplane Race to be held on the waters of the 
Columbia River in the vicinity of Howard Amon Park, Richland, WA. The 
safety zone will limit the movement of non-participating vessels in the 
race area. This temporary rule is needed to provide for the safety of 
life on navigable waters during the event.

DATES: This regulation is effective from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 14 
and 15, 2008, unless canceled earlier through a broadcast notice to 
mariners. The Captain of the Port Portland is taking this action to 
safeguard individuals and vessels.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2008-0448 and are available online 
at www.regulations.gov. They are also available for inspection or 
copying at two locations: the Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, and Coast Guard 
Sector Portland, 6767 N. Basin Ave., Portland, OR 97217 between 8 a.m. 
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: BM2 Joshua Lehner, c/o Captain of the 
Port Portland, 6767 N. Basin Ave, Portland, OR 97217-3992, and (503) 
240-9311.

Regulatory Information

    We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this 
regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast 
Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing an NPRM and for 
making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register. The emergent and dynamic nature of the event did not 
allow previous notice. Publishing a NPRM would be contrary

[[Page 33006]]

to public interest since immediate action is necessary to ensure the 
safety of vessels and spectators. If normal notice and comment 
procedures were followed, this rule would not become effective until 
after the date of the event. For this reason, following the normal 
rulemaking procedures in this case would be impracticable and contrary 
to the public.

Background and Purpose

    The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone to allow 
for a safe racing event. This event occurs on the Columbia River in the 
vicinity of Howard Amon Park in Richland, WA and is scheduled to start 
at 9 a.m. and last until 5 p.m. on June 14 and 15, 2008. This event may 
result in a number of recreational vessels congregating near the 
hydroplane races. The hydroplane race poses several dangers to the 
public including excessive noise, objects falling from any accidents, 
and hydroplanes racing at high speeds in proximity to other vessels. 
Accordingly, the Safety Zone is needed to protect watercraft and their 
occupants from safety hazards associated with the event. This safety 
zone will be enforced by representatives of the Captain of the Port 
Portland. The Captain of the Port may be assisted by other federal, 
state, and local agencies.

Discussion of Rule

    This temporary rule will create a safety zone to assist in 
minimizing the inherent dangers associated with hydroplane races. These 
dangers include, but are not limited to, excessive noise, race craft 
traveling at high speed in close proximity to one another and to 
spectator craft, and the risk of airborne objects from any accidents 
associated with hydroplanes. In the event that hydroplanes require 
emergency assistance, rescuers must have immediate and unencumbered 
access to the craft. The Coast Guard, through this action, intends to 
promote the safety of personnel, vessels, and facilities in the area. 
Due to these concerns, public safety requires these regulations to 
provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters.

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). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this 
temporary rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under 
the regulatory policies and procedures of DHS is unnecessary. This 
expectation is based on the fact that the safety zone established by 
this rule encompasses an area on the Columbia River near Howard Amon 
Park in Richland, WA, rarely frequented by commercial navigation. 
Additionally, the Patrol Commander may, upon request, allow the transit 
of commercial vessels through the safety zone when it is safe to do so. 
This regulation is established for the benefit and safety of the 
recreational boating public, and any negative recreational boating 
impact is offset by the benefits of allowing the hydroplanes to race. 
This rule will be enforced from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day on June 14 
and 15, 2008. For the above reasons, the Coast Guard does not 
anticipate any significant economic impact.

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 will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. This rule will affect the following entities, some of which 
may be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to 
transit or anchor in a portion of the Columbia River during the time 
mentioned under Background and Purpose. This safety zone will not have 
a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
due to its short duration, small area, and the ability of the Patrol 
Commander to allow commercial vessels to transit the safety zone when 
safe to do so. The only vessels likely to be impacted will be 
recreational boaters, small passenger vessel operators, commercial 
barge operators, and a ferry that runs through the regulated area twice 
a day. Because the impacts of this proposal are expected to be so 
minimal, the Coast Guard certifies under 605(b) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this temporary rule will 
not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offer to assist small 
entities in understanding the rule so that they can 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 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 unfunded mandate costs. This rule will not impose an unfunded 
mandate.

Taking of Private Property

    This rule will not affect 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

[[Page 33007]]

Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant 
rule and does not create an environmental risk to health or risk to 
safety that may 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 does 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, 
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)(g), of the Instruction, from further 
environmental documentation because it establishes a safety zone. A 
final ``Environmental Analysis Check List'' and a final ``Categorical 
Exclusion Determination'' will be available in the docket where 
indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

0
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 
CFR parts 165 as follows:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701; 50 
U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Pub. L. 
107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation 
No. 0170.1.


0
2. A temporary section in 165.T13-031 is added to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T13-031  Safety Zone; Richland Regatta Hydroplane Races 
Howard Amon Park, Richland, Washington.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone:
    (1) The waters of the Columbia River from bank to bank in the 
vicinity of Howard Amon Park on the Columbia River in Richland, 
Washington commencing at the Interstate 182 Bridge and continuing up 
river Northward 3.0 miles and terminating at the Columbia River Mile 
339.
    (b) Enforcement period. This rule will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 
approximately 5 p.m. on June 14, 2008 and June 15, 2008, in the 
described waters of the Columbia River in Richland, Washington.
    (c) Regulations. In accordance with the general regulations in 
Section 165.23 of this part, no person or vessel not participating in 
the actual hydroplane race may enter or remain in this zone unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated 
representatives. Vessels and persons granted authorization to enter the 
safety zone shall obey all lawful orders or directions of the Captain 
of the Port or his designated representatives.
    (d) Vessels wishing to request permission to enter the safety zone 
may contact the official patrol on VHF Channel 16 or by calling 503-
240-9311.

    Dated: May 23, 2008.
F.G. Myer,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Portland.
 [FR Doc. E8-13092 Filed 6-10-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P