[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34859-34862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14826]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2011-0438]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Augusta Southern Nationals Drag Boat Race, Savannah 
River, Augusta, GA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the 
waters of the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia during the Augusta 
Southern Nationals Drag Boat Race. The Augusta Southern Nationals Drag 
Boat Race will consist of a series of high-speed boat races. The event 
is scheduled to take place from Thursday, July 14, 2011 through Sunday, 
July 18, 2011. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of 
race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general 
public during the event. Persons and vessels are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the 
safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a 
designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 6 a.m. on July 14, 2011 through 8 
p.m. on July 18, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket are part of docket USCG-2011-0438 and are available online 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov, inserting USCG-2011-0438 in the 
``Keyword'' box, and then clicking ``Search.'' They are also available 
for inspection or copying at 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this 
temporary final rule, call or e-mail Lieutenant Junior Grade Deidre R. 
Harrison, Marine Safety Unit Savannah, Coast Guard; telephone 912-652-
4353, e-mail [email protected]. If you have questions on 
viewing the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory Information

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior 
notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 
4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those 
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary

[[Page 34860]]

to the public interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard 
finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because the Coast Guard did 
not receive necessary information about the event until May 10, 2011. 
As a result, the Coast Guard did not have sufficient time to publish an 
NPRM and to receive public comments prior to the event. Although this 
event occurs annually, and special local regulations for this event are 
in the Code of Federal Regulations at 33 CFR 100.701, this year the 
event host changed the date of the event from the third weekend in July 
to July 14 through July 17, thereby rendering the special local 
regulations set forth in 33 CFR 100.701 inapplicable for this year's 
event. Any delay in the effective date of this rule would be contrary 
to the public interest because immediate action is needed to minimize 
the potential danger to race participants, participant vessels, 
spectators, and the general public.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause 
exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register. Delaying the effective date would 
be contrary to the public interest since immediate action is needed to 
ensure the safety of the event participants, spectator craft, and other 
vessels transiting the event area.

Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for the rule is the Coast Guard's authority to 
establish regulated navigation areas and other limited access areas: 33 
U.S.C. 1226, 1231; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 
195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Public Law 107-295, 116 
Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.
    The purpose of the rule is to protect race participants, 
participant vessels, spectators, and the general public from the 
hazards associated with the high-speed boat races.

Discussion of Rule

    From July 14, 2011 through July 17, 2011 Augusta Southern 
Nationals, Inc. is hosting the Augusta Southern Nationals Drag Boat 
Race, a series of high-speed boat races. The races will take place from 
7 a.m. until 7 p.m. If the event is postponed on any of these dates, 
then the event will also take place on July 18, 2011. The event will be 
held on the waters of the Savannah River south of Augusta, Georgia. 
Approximately 125 high-speed power boats will be participating in the 
races. The high speed of the participant vessels poses a safety hazard 
to race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general 
public.
    The safety zone encompasses certain waters of the Savannah River in 
Augusta, Georgia. The safety zone will be enforced daily from 6 a.m. 
until 8 p.m. on July 14, 2011 through July 17, 2011. If the event is 
postponed due to inclement weather on any of these dates, then the 
safety zone will be enforced from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on July 18, 2011.
    Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting 
through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a designated 
representative. Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, 
anchor in, or remain within the safety zone may contact the Captain of 
the Port Savannah by telephone at 912-652-4353, or a designated 
representative via VHF radio on channel 16, to request authorization. 
If authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within 
the safety zone is granted by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a 
designated representative, all persons and vessels receiving such 
authorization must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the 
Port Savannah or a designated representative. The Coast Guard will 
provide notice of the safety zone by Local Notice to Mariners, 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated representatives.

Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.

Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) 
of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, as 
supplemented by Executive Order 13563, 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.
    The economic impact of this rule is not significant for the 
following reasons: (1) The safety zone will be enforced for only 14 
hours per day for five days; (2) persons and vessels may still enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone if 
authorized by the Captain of the Savannah or a designated 
representative; and (3) the Coast Guard will provide advance 
notification of the safety zone to the local maritime community by 
Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

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 may affect the following entities, some of which 
may be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within that portion of the 
Savannah River encompassed within the safety zone from 6 a.m. until 8 
p.m. on July 14, 2011 through July 18, 2011. For the reasons discussed 
in the Executive Order 12866 and Executive Order 13563 section above, 
this 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 (Public Law 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). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small 
entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or 
action of the Coast Guard.

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).

[[Page 34861]]

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 will not result in such an expenditure, we 
do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

    This rule will 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 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 Department of Homeland Security 
Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.lD, which 
guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have concluded 
this action is one of a category of actions which do not individually 
or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. 
This rule is categorically excluded, under figure 2-1, paragraph 
(34)(g), of the Instruction. This rule involves the establishment of a 
temporary safety zone that will be enforced for a total of 56 hours. An 
environmental analysis checklist and a categorical exclusion 
determination are 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, Waterways.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 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, 3306, 
3703; 50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Pub. 
L. 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1.

0
2. Add a temporary Sec.  165.T07-0438 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T07-0438  Safety Zone; Augusta Southern Nationals Drag Boat 
Race, Savannah River, Augusta, GA.

    (a) Regulated Area. The following regulated area is a safety zone. 
All waters of the Savannah River encompassed between 5th Street Bridge, 
located in approximate position 33[deg]28'36'' N, 81[deg]57'25'' W, and 
the Palmetto Parkway Bridge, located in approximate position 
33[deg]27'43'' N, 81[deg]55'34'' W. All coordinates are North American 
Datum 1983.
    (b) Definition. The term ``designated representative'' means Coast 
Guard Patrol Commanders, including Coast Guard coxswains, petty 
officers, and other officers operating Coast Guard vessels, and 
Federal, state, and local officers designated by or assisting the 
Captain of the Port Savannah in the enforcement of the regulated area.
    (c) Regulations.
    (1) All persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, 
transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated 
area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a 
designated representative.
    (2) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain within the regulated area may contact the Captain of the 
Port Savannah by telephone at 912-652-4353, or a designated 
representative via VHF radio on channel 16, to request authorization. 
If authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within 
the regulated area is granted by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a 
designated representative, all persons and vessels receiving such 
authorization must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the 
Port Savannah or a designated representative.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area by 
Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene 
designated representatives.
    (d) Effective Date and Enforcement Periods. This rule is effective 
from 6

[[Page 34862]]

a.m. on July 14, 2011 through 8 p.m. on July 18, 2011. This rule will 
be enforced daily from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on July 14, 2011 through 
July 17, 2011. If the event is postponed due to inclement weather on 
any of these dates, then this rule will be enforced from 6 a.m. until 8 
p.m. on July 18, 2011.

    Dated: June 7, 2011.
J.B. Loring,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Savannah.
[FR Doc. 2011-14826 Filed 6-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P