[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 24, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 43167-43170]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17947]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2012-0588]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Electric Zoo Fireworks, East River, Randall's 
Island, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the 
navigable waters of the East River in the vicinity of Randall's Island, 
NY for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to 
protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with 
fireworks displays. This rule is intended to restrict all vessels from 
a portion of the East River before, during, and immediately after the 
fireworks event.

DATES: This rule will be effective from 10:30 p.m. on August 31, 2012 
until 11:40 p.m. on September 2, 2012. The rule will be enforced daily 
from 10:30 p.m. to 11:40 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble are part of docket 
[USCG-2012-0588]. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type the 
docket number in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking. You may also 
visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground 
floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE.,

[[Page 43168]]

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 rule, 
call or email Ensign Kimberly Farnsworth, Coast Guard; Telephone (718) 
354-4163, email [email protected]. If you have questions 
on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
COTP Captain of the Port

A. Regulatory History and 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 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 sufficient information about the 
event was not received in time to publish a NPRM followed by a final 
rule before the effective date, thus making the publication of a NPRM 
impractical. The Coast Guard received the information about the event 
on June 8, 2012. Any delay encountered in this regulation's effective 
date by publishing a NPRM would be contrary to public interest, since 
immediate action is needed to provide for the safety of life and 
property on navigable waters from the hazards associated with fireworks 
including unexpected detonation and burning debris.

B. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for this rule is 33 U.S.C 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.
    This temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of 
spectators and vessels from hazards associated with the fireworks 
display.

C. Discussion of the Final Rule

    This rule establishes a temporary safety zone on the waters of the 
East River in the vicinity of Randall's Island, NY. All persons and 
vessels shall comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port 
(COTP) New York or the designated representative during the enforcement 
of the temporary safety zone. Entering into, transiting through, or 
anchoring within the temporary safety zone is prohibited unless 
authorized by the COTP New York, or the designated representative.
    Based on the inherent hazards associated with fireworks, the COTP 
New York has determined that fireworks launches in close proximity to 
water crafts pose a significant risk to public safety and property. The 
combination of increased number of recreational vessels, congested 
waterways, darkness punctuated by bright flashes of light, and debris 
especially burning debris falling on passing or spectator vessels has 
the potential to result in serious injuries or fatalities. This 
temporary safety zone will restrict vessels from a portion of the East 
River around the location of the fireworks launch platform before, 
during, and immediately after the fireworks display.
    The Coast Guard determined that this regulated area will not have a 
significant impact on vessel traffic due to its temporary nature and 
limited size and the fact that vessels are allowed to transit the 
navigable waters outside of the regulated area.
    Advanced public notifications will also be made to the local 
mariners through appropriate means, which will include, but are not 
limited to, the Local Notice to Mariners as well as Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners.

D. 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.

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    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, Improving Regulation and 
Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential 
costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866 or 
under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and 
Budget has not reviewed it under those Orders.
    The Coast Guard's implementation of this temporary safety zone will 
be of short duration and is designed to minimize the impact to vessel 
traffic on the navigable waters. This temporary safety zone will only 
be enforced for approximately 70 minutes, in the late evening. Due to 
the location, vessels will be able to transit around the zone in a safe 
manner.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as 
amended, requires federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on small entities during rulemaking. 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.
    (1) This rule will affect the following entities, some of which may 
be small entities: The owners and operators of vessels intending to 
transit or anchor in a portion of the navigable waters in the vicinity 
of the marine event during the effective period.
    (2) This safety zone would not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: 
This rule will be in effect for 70 minutes; late at night when vessel 
traffic is low, vessel traffic could pass safely around the safety 
zone, and the Coast Guard will notify mariners before activating the 
zone by appropriate means including but not limited to Local Notice to 
Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

3. Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this rule. If the rule would affect your 
small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have 
questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please 
contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 
above.
    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

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small entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy 
or action of the Coast Guard.

4. Collection of Information

    This rule will not call for a new collection of information under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

5. Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the 
relationship between the national government and the States, or on the 
distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of 
government. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and determined 
that this rule does not have implications for federalism.

6. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INTFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that 
your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or 
security of people, places or vessels.

7. 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 (adjusted for 
inflation) 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.

8. Taking of Private Property

    This rule will not cause a taking of private property or otherwise 
have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental 
Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property 
Rights.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. Energy Effects

    This action is not a ``significant energy action'' under Executive 
Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use.

13. Technical Standards

    This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not 
consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

14. 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 determined 
that this action is one of a category of actions that do not 
individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This rule involves the establishment of a temporary safety 
zone. This rule is categorically excluded from further review under 
paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. An 
environmental analysis checklist supporting this determination and a 
Categorical Exclusion Determination are available in the docket where 
indicated under ADDRESSES. We seek any comments or information that may 
lead to the discovery of a significant environmental impact from this 
rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, 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 AREA

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

    Authority: 33 U.S.C 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.


0
2. Add Sec.  165.T01-0588 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T01-0588  Safety Zone; Electronic Zoo Fireworks, East River, 
Randall's Island, NY.

    (a) Regulated Area. The following area is a temporary safety zone: 
all navigable waters of the East River within a 164-yard radius of the 
fireworks barge located in approximate position 40[deg]47'34.14'' N, 
073[deg]55'48.71'' W, in the vicinity of Randall's Island, NY, 
approximately 200 yards west of the Southern tip of Randall's Island 
Park, Randall's Island, NY.
    (b) Effective Dates and Enforcement Periods. This rule will be 
effective from 10:30 p.m. on August 31, 2012 until 11:40 p.m. on 
September 2, 2012. The rule will be enforced daily from 10:30 p.m. to 
11:40 p.m.
    (c) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section:
    (1) Designated Representative. A ``designated representative'' is 
any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or petty officer of the U.S. 
Coast Guard who has been designated by the Captain of the Port Sector 
New York (COTP), to act on his or her behalf. The designated 
representative may be on an official patrol vessel or may be on shore 
and will communicate with vessels via VHF-FM radio or loudhailer. In 
addition, members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary may be present to inform 
vessel operators of this regulation.
    (2) Official Patrol Vessels. Official patrol vessels may consist of 
any Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, state, or local law enforcement 
vessels assigned or approved by the COTP.
    (3) Spectators. All persons and vessels not registered with the 
event sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels.
    (d) Regulations. (1) The general regulations contained in 33 CFR 
165.23, as well as the following regulations, apply.
    (2) No vessels, except for fireworks barge and accompanying 
vessels, will be allowed to transit the safety zone without the 
permission of the COTP.
    (3) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of 
the COTP or the designated representative. Upon being hailed by a U.S. 
Coast Guard vessel by siren, radio, flashing

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light, or other means, the operator of a vessel shall proceed as 
directed.
    (4) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the 
regulated area shall contact the COTP or the designated representative 
via VHF channel 16 or 718-354-4353 (Sector New York command center) to 
obtain permission to do so.
    (5) Spectators or other vessels shall not anchor, block, loiter, or 
impede the transit of event participants or official patrol vessels in 
the regulated areas during the effective dates and times, or dates and 
times as modified through the Local Notice to Mariners, unless 
authorized by COTP or the designated representative.
    (6) Upon being hailed by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel or the 
designated representative, by siren, radio, flashing light or other 
means, the operator of the vessel shall proceed as directed. Failure to 
comply with a lawful direction may result in expulsion from the area, 
citation for failure to comply, or both.
    (7) The COTP or the designated representative may delay or 
terminate any marine event in this subpart at any time it is deemed 
necessary to ensure the safety of life or property.

    Dated: July 6, 2012.
G. Loebl,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port New York.
[FR Doc. 2012-17947 Filed 7-23-12; 8:45 am]
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