[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 80 (Friday, April 25, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22927-22930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09380]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2014-0232]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone: Smith Point Triathlon, Narrow Bay; Mastic Beach, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone 
on the navigable waters of Narrow Bay near Smith Point Park in Mastic 
Beach, NY for the swim event associated with the Smith Point Triathlon. 
The safety zone will provide protective measures for the event 
participants and the maritime public from the hazards associated with 
vessels operating in close proximity to the swim event. Entering into, 
transiting through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within this 
regulated area would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of 
the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before May 27, 2014.
    Requests for public meetings must be received by the Coast Guard on 
or before May 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number using 
any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for further instructions 
on submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of 
these three methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Petty Officer Scott Baumgartner, Prevention Department, 
Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound, (203) 468-4559, 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

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

[[Page 22928]]

A. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

1. Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online, it 
will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully 
transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, 
it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when 
it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number [USCG-2014-0178] in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with 
this rulemaking.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period and may change the rule 
based on your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2014-0178) 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., Washington, DC 20590, 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

3. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

4. Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one, using one of the methods specified under ADDRESSES on 
or before May 2, 2014. Please explain why you believe a public meeting 
would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this 
rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later 
notice in the Federal Register.

B. Regulatory History and Information

    The event sponsor, Event Power, has held the Smith Point Triathlon 
in the same location for the past seven years. Last year, the event was 
held on August 4, 2014 and a safety zone was established for the swim 
portion of the triathlon in a temporary final rule entitled ``Special 
Local Regulations and Safety Zones; Marine Events in Captain of the 
Port Long Island Sound Zone''. This rulemaking was published on July 
10, 2013 in the Federal Register (78 FR 41300).

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for this temporary 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, and 160.5; Public Law 107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; 
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1 which 
collectively authorize the Coast Guard to define regulatory safety 
zones.
    This temporary rule is necessary to promote the safety of life on 
navigable waterways during the swim portion of the Smith Point 
Triathlon in Narrow Bay near Mastic Beach, NY.

D. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    This temporary rule proposes to establish a safety zone for the 
swim event associated with the Smith Point Triathlon. This proposed 
regulated area includes all waters of Narrow Bay near Smith Point Park 
in Mastic Beach, NY that are near or within the three swim legs for 
this event and is specifically described as follows; the waters of 
Narrow Bay within the area bounded by land along its southern edge and 
points in position 40[deg]44'14.28'' N 072[deg]51'40.68'' W northerly 
through position 40[deg]44'20.83'' N 072[deg]51'40.68'' W, then 
easterly through position 40[deg]44'20.83'' N 072[deg]51'19.73'' W, 
then southerly through position 40[deg]44'14.85'' N 072[deg]51'19.73'' 
W (NAD 83). All positions are approximate.
    This rule will be effective and enforced on June 1, 2014 from 6:00 
a.m. through 9:30 a.m.
    The Smith Point Triathlon incorporates swim legs that will place 
many swimmers in the navigable waters of Narrow Bay. A regulated area 
is required to minimize the hazards posed by spectators and other 
waterway users operating their vessels in close proximity to the event 
participants. The safety zone established for the swim event will 
minimize the risks to the event participants from this type of boat 
traffic and improve visibility and maneuverability for the safety 
vessels supporting the swim event.
    Public notifications will be made to the local maritime community 
prior to the event through the Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast 
Notice to Mariners.

E. Regulatory Analyses

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

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This proposed 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 determined that this rulemaking would not be a 
significant regulatory action for the following reasons: The regulated 
area will be of limited duration, the area covers only a small portion 
of the navigable waterways and waterway users may transit around the 
area. Also, mariners may request permission from the COTP Sector Long 
Island Sound or the

[[Page 22929]]

designated representative to transit the zone.
    Advanced public notifications will also be made to the local 
maritime community through the Local Notice to Mariners as well as 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

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 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 
proposed 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 enter, 
transit, anchor or moor within the regulated area during the effective 
period. The temporary safety zone will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following 
reasons: The regulated area will be of limited size and of short 
duration and mariners may request permission from the COTP Sector Long 
Island Sound or the designated representative to transit the zone. 
Notifications will be made to the maritime community through the Local 
Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners well in advance of 
the event.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have 
a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see 
ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to what 
degree this rule would economically affect it.

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 proposed 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. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small 
entities that question or complain about this proposed rule or any 
policy or action of the Coast Guard.

4. Collection of Information

    This proposed 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 proposed 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 
INFORMATION 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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

8. Taking of Private Property

    This proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 From Environmental Health Risks

    We have analyzed this proposed 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.

11. Indian Tribal Governments

    This proposed 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.

12. Energy Effects

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

14. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed 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 made a preliminary determination 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 proposed rule 
involves establishing a safety zone. This rule may be categorically 
excluded from further review under paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2-1 of the 
Commandant Instruction. A preliminary environmental analysis checklist 
supporting this determination is 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 
proposed rule.

[[Page 22930]]

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 proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREA AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

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, and 160.5; Pub. L. 
107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation 
No. 0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T01-0232 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T01-0232  Safety Zone; Smith Point Triathlon; Narrow Bay, 
Mastic Beach, NY.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: Waters of Narrow 
Bay near Smith Point Park in Mastic Beach, NY within the area bounded 
by land along its southern edge and points in position 
40[deg]44'14.28'' N 072[deg]51'40.68'' W northerly through position 
40[deg]44'20.83'' N 072[deg]51'40.68'' W, then easterly through 
position 40[deg]44'20.83'' N 072[deg]51'19.73'' W, then southerly 
through position 40[deg]44'14.85'' N 072[deg]51'19.73'' W (NAD 83). All 
positions are approximate.
    (b) Enforcement Period. This rule will be enforced on June 1, 2014 
from 6:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.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 COTP, Sector Long Island 
Sound, 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 Sector Long Island Sound.
    (3) Spectators. All persons and vessels not registered with the 
event sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels.
    (d) Regulations. The general regulations contained in 33 CFR 165.23 
apply. During the enforcement period, entering into, transiting 
through, remaining, mooring or anchoring within this safety zone is 
prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or the 
designated representatives.
    (1) Spectators desiring to enter or operate within the regulated 
area should contact the COTP Sector Long Island Sound at 203-468-4401 
(Sector Long Island Sound Command Center) or the designated 
representative via VHF channel 16 to obtain permission to do so. 
Spectators given permission to enter or operate in the regulated area 
must comply with all directions given to them by the COTP Sector Long 
Island Sound or the designated on-scene representative.
    (2) Upon being hailed by an official patrol 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.
    (3) Vessels not associated with the event shall maintain a 
separation of at least 100 yards from the participants.

    Dated: April 8, 2014.
E. J. Cubanski, III,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Long Island 
Sound.
[FR Doc. 2014-09380 Filed 4-24-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P