[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 175 (Wednesday, September 10, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53671-53673]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21463]



[[Page 53671]]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2014-0657]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulation; Clearwater Super Boat National 
Championship; Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater Beach, FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local 
regulation on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of 
Clearwater Beach, Florida during the Clearwater Super Boat National 
Championship. The race is scheduled to take place annually from 
approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the last Saturday and 
Sunday of September. The proposed special local regulation is necessary 
to protect the safety of race participants, participant vessels, 
spectators, and the general public on the navigable waters of the 
United States during the event. The special local regulation would 
restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the 
vicinity of Clearwater, Florida. It would establish the following three 
areas: a race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons 
and vessels participating in the high speed boat races, are prohibited 
from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; a 
spectator area, where all vessels must be anchored or operate at No 
Wake Speed; and an enforcement area where designated representatives 
may control vessel traffic as determined by the prevailing conditions.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before October 10, 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 Marine Science Technician First Class Hector I. Fuentes, 
Sector St. Petersburg Prevention Department, Coast Guard; telephone 
(813) 228-2191, email [email protected]. If you have questions 
on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, 
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

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-2014-0657 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-2014-0657 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 plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one, using one of the methods specified under ADDRESSES. 
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 Coast Guard is proposing to establish this special local 
regulation on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of 
Clearwater Beach, Florida during the Clearwater Super Boat National 
Championship. The race is scheduled to take place annually from 
approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the last Saturday and Sunday of 
September. This proposed rule is necessary to protect the safety of 
race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general 
public on the

[[Page 53672]]

navigable waters of the United States during the event.

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for the proposed rule is the Coast Guard's 
authority to establish special local regulations: 33 U.S.C. 1233, 33 
CFR 1.05-1.
    The purpose of the proposed rule is to provide for the safety of 
life on navigable waters of the United States during the Clearwater 
Super Boat National Championship.

D. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    This proposed rule is necessary to establish a special local 
regulation that will encompass certain waters of the Gulf of Mexico in 
Clearwater Beach, Florida. The proposed special local regulations will 
be enforced from approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. normally occurring 
annually during the last Saturday and Sunday of September. The proposed 
special local regulations will establish the following three areas: (1) 
A race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and 
vessels participating in the high speed boat races, are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; (2) a 
spectator area, where all vessels must be anchored or operate at No 
Wake Speed; and (3) an enforcement area where designated 
representatives may control vessel traffic as determined by the 
prevailing conditions.
    Persons and vessels may request authorization to enter, transit 
through, anchor in, or remain within the race area or buffer zone by 
contacting the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg by telephone at (727) 
824-7506, or a designated representative via VHF radio on channel 16. 
If authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within 
the race area or buffer zone is granted by the Captain of the Port St. 
Petersburg or a designated representative, all persons and vessels 
receiving such authorization must comply with the instructions of the 
Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

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 economic impact of this proposed rule is not significant for 
the following reasons: (1) The special local regulations would be 
enforced for only seven hours a day for two days; (2) although persons 
and vessels are prohibited to enter, transit through, anchor in, or 
remain within the race area or buffer zone without authorization from 
the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative, 
they may operate in the surrounding area during the enforcement period; 
(3) persons and vessels may still enter, transit through, anchor in, or 
remain within the race area and buffer zone, or anchor in the spectator 
area, during the enforcement period if authorized by the Captain of the 
Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative; and (4) the Coast 
Guard would provide advance notification of the special local 
regulations to the local maritime community by Local Notice to 
Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners and/or on-scene designate 
representatives.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered the impact of this proposed rule on small entities. 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.
    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 
section 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 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.

[[Page 53673]]

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 is 
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.

F. List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
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.

0
2. Add a Special Local Regulation Sec.  100.721 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.721  Special Local Regulations; Clearwater Super Boat 
National Championship, Gulf of Mexico; Clearwater Beach, FL.

    (a) Regulated Areas. The following regulated areas are established 
as special local regulations. All coordinates are North American Datum 
1983.
    (1) Race Area. All waters of the Gulf of Mexico contained within 
the following points: 27[deg]58.67' N, 82[deg]50.32' W, thence to 
position 27[deg]58.60' N, 82[deg]49.98' W, thence to position 
28[deg]00.88' N, 82[deg]50.35' W, thence to position 28[deg]00.80' N, 
82[deg]49.90' W, thence back to the original position, 28[deg]58.67' N, 
82[deg]50.32' W.
    (2) Spectator Area. All waters of Gulf of Mexico seaward no less 
than 150 yards from the race area and as agreed upon by the Coast Guard 
and race officials.
    (3) Enforcement Area. All waters of the Gulf of Mexico encompassed 
within the following points: 28[deg]58.67' N, 82[deg]50.62' W, thence 
to position 28[deg]00.95' N, 82[deg]49.75' W, thence to position 
27[deg]58.53' N, 82[deg]50.53' W, thence to position 27[deg]58.38' N, 
82[deg]49.88' W, thence back to position 28[deg]58.67' N, 82[deg]50.62' 
W.
    (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 St. Petersburg in the enforcement of the regulated 
areas.
    (c) Regulations.
    (1) All persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, 
transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the Race Area 
unless an authorized race participant.
    (2) Designated representatives may control vessel traffic 
throughout the enforcement area as determined by the prevailing 
conditions.
    (3) All vessels are to be anchored and/or operate at a No Wake 
Speed in the spectator area. On-scene designated representatives will 
direct spectator vessels to the spectator area.
    (4) Persons and vessels may request authorization to enter, transit 
through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated areas by contacting 
the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg by telephone at (727) 824-7506, 
or a designated representative via VHF radio on channel 16. If 
authorization is granted by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a 
designated representative, all persons and vessels receiving such 
authorization must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the 
Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.
    (d) Effective Date. This section is effective annually from 
approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT daily during the last Saturday and 
Sunday of September.

    Dated: August 13, 2014.
G.D. Case,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Saint Petersburg.
[FR Doc. 2014-21463 Filed 9-9-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P