[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 59 (Friday, March 27, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16277-16279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06950]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2015-0018]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulation; Charleston Race Week, Charleston 
Harbor; Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on 
the waters of Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina during 
Charleston Race Week, a series of sailboat races. The races are 
scheduled to take place on April 17, 2015 through April 19, 2015. 
Approximately 300 sailboats are anticipated to participate in the 
races. The special local regulation is necessary to provide for the 
safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States during the 
races. The special local regulation consists of three race areas. 
Except for those persons and vessels participating in the sailboat 
races, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting 
through, anchoring in, or remaining within any of the race areas unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated 
representative.

DATES: This rule is effective on April 17, 2015 through April 19, 2015. 
This rule will be enforced daily from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble are part of docket 
USCG-2015-0018. 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., 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 Chief Warrant Officer Christopher Ruleman, telephone 
(843) 740-3184, email [email protected]. If you have 
questions on viewing the docket, call Barbara Hairston, 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. Regulatory History and Information

    On February 19, 2015, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled Special Local Regulation; Charleston Race Week, 
Charleston, SC in the Federal Register. We received no comments on the 
proposed rule. No public meeting was requested, and none was held.

B. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for the rule is the Coast Guard's authority to 
establish special local regulations: 33 U.S.C. 1233. The purpose of the 
rule is to insure safety of life on navigable waters of the United 
States during three Charleston Race Week sailboat races.

C. Discussion of the Final Rule

    From April 17, 2015 through April 19, 2015, Charleston Ocean Racing 
Association will host three sailboat races on Charleston Harbor in 
Charleston, South Carolina during Charleston Race Week. Approximately 
300 sailboats will be participating in the three races. The rule 
establishes a special local regulation on certain waters of Charleston 
Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina. The special local regulation will 
be enforced daily from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on April 17, 2015 
through April 19, 2015. The special local regulation consists of the 
following three race areas.
    1. Race Area #1. All waters encompassed within an 800 yard radius 
of position 32[deg]46'23'' N, 79[deg]55'11'' W.
    2. Race Area #2. All waters encompassed within a 900 yard radius of 
position 32[deg]45'54'' N, 79[deg]54'41'' W.
    3. Race Area #3. All waters encompassed within a 900 yard radius of 
position 32[deg]46'09'' N, 79[deg]53'52'' W.
    Except for those persons and vessels participating in the sailboat 
races, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting 
through, anchoring in, or remaining within any of the race areas unless 
specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a 
designated representative. Persons and vessels desiring to enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within any of the race areas may 
contact the Captain of the Port Charleston by telephone at (843) 740-
7050, 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 race areas is granted by the Captain of 
the Port Charleston or a designated representative, all persons and 
vessels receiving such authorization must comply with the instructions 
of the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative. 
The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated areas by Local 
Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene 
designated representatives.

D. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on these statutes and 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 economic impact of this rule is not significant for the 
following reasons: (1) Although persons and vessels will not be able to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated areas 
without authorization from the Captain of the Port Charleston or a 
designated representative, they may operate in the surrounding area 
during the enforcement periods; (2) persons and vessels may still 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated areas 
if authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated 
representative; and (3) the Coast Guard will provide advance 
notification of the special local regulation to the local maritime 
community by Local Notice to Mariners and 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

[[Page 16278]]

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 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 the waters of Charleston Harbor encompassed within the 
three regulated areas between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., from April 17, 
2015 through April 19, 2015. For the reasons discussed in the 
Regulatory Planning and Review section above, this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

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 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 concluded 
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 a special local regulation issued in conjunction with a 
regatta or marine parade. An environmental analysis checklist and a 
Categorical Exclusion Determination were completed for this event. This 
rule is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
34(h) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. 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 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 temporary Sec.  100.35T07-0018 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.35T07-0018  Special Local Regulation; Charleston Race Week, 
Charleston Harbor; Charleston, SC.

    (a) Regulated Areas. The following regulated areas are established 
as a special local regulation. All coordinates are North American Datum 
1983.

[[Page 16279]]

    (1) Race Area #1. All waters encompassed within an 800 yard radius 
of position 32[deg]46'23'' N, 79[deg]55'11'' W.
    (2) Race Area #2. All waters encompassed within a 900 yard radius 
of position 32[deg]45'54'' N, 79[deg]54'41'' W.
    (3) Race Area #3. All waters encompassed within a 900 yard radius 
of position 32[deg]46'09'' N, 79[deg]53'52'' 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 Charleston in the enforcement of the regulated 
areas.
    (c) Regulations. (1) Except for those person and vessels 
participating in the sailboat races, all persons and vessels are 
prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or 
remaining within any of the three regulated areas unless authorized by 
the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.
    (2) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain within any of the regulated areas may contact the Captain 
of the Port Charleston by telephone at (843) 740-7050, or a designated 
representative via VHF radio on channel 16, to request authorization. 
If authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within 
any of the regulated areas is granted by the Captain of the Port 
Charleston or a designated representative, all persons and vessels 
receiving such authorization must comply with the instructions of the 
Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated areas by 
Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene 
designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement Period. This rule will be enforced daily from 8:30 
a.m. until 5:00 p.m. from April 17, 2015 through April 19, 2015.

    Dated: March 12, 2015.
B. D. Falk,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2015-06950 Filed 3-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P