[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 24 (Friday, February 5, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 6196-6198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02280]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2015-1055]
RIN 1625-AA08


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

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local 
regulation on the waters of Charleston Harbor in Charleston, SC during 
the Charleston Race Week from April 15, 2016 through April 17, 2016. 
This special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of 
participants, spectators, and the general public during the event. This 
proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in 
the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port 
Charleston or a designated representative.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before March 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2015-1055 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant John Downing, Sector 
Charleston Office of Waterways Management, Coast Guard; telephone (843) 
740-3184, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
E.O. Executive order
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Pub. L. Public Law
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code
COTP Captain of the Port

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On November 18, 2015, the Charleston Ocean Racing Association 
notified the Coast Guard that it will be sponsoring a series of 
sailboat races from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April 15, 2016 through 
April 17, 2016. The legal basis for the proposed rule is the Coast 
Guard's Authority to establish special local regulations: 33 U.S.C 
1233. The purpose of the proposed rule is to ensure safety of life on 
the navigable water of the United States during the Charleston Race 
Week.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP proposes to establish a special local regulation on the 
waters of Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina during 
Charleston Race Week. The races are scheduled to take place from 
Friday, April 15, 2016 through Sunday, April 17, 2016. Approximately 
285 sailboats are anticipated to participate in the races, and 
approximately 30 spectator vessels are expected to attend the event. 
Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor in, or 
remain within the regulated area 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 regulated area 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 special local regulation by Local Notice to 
Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated 
representatives.

IV. 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 and executive orders.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    E.O.s 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the costs and 
benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is 
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits. 
E.O. 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. This NPRM has not been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' under E.O. 12866. Accordingly, the NPRM has not 
been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. 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) Non-participant persons and vessels may 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
during the enforcement periods if authorized by the Captain of the Port 
Charleston or a designated representative; (2) vessels not able to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
without authorization from the Captain of the Port Charleston or a 
designated representative may operate in the surrounding areas during 
the enforcement period; 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.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, (5 U.S.C. 601-612), as 
amended requires Federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on ``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 would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. We have 
considered the impact of this proposed rule on small entities. This 
rule may affect the following entities, some of which may be small 
entities: the owner or operators of vessels intending to enter, transit 
through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area during the 
enforcement period. For the reasons discussed in Regulatory Planning 
and Review section above, this rule will not have a

[[Page 6197]]

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.
    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. 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.

C. Collection of Information

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

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

    A rule has implications for federalism under E.O. 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 
have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in E.O. 13132.
    Also, this proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
E.O. 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. If 
you believe this proposed rule has implications for federalism or 
Indian tribes, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section above.

E. 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.

F. 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 (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 special 
local regulation issued in conjunction with a regatta or marine parade. 
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.

G. 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.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. 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.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal 
Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal 
Register (70 FR 15086).
    Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket, 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that Web site's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

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 proposes 
to amend 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.  100.35T07-1055 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.35T07-1055  Special Local Regulation; Charleston Race Week, 
Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC.

    (a) Regulated Area. The rule establishes special local regulations 
on certain waters of Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina. 
The special local regulations will be enforced daily from 8:30 a.m. 
until 5 p.m. from April 15, 2016 through April 17, 2016. The special 
local regulations consist of the following three race areas.
    1. Race Area #1. All waters encompassed within an 700 yard radius 
of position 32[deg]46'10'' N., 79[deg]55'15'' W.
    2. Race Area #2. All waters encompassed within a 700 yard radius of 
position 32[deg]46'02'' N., 79[deg]54'15'' W.
    3. Race Area #3. All waters encompassed within a 700 yard radius of 
position 32[deg]45'55'' N., 79[deg]53'39'' 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

[[Page 6198]]

Captain of the Port Charleston 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 regulated 
area, except persons and vessels participating in Charleston Race Week 
or serving as safety vessels. Persons and vessels desiring to enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 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 regulated area 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.
    (2) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area by 
Marine Safety Information Bulletins, Local Notice to Mariners, 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement Date. This rule will be enforced from April 15 
through April 17, 2016 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

    Dated: January 12, 2016.
G. L. Tomasulo,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2016-02280 Filed 2-4-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P