[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 56 (Wednesday, March 23, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15489-15491]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06521]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2016-0141]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulation; Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix; 
Atlantic Ocean, Cocoa Beach, FL

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 the Atlantic Ocean offshore from Cocoa 
Beach, FL during the Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix, a series of 
high-speed boat races. This action is necessary to provide for the 
safety of life on the navigable waters surrounding the event. This 
special local regulation will be enforced from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 
15, 2016. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels 
from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of 
the Port (COTP) Jacksonville or a designated representative. We invite 
your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before April 22, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2016-0141 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 Allan Storm, Sector 
Jacksonville, Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; 
telephone (904) 714-7616, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On January 30, 2016, Super Boat International Productions, Inc. 
notified the Coast Guard that it will be conducting a series of high 
speed boat races in the Atlantic Ocean, offshore from Cocoa Beach, FL 
on May 15, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The COTP Jacksonville has 
determined that the potential hazards associated with high speed boat 
races necessitate the establishment of a special local regulation.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of life on 
the navigable waters of the United States by prohibiting all vessels 
and persons not participating in the event from entering the regulated 
area. The Coast Guard proposes this rulemaking under authority in 33 
U.S.C. 1233.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP proposes to establish a special local regulation for the 
Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix, a series of high-speed boat races. 
The regulated area includes the waters of the Atlantic Ocean offshore 
from Cocoa Beach, Florida and will be enforced daily from 10 a.m. to 5 
p.m., on May 15, 2016. Approximately 30 high-speed boats are 
anticipated to participate in the races. The regulated area would 
encompass an offshore area that is approximately two and a half 
nautical miles long by a half nautical mile wide. No vessel or person 
would be permitted to enter the regulated area without obtaining 
permission from the COTP or a designated representative. The regulatory 
text we are proposing appears at the end of this document.

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 and 
we discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 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. Executive Order 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 Executive Order 12866. 
Accordingly, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of Management 
and Budget.
    The Coast Guard has determined that this NPRM is not a significant 
regulatory action for the following reasons: (1) The special local 
regulation would be enforced for a total of only seven hours; (2) 
although persons and vessels would not be able to enter, transit 
through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area without 
authorization from the COTP Jacksonville or a designated 
representative, they would be able to operate in the surrounding area 
during the enforcement period; (3) persons and vessels would still be 
able to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the 
regulated area if authorized by the COTP Jacksonville or a designated 
representative; and (4) the Coast Guard would provide advance 
notification of the special local regulation to the local maritime 
community via Broadcast Notice to Mariners or by on-scene designated 
representative.

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 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 would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit 
through the regulated area may be small entities, for the reasons 
stated in section IV.A above, this proposed rule would not have a 
significant economic impact on any vessel owner or operator.
    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

[[Page 15490]]

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 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 
have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order 
13132.
    Also, 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. 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.

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 a special 
local regulation that would prohibit persons and vessels from 
transiting through an offshore area that is approximately two and a 
half nautical miles long by a half nautical mile wide during a one day 
racing event lasting seven hours. Normally such actions are 
categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34(h) of 
Figure 2-1 of Commandant Instruction M16475.lD. A preliminary 
environmental analysis checklist and 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 proposed 
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 Sec.  100.35T07-0141 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.35T07-0141  Special Local Regulation, Space Coast Super Boat 
Grand Prix; Atlantic Ocean, Cocoa Beach, FL.

    (a) Regulated area. The following regulated area is a special local 
regulation located offshore from Cocoa Beach, FL. All waters of the 
Atlantic Ocean encompassed within the following points: Starting at 
Point 1 in position 28[deg]22'16'' N., 80[deg]36'04'' W.; thence east 
to Point 2 in position 28[deg]22'15'' N., 80[deg]35'39'' W.; thence 
south to Point 3 in position 28[deg]19'47'' N., 80[deg]35'55'' W.; 
thence west to Point 4 in position 28[deg]19'47'' N., 80[deg]36'22'' 
W.; thence north back to origin. These coordinates are based on North 
American Datum 1983.
    (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 (COTP) Jacksonville in the enforcement of the 
regulated area.
    (c) Regulations. (1) All persons and vessels are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or

[[Page 15491]]

remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the COTP 
Jacksonville or a designated representative.
    (2) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain within the regulated area may contact the COTP 
Jacksonville by telephone at (904) 564-7511, or a designated 
representative via VHF-FM radio on channel 16 to request authorization. 
If authorization is granted, all persons and vessels receiving such 
authorization must comply with the instructions of the COTP 
Jacksonville or designated representative.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area 
through Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM channel 16 or by on-
scene designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 10 a.m. 
to 5 p.m. on May 15, 2016.

    Dated: March 14, 2016.
J.F. Dixon,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Jacksonville.
[FR Doc. 2016-06521 Filed 3-22-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P