[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 59 (Wednesday, March 29, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15476-15478]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06188]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2017-0121]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Tall Ships Charleston, Cooper River, Charleston, SC

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 waters of the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina. This 
proposed safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of 
participant vessels, and the general public during Tall Ships 
Charleston, an event allowing for public tours of tall ships (large 
sailing vessels) from various countries while at the docks of Veterans 
Terminal on the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina. This rule 
is intended to prohibit persons and vessels from entering, transiting 
through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston 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 28, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0121 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 Commander 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 December 1, 2016, Tall Ships Charleston notified the Coast Guard 
that they will be sponsoring the Tall Ships Charleston event on May 18, 
2017 through May 21, 2017. Approximately 10,000 spectators are 
anticipated to participate in the public tours of tall ships (large 
sailing vessels) at the Veterans Terminal on the Cooper River in 
Charleston, South Carolina. The Captain of the Port Charleston (COTP) 
has determined that the potential hazards associated with public tours 
of these tall ships constitute a safety concern for anyone within the 
proposed safety zone. The purpose of the rule is to ensure the safety 
of life on the navigable waters of the Cooper River during the 
scheduled event. The Coast Guard proposes this rulemaking under 
authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on 
the waters of the Cooper River in Charleston, South Carolina, during 
Tall Ships Charleston from May 18 through May 21, 2017. The duration of 
the safety zone is intended to ensure the safety of life on the 
navigable waters of the Cooper River at Veterans Terminal before, 
during, and after the schedule public touring event. No person or 
vessel would be permitted to enter, transit through, anchor in, or 
remain within the proposed safety zone without obtaining permission 
from the COTP or a designated representative. The regulatory text we 
are proposing appears at the end of this document. The Coast Guard will 
provide notice of the safety zone 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.

[[Page 15477]]

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 rule is not significant for the 
following reasons: (1) Although persons and vessels may not enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone without 
authorization from the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated 
representative, they may operate in the surrounding area during the 
enforcement period; and (2) the Coast Guard will provide advance 
notification of the safety zone 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 stated in section IV.A 
above, this proposed rule would 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.
    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 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 safety 
zone prohibiting vessel traffic from a limited area surrounding the 
Veterans Terminal on the waters of the Cooper River for a 3 day period. 
This rule is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
34(g) 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://

[[Page 15478]]

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 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 AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191, 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-
1, 6.04-6, 160.5; and Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.

0
2. Add a temporary Sec.  165.35T07-0121 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T07-0121   Safety Zone; Tall Ships Charleston, Charleston, 
SC.

    (a) Location. This rule establishes a temporary safety zone on 
certain waters of the Cooper River, Charleston, South Carolina. The 
temporary safety zone consists of navigable waters of the Cooper River 
which begin at the shoreline and extend 100 yards off of each pier 
located at Veterans Terminal.
    (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) All persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, 
transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated 
area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a 
designated representative.
    (2) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, 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, 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.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area by 
Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene 
designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement Period. This proposed rule will be enforced from 
May 18, 2017 through May 21, 2017.

    Dated: March 23, 2017.
G.L. Tomasulo,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2017-06188 Filed 3-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P