[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 146 (Tuesday, August 1, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35717-35719]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16177]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2017-0577]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone, Blue Angels Air Show; St. Johns River, Jacksonville, 
FL

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone on the 
waters of the St. Johns River in vicinity of Naval Air Station (NAS) 
Jacksonville, Florida during the Blue Angels Air Show. This proposed 
rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety 
zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Jacksonville 
or a designated representative. The Coast Guard invites your comments 
on this proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before August 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2017-0577 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, Chief, Waterways Management, 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 April 25, 2017, NAS Jacksonville submitted a marine event 
application to the Coast Guard for the Blue Angels Air Show that will 
take place from November 3, 2017 through November 5, 2017. The air show 
will consist of various flight demonstrations over the St. Johns River 
in vicinity of NAS Jacksonville. Over the years, there have been 
unfortunate instances of aircraft mishaps that involve crashing during 
performances at various air shows around the world. Occasionally, these 
incidents result in a wide area of scattered debris in the water that 
can damage property or cause significant injury or death to the public 
observing the air shows. The Captain of the Port (COTP) Jacksonville 
has determined that a safety zone is necessary to protect the general 
public from hazards associated with aerial flight demonstrations.
    The purpose of the rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and persons during the air show on the navigable waters of the St. 
Johns River in vicinity of NAS Jacksonville, Florida. The Coast Guard 
proposes this rulemaking under authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP proposes to establish a safety zone from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 
p.m. from November 3, 2017 through November 5, 2017. The safety zone 
will encompass all waters within an area approximately three quarters 
of a mile parallel to the shoreline, and one mile out into the St. 
Johns River in Jacksonville, FL. The duration of the

[[Page 35718]]

zone is intended to ensure the safety of the public and these navigable 
waters during the aerial flight demonstrations. No vessel or person 
would be permitted to enter the 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.

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 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. 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 (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, duration, and time-of-day of the safety zone. Vessel traffic 
would be able to safely transit around this safety zone which would 
impact a small designated area of the St. Johns River for nine hours on 
each of the three days the air show is occurring. Moreover, the Coast 
Guard would issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine 
channel 16 about the zone, and the rule would allow vessels to seek 
permission to enter the zone.

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 the 
safety zone 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 
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 safety 
zone that would prohibit persons and vessels from transiting through a 
one square mile regulated area during a three day air show lasting nine 
hours daily. Normally such actions are categorically excluded from 
further review under paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2-1 of Commandant 
Instruction M16475.lD. A preliminary Record of Environmental 
Consideration 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.

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

[[Page 35719]]

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, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    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 and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165. T07-0577 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T07-0577  Safety Zone, Blue Angels Air Show; St. Johns River, 
Jacksonville, FL

    (a) Regulated Area. The following area is a safety zone located on 
the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, FL. All waters of the St. Johns 
River encompassed within an imaginary line connecting the following 
points: Starting at Point 1 in position 30[deg]13'41'' N.; 
081[deg]39'45'' W., thence due east to Point 2 in position 
30[deg]13''41'' N.; 081[deg]38'35'' W., thence south to Point 3 in 
position 30[deg]14'27'' N.; 081[deg]38''35'' W., thence west to Point 4 
in position 30[deg]14'27'' N., 081[deg]39'45'' W., thence following the 
shoreline north back to the point of 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 Jacksonville in the enforcement of the regulated 
area.
    (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 
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 Captain of the 
Port Jacksonville by telephone at (904) 714-7557, 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 a 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 rule will be enforced daily from 8 
a.m. until 5 p.m. from November 3, 2017 through November 5, 2017.

    Dated: July 27, 2017.
T.C. Wiemers,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Jacksonville.
[FR Doc. 2017-16177 Filed 7-31-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P