[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45988-45990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-21196]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2017-0577]
RIN 1625-AA11


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

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing 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 rulemaking 
prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Jacksonville or a 
designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 8 a.m. on November 3, 2017 through 5 
p.m. on November 5, 2017.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2017-0577 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.

[[Page 45989]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Lieutenant Allan Storm, Sector Jacksonville, Chief, 
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 Information and Regulatory History

    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. In 
response, on August 1, 2017, the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled Safety Zone, Blue Angels Air Show; 
St. Johns River, Jacksonville, FL (82 FR 35717). There we stated why we 
issued the NPRM, and invited comments on our proposed regulatory action 
related to this air show. During the comment period that ended August 
31, 2017, we received no comments.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 
1231. The COTP Jacksonville has determined that potential hazards 
associated with aerial flight demonstrations will be a safety concern 
for members of the public observing the event from the water. The 
purpose of the rule is to ensure the safety of vessels and persons on 
the navigable waters of the St. Johns River in vicinity of NAS 
Jacksonville, Florida.

IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes, and the Rule

    As noted above, we received no comments on our NPRM published 
August 1, 2017. There are no changes in the regulatory text of this 
rule from the proposed rule in the NPRM.
    This rule establishes a safety zone, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 
November 3, 2017 through November 5, 2017, on the waters of the St. 
Johns River in vicinity of NAS Jacksonville, Florida during the Blue 
Angels Air Show. 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 zone is intended to ensure the safety of the public and 
these navigable waters during the aerial flight demonstrations. No 
vessel or person is permitted to enter the safety zone without 
obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative. The 
Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area by Local Notice 
to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated 
representatives.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this 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 rule has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, this rule 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 received no comments from the Small Business 
Administration on this rulemaking. 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.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section 
V.A above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on any 
vessel owner or operator.
    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 
section.
    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.

C. 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).

[[Page 45990]]

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 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 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. If 
you believe this 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 rule will not result in 
such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere 
in this preamble.

F. 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 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have determined 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 
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. It is categorically excluded 
from further review under paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2-1 of the 
Commandant Instruction. A Record of Environmental Consideration 
supporting this determination is available in the docket where 
indicated under ADDRESSES.

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.

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 amends 
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: September 28, 2017.
Todd C. Wiemers,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Jacksonville.
[FR Doc. 2017-21196 Filed 10-2-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P