[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 43 (Monday, March 5, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9205-9207]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04363]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2018-0119]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone: St. Francis Yacht Club Fireworks, San Francisco, CA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary moving safety zone 
in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near St. Francis Yacht 
Club in support of the St. Francis Yacht Club Fireworks Display on 
March 5, 2018. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of 
participants and spectators from the dangers associated with 
pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from 
entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone 
without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated 
representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on March 5, 
2018.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2018-0119 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Lieutenant Junior Grade Emily Rowan, U.S. Coast Guard 
Sector San Francisco; telephone (415) 399-7443 or email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Acronyms

APA Administrative Procedure Act
COTP U.S. Coast Guard Captain on the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
PATCOM U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Commander
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior 
notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 
4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those 
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public 
interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good 
cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
with respect to this rule. Since the Coast Guard received notice of 
this event on February 9, 2018, notice and comment procedures would be 
impracticable in this instance.
    For similar reasons as those stated above, under 5 U.S.C. 
553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this 
rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal 
Register.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 
1231. The Captain of the Port (COTP) San Francisco has determined that 
potential hazards associated with the planned fireworks display on 
March 5, 2018, will be a safety concern for anyone within a 100-foot 
radius of the fireworks barge and anyone within a 560-foot radius of 
the fireworks firing site. This rule is needed to protect spectators, 
vessels, and other property from hazards associated with pyrotechnics.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a temporary safety zone during the loading 
and transit of the fireworks barge, until after completion of the 
fireworks display. During the loading of the pyrotechnics onto the 
fireworks barge, scheduled to take place from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on 
March 5, 2018, at Pier 50 in San Francisco, CA, the safety zone will 
encompass the navigable waters around and under the fireworks barge 
within a radius of 100 feet.
    The fireworks barge will remain at Pier 50 until the start of its 
transit to the display location. Towing of the barge from Pier 50 to 
the display location is scheduled to take place from 6:00 p.m. to 6:30 
p.m. on March 5, 2018, where it will remain until the conclusion of the 
fireworks display.
    At 9:10 p.m. on March 5, 2018, 30 minutes prior to the commencement 
of the 18-minute fireworks display, the safety zone will increase in 
size and encompass the navigable water around and under the fireworks 
barge within a radius of 560 feet in approximate position 
37[deg]48'37'' N, 122[deg]26'49'' W (NAD 83) for the St. Francis Yacht 
Club Fireworks Display. The safety zone shall terminate at 10:30 p.m. 
on March 5, 2018.
    The effect of the temporary safety zone is to restrict navigation 
in the vicinity of the fireworks loading, transit, and firing site. 
Except for persons or vessels authorized by the COTP or the COTP's 
designated representative, no person or vessel may enter or remain in 
the restricted areas. These regulations are needed to keep spectators 
and vessels away from the immediate vicinity of the fireworks firing 
sites to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and transiting 
vessels.

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

    E.O.s 12866 (``Regulatory Planning and Review'') and 13563 
(``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review'')

[[Page 9206]]

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 including potential 
economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive 
impacts, and equity. E.O.13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying 
both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and 
of promoting flexibility. Executive Order 13771 (``Reducing Regulation 
and Controlling Regulatory Costs''), directs agencies to reduce 
regulation and control regulatory costs and provides that ``for every 
one new regulation issued, at least two prior regulations be identified 
for elimination, and that the cost of planned regulations be prudently 
managed and controlled through a budgeting process.''
    We expect the economic impact of this rule will not rise to the 
level of necessitating a full Regulatory Evaluation. This regulatory 
action determination is based on the size, location, duration of the 
safety zone. The size of the zone is the minimum necessary to provide 
adequate protection for the waterways users, adjoining areas, and the 
public. This zone is of limited duration and is the minimum necessary 
to provide adequate protection for the waterways users, adjoining 
areas, and the public. The Coast Guard will issue Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the zone and the rule 
allows vessels to seek permission to enter the zone.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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 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).

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 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 rule will not result in 
such 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 is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
L60(c) of Section L of the Department of Homeland Security Instruction 
Manual 023-01-001-01 (series). An environmental analysis checklist 
supporting this determination and Record of Environmental Consideration 
(REC) 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 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.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

    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.T11-916 to read as follows:

[[Page 9207]]

Sec.  165.T11-916   Safety Zone; St. Francis Yacht Club Fireworks 
Display, San Francisco Bay, San Francisco, CA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters of the San Francisco Bay within 100 feet of the fireworks barge 
during loading at Pier 50, as well as transit to and arrival at St. 
Francis Yacht Club. The safety zone will expand to all navigable waters 
around and under the fireworks barge within a radius of 560 feet in 
approximate position 37[deg]48'37'' N, 122[deg]26'49'' W (NAD 83) 30 
minutes prior to the start of the 18 minute fireworks display, 
scheduled to begin at 9:40 p.m. on March 5.
    (b) Enforcement period. The zone described in paragraph (a) of this 
section will be enforced from 8 a.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m. 
March 5, 2018. The Captain of the Port San Francisco (COTP) will notify 
the maritime community of periods during which these zones will be 
enforced via Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
    (c) Definitions. As used in this section, ``designated 
representative'' means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a 
Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other officer on a Coast Guard 
vessel or a Federal, State, or local officer designated by or assisting 
the COTP in the enforcement of the safety zone.
    (d) Regulations. (1) Under the general regulations in 33 CFR part 
165, subpart C, entry into, transiting or anchoring within this safety 
zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or the COTP's 
designated representative.
    (2) The safety zone is closed to all vessel traffic, except as may 
be permitted by the COTP or a designated representative.
    (3) Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate within the safety 
zone must contact the COTP or a designated representative to obtain 
permission to do so. Vessel operators given permission to enter or 
operate in the safety zone must comply with all directions given to 
them by the COTP or a designated representative. Persons and vessels 
may request permission to enter the safety zones on VHF-23A or through 
the 24-hour Command Center at telephone (415) 399-3547.

    Dated: February 23, 2018.
Patrick S. Nelson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Alternate Captain of the Port, San 
Francisco.
[FR Doc. 2018-04363 Filed 3-2-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P