[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 104 (Thursday, May 30, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25022-25024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-11248]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2019-0338]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Fireworks Display, Delaware River, Philadelphia, PA

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 Delaware River near Pleasant Hill Park in 
Philadelphia, PA, from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2019, during the 
One River Alliance Fireworks Display. The safety zone is necessary to 
ensure the safety of participant vessels, spectators, and the boating 
public during the event. This regulation would prohibit persons and 
non-participant vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring 
in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the 
Captain of the Port (COTP) Delaware Bay 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 June 10, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0338 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 Petty Officer Thomas Welker, U.S. 
Coast Guard, Sector Delaware Bay, Waterways Management Division, Coast 
Guard; telephone (215) 271-4814, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
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 19, 2019, Pyrotechnico Fireworks notified the Coast Guard 
that it will be conducting a firework display near Pleasant Hill Park 
in Philadelphia, PA, from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2019. The 
display will be launched from a barge in the Delaware River. Hazards 
from firework displays include accidental discharge of fireworks, 
dangerous projectiles, and falling hot embers or other debris. The 
Captain of the Port Delaware Bay (COTP) has determined that this 
temporary safety zone is necessary to provide safety during the 
fireworks display, and to ensure protection of participants, spectators 
and other boaters.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and the navigable waters. The Coast Guard proposes this rulemaking 
under authority in 46 U.S.C 70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231).

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the 
waters of the Delaware River near Pleasant Hill Park in Philadelphia, 
PA, during a fireworks display scheduled to take place between 9:15 
p.m. and 10 p.m. on July 4, 2019. The fireworks will be set off from a 
barge in the river, which will be anchored at approximate position 
latitude 40[deg]02'22.54'' N longitude 074[deg]59'22.03'' W. The safety 
zone would extend 200 yards around the barge. No person or vessel will 
be permitted to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the 
safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP Delaware Bay or 
a designated representative. If the COTP Delaware Bay or a designated 
representative grants authorization to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain within the safety zone, all persons and vessels receiving 
such authorization must comply with the instructions of the COTP 
Delaware Bay or a designated representative. The Coast Guard will 
provide public notice of the safety zone by Local Notice to Mariners 
and Broadcast Notice to Mariners. 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

[[Page 25023]]

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.
    The impact of this rule is not significant for the following 
reasons: (1) The enforcement period will last less than one hour when 
vessel traffic is usually low; (2) although persons and vessels may not 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone 
without authorization from the COTP Delaware Bay or a designated 
representative, they may operate in the surrounding area during the 
enforcement period; (3) persons and vessels will still be able to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
if authorized by the COTP Delaware Bay; and (4) 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 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 rule will 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 Directive 023-01 and Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 
(series), 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 rule proposes a safety zone that 
will prohibit persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, 
anchoring in, or remaining within a limited area on the navigable water 
in the Delaware River, during a fireworks display lasting approximately 
one hour. Normally, such actions are categorically excluded from 
further review under paragraph L60(a) in Table 3-1 of U.S. Coast Guard 
Environmental Planning Implementing Procedures 5090.1. A preliminary 
Record of Environmental Consideration (REC) 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 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.

[[Page 25024]]

    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 website'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:  46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051; 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.T05-0338 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T05-0338  Safety Zone; Fireworks, Delaware River, 
Philadelphia, PA.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of 
Delaware River off Philadelphia, PA, within 200 yards of the barge 
anchored in approximate position latitude 40[deg]02'22.54'' N longitude 
074[deg]59'22.03'' W.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative 
means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard petty 
officer, warrant or commissioned officer on board a Coast Guard vessel 
or on board a federal, state, or local law enforcement vessel assisting 
the Captain of the Port (COTP), Delaware Bay in the enforcement of the 
safety zone.
    (c) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in 
subpart C of this part, you may not enter the safety zone described in 
paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the 
COTP's designated representative.
    (2) To seek permission to enter or remain in the zone, contact the 
COTP or the COTP's representative via VHF-FM channel 16 or 215-271-
4807. Those in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or 
directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated 
representative.
    (3) No vessel may take on bunkers or conduct lightering operations 
within the safety zone during its enforcement period.
    (4) This section applies to all vessels except those engaged in law 
enforcement, aids to navigation servicing, and emergency response 
operations.
    (d) Enforcement. The U.S. Coast Guard may be assisted in the patrol 
and enforcement of the safety zone by Federal, State, and local 
agencies.
    (e) Enforcement period. This zone will be enforced from 
approximately 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on July 4, 2019.

    Dated: May 23, 2019.
Scott E. Anderson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Delaware Bay.
[FR Doc. 2019-11248 Filed 5-29-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P