[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 115 (Friday, June 14, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27743-27745]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12484]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2019-0437]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulations, Upper Mississippi River, Mile Markers 
839 to 840 St. Paul, MN

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary Special 
Local Regulation for the navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi 
River between mile marker (MM) 839 and MM 840 in St. Paul, MN on 
September 7, 2019 in order to provide for the safety of life on these 
waters during a Red Bull Flugtag event. This proposed rulemaking would 
prohibit persons and vessels from entering and operating between MM 839 
and MM 840 of the Upper Mississippi River during the event unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Upper Mississippi River (COTP) 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 July 15, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0437 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

[[Page 27744]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant Commander Christian 
Barger, Waterways Management Division, Sector Upper Mississippi River, 
U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 314-269-2560, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River
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 May 15, 2019, Red Bull North America notified the Coast Guard 
that it will be holding a Red Bull Flugtag event on the Upper 
Mississippi River at Harriett Island Park in St. Paul, MN from 11 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. on September 7, 2019. Flugtag is a homemade, non-powered 
flying machine competition. Contestants launch their machines from a 22 
feet high platform built over the Upper Mississippi River. Potential 
hazards from this event include the temporary installation of a 
structure along the right descending bank of the river, temporary 
channel obstructions until the Flugtag machines are recovered from the 
river, and the presence of debris and persons in the water within the 
event perimeter. The Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River 
(COTP) has determined that the potential hazards associated with the 
event would be a safety concern for persons and vessels in proximity of 
the event area. The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety 
of persons and vessels on these navigable waters before, during, and 
after the scheduled event. The Coast Guard is proposing 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 Special Local Regulations from 10 
a.m. to 5 p.m. on September 7, 2019. The Special Local Regulations 
would be in effect for all navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi 
River between Mile Marker (MM) 839 and MM 840. The duration of the zone 
is intended to ensure the safety of vessels and these waters before, 
during, and after the scheduled 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. competition. No 
vessel or person would be permitted to enter the regulated area 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, and duration of the proposed rule. The safety zone would 
restrict navigation on a one mile stretch of the Mississippi River from 
MM 839 to MM 840 for seven hours on one day. Additionally, this 
regulatory action will permit persons and vessels to seek permission to 
enter the regulated area from the COTP on a case-by-case basis.

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

[[Page 27745]]

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 proposed rule involves the 
establishment of Special Local Regulations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on 
September 7, 2019. The Special Local Regulations would be effective on 
all navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi River between MM 839 and 
MM 840. 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 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.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using https://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 https://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit https://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 https://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 100

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waterways.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard is 
proposing to amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70041; 33 CFR 1.05-1.

0
2. Add Sec.  100.T08-0437 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.T08-0437   Special Local Regulations; Upper Mississippi 
River, Mile Markers 839 to 840 St. Paul, MN

    (a) Location. The following Special Local Regulations are in effect 
for all navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi River between mile 
marker (MM) 839 and MM 840.
    (b) Period of enforcement. This section will be enforced from 10 
a.m. through 5 p.m. on September 7, 2019.
    (c) Regulations. (1) The Coast Guard may patrol the event area 
under the direction of a designated Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The 
Patrol Commander may be contacted on Channel 16 VHF-FM (156.8 MHz) by 
the call sign ``PATCOM.''
    (2) All persons and vessels not registered with the sponsor as 
participants or official patrol vessels are considered spectators. The 
``official patrol vessels'' consist of any Coast Guard, state or local 
law enforcement and sponsor provided vessels assigned or approved by 
the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River, to patrol the 
event.
    (3) Spectator vessels desiring to transit the regulated area may do 
so only with prior approval of the Patrol Commander and when so 
directed by that officer and will be operated at a no wake speed in a 
manner which will not endanger participants in the event or any other 
craft.
    (4) No spectator shall anchor, block, loiter, or impede the through 
transit of participants or official patrol vessels in the regulated 
area during the effective dates and times, unless cleared for entry by 
or through an official patrol vessel.
    (5) The Patrol Commander may forbid and control the movement of all 
vessels in the regulated area. When hailed or signaled by an official 
patrol vessel, a vessel shall come to an immediate stop and comply with 
the directions given. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the 
area, citation for failure to comply, or both.
    (6) Any spectator vessel may anchor outside the regulated area 
specified in Table 1 of this section, but may not anchor in, block, or 
loiter in a navigable channel.
    (7) The Patrol Commander may terminate the event or the operation 
of any vessel at any time it is deemed necessary for the protection of 
life or property.
    (8) The Patrol Commander will terminate enforcement of the special 
regulations at the conclusion of the event.

S.A. Stoermer,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi 
River.
[FR Doc. 2019-12484 Filed 6-13-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P