[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43095-43097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17892]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2019-0661]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone, Swim Around Charleston; Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary moving 
safety zone during the Swim Around Charleston, a swimming race 
occurring on the Wando River, the Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and 
the Ashley River, in Charleston, South Carolina. The temporary moving 
safety zone is necessary to protect swimmers, participant vessels, 
spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and 
vessels would be prohibited from entering the safety zone unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston 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 September 19, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2019-0661 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant Chad Ray, Sector 
Charleston Office of Waterways Management, Coast Guard; telephone (843) 
740-3184, 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 July 24, 2019, Kathleen Wilson notified the Coast Guard that she 
will be sponsoring the Swim Around Charleston occurring October 6, 
2019. The race will impact waters of the Wando River, Cooper River, 
Charleston Harbor, and Ashley River, in Charleston, South Carolina. The 
Captain of the Port Charleston (COTP) has determined that potential 
hazards associated with the event would be a safety concern for race 
participants, spectators, and others on the navigable waters around the 
event.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of persons, 
vessels, and the marine environment before, during, and after the 
scheduled event. The Coast Guard is proposing this rulemaking under 
authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the 
waters of the Wando River, Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and Ashley 
River, in Charleston, South Carolina during Swim Around Charleston from 
8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. on October 6, 2019. Approximately 50 swimmers 
are anticipated to participate in the race. Persons and vessels 
desiring to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the 
regulated area may contact the COTP by telephone at (843) 740-7050, or 
a designated representative via VHF radio on channel 16, to request 
authorization. If authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, 
or remain within the regulated area is granted, all persons and vessels 
receiving such authorization must comply with the instructions of the 
COTP or a designated representative. The COTP will provide notice of 
the safety zone by Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners, and on-scene designated representatives. 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: (1) Non-
participant persons and vessels may enter, transit through, anchor in, 
or remain within the regulated area during the enforcement periods if 
authorized by Sector Charleston COTP or a designated representative; 
(2) vessels not able to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain 
within the regulated area without authorization from Sector Charleston 
COTP or a designated representative may operate in the surrounding 
areas during the enforcement period; (3) the Coast Guard

[[Page 43096]]

will provide advance notification of the safety zone to the local 
maritime community by Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners; (4) the regulated area will be limited in time, scope, and 
only impact small designated areas of Wando River, Cooper River, and 
Charleston Harbor; and (5) the moving safety zone will only impact the 
main shipping channel for approximately 30 minutes as the swimmers 
cross the Cooper River at the beginning of the race.

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 call or email 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 proposed rule involves a safety 
zone lasting less than 7 hours that would prohibit entry within the 
safety zone. 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 call or email 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, call or email 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 165

    Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and 
recordkeeping

[[Page 43097]]

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; 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.T07-0661 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T07-0661   Safety Zone; Swim Around Charleston, Charleston, 
SC.

    (a) Regulated area. The following regulated area is a moving safety 
zone: All waters 50 yards in front of the lead safety vessel preceding 
the first race participants, 50 yards behind the safety vessel trailing 
the last race participants, and at all times extend 100 yards on either 
side of safety vessels. The Swim Around Charleston swimming race 
consists of a 12 mile course that starts at Remley's Point on the Wando 
River in approximate position 32[deg]48'49'' N, 79[deg]54'27'' W, 
crosses the main shipping channel under the main span of the Ravenel 
Bridge, and finishes at the I-526 bridge and boat landing on the Ashley 
River in approximate position 32[deg]50'14'' N, 80[deg]01'23'' W. All 
coordinates are North American Datum 1983.
    (b) Definition. As used in this section, ``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 COTP in the enforcement of the regulated areas.
    (c) Regulations. (1) All persons and vessels are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the 
regulated area, except persons and vessels participating in the Swim 
Around Charleston, or serving as safety vessels.
    (2) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain within the regulated area may contact the COTP by 
telephone at (843) 740-7050, or a designated representative via VHF 
radio on channel 16, to request authorization. If authorization to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
is granted, all persons and vessels receiving such authorization must 
comply with the instructions of the COTP or a designated 
representative.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area by 
Marine Safety Information Bulletins, Local Notice to Mariners, 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement period. This rule will be enforced on October 6, 
2019 from 8:00 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.

    Dated: August 2, 2019.
J.W. Reed,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2019-17892 Filed 8-19-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P