[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 117 (Monday, June 17, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51219-51221]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13301]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2024-0366]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River, Prairie du Chien, WI

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

[[Page 51220]]


ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for 
navigable waters on the Upper Mississippi River between 636-635, east 
of Island number one hundred seventy-two. The safety zone is needed to 
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential 
hazards created by high-speed power vessels. Entry of vessels or 
persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by 
the Captain of the Port, Sector Upper Mississippi River.

DATES: This rule is effective from 6 a.m. on June 21, 2024, through 6 
p.m. on June 23, 2024. The rule is subject to enforcement from 6 a.m. 
through 6 p.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2024-0366 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, in the Document 
Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule, 
call or email MST1 Benjamin Conger, Sector Upper Mississippi River 
Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 314-269-
2550, 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

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary 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 because publishing an NPRM would be 
impracticable due to the date the event is taking place. It is 
impracticable to publish an NPRM because we must establish this safety 
zone by June 21, 2024, and lacks sufficient time to provide a 
reasonable comment period and to consider those comments before issuing 
the rule. 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. Delaying the effective date of 
this rule would be impracticable and contrary to the public interest 
due to the date the event is taking place. Delaying the effective date 
of this rule would be impracticable and contrary to public interest 
because we must establish the safety zone by June 21, 2024, in order to 
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the 
potential safety hazards associated with the high-speed power vessel 
racecourse event occurring on that date.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C. 
70034. The Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) 
has determined that potential hazards associated with Great Lakes 
Watercross Race, on June 21, 2024, will be a safety concern for anyone 
within the marked area of the racecourse. This rule is needed to 
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable 
waters within the safety zone while the race is being conducted.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. each 
day on June 21 to June 23, 2024. The safety zone will cover all 
navigable waters within the Great Lakes Watercross Race, on the Upper 
Mississippi River, between Mile Markers 635 to 636 east of Island 
number one hundred seventy-two. The duration of the zone is intended to 
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in these 
navigable waters while the race is conducted. No vessel or person will 
be permitted to transit the safety zone without obtaining permission 
from the COTP or a designated representative.

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. This rule has not been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as 
amended by Executive Order 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review). 
Accordingly, this rule has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the limited 
duration and narrowly tailored geographic areas of the safety zone. 
Although this rule restricts access to the waters encompassed by the 
safety zone, the effect of this rule will not be significant because 
the local waterways users will be notified to ensure the safety zone 
will result in minimal impact. In addition, normal marine traffic will 
be minimally impacted as race officials will allow traffic to pass 
between races. The navigation channel west of Island number one hundred 
seventy-two will not be impacted by the safety zone and will remain 
open. The vessels desiring to transit through or around the temporary 
safety zone may do so upon express permission from the COTP or the 
COTP's designated representative.

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 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 
call or email the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.

[[Page 51221]]

    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.

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 
Directive 023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing instructions, 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 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 lasting from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. that will prohibit entry 
between Mile Markers 635-636 east of Island number one hundred seventy-
two. It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
L60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, 
Rev. 1. A Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this 
determination is available in the docket. For instructions on locating 
the docket, see the ADDRESSES section of this preamble.

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.

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:  46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-
1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.


0
2. Add Sec.  165.T08-0366 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T08-0366  Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River, Mile Markers 
635-636 east of Island number one hundred seventy-two, Prairie du 
Chien, WI.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: all navigable 
waters within the Upper Mississippi River, Mile Markers 635-636 east of 
Island number one hundred seventy-two, Prairie du Chien, WI.
    (b) 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. A designated representative is a 
commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 
assigned to units under the operational control of the USCG Sector 
Upper Mississippi River.
    (2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's 
representative via VHF-FM channel 16, or through USCG Sector Upper 
Mississippi River at 314-269-2332. 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.
    (c) Enforcement period: This safety zone will be subject to 
enforcement from 6 a.m. through 6 p.m. each day from June 21 to June 
23, 2024.

    Dated: June 11, 2024.
A.R. Bender,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi 
River.
[FR Doc. 2024-13301 Filed 6-14-24; 8:45 am]
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