[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 121 (Monday, June 24, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52410-52413]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13785]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2024-0376]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulation; San Jacinto River, Houston, TX

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish special local 
regulations to provide for the safety of life on certain waters of the 
San Jacinto River, in Houston, TX. These regulations would be enforced 
during a high-speed boat race every first weekend in March. This 
proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in 
the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port 
Houston-Galveston or Patrol Commander. We invite your comments on this 
proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before July 28, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2024-0376 using the Federal Decision-Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the

[[Page 52411]]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further instructions on 
submitting comments. This notice of proposed rulemaking with its plain-
language, 100-word-or-less proposed rule summary will be available in 
this same docket.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant Junior Grade Jack 
Brunswick, Sector Houston-Galveston Waterways Management Division, U.S. 
Coast Guard; telephone 713-398-5823, 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 April 28, 2024, an organization notified the Coast Guard that it 
will be conducting their high-speed boat race from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on 
the first or second Saturday in March, annually. The boat race is to be 
held in the navigable waters of San Jacinto River, Houston, TX. The 
Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston (COTP) has determined that 
potential hazards associated with the power boat race will be a safety 
concern for anyone within the Pre-Stage Zone, Approach Zone, Course Run 
Zone, and Shut-Down Zone before, during, and after the scheduled event. 
This proposed rule would add a recurring marine event requiring a 
special local regulation to Table 3 of 33 CFR 100.801--Sector Houston-
Galveston Annual and Recurring Marine Events.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to protect personnel, vessels, 
and the marine environment in the navigable waters within the Pre-Stage 
Zone, Approach Zone, Course Run Zone, and Shut-Down Zone before, 
during, and after the power boat race in San Jacinto River, Houston, 
TX. The Coast Guard is proposing this rulemaking under authority in 46 
U.S.C. 70041.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    Part 100 of title 33 of the CFR contains regulations describing 
marine events conducted on the U.S. navigable waters in order to ensure 
the safety of life in the regulated areas. Section 100.801 of the title 
provides the regulations applicable to events taking place in the 
Eighth Coast Guard District and also provides tables listing each event 
and special local regulations. This section requires amendment from 
time to time to properly reflect recurring special local regulations.
    This proposed rule would update section 100.801, Table 3 titled 
``Sector Houston-Galveston Annual and Recurring Marine Events.'' 
Specifically, the COTP is proposing to establish a special local 
regulation in the navigable waters of San Jacinto River, Houston, TX 
from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the first or second Saturday in March each 
year to restrict general navigation during an annually recurring high-
speed boat race for safety purposes. The special local regulation will 
encompass five different zones to include the Pre-Stage Zone, Approach 
Zone, Course Run Zone, Shut-Down Zone, and the Spectator Zone as 
described below:
    Pre-Stage Zone: This is the pre-staging area for participating 
vessels to line up. It will include all waters within 150 ft of 
29[deg]53'29.0148'' N, 095[deg]06'39.4416'' W.
    Approach Zone: 200 ft distance required for participating vessels 
to obtain the minimum 40 mph requirement for course entry. This will be 
a straight line to begin at approximately 29[deg]53'27.3'' N, 
95[deg]06'42.6'' W and end at approximately 29[deg]53'27.6'' N, 
95[deg]06'40.0'' W.
    Course Run Zone: 600 ft distance where participating vessels will 
conduct their high-speed run. This will be a straight line to begin at 
approximately 29[deg]53'27.6'' N, 95[deg]06'40.0'' W and end at 
approximately 29[deg]53'30.0'' N, 95[deg]06'34.7'' W.
    Shut-Down Zone: 900 ft distance where participating vessels will be 
allowed to slow their speeds back to an idle. This will be a straight 
line to begin at approximately 29[deg]53'30.0'' N, 95[deg]06'34.7'' W 
and end at approximately 29[deg]53'34.3'' N, 95[deg]06'24.1'' W.
    Spectator Zone: All vessels that will be viewing the event will be 
required to stay within a designated area. The sponsor is responsible 
for monitoring the spectator zone and ensuring that all vessels within 
the area are anchored and remain in the area during all ongoing high-
speed runs. The following coordinates are the approximate location of 
the Spectator Zone: 29[deg]53'29.4'' N, 95[deg]06'39.8'' W, thence to 
29[deg]53'28.5'' N, 95[deg]06'39.6'' W, thence to 29[deg]53'29.7'' N, 
95[deg]06'36.9'' W, thence to 29[deg]53'30.4'' N, 95[deg]06'37.2'' W.
    No vessel or person would be permitted to enter the established 
zones without obtaining permission from an official patrol vessel or 
designated representative.
    The term ``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.
    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. This NPRM 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, the NPRM has not been reviewed by the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB).
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, duration, and time of day of this special local regulation. 
Vessel traffic will be able to safely transit around this safety zone, 
which would impact a small, designated area of the San Jacinto River, 
for a short duration, when vessel traffic is normally low. Moreover, 
the Coast Guard would issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners about the 
zone via VHF-FM marine channel 16, and the rule would allow vessels to 
seek permission to enter the zone.

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.

[[Page 52412]]

    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed 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 proposed 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. 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 potential effects of 
this proposed rule elsewhere in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed 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 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 marine 
event and special local regulation lasting only 10 hours that would 
prohibit entry within 150 feet of the boat course. Normally such 
actions are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
L61 of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, 
Rev. 1. 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.
    Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments through 
the Federal Decision-Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. To 
do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG- 2024-0376 in the 
search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the 
Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment 
option. If you cannot submit your material by using https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this proposed rule for alternate 
instructions.
    Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this 
proposed rule as being available in the docket, find the docket as 
described in the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting & 
Related Material'' in the Document Type column. Public comments will 
also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following 
instructions on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked 
Questions web page. Also, if you click on the Dockets tab and then the 
proposed rule, you should see a ``Subscribe'' option for email alerts. 
The option will notify you when comments are posted, or a final rule is 
published.
    We review all comments received, but we will only post comments 
that address the topic of the proposed rule. We may choose not to post 
off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive.
    Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we 
post to https://www.regulations.gov will include any personal 
information you have provided. For more about privacy and submissions 
to the docket in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking 
System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Harbors, Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, 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. In Sec.  100.801, in table 3 under paragraph (j), amend by adding 
item 8 in numerical order to read as follows:


Sec.  100.801   Annual Marine Events in the Eighth Coast Guard 
District.

* * * * *
    (j) * * *

[[Page 52413]]



             Table 3 of Sec.   100.801--Sector Houston-Galveston Annual and Recurring Marine Events
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                                                                Houston-Galveston
                Date                      Event/sponsor             location                Regulated area
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                                                  * * * * * * *
8. First or Second Saturday in       Winter Nationals Boat   San Jacinto River,      San Jacinto River within
 March.                               Race.                   Houston, TX.            150 feet of the following
                                                                                      area: 29[deg]53'29.0148''
                                                                                      N, 095[deg]06'39.4416'' W;
                                                                                      the Approach Zone
                                                                                      comprised of a straight
                                                                                      line to begin at
                                                                                      approximately
                                                                                      29[deg]53'27.3'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'42.6'' W and end
                                                                                      at approximately
                                                                                      29[deg]53'27.6'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'40.0'' W; the
                                                                                      Course Run Zone comprised
                                                                                      of a straight line to
                                                                                      begin at approximately
                                                                                      29[deg]53'27.6'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'40.0'' W and end
                                                                                      at approximately
                                                                                      29[deg]53'30.0'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'34.7'' W; the
                                                                                      Shut-Down Zone comprised
                                                                                      of a straight line to
                                                                                      begin at approximately
                                                                                      29[deg]53'30.0'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'34.7'' W and end
                                                                                      at approximately
                                                                                      29[deg]53'34.3'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'24.1'' W; and
                                                                                      the Spectator Zone located
                                                                                      within the following
                                                                                      coordinates;
                                                                                      29[deg]53'29.4'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'39.8'' W, thence
                                                                                      to 29[deg]53'28.5'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'39.6'' W, thence
                                                                                      to 29[deg]53'29.7'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'36.9'' W, thence
                                                                                      to 29[deg]53'30.4'' N,
                                                                                      95[deg]06'37.2'' W.
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* * * * *

Keith M. Donohue,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Houston-
Galveston.
[FR Doc. 2024-13785 Filed 6-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P