[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68122-68124]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18874]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 164 / Friday, August 23, 2024 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 68122]]



DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2024-0746]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone, Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety 
zone for certain waters of the Cuyahoga River. This action is necessary 
to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters from 
position 41-29.716' N, 081-42.137' W to position 41-29.927' N, 081-
42.356' W during the Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival on or about 
September 21, 2024. This rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels 
from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the 
Port Eastern Great Lakes 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 9, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2024-0746 using the Federal Decision-Making 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. 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 rule, 
call or email Cody Mayrer at Marine Safety Unit Cleveland's Waterways 
Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 216-937-0111, 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

    The Cleveland Dragon Boat Festival has occurred annually for over a 
decade on the Cuyahoga River. However, the past two years events were 
relocated to the Black River. For 2024, the festival will return to the 
Cuyahoga River. The Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes (COTP) 
initiated a rulemaking in 2015 (80 FR 51943) to protect spectators, 
participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with the rowing 
event.
    The Cleveland Dragon Boat Association notified the Coast Guard that 
it will be conducting a dragon boat festival from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. 
on September 21, 2024. Typically, the event occurs on or about the 
third Saturday of September between the hours of 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. 
The exact date may differ based on local environmental conditions. The 
safety zone will cover all navigable waters of the Cuyahoga River from 
position 41-29.716' N, 081-42.137' W to position 41-29-927' N, 081-
42.356' W in Cleveland, Ohio. Hazards from the event include, but are 
not limited to, sponsor operated vessels needing to transit the area 
during the festival. These vessels are expected to accompany the 
vessels competing in the rowboat style races. The COTP has determined 
that potential hazards associated with the festival would be a safety 
concern for anyone within this portion of the Cuyahoga River.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and the navigable waters within this portion of the Cuyahoga River 
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 is proposing to establish a safety zone from 6:30 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. on or about September 21, 2024. The Dragon Boat Festival is 
scheduled to occur on September 21, 2024, but may occur on or about 
that date due to local environmental conditions. The safety zone would 
cover all navigable waters adjacent to Settler's Landing to north of 
the Cleveland Memorial Shoreway in Cleveland, Ohio, from position 41-
29.716' N, 081-42.137' W to position 41-29-927' N, 081-42.356' W. The 
duration of the zone is intended to ensure the safety of vessels and 
these navigable waters before, during, and after the scheduled dragon 
boat festival. No vessel or person would be permitted to enter the 
safety zone 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. 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 size, location, 
and duration of the proposed rule. This Safety Zone would restrict 
navigation on and through this small, designated portion of the 
Cuyahoga River for ten hours on one day.

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

[[Page 68123]]

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 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 safety 
zone that will cover all navigable waters of the Cuyahoga River from 
position 41-29.716' N, 081-42.137' W to position 41-29-927' N, 081-
42.356' W in Cleveland, Ohio. Normally, such actions are categorically 
excluded from further review under paragraph L63(a) of Appendix A, 
Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A preliminary 
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. 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-2024-0746 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 165

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping

[[Page 68124]]

requirements, Security measures, Waterways.

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard is 
proposing 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, 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.T09-0746 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T09-0746   Safety Zone, Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: all navigable 
waters of the Cuyahoga River from position 41-29.716' N, 081-42.137' W 
to position 41-29-927' N, 081-42.356' W in Cleveland, Ohio.
    (b) Enforcement Period. This section will be enforced from 6:30 
a.m. through 4:30 p.m. on or around September 21, 2024, depending on 
local environmental conditions.
    (c) Definitions. Official Patrol Vessel means a Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, petty officer, or other 
officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a Federal, State, and local 
officer designated by or assisting the Captain of the Port Eastern 
Great Lakes, (COTP) in the enforcement of the regulations in this 
section. Participant means all persons and vessels attending the event.
    (d) Regulations. When this safety zone is enforced, the following 
regulations, along with those contained in 33 CFR 165.23 apply:
    (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 designated or assigned by 
the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes, 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 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 areas 
specified in this chapter, 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.

    Dated: August 14, 2024.
M.I. Kuperman,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes.
[FR Doc. 2024-18874 Filed 8-22-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P