Special Local Regulations; City of Augusta, GA

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-97-047]

RIN 2115-AE46

Special Local Regulations; City of Augusta, GA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish temporary special local

regulations for the Augusta Port Authority's Head of the South Rowing

Regatta. The event will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern

Standard Time (EST) on November 7 and 8, 1997, on the Savannah River at

Augusta, GA. These regulations are necessary for the safety of life on

the navigable waters during the event.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be mailed to Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Group

Charleston, 196 Tradd Street, Charleston, SC 29401, or may be delivered

to the Operations Office at the same address between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30

p.m. Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. The telephone

number is (803) 724-7621.

The Group Commander maintains the public docket for this

rulemaking. Comments will become part of this docket and will be

available for inspection or copying at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

LTJG M.J. DaPonte, Project Manager, Coast Guard Group Charleston at

(803) 724-7621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to participate in

this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments.

Persons submitting comments should include their name and address,

identify this rulemaking (CGD7 97-047) and the specific section of this

proposal to which each comment applies, and give a reason for each

comment. Persons desiring acknowledgment of receipt of comments

[[Page 50545]]

should enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope.

The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the

comment period. It may change this proposal in view of the comments.

The Coast Guard plans no public hearing. Persons may request a

public hearing by writing to the Project Manager at the address under

ADDRESSES. If it is determined that the opportunity for oral

presentations will aid this rulemaking, the Coast Guard will hold a

public hearing at the time and place announced by a later notice in the

Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

The proposed regulations are needed to provide for the safety of

life during the Head of the South Rowing Regatta. There will be up to

6000 participants racing singles, doubles, four and eight person rowing

shells on a fixed course. These regulations are intended to promote the

safe navigation on the Savannah River immediately before, during, and

after the regatta by controlling the traffic entering, exiting, and

traveling within the regatta area. The anticipated concentration of

spectator vessels poses a safety concern which is addressed in this

proposed special local regulation. The proposed regulation would not

permit the entry or movement of spectator vessels and other non-

participating vessel traffic between a line drawn directly across the

Savannah River at mile markers 200.2 and 197.45 on Friday, November 7th

and Saturday, November 8th, 1997, between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and

6:30 p.m. EST.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f)

of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of

potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that order. It

has been exempted from review by the Office of Management and Budget

under that order. It is not significant under the regulatory policies

and procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040;

February 26, 1979). The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this

proposal to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under

paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is

unnecessary. The regulated area encompasses less than 3 nautical miles

on the Savannah River between mile markers 200.2 and 197.45, entry into

which is prohibited for only twelve hours on each day of the event.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the

Coast Guard must consider whether this proposed rule, if adopted, will

have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small

entities. ``Small entities'' include small businesses, not-for-profit

organizations that are independently owned and operated and are not

dominant in their field and governmental jurisdictions with populations

of less than 50,000.

Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) that this

proposed rule, if adopted, will not have a significant effect upon a

substantial number of small entities because it encompasses less than 3

nautical miles on the Savannah River between mile markers 200.2 and

197.45, entry into which is prohibited for only twelve hours on two

days.

If, however, you think that your business or organization qualifies

as a small entity and that this proposed rule will have a significant

economic impact on your business or organization, please submit a

comment (see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and in

what way and to what degree this proposed rule will economically affect

it.

Collection of Information

These regulations contain no collection of information requirements

under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principals and

criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and it has been determined

that this rulemaking does not have sufficient federalism implications

to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environmental Assessment

The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this

action, and has determined pursuant to Section 2.B.2.e(34)(h) of

Commandant Instruction M16475.1B, that it is categorically excluded

from further environmental documentation. A Categorical Exclusion

Determination and Environmental Analysis Checklist will be prepared

during the comment period and will be available for inspection and

copying after the comment period for this proposed rulemaking has

expired.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

Marine Safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Waterways.

Proposed Regulations

In consideration of the foregoing, Part 100 of Title 33, Code of

Federal Regulations, is proposed for amendment as follows:

PART 100--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 100 continues to read as

follows:

Authority. 33 U.S.C. 1233; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35.

2. A temporary section 100.35T-07-047 is added to read as follows:

Sec. 100.35T-07-047 Head of the South Rowing Regatta, Savannah River

at Augusta, GA.

(a) Regulated area. A regulated area is established on that portion

of the Savannah River at Augusta, GA, between mile markers 200.2 and

197.45. The regulated area encompasses the width of the Savannah River

between these two points. All coordinates referenced use Datum: NAD 83.

(b) Coast Guard Patrol Commander. The Coast Guard Patrol Commander

is a commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard who has

been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Group Charleston, SC.

(c) Special Local Regulations. Entry into the regulated area by

other than event participants is prohibited, unless otherwise

authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander. After termination of

the Head of the South Rowing Regatta on November 7 and 8, 1997, all

vessels may resume normal operations.

(d) Effective Date. This section is effective from 6:30 a.m. to

6:30 p.m. EST on November 7 and 8, 1997.

Dated: September 18, 1997.

N.T. Saunders,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.

[FR Doc. 97-25596 Filed 9-25-97; 8:45 am]

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