Special Local Regulations; U.S. National Waterski Racing Championship

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD11-97-008]

RIN 2115-AE46

Special Local Regulations; U.S. National Waterski Racing

Championship

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to amend the table of events in 33

CFR 100.1101 by adding the U.S. National Waterski Racing Championship

conducted in the waters of Mission Bay in San Diego, California, from

Government Island south to Ski Beach on the following dates: annually,

commencing on the first Friday of October every year, and, including

the first Friday of October, lasting a total of three days. The special

local regulations applicable to this event are necessary to provide for

the safety of life, property, and navigation on the navigable waters of

the United States during scheduled events. The Coast Guard is also

making a technical amendment to paragraph (a) of 33 CFR 100.1101 to

reflect a change of address for the Eleventh Coast Guard District staff

element responsible for the Local Notice to Mariners.

DATES: Comments must reach the Coast Guard on or before January 9,

1998.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to Lieutenant Michael A. Arguelles,

U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, 2716 North Harbor Drive, San

Diego, California 92101, or deliver them to the same address between 9

a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The telephone

number is (619) 683-6484.

The Marine Safety Office maintains the public docket for this

rulemaking. Comments, and any documents referenced in this preamble,

will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection

and copying at the Marine Safety Office between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lieutenant Michael A. Arguelles, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office,

2716 North Harbor Drive, San Diego, California 92101. The telephone

number is (619) 683-6484.

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 names and addresses,

identifying this rulemaking (CGD11-97-008) and the specific section of

this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for

each comment. Please submit two copies of all comments and attachments

in an unbound format, no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches, suitable for

copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting acknowledgment of

receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-addressed postcards or

envelopes.

The Coast Guard will consider all comments received during the

comment period. It may change this proposed rule in view of the

comments.

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

public hearing by writing to the Marine Safety Office at the address

under ADDRESSES. The request should include the reasons why a hearing

would be beneficial. If it determines that the opportunity for oral

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

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

Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

The U.S. National Waterski Racing Championship will consist of

various waterski racing events. The races will take place, annually,

over a three day period beginning on the first Friday of October. The

special local regulations applicable to this event are necessary to

provide for the safety of life, property, and navigation on the

navigable waters of the United States during scheduled events. A

technical amendment to paragraph (a) of 33 CFR 100.1101 is necessary

because the Eleventh Coast Guard District staff element responsible for

the Local Notice to Mariners has moved from Long Beach, CA to Alameda,

CA.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

The race zone encompasses the water of Mission Bay in San Diego,

California, from Government Island south to Ski Beach in Mission Bay.

The race course will be marked by buoys to alert non-participants. Each

year, the race zone will be in use by vessels competing in the event

from and including the first Friday of October, for a total of three

days, during the hours of 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. (PDT). During these times

the waters of Mission Bay from Government Island to Ski Beach will be

closed to all traffic with the exception of emergency vessels, official

patrol vessels, and participant vessels. No vessels other than

emergency, participant, or official patrol vessels will be allowed to

enter this zone unless specifically cleared by or through an official

patrol vessel.

Pursuant to 33 CFR 100.1101(b)(3), Commander, Coast Guard

Activities San Diego, is designated Patrol Commander for this event; he

has the authority to delegate this responsibility to any commissioned,

warrant, or petty officer of the Coast Guard. Once the zone is

established, authorization to remain within the zone is subject to

termination by the Patrol Commander at any time. The Patrol Commander

may impose other restrictions within the zone if circumstances dictate.

Restrictions will be tailored to impose the least impact on maritime

interests yet provide the level of security deemed necessary to safely

conduct the race.

With respect to the technical amendment to paragraph (a) of 33 CFR

100.1101, the correct address of the

[[Page 62734]]

Eleventh Coast Guard District staff element responsible for Local

Notice to Mariners now reads: Commander (Pow), Eleventh Coast Guard

District, Coast Guard Island, Building 50-6, Alameda, CA 94501-5100.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under

section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require assessment

of potential cost 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

regulation to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under

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

Department of Transportation is unnecessary.

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'' may include small businesses, not-for-

profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and are

not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with

populations less than 50,000.

Because it expects the impact of this proposal to be so minimal,

the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the Regulatory

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this proposal, if adopted,

will not have a substantial impact on a significant number of small

entities. If, however, you think that your business or organization

qualifies as a small entity and 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

This proposed rule contains no collection of information

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

seq.).

Federalism

The Coast Guard has analyzed this proposed rule under the

principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has

determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this

proposed rule and concluded that under paragraph 2.B.2 of Commandant

Instruction M16475.1B, it will have no significant environmental impact

and it is categorically excluded from further environmental

documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

Regattas and Marine Parades.

Proposed Regulation

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes

to amend 33 CFR Part 100, section 100.1101, as follows:

PART 100--MARINE EVENTS

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

follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233 through 1236; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR

100.35.

2. In Sec. 100.1101 revise paragraph (a) and amend Table 1 of that

section by adding an entry for the U.S. National Waterski Racing

Championship immediately following the last entry to read as follows:

Sec. 100.1101 Southern California annual marine events.

(a) Special local regulations will be established for the events

listed in Table 1. Further information on exact dates, times, details

concerning number and type of participants and an exact geographical

description of the areas are published by the Eleventh Coast Guard

District in the Local Notice to Mariners at least 20 days prior to each

event. To be placed on the mailing list contact: Commander (pow),

Eleventh Coast Guard District, Coast Guard Island, Building 50-6,

Alameda, CA 94501-5100.

* * * * *

Table 1

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U.S. National Waterski Racing Championship

Sponsor: U.S. National Waterski Racing Association.

Date: First Friday of October every year, lasting a total of 3

days (including the first Friday of October).

Location: Mission Bay, San Diego, California, from Government

Island south to Ski Beach.

Dated: October 15, 1997.

J.C. Card,

Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard

District.

[FR Doc. 97-30923 Filed 11-24-97; 8:45 am]

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