Special Local Regulations; Parker International Waterski Marathon

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD11-98-001]

Special Local Regulations; Parker International Waterski Marathon

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is amending the table of events in 33 CFR

100.1102 by adding an entry for the Parker International Waterski

Marathon. The Parker International Waterski Marathon is conducted on

the navigable waters of the Colorado River, beginning at Bluewater

Marina in Parker, AZ, and extending approximately 10 miles south to La

Paz County Park. It occurs annually on the second full weekend of March

every year, and lasts a total of 2 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.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 12, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Petty Officer Greg Nelson, U.S. Coast

Guard Marine Safety Office, 2716 North Harbor Drive, San Diego,

California; telephone number (619) 683-6492.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

On April 2, 1998, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed

rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation in the Federal Register (63 FR

16179-16180). The comment period ended 18 May 98. The Coast Guard

received no comments on the proposal. A public hearing was not

requested and no hearing was held.

Background and Purpose

The Parker International Waterski Marathon consist of various

waterski activities. The event takes place, annually, over a two day

period commencing on the second full weekend of March. 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.

Discussion of Rule

The course of the event is approximately 10 miles long and

encompasses the entire water area of the Colorado River from Bluewater

Marina in Parker, AZ, south to La Paz County Park. The course will be

marked by buoys and sponsor vessels to alert non-participants. On the

following days and times, the race zone will be in use by vessels

competing in the event: annually, commencing on the second full weekend

of March every year, and lasting a total of 2 days, from 8 a.m. until 5

p.m. (PST) each day. During these times the Colorado River from

Bluewater Marina in Parker, AZ, south to La Paz County Park will be

closed to all traffic with the exception of emergency vessels. No

vessels other than participants, official patrol vessels, or emergency

vessels will be allowed to enter into, transit through, or anchor

within 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

or she 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 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 event.

Discussion of Comments

No comments were received.

Regulatory Evaluation

This regulation 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 rule will have a significant

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. Small

entities may include small businesses and not-for-profit organizations

that are not dominant in their fields and (2) governmental

jurisdictions with populations less than 50,000.

Because it expects the impact of this regulation 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 rule will not have a

substantial impact on a significant number of small entities.

Collection of Information

This 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 regulation under the principles

and criteria in Executive Order 12612 and

[[Page 37491]]

has determined that this rule does not have sufficient federalism

implications to warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this

regulation and concluded that under Commandant Instruction M16475.1C,

Figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(h), it will have no significant

environmental impact and it is categorically excluded from further

environmental documentation.

A Categorical Exclusion Determination and Environmental Analysis

Checklist are included in the docket maintained at the address listed

in ADDRESSES.

Unfunded Mandates

Under the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), the

Coast Guard must consider whether this rule will result in an annual

expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate

of $100 million (adjusted annually for inflation). If so, the Act

requires that a reasonable number of regulatory alternatives be

considered, and that from those alternatives, the least costly, most

cost-effective, or least burdensome alternative that achieves the

objective of the rule be selected.

No state, local or tribal government entities will be effected by

this rule, so this rule will not result in annual or aggregate costs of

$100 million or more. Therefore, the Coast Guard is exempt from any

further regulatory requirements under the Unfunded Mandates Act.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

Regattas, Marine parades.

Regulation

For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33

CFR Part 100, section 100.1102, 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 1.36; 33 CFR

100.35.

2. Section 100.1102, Table 1, is amended by adding an entry for the

Parker International Waterski Marathon immediately following the last

entry, to read as follows:

Sec. 100.1102 Marine Events on the Colorado River, between Davis Dam

(Bullhead City, Arizona) and Headgate Dam (Parker Arizona).

* * * * *

TABLE 1

* * * * *

Parker International Waterski Marathon

Sponsor: Parker International Waterski Association.

Dates: Annually, commencing on the second full weekend of March

every year, and lasting a total of 2 days, from 8 a.m. (PST) until 5

p.m. (PST) each day.

Location: The entire water area of the Colorado River beginning

at Bluewater Marina in Parker, AZ, and extending approximately 10

miles to La Paz County Park.

Dated: June 25, 1998.

R.D. Sirois,

Acting Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard

District.

[FR Doc. 98-18558 Filed 7-10-98; 8:45 am]

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