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###### Department of Transportation

###### Coast Guard 

          - 33 CFR Part 165 
          - [CGD 05-00-004] 
          - RIN 2115-AA97 

# AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT. 

# ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

# SUMMARY:

                        The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary moving safety zone in the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore, Maryland during the transit of the sailing vessel                         *Amerigo Vespucci*                         through those waters. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the vessel's transit. This action will restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore.                     

# DATES:

Comments and related material must reach the Coast Guard on or before May 16, 2000. 

# ADDRESSES:

You may mail comments and related material to Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Activities, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21226-1791, or deliver them to the same address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Activities, 2401 Hawkins Point Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21226-1791 maintains the public docket for this rulemaking. Comments and materials received from the public as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, will become part of this docket and will be available for inspection or copying at the above address between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chief Warrant Officer Ron Houck, Port Safety and Security Section, at (410) 576-2674. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Request for Comments 

We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related material. If you do so, please include your name and address, identify the docket number for this rulemaking (CGD05-00-004), indicate the specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and give the reason for each comment. Please submit all comments and related material in an unbound format, no larger than 81/2 by 11 inches, suitable for copying. If you would like to know they reached us, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard or envelope. The comment period for this proposed regulation is 20 days. This time period is adequate to allow local input because the event is highly publicized. The shortened comment period will allow the full 30-day publication requirement prior to the final rule becoming effective. We will consider all comments and material received during the comment period. We may change this proposed rule in view of them. 

## Public Meeting 

                    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a request for a meeting by writing to Commander, (Aoax), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, explaining why one would be beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the                     **Federal Register**                    .                 

## Background and Purpose 

                    The sailing vessel                     *Amerigo Vespucci*                     is planning to transit the waters of the Chesapeake Bay enroute to the Port of Baltimore, Maryland on June 21, 2000 and enroute from the Port of Baltimore, Maryland on June 24, 2000. The transits of this 330-foot sailing vessel are expected to attract a large fleet of spectator vessels. The purpose of these regulations is to promote maritime safety and protect the sailing vessel and the boating public during these transits by establishing a safety buffer around the sailing vessel.                 

## Discussion of Proposed Rule 

                    The Coast Guard proposes establishing a temporary moving safety zone around the 330-foot sailing vessel,                     *Amerigo Vespucci,*                     during her transit of Chesapeake Bay enroute to the Port of Baltimore, Maryland on June 21, 2000 and enroute from the Port of Baltimore on June 24, 2000. The safety zone will include all waters within 150 yards ahead of or 50 yards abeam or astern of the vessel while she is transiting the area. No vessels will be allowed to enter or navigate within this area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.                 

## Regulatory Evaluation 

This proposed 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. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it 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). 

We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. 

These regulations are limited in duration, affect only a limited area, and will be well publicized to allow mariners to make alternative plans for transiting the affected area. 

## Small Entities 

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we considered whether this proposed rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 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. 

This proposed rule would affect the following entities, some of which might be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to operate or anchor in portions of the Chesapeake Bay and the Port of Baltimore, Maryland. The regulations would not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: the restrictions are limited in duration, affect only limited areas, and will be well publicized to allow mariners to make alternative plans for transiting the affected areas. 

                    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 proposed rule would economically affect it.                           ( print page 24440)    

## Assistance for Small Entities 

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 so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact Commander (Aoax), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004. 

## Collection of Information 

This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520.). 

## Federalism 

We have analyzed this proposed rule under E.O. 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order. 

## Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those costs. This proposed rule would not impose an unfunded mandate. 

## Taking of Private Property 

This proposed rule would not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under E.O. 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights. 

## Civil Justice Reform 

This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden. 

## Protection of Children 

We have analyzed this proposed rule under E.O. 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children. 

## Environment 

We considered the environmental impact of this proposed rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(g), of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C; this proposed rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This rule will have no affect on the environment. 

# List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

      - Harbors
      - Marine safety
      - Navigation (water)
      - Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
      - Security measures
      - Waterways

## Regulation 

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR Part 165 as follows: 

# PART 165—[AMENDED] 

1. The authority citation for Part 165 continues to read as follows: 

Authority:33 U.S.C. 1225 and 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46. 

2. Add temporary § 165.T05-004 to read as follows: 

§ 165.T05-004 

                            (a)                             *Definitions: Captain of the Port*                             means the Commander, Coast Guard Activities Baltimore or any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been authorized by the Captain of the Port to act on his behalf.                         

                            (b)                             *Location.*                             The following area is a moving safety zone: All waters within 150 yards ahead of or 50 yards abeam or astern of the sailing vessel                             *Amerigo Vespucci,*                             while the vessel is operating on the Chesapeake Bay or its tributaries, north of the Maryland-Virginia border and south of latitude 39°35′00″.                         

                            (c)                             *Regulations.*

(1) All persons are required to comply with the general regulations governing safety zones in § 165.23 of this part. 

(2) No person or vessel may enter or navigate within the regulated areas unless authorized to do so by the Captain of the Port. Any person or vessel authorized to enter the regulated areas must operate in strict conformance with any directions given by the Captain of the Port and leave the regulated area immediately if the Captain of the Port so orders. 

(3) The Coast Guard vessels enforcing this section can be contacted on VHF Marine Band Radio, channels 13 and 16. The Captain of the Port can be contacted at telephone number (410) 576-2521 or 2693. 

(4) The Captain of the Port will notify the public of any changes in the status of this zone by a Marine Safety Radio Broadcast on VHF-FM marine band radio, channel 22 (157.1 MHZ). 

                            (d)                             *Effective dates:*                             These regulations are effective from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 21, 2000 and June 24, 2000.                         

Dated: April 21, 2000. 

C. L. Miller, 

Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port of Baltimore.

[FR Doc. 00-10500 Filed 4-24-00; 1:23 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4910-15-U