[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 127 (Thursday, July 2, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36181-36182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17651]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-98-008]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations; Around Alone Sailboat Race, 
Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local 
regulations creating a regulated area in the coastal waters off 
Charleston, SC, for the Around Alone single-handed sailboat race, 
sponsored by Great Adventure, Ltd. These regulations will prohibit 
entry into the regulated area by non-participating vessels during the 
event. These regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of 
life on navigable waters because of the expected presence of numerous 
spectator craft.

DATES: This regulation is effective from 10 a.m. (EDT) until 2 p.m. 
(EDT) on September 26, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
LTJG S. Brisco, Project Manager, Coast Guard Group Charleston at (803) 
724-7628.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    The Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the 
Federal Register on March 30, 1998 (63 FR 15115). No comments were 
received during the comment period.

Background and Purpose

    These regulations are needed to provide for the safety of life 
during the start of the Around Alone 1998-99 sailing race. These 
regulations are intended to promote safe navigation offshore Charleston 
Harbor immediately before, during, and after the start of the race, by 
controlling the traffic entering, exiting, and traveling within the 
regulated area. The anticipated concentration of commercial traffic, 
spectator vessels, and participating vessels associated with the race 
poses a safety concern which is addressed in these proposed safety 
regulations.
    The regulated area will encompass a trapezoidal area south of 
Charleston Harbor entrance lighted buoy 7 (LLNR 2405). Four conspicuous 
markers will indicate the corners of the regulated area. These 
regulations prohibit the movement of spectator vessels and other non-
participants within the regulated area on September 26, 1998, between 
10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at the discretion of the Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This rule is not a major 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

[[Page 36182]]

expects the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a full 
Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies 
and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. The regulations will only be in 
effect for approximately 4 hours on September 26, 1998.

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'' 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 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that 
this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities because the regulated area would be in effect 
for only 4 hours in a limited area outside Charleston harbor.

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 action in accordance with 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.

Environmental Assessment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this 
proposal, and has determined pursuant figure 2-1, paragraph #34(h) of 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, that this proposal is categorically 
excluded from further environmental documentation. A Categorical 
Exclusion Determination is available in the docket for inspection and 
copying.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

    Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, Waterways.

Temporary Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends Part 100 
of Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, as follows:

PART 100--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 40 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35

    2. A new section 100.35T-07-008 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 100.35T-07-008  Around Alone 1998-99 Sailing Race; Charleston, SC.

    (a) Definitions:
    (1) Regulated area. The regulated area includes the waters off 
Charleston, SC, in an area bounded by four corner points located at 32-
42.72N, 79-47.64W; 32-42.09N, 79-46.96W; 32-41.61N, 79-47.28W; and 32-
41.78N, 79-48.27W. All coordinates reference Datum: NAD 83. These four 
points will be conspicuously marked with four markers.
    (2) 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.
    (b) Special Local Regulations.
    (1) Entry into the regulated area by other than event participants 
is prohibited, unless otherwise authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander.
    (2) The Coast Guard Patrol Commander may delay, modify, or cancel 
the race as conditions or circumstances require. The Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander shall monitor the start of the race with the race committee, 
to allow for a window of opportunity for the race participants to 
depart the harbor with minimal interference with inbound or outbound 
commercial traffic.
    (3) Spectator and other non-participating vessels may only follow 
the participants out of Charleston Harbor to the race starting area if 
they maintain a minimum distance of 500 yards behind the last 
participant, at the discretion of the Patrol Commander. Upon completion 
of the start of the race and when the last race participant has passed 
the outermost boundary of the regulated area, all vessels may resume 
normal operations.
    (c) Date. This section becomes effective at 10 a.m. and terminates 
at 2 p.m. EDT on September 26, 1998.

    Dated: June 24, 1998.
Norman T. Saunders,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-17651 Filed 7-1-98; 8:45 am]
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