[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34814-34815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17073]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 110

[CGD01-97-014]
RIN 2115-AA98


Special Anchorage Area: Groton, CT

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard will extend the boundaries of the special 
anchorage area currently existing off Groton, Connecticut, between Pine 
Island and Avery Point. This action is taken at the request of the City 
of Groton, and is intended to make space available within the special 
anchorage area for approximately 20 additional moorings.

DATES: This final rule is effective July 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Documents as indicated in this preamble are available for 
inspection or copying at the office of the First Coast Guard District 
(oan), 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 02110-3350, between 
9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. 
The telephone number is 617-223-8337.


[[Page 34815]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LT Matthew Stuck, Aids to Navigation 
Branch, First Coast Guard District, 408 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 
Massachusetts, 02110-3350, (617) 223-8347.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History

    On February 6, 1998, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled ``Special Anchorage Area: Groton, CT'' in the 
Federal Register (63 FR 6141). The Coast Guard received no letters 
commenting on the propose rulemaking. No public hearing was requested, 
and none was held.

Background and Purpose

    The rule is in response to a request made by the City of Groton to 
accommodate the increased number of vessels mooring in this area. The 
final rule will expand the existing special anchorage near Groton, 
Connecticut, described in 33 CFR 110.51, to allow its use by 
approximately 20 additional boats. Vessels not more than 65 feet in 
length when at anchor in any special anchorage shall not be required to 
carry or exhibit the white anchor lights required by the Navigation 
Rules. The rule will provide approximately twenty additional moorings 
in which vessel owners may enjoy the convenience of a special 
anchorage. The existing anchorage, located near Pine Island and Avery 
Point, is split into two areas by a 210-foot wide fairway channel. The 
change will reduce the width of the existing fairway to approximately 
135 feet and extend the western boundary of the southern section of the 
anchorage by 75 feet. The note following section 33 CFR 110.51 is also 
updated to indicate the decrease in fairway channel width.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This final 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 not been reviewed 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 rule to be so 
minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the 
regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. No person 
will be required to spend any money in order to comply with this 
regulation. The regulation will exempt persons operating in the 
expanded area from complying with the more stringent vessel lighting 
regulations they would ordinarily be obliged to follow.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard considered 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 
fields, and governmental jurisdictions with populations of less than 
50,000. For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation section 
above, the Coast Guard expects that this rule will not have a 
significant impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
Therefore, the Coast Guard certifies under section 605(b) of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) that this final rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.

Assistance for Small Entities

    In accordance with section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory 
Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), the Coast Guard 
offered to assist small entities in understanding the rule so that they 
could better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the 
rulemaking process.

Collection of Information

    This rule does not provide for a collection of information under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 and has determined that 
this rule does not have sufficient implications for federalism to 
warrant the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard has considered the environmental impact of this 
rule and concluded that under Figure 2-1, paragraph 34(f) Coast Guard 
Commandant Instruction M16475.1C that this rule is categorically 
excluded from further environmental documentation. A ``Categorical 
Exclusion Determination'' and Environmental Analysis Checklist are 
available in the docket for inspection and copying where indicated 
under ADDRESSES in this final rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 110

    Anchorage grounds.

Final Regulation

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 110 as follows:
    1. The authority citation for part 110 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 2071; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 1.05-
1(g). Section 110.1a and each section listed in it are also issued 
under 33 U.S.C. 1223 and 1231.

    2. Revise Sec. 110.51 to read as follows:


Sec. 110.51  Groton, Conn.

    The waters between an unnamed cove and Pine Island.
    (a) Beginning at a point on the shoreline of Avery Point at 
latitude 41 deg.19'01.4'', longitude 072 deg.03'42.8''; thence to a 
point in the cove at latitude 41 deg.19'02.5'', longitude 
72 deg.03'36.2''; thence southeasterly to a point at latitude 
41 deg.18'56.2'', longitude 072 deg.03'34.2''; thence northeasterly to 
latitude 41 deg.19'02.5'', longitude 072 deg.03'19.2'' thence 
terminating at the tip of Jupiter Point at latitude 41 deg.19'04.4'', 
longitude 072 deg.03'19.7''. DATUM: NAD 83
    (b) Beginning at a point on the shoreline of Pine Island at 
latitude 41 deg.18'47.1'', longitude 072 deg.03'36.8''; thence 
northerly to latitude 41 deg.18'54.1'', longitude 072 deg.03'35.4''; 
thence northeasterly to a point at latitude 41 deg.19'01.2'', longitude 
072 deg.03'19.3''; thence terminating at a point at latitude 
41 deg.18'54.0'', longitude 072 deg.03 deg.17.5''. DATUM: NAD 83

    Note: The areas designated by (a) and (b) are principally for 
the use of recreational vessels. Vessels shall be anchored so that 
part of the vessel obstructs the 135 foot wide channel. Temporary 
floats or buoys for marking the location of the anchor of a vessel 
at anchor may be used. Fixed mooring pilings or stakes are 
prohibited.

    Dated: June 11, 1998.
R.M. Larrabee,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-17073 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
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