[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39235-39236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19425]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD 05-98-006]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; New Jersey Offshore 
Grand Prix

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is amending permanent special local 
regulations established for the New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix, a 
marine event held annually in the Atlantic Ocean along the coast of New 
Jersey between Asbury Park and Seaside Park, by identifying the 
specific date on which the regulated area will be in effect. This 
action is intended to provide more accurate notice of the date on which 
the event will occur.

DATES: This final rule is effective on July 15, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
S. L. Phillips, Project Manager, Operations Division, Auxiliary 
Section, at (757) 398-6204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On February 27, 1998, the Coast Guard published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking entitled Special Local Regulations for Marine 
Events; New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix, in the

[[Page 39236]]

Federal Register (63 FR 9979). The Coast Guard received no comments on 
the proposed rulemaking. No public hearing was requested, and none was 
held.

Background and Purpose

    33 CFR 100.505 established special local regulations for the New 
Jersey Offshore Grand Prix, a marine event held annually in the 
Atlantic Ocean along the coast of New Jersey between Asbury Park and 
Seaside Park. The purpose of these regulations is to control vessel 
traffic during the event to enhance the safety of participants, 
spectators, and transiting vessels. In the past, these regulations were 
implemented by publishing a notice in the Federal Register.

Discussion of Comments and Charges

    The Coast Guard received no comments on the proposed rulemaking.

Good Cause Statement

    This final rule is effective in less than 30 days because it is 
contrary to the public interest to delay the effective date because 
timely action is required to protect participants and other vessel 
traffic during the event.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This 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 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 
final rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under 
paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is 
unnecessary. This rule merely identifies the effective period of an 
existing regulation and does not impose any new restrictions on vessel 
traffic.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-602), the Coast 
Guard must consider whether this rule will have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. ``Small entities'' 
include independently owned and operated small businesses that are not 
dominant in their field and that otherwise qualify as ``small business 
concerns'' under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632). 
This rule does not impose any new restrictions on vessel traffic, but 
merely identifies the effective period of the regulation. Therefore, 
the Coast Guard certifies under Section 605(b) of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-602) that this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Colleciton of Information

    This final rule contains no collection of information requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

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 federalism implications to warrant 
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

    The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule 
and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph (34) (h) of COMDTINST 
M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further 
environmental documentation. Special local regulations issued in 
conjunction with a regatta or marine parade are excluded under that 
authority.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

    For the reasons set out in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 
CFR Part 100 as follows:

PART 100--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233; 49 CFR 1.46 and 33 CFR 100.35.

    2. Section 100.505 is amended by revising paragraph (b) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 100.505  New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix.

* * * * *
    (b) Effective Period: This section is effective annually on the 
third Wednesday in July. If the event is canceled due to weather, this 
section is effective the following day. The Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander will announce by Broadcast Notice to Mariners the specific 
time periods during which the regulations will be enforced.
* * * * *
    Dated: July 8, 1998.
Rogert T. Rufe, Jr.,
Vice Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 98-19425 Filed 7-21-98; 8:45 am]
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