41794 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

Revision 4, dated July 26, 2017 (SB 44301– 

10–17). If the elastomeric energy absorber has 

taken a permanent compression set, replace 

the elastomeric energy absorber before the 

next hoist operation. 

(2) Replace the retaining ring by following 

the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 

2.D through 2.K, of SB 44301–10–17. 

(h) New Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (i) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, EASA AD 2021–0011. 

(i) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021–0011 

(1) Where EASA AD 2021–0011 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 

2021–0011 do not apply to this AD. The 

equivalent FAA requirements are specified in 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(3) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2021–0011 does not apply to this AD. 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0011 specifies 

to discard certain parts, this AD requires 

removing those parts from service. 

(5) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021– 

0011 specifies to modify using ‘‘the 

instructions of the modification ASB,’’ this 

AD requires using ‘‘paragraph 3.B.1 and 3.B.2 

of the Accomplishment Instructions of the 

modification ASB.’’ 

(6) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0011 specifies 

to use tooling, equivalent tooling may be 

used. 

(7) Accomplishing the modification 

specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021– 

0011 or the replacement specified in 

paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2021–0011 

terminates the repetitive actions required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(8) Where paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2021– 

0011 refers to October 25, 2017 (the effective 

date of EASA AD 2017–0199), this AD 

requires using the effective date of this AD; 

and where paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2021– 

0011 specified to do actions ‘‘as required by 

paragraph (1) of this [EASA] AD,’’ for this 

AD, do the actions required by paragraph (g) 

of this AD. 

(9) Paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2021–0011 

does not apply to this AD. For this AD, for 

helicopters that do not have an affected hoist 

identified in paragraph (c) of this AD 

installed: As of the effective date of this AD, 

do not install an affected hoist identified in 

paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter. 

(j) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits may be issued in 

accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 

to operate the helicopter to a location where 

the required actions can be done to the 

helicopter (if the operator elects to do so), 

provided the hoist is not used. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the International Validation 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (l)(5) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2021–0011, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(2) For Goodrich service information 

identified in this AD, contact Airbus 

Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand 

Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641–0000 

or (800) 232–0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at 

https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/ 

technical-support.html. 

(3) You may view this material at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N– 

321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 817–222–5110. This material may 

be found in the AD docket on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0611. 

(4) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. ASB EC135–85A–069, Revision 

0, dated August 2, 2017, which is not 

incorporated by reference, contains 

additional information about the actions 

specified in paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(5) For more information about this AD, 

contact Jacob Fitch, Aerospace Engineer, COS 

Program Management Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222–4130; 

email: jacob.fitch@faa.gov. 

Issued on July 27, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16467 Filed 8–2–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0613; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01431–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by 

Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada 

Limited Model DHC–8–400, –401, and 

–402 airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report of cracking found 

on a main landing gear (MLG) drag strut 

assembly. This proposed AD would 

require a records review to determine if 

an affected MLG drag strut assembly is 

installed, repetitive detailed inspections 

for cracking of affected strut assemblies, 

a one-time magnetic particle inspection 

for cracking, and on-condition actions if 

necessary. The FAA is proposing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by September 17, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0613; or in person at Docket 

Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

NPRM, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 41795 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Aziz 

Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe 

and Propulsion Section, FAA, New York 

ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone 516–228–7329; fax 516–794– 

5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0613; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–01431–T’’ at the beginning 

of your comments. The most helpful 

comments reference a specific portion of 

the proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. The FAA will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend the proposal 

because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this NPRM. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this NPRM 

contain commercial or financial 

information that is customarily treated 

as private, that you actually treat as 

private, and that is relevant or 

responsive to this NPRM, it is important 

that you clearly designate the submitted 

comments as CBI. Please mark each 

page of your submission containing CBI 

as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such 

marked submissions as confidential 

under the FOIA, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of this 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Aziz Ahmed, 

Aerospace Engineer, Airframe and 

Propulsion Section, FAA, New York 

ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone 516–228–7329; fax 516–794– 

5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

Any commentary that the FAA receives 

which is not specifically designated as 

CBI will be placed in the public docket 

for this rulemaking. 

Background 

Transport Canada Civil Aviation 

(TCCA), which is the aviation authority 

for Canada, has issued TCCA AD CF– 

2020–43, dated October 21, 2020 

(referred to after this as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

or ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for certain De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC– 

8–400, –401, and –402 airplanes. You 

may examine the MCAI in the AD 

docket at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0613. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

a report of cracking found on an MLG 

drag strut assembly. The MLG drag strut 

had accumulated a total of 26,968 flight 

cycles and 12,392 flight hours since 

new, of which 2,830 flight cycles and 

1,420 flight hours had accumulated 

since the last overhaul. The last 

overhaul had been conducted one year 

prior to the crack finding. It is suspected 

that the cracking was caused by the 

clamping method used by the repair 

facility during the most recent overhaul, 

and was missed during subsequent nondestructive testing (NDT) inspections 

required as part of the refurbishment 

process. The FAA is proposing this AD 

to address cracking of the MLG drag 

strut assembly and possible failure 

under compression loads during landing 

or ground operations, which could 

result in asymmetric MLG configuration 

and potential runway excursion. See the 

MCAI for additional background 

information. 

FAA’s Determination 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

FAA’s bilateral agreement with the State 

of Design Authority, the FAA has been 

notified of the unsafe condition 

described in the MCAI and service 

information referenced above. The FAA 

is proposing this AD because the FAA 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require a 

records review to determine if an 

affected MLG drag strut assembly is 

installed, repetitive detailed inspections 

for cracking of affected strut assemblies, 

a one-time magnetic particle inspection 

for cracking, and on-condition actions if 

necessary. On-condition actions include 

replacing the MLG drag strut assembly 

and re-identifying the MLG drag strut 

assembly. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 34 

airplanes of U.S. registry. The FAA 

estimates the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Up to 11 work-hours × $85 per hour = Up to $935 ................................ $0 Up to $935 ...................................... Up to $31,790. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary on-condition 

actions that would be required based on 

the results of any required actions. The 

FAA has no way of determining the 

number of aircraft that might need these 

on-condition actions: 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
41796 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Up to 10 work-hours × $85 per hour = Up to $850 ................................ $ * Up to $850 ...................................... Up to $850. 

* The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable the agency to provide parts cost estimates for the actions specified in this proposed AD. 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 

the manufacturer, however, some or all 

of the costs of this proposed AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

operators. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking 

under the authority described in 

Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 

44701: General requirements. Under 

that section, Congress charges the FAA 

with promoting safe flight of civil 

aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 

regulations for practices, methods, and 

procedures the Administrator finds 

necessary for safety in air commerce. 

This regulation is within the scope of 

that authority because it addresses an 

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on products identified in this 

rulemaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

The FAA determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This proposed AD would not 

have a substantial direct effect on the 

States, on the relationship between the 

national Government and the States, or 

on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited 

(Type Certificate Previously Held by 

Bombardier, Inc.): Docket No. FAA– 

2021–0613; Project Identifier MCAI– 

2020–01431–T. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by September 

17, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to De Havilland Aircraft 

of Canada Limited Model DHC–8–400, –401, 

and –402 airplanes, certificated in any 

category, serial numbers 4001, 4003, and 

subsequent. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association (ATA) of 

America Code 32, Landing Gear. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

cracking found on a main landing gear (MLG) 

drag strut assembly. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to address cracking of the MLG drag strut 

assembly and possible failure under 

compression loads during landing or ground 

operations, which could result in asymmetric 

MLG configuration and potential runway 

excursion. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Records Review, Repetitive Inspections, 

and On-Condition Actions 

Within 30 days after the effective date of 

this AD: Review the applicable airplane 

maintenance records to determine if any 

affected MLG drag strut assembly identified 

in figure 1 to the introductory text of 

paragraph (g) of this AD is installed. If any 

affected MLG drag strut assembly is installed, 

do the actions specified in paragraphs (g)(1) 

and (2) of this AD. 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 41797 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–C 

(1) Within 80 flight hours after 

accomplishing the records review required 

by paragraph (g) of this AD, do a detailed 

inspection for cracking of the affected MLG 

drag strut assembly, and do all applicable oncondition actions before further flight, in 

accordance with a method approved by the 

Manager, New York ACO Branch, FAA. 

Repeat the inspection thereafter at intervals 

not to exceed 80 flight hours until the 

magnetic particle inspection required by 

paragraph (g)(2) of this AD is done. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g)(1): Guidance on 

the inspections and on-condition actions 

required by this AD can be found in 

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD 

CF–2020–43, dated October 21, 2020. 

(2) Within 1,600 flight hours or 12 months 

after the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs first, perform a magnetic particle 

inspection for cracks of the entire tubular 

section of the affected MLG drag strut 

assembly, and do all on-condition actions 

before further flight, in accordance with a 

method approved by the Manager, New York 

ACO Branch, FAA. Performing the magnetic 

particle inspection required by this 

paragraph terminates the repetitive detailed 

inspections required by paragraph (g)(1) of 

this AD. 

(h) Parts Installation Prohibition 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install an affected MLG drag strut 

assembly identified in figure 1 to the 

introductory text of paragraph (g) of this AD 

on any airplane unless the inspections and 

applicable on-conditions specified in 

paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD are done 

before further flight. 

(i) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, New York ACO 

Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or 

responsible Flight Standards Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the certification office, 

send it to ATTN: Program Manager, 

Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7300; fax 516–794–5531. Before 

using any approved AMOC, notify your 

appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a 

principal inspector, the manager of the 

responsible Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, New York ACO Branch, 

FAA; or Transport Canada Civil Aviation 

(TCCA); or De Havilland Aircraft of Canada 

Limited’s TCCA Design Approval 

Organization (DAO). If approved by the DAO, 

the approval must include the DAOauthorized signature. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) TCCA AD 

CF–2020–43, dated October 21, 2020, for 

related information. This MCAI may be 

found in the AD docket on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0613. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Aziz Ahmed, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7329; fax 516–794–5531; email 9- 

avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

(3) For information about TCCA AD CF– 

2020–43, dated October 21, 2020, contact 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALSEP03AU21.001</GPH>

Figure 1 to the introductory text of paragraph (g) - Affected MLG Drag Strut 

Assembly 

Part Number Serial N um her 

MBM0056 

MBM0073 

MBM0076 

MBM0130 

MBM0136 

MBM0145 

MBM0179 

MBM0204 

46301-13 MBM0208 

MBM0302 

MBM0303 

MBM0324 

MBM0405 

MBM0408 

MBM0412 

MBM0417 

MBM0423 
41798 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

TCCA, Transport Canada National Aircraft 

Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, 

Ontario K1A 0N5, Canada; telephone 888– 

663–3639; email AD-CN@tc.gc.ca; internet 

https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation. You may 

view this service information at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

Issued on July 28, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16431 Filed 8–2–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Coast Guard 

33 CFR Part 100 

[Docket Number USCG–2021–0540] 

RIN 1625–AA08 

Special Local Regulations, Choptank 

River, Cambridge, MD 

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing 

to establish special local regulations for 

certain waters of the Choptank River. 

This action is necessary to provide for 

the safety of life on navigable waters 

located at Cambridge, MD, during a 

high-speed power boat racing event on 

October 9, 2021, and October 10, 2021. 

This proposed rulemaking would 

prohibit persons and vessels from being 

in the regulated area unless authorized 

by the Captain of the Port MarylandNational Capital Region or Coast Guard 

Event Patrol Commander. We invite 

your comments on this proposed 

rulemaking. 

DATES: Comments and related material 

must be received by the Coast Guard on 

or before September 2, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by docket number USCG– 

2021–0540 using the Federal 

eRulemaking Portal at https://

www.regulations.gov. See the ‘‘Public 

Participation and Request for 

Comments’’ portion of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 

further instructions on submitting 

comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If 

you have questions about this proposed 

rulemaking, call or email Mr. Ron 

Houck, Waterways Management 

Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 

410–576–2674, email D05-DGSectorMD-NCR-MarineEvents@uscg.mil. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations 

CFR Code of Federal Regulations 

COTP Captain of the Port 

DHS Department of Homeland Security 

Event PATCOM Event Patrol Commander 

FR Federal Register 

NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking 

§ Section 

U.S.C. United States Code 

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal 

Basis 

The Cambridge Power Boat Regatta 

Association of Cambridge, MD, notified 

the Coast Guard that it will be 

conducting the Cambridge Classic 

Power Boat Regatta from 10 a.m. to 5 

p.m. on October 9, 2021, and from 10 

a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 10, 2021. The 

high-speed power boat racing event 

consists of approximately 60 

participating inboard and outboard 

hydroplane and runabout race boats of 

various classes, 16 to 24 feet in length. 

The vessels will be competing on a 

designated, marked 1-mile oval course 

located in the Choptank River in a cove 

located between Hambrooks Bar and the 

shoreline at Cambridge, MD. Hazards 

from the power boat racing event 

include risks of injury or death resulting 

from near or actual contact among 

participant vessels and spectator vessels 

or waterway users if normal vessel 

traffic were to interfere with the event. 

Additionally, such hazards include 

participants operating near designated 

navigation channels, as well as 

operating near approaches to local 

public boat ramps, private marinas and 

yacht clubs, and waterfront businesses. 

The COTP Maryland-National Capital 

Region has determined that potential 

hazards associated with the power boat 

races would be a safety concern for 

anyone intending to operate within 

certain waters of the Choptank River at 

Cambridge, MD. 

The purpose of this rulemaking is to 

protect event participants, spectators, 

and transiting vessels on certain waters 

of Choptank River before, during, and 

after the scheduled event. The Coast 

Guard proposes this rulemaking under 

authority in 46 U.S.C. 70041. 

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule 

The COTP Maryland-National Capital 

Region is proposing to establish special 

local regulations from 9 a.m. on October 

9, 2021, until 6 p.m. on October 10, 

2021. The special local regulations 

would be enforced from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

on October 9th and those same hours on 

October 10th. The regulated area would 

cover all navigable waters within 

Choptank River and Hambrooks Bay 

bounded by a line connecting the 

following coordinates: Commencing at 

the shoreline at Long Wharf Park, 

Cambridge, MD, at position latitude 

38°34′30′′ N, longitude 076°04′16′′ W; 

thence east to latitude 38°34′20′′ N, 

longitude 076°03′46′′ W; thence 

northeast across the Choptank River 

along the Senator Frederick C. Malkus, 

Jr. (US–50) Memorial Bridge, at mile 

15.5, to latitude 38°35′30′′ N, longitude 

076°02′52′′ W; thence west along the 

shoreline to latitude 38°35′38′′ N, 

longitude 076°03′09′′ W; thence north 

and west along the shoreline to latitude 

38°36′42′′ N, longitude 076°04′15′′ W; 

thence southwest across the Choptank 

River to latitude 38°35′31′′ N, longitude 

076°04′57′′ W; thence west along the 

Hambrooks Bay breakwall to latitude 

38°35′33′′ N, longitude 076°05′17′′ W; 

thence south and east along the 

shoreline to and terminating at the point 

of origin in Dorchester County, MD. 

This proposed rule provides 

additional information about areas 

within the regulated area, and the 

restrictions that apply to mariners. 

These areas include a ‘‘Race Area,’’ 

‘‘Buffer Area’’ and ‘‘Spectator Area’’. 

The proposed duration of the rule and 

size of the regulated area are intended 

to ensure the safety of life on these 

navigable waters before, during, and 

after the high-speed power boat races, 

scheduled from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on 

October 9, 2021 and October 10, 2021. 

The COTP and Coast Guard Event Patrol 

Commander (Event PATCOM) would 

have authority to forbid and control the 

movement of all vessels and persons, 

including event participants, in the 

regulated area. When hailed or signaled 

by an official patrol, a vessel or person 

in the regulated area would be required 

to immediately comply with the 

directions given by the COTP or Event 

PATCOM. If a person or vessel fails to 

follow such directions, the Coast Guard 

may expel them from the area, issue 

them a citation for failure to comply, or 

both. 

Except for Cambridge Classic Power 

Boat Regatta participants and vessels 

already at berth, a vessel or person 

would be required to get permission 

from the COTP or Event PATCOM 

before entering the regulated area while 

the rule is being enforced. Vessel 

operators could request permission to 

enter and transit through the regulated 

area by contacting the Event PATCOM 

on VHF–FM channel 16. Vessel traffic 

would be able to safely transit the 

regulated area once the Event PATCOM 

deems it safe to do so. A person or 

vessel not registered with the event 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS