Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 93 / Monday, May 13, 1996 / Proposed Rules 22001

commander. On scene patrol personnel

may included commissioned, warrant,

and petty officers of the U.S. Coast

Guard. Upon hearing five or more short

blasts from a U.S. Coast Guard vessel,

the operator of a vessel shall proceed as

directed. Members of the Coast Guard

Auxiliary may also be present to inform

vessel operators of this regulation and

other applicable laws.

(c) Effective period. This section is in

effect on June 21, 1996, from 10:00 a.m.

to 3:30 p.m., and biennially thereafter

on even numbered years on the third

Friday in June.

Dated: April 30, 1996.

J.L. Linnon,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander,

First Coast Guard District.

[FR Doc. 96–11902 Filed 5–10–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–14–M

33 CFR Part 100

[CGD01–96–022]

RIN 2115–AE46

Special Local Regulation: Searsport

Lobster Boat Races, Searsport, ME

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposed to

establish a permanent special local

regulation for the Searsport Lobster Boat

Races. The event will be held from 8

a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 24, 1996, and

each year thereafter on a date and times

published in a Federal Register notice.

This regulation is needed to protect the

boating public from the hazards

associated with high speed powerboat

racing in confined waters.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before June 27, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

mailed to Commander (b), First Coast

Guard District, Captain John Foster

Williams Federal Building, 408 Atlantic

Ave., Boston, MA 02110–3350, or may

be hand delivered to Room 428 at the

same address, between 8 a.m. and 4

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays. Comments will

become part of this docket and will be

available for inspection or copying at

the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Benjamin M.

Algeo, Chief, Boating Affairs Branch,

First Coast Guard District, (617) 223–

8311.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages

interested persons to participate in this

rulemaking by submitting written data,

views, or arguments. Each person

submitting comments should include

their name and address, identify this

notice (CGD01–96–022), the specific

section of the proposal to which each

comment applies, and give the reason

for each comment. Comments and

attachments should be submitted on

81⁄2′′ × 11′′ unbound paper in a format

suitable for copying and electronic

filing. If that is not practical, a second

copy of any bound material is requested.

Persons requesting acknowledgment of

receipt of comments should enclose a

stamped, self-addressed postcard or

envelope. All comments received during

the comment period will be considered

by the Coast Guard and may change this

proposal.

The Coast Guard has no plans to hold

a public hearing. Persons may request a

public hearing by writing to

Commander (b), First Coast Guard

District at the address under ADDRESSES.

The request should include reasons why

a hearing would be beneficial. If the

Coast Guard determines that oral

presentations will aid this rulemaking,

it will hold a public hearing at a time

and place announced by a later notice

in the Federal Register.

Discussion of Proposed Amendments

The Searsport Lobster Boat Races is a

local, traditional event that has been

held for many years in Searsport Harbor,

ME. In the past, the Coast Guard has

promulgated individual regulations for

each year’s race. Given the recurring

nature of the event, the Coast Guard

desires to establish a permanent

regulation. The proposed regulation

would establish a regulated area on

Searsport harbor and would provide

specific guidance to control vessel

movement during the race.

The event includes 50 or more

participants with 4 to 8 boats per class

racing in heats around a 3⁄4 mile marked

course. The event typically attracts

approximately 100 spectator craft. The

Coast Guard will assign a patrol to the

event, but due to the speed, large wakes,

and proximity of the participating

vessels, it is necessary to establish a

special local regulation to control

spectator and commercial vessel

movement within this confined area.

Spectator craft are authorized to watch

the race from any area as long as they

remain outside the designated regulated

area.

The proposed section will be effective

from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 24,

1996, and each year thereafter as

published in a Federal Register notice.

If the race is canceled due to weather,

this section will be effective on the day

following the effective date. In

emergency situations, provisions may be

made to establish safe escort by a Coast

Guard or Coast Guard designated vessel

for vessels requiring transit through the

regulated area.

Regulatory Evaluation

This proposal 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 to be so

minimal that a full Regulatory

Evaluation, under paragraph 10e of the

regulatory policies and procedures of

DOT, is unnecessary. This conclusion is

based on the limited duration of the

race, the extensive advisories that will

be made to the affected maritime

community, and the minimal

restrictions which the regulation places

on vessel traffic.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

(5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the Coast Guard

must consider the economic impact on

small entities of a rule for which a

general notice of proposed rulemaking

is required. ‘‘Small entities’’ may

include (1) small businesses and not-forprofit organizations that are

independently owned and operated and

are not dominant in their fields and (2)

governmental jurisdictions with

populations of less than 50,000.

For the reasons discussed in the

Regulatory Evaluation, the Coast Guard

certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this

proposal will not have a significant

economic impact on a substantial

number of small entities. If, however,

you think that your business or

organization qualifies as a small entity

and that this rule will have a significant

economic impact on your business or

organization, please submit a comment

(see ADDRESSES) explaining why you

think it qualifies and in what way and

to what degree this rule will

economically affect it.
22002 Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 93 / Monday, May 13, 1996 / Proposed Rules

Collection of Information

This proposal 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

proposal under the principles and

criteria contained in Executive Order

12612 and has determined that this

proposal does not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Environment

The Coast Guard has considered the

environmental impacts of this proposal

and concluded that, under paragraph

2.B.2.e.34(h) of DOMDTINST 16475.1B,

(as revised by 61 FR 13563, March 27,

1996) this proposal is a special local

regulation issued in conjunction with a

regatta or marine parade and is

categorically excluded from further

environmental documentation.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

Marine safety, Navigation (water),

Reporting and recordkeeping

requirements, Waterways.

Proposed Regulation

For the reasons set out in the

preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to

amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

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. A permanent section, 100.118, is

added to read as follows:

§ 100.118 Searsport Lobster Boat Races,

Searsport Harbor, ME.

(a) Regulated Area. The regulated area

includes all waters of Searsport Harbor,

ME, within the following points (NAD

83):

Latitude Longitude

44°26′51′′ N 068°54′20′′ W

44°27′03′′ N 068°54′20′′ W

44°27′03′′ N 068°55′17′′ W

44°26′51′′ N 068°55′17′′ W

(b) Special Local Regulations.

(1) The Coast Guard patrol

commander may delay, modify, or

cancel the race as conditions or

circumstances require.

(2) No person or vessel may enter,

transit, or remain in the regulated area

unless participating in the event or

unless authorized by the Coast Guard

patrol commander.

(3) Vessels encountering emergencies

which require transit through the

regulated area should contact the Coast

Guard patrol commander on VHF

Channel 16. In the event of an

emergency, the Coast Guard patrol

commander may authorize a vessel to

transit through the regulated area with

a Coast Guard designated escort.

(4) All persons and vessels shall

comply with the instructions of the

Coast Guard on-scene patrol

commander. On-scene patrol personnel

may include commissioned, warrant,

and petty officers of the U.S. Coast

Guard. Upon hearing five or more short

blasts from a U.S. Coast Guard vessel,

the operator of a vessel shall proceed as

directed. Members of the Coast Guard

Auxiliary may also be present to inform

vessel operators of this regulation and

other application laws.

(c) Effective period. This section is in

effect form 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August

24, 1996, and each year thereafter on a

date and times published in a Federal

Register notice. If the event is canceled

due to weather, this section is effective

the following day.

Dated: May 1, 1996.

J.L. Linnon,

Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander,

First Coast Guard District.

[FR Doc. 96–11904 Filed 5–10–96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–14–M

33 CFR Part 117

[CGD01–95–002]

RIN 2115–AE47

Drawbridge Operation Regulations

New Rochelle Harbor, NY

AGENCY: Coast Guard DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of

proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing

a change to the regulations governing

the Glen Island Bridge, mile 0.8, across

New Rochelle Harbor in New Rochelle,

New York. The proposal would require

two hours advance notice for openings

between the hours of 12 midnight and

6 a.m. from May 1st through October

31st, and twenty-four hours advance

notice between the hours of 8 p.m. and

8 a.m. from November 1st through April

30th.

This change was requested by the

Westchester County Department of

Parks because of the few requests for

bridge openings during these time

periods. This action should relieve the

bridge owner of the burden of having

personnel constantly available to open

the bridge and should provide for the

reasonable needs of navigation.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 12, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be

mailed to Commander (obr), First Coast

Guard District, Building 135A,

Governors Island, New York, 10004–

5073, or may be hand-delivered to the

same address between 6:30 a.m. and 3

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

federal holidays. The telephone number

is (212) 668–7170. The comments will

become part of this docket and will be

available for inspection and copying by

appointment at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gary Kassof, Bridge Program Manager,

First Coast Guard District, (212) 668–

7069.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Request for Comments

The Coast Guard encourages

interested persons to participate in this

rulemaking by submitting written views,

comments, data, or arguments. Persons

submitting comments should include

their name and address, identify this

rulemaking (CGD1 95–002), the specific

section of this proposal to which each

comment applies, and give reasons for

each comment. The Coast Guard

requests that all comments and

attachments be submitted in an

unbound format no larger than 81⁄2′′ by

11′′, suitable for copying and electronic

filing. If that is not practical, a second

copy of any bound material is requested.

Persons desiring acknowledgment that

their comments have been received are

to enclose a stamped, self-addressed

post card or envelope.

The Coast Guard will consider all

comments received during the comment

period, and may change this proposal in

light of comments received. The Coast

Guard plans no public hearing. Persons

may request a public hearing by writing

to Commander (obr), First Coast Guard

District at the address listed under

ADDRESSES. The request should include

reasons why a hearing would be

beneficial. If the Coast Guard

determines that the opportunity for oral

presentations will aid this rulemaking,

the Coast Guard will hold a public

hearing at a time and place announced

by a later notice in the Federal Register.

Background and Purpose

The Glen Island Bridge has vertical

clearances when in the closed position

of 13 feet above mean high water

(MHW) and 20 feet above mean low

water (MLW). The bridge is presently

required to open on signal. The

proposed regulations would provide

openings on signal with two hours

advance notice between the hours of 12

midnight and 6 a.m. from May through

October, and with twenty-four hours