[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28503-28504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-13997]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
33 CFR Part 100

[CGD07-96-021]
RIN 2115-AE46


Special Local Regulations: Augusta Southern National Drag Boat 
Races; Augusta, GA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing permanent special local 
regulations for the Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races. As a 
permanent event, except this year, the Augusta Southern National Drag 
Boat Races will be held annually on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 
Sunday during the third week of July, between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. edt 
(Eastern Daylight Time). However, due to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, 
this year's Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races will be held on 
July 18-21, 1996 between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. edt. Historically, there 
have been approximately 160, 16-18 foot drag boats racing two vessels 
per heat on a quarter mile long course on that portion of the Savannah 
River at Augusta, GA, between U.S. Highway 1 (Fifth St) Bridge at mile 
marker 199.45 and Eliot's Fish Camp at mile marker 197. The boats will 
be competing at high speeds and at close range. The nature of the event 
and the closure of the Savannah River create an extra or unusual hazard 
on the navigable waters. These regulations are necessary to provide for 
the safety of life on navigable waters during the event.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 5, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ENS M. J. DaPonte, project officer, Coast Guard Group Charleston at 
(803) 724-7621.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory History

    On April 18, 1996, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking entitled [CGD07-96-021] in the Federal Register (61 FR 
16885). The comment period ended on May 20, 1996. The Coast Guard 
received no comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking. A public 
hearing was not requested and no hearing was held.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    No comments were received during the comment period. However, the 
regulations dates for this year are being changed due to the 1996 
Olympic Yachting Competition. The Augusta Southern National Drag Races 
will occur permanently on an annual basis, except this year, on 
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of the third week in July from 6 
a.m. to 8 p.m. edt. However, due to the Olympics this year's Augusta 
Southern National Drag Races will be held on July 18-21 from 6 a.m. to 
8 p.m. edt.

Discussion of Regulations

    These regulations are needed to provide for the safety of life 
during Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races. These regulations are 
intended to promote safe navigation on the waters off Augusta on the 
Savannah River during the races by controlling the traffic entering, 
exiting, and traveling within these waters. The anticipated 
concentration of spectator and event participant vessels associated 
with the Drag Boat Races poses a safety concern, which is addressed in 
these special local regulations.
    These regulations will not permit the entry or movement of 
spectator vessels and other non-event participating vessel traffic 
between the U.S. Highway Route

[[Page 28504]]

1 (Fifth Street) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and Eliot's Fish Camp at 
mile marker 197 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. edt, on July 18, 19, 20, and 21, 
1996, and then thereafter, annually on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 
Sunday of the third week in July. These regulations will permit the 
movement of spectator vessels and other non-event participants after 
the termination of race each day, and during intervals between 
scheduled events at the discretion of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

Regulatory Evaluation

    This regulation is not a significant regulatory action under 
Section 3(f) of the Executive Order 12866 and does not require an 
assessment of the 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 rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory 
Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and 
procedures of DOT is unnecessary. These regulations will only last for 
14 hours each day of the event. No public comments were received during 
the notice of proposed rulemaking comment period.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), the 
Coast Guard must consider whether this rulemaking 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).
    For reasons set forth in the above Regulatory Evaluation, the Coast 
Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this rulemaking, would not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.

Collection of Information

    These regulations contain no collection of information requirements 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

Federalism

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that the rulemaking 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 
rulemaking consistent with Section 2.B.2. of Commandant Instruction 
M16475.1B. In accordance with that section, this action has been 
environmentally assessed (EA completed), and the Coast Guard has 
concluded that it will not significantly affect the quality of the 
human environment. An environmental assessment and a finding of no 
significant impact have been prepared and are available for copying and 
inspection.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

Final Regulations

    In consideration of the foregoing, Part 100 of Title 33, Code of 
Federal Regulations, the Coast Guard amends 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. A new section 100.709 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 100.709  Annual Augusta Southern National Drag Boat Races; 
Savannah River, Augusta GA.

    (a) Definitions. (1) Regulated area. The regulated area is formed 
by a line drawn directly across the Savannah River at the U.S. Highway 
1 (Fifth Street) Bridge at mile marker 199.45 and directly across the 
Savannah River at Eliot's Fish Camp at mile marker 197. The regulated 
area encompasses the width of the Savannah River between these two 
lines.
    (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, 
Charleston, South Carolina.
    (b) Special local regulations. (1) Entry into the regulated area is 
prohibited to all non-event participants.
    (2) After the termination of the Augusta Southern National Drag 
Boat Races each day, and during intervals between scheduled events, at 
the discretion of the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, all vessels may 
resume normal operations.
    (c) Effective Dates. This section is effective annually on 
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the third week of July from 6 
a.m. to 8 p.m. edt, except in 1996, the section is effective on July 
18-21, 1996 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. edt.

    Dated: May 22, 1996.
Roger T. Rufe, Jr.,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Seventh Coast Guard 
District.
[FR Doc. 96-13997 Filed 6-4-96; 8:45 am]
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