Document ID: USCG-2009-0395-0003
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: NPRM:  Special Local Regulations: Swim Across the Sound, Long Island Sound, Port Jefferson, NY to Captain's Cove Seaport, Bridgeport, CT (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2010-04-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register: April 2, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 63)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 16700-16703]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02ap10-24]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket No. USCG-2009-0395]
RIN 1625-AA08

 
Special Local Regulation, Swim Across the Sound, Long Island 
Sound, Port Jefferson, NY to Captain's Cove Seaport, Bridgeport, CT

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document supplements the Coast Guard's July 21, 2009 
proposal to establish a permanent Special Local Regulation on the 
navigable waters of Long Island Sound between Port Jefferson, NY and 
Captain's Cove Seaport, Bridgeport, CT due to the annual Swim Across 
the Sound event. The proposed amendment is necessary to provide for the 
safety of life by protecting swimmers and their safety craft from the 
hazards imposed by marine traffic. This supplemental notice of proposed 
rulemaking describes an amendment to the list of potential dates and 
clarifies the limitations placed on marine traffic.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before May 3, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2009-0395 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department of 
Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this proposed 
rule, call or e-mail: Chief Petty Officer Christie Dixon, Prevention 
Department, USCG Sector Long Island Sound at 203-468-4459, e-mail 
christie.m.dixon@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking (USCG-2009-0395), indicate the specific section of this 
document to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each 
suggestion or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material 
online (via http://www.regulations.gov) or by fax, mail, or hand 
delivery, but please use only one of these means. If you submit a 
comment online via http://www.regulations.gov, it will be considered 
received by the Coast Guard when you successfully transmit the comment. 
If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, it will be considered 
as having been received by the Coast Guard when it is received at the 
Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you include your name and 
a mailing address, an e-mail address, or a telephone number in the body 
of your document so that we can contact you if we have questions 
regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the 
screen, insert ``USCG-2009-0395'' in the Docket ID box, press Enter, 
and then click on the balloon shape in the Actions column. If you 
submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an 
unbound format, no larger than 8[frac12] by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and 
material received during the comment period and may change the rule 
based on your comments.

[[Page 16701]]

Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
select the Advanced Docket Search option on the right side of the 
screen, insert USCG-2009-0395 in the Docket ID box, press Enter, and 
then click on the item in the Docket ID column. You may also visit the 
Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the 
Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. We have an agreement with the 
Department of Transportation to use the Docket Management Facility.

Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008 issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

Public Meeting

    We do not plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one using one of the four methods specified under 
ADDRESSES. Please explain why you believe a public meeting would be 
beneficial. If we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will 
hold one at a time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal 
Register.

Background and Purpose

    The Swim Across the Sound has been successfully held for over 
twenty years on the waters of Long Island Sound between Port Jefferson, 
NY and Bridgeport, CT. This 25km swim has historically involved over 
200 swimmers and accompanying safety craft. The swim course is located 
directly northwest of Port Jefferson, NY and extends to Captain's Cove 
Seaport, Bridgeport, CT. Currently there is no regulation in place to 
protect the swimmers or safety craft from the hazards imposed by marine 
traffic.
    On July 21, 2009 the Coast Guard published a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking with request for comments titled, ``Special Local 
Regulation, Swim Across the Sound, Long Island Sound, Port Jefferson, 
NY to Captain's Cove Seaport, Bridgeport, CT'' (Docket number USCG-
2009-0395) in the Federal Register (74 FR 35834). No comments or 
requests for meetings were received, however, during the final edits of 
the Final Rule we realized that the description of the regulated area 
was incorrect and needed clarification, and that the anticipated dates 
for the event should include the last weekend in July. This 
supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking clarifies the proposed 
regulation and the proposed dates for the annual event. The new 
proposed regulation creates less of a burden on vessel traffic by 
minimizing the restrictions in the regulated area.

Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent special local 
regulation on the navigable waters of Long Island Sound that would 
exclude all unauthorized persons and vessels from approaching within 
100 yards of any swimmer or safety craft on the race course. The race 
course, hereby referred to as the regulated area, is bounded by the 
following approximate points: Starting Point of Port Jefferson Beach 
40[deg]58'13'' N 073[deg]05'51'' W, northwesterly to the finishing 
point at Captain's Cove Seaport at approximate position 41[deg]09'25'' 
N 073[deg]12'48'' W.
    The duration of the event, and thus the enforcement period of the 
special local regulation, is generally from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on 
the day of the race. The special local regulation will only be enforced 
for approximately 11 hours on the day of the race, normally held on a 
single Saturday during the last weekend of July or the first two 
weekends of August, depending on the tides.
    During the enforcement period of this regulation no person or 
vessel may approach or remain within 100 yards of any swimmer or safety 
craft within the regulated area unless they are officially 
participating in the Swim Across the Sound event or are otherwise 
authorized by the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound or Designated 
On-scene Patrol Personnel. Notification of the race date and subsequent 
enforcement of the special local regulation will be made via a Notice 
of Enforcement in the Federal Register, marine broadcasts and broadcast 
notice to mariners. Any violation of the special local regulation 
described herein is punishable by, among others, civil and criminal 
penalties, in rem liability against the offending vessel, and license 
sanctions.

Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes 
and executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our 
analyses based on 13 of these statutes or executive orders.

Regulatory Planning and Review

    This proposed rule is not a significant regulatory action under 
section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 
and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits 
under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and 
Budget has not reviewed it under that Order.
    We expect the economic impact of this proposed rule to be so 
minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation is unnecessary. This 
regulation may have some impact on the public, but any potential impact 
would be minimized for the following reasons: Marine traffic may 
transit in all areas of Long Island Sound, other than within 100 yards 
of event participants within the regulated area. Marine traffic passing 
through the regulated area would only have minimal increased transit 
time and the special local regulation will only be enforced for 
approximately 11 hours on a single specified Saturday in either July or 
August, made publicly known in advance of the scheduled event.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered whether this proposed rule would have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The term ``small 
entities'' comprises 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.
    The Coast Guard certifies that under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. This proposed rule may affect the 
following entities, some of which may be small entities: The owners or 
operators of vessels intending to transit in those portions of Long 
Island Sound covered by the special local regulation. Before the 
activation of the zone, we would issue maritime advisories in advance 
of the event and make them widely available to users of the waterway. 
For the reasons outlined in the Regulatory Evaluation section above, 
this rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this rule would have 
a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment (see 
ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it

[[Page 16702]]

qualifies and how and to what degree this rule would economically 
affect it.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small 
entities in understanding this proposed rule so that they can better 
evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If the 
rule would affect your small business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or 
options for compliance, please contact: Chief Petty Officer Christie 
Dixon, Prevention Department, USCG Sector Long Island Sound at 203-468-
4459, christie.m.dixon@uscg.mil. The Coast Guard will not retaliate 
against small entities that question or complain about this proposed 
rule or any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would call for no new collection of information 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local 
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial 
direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this proposed rule 
under that Order and have determined that it does not have implications 
for federalism.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

    The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) 
requires Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary 
regulatory actions. In particular, the Act addresses actions that may 
result in the expenditure by a State, local, or tribal government, in 
the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 or more 
(adjusted for inflation) in any one year. Though this proposed rule 
would not result in such expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this 
rule elsewhere in this preamble.

Taking of Private Property

    This proposed rule would not affect a taking of private property or 
otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, 
Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected 
Property Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

    This proposed rule meets applicable standards in sections 3(a) and 
3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize 
litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13045, 
Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety 
Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and would not 
create an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that might 
disproportionately affect children.

Indian Tribal Governments

    This proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, because it would not have a substantial direct effect on 
one or more Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal 
Government and Indian tribes, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.

Energy Effects

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Executive Order 13211, 
Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, 
Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a ``significant 
energy action'' under that order because it is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to 
have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use 
of energy. The Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy 
action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects 
under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards 
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, 
through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why 
using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or 
operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management 
systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies.
    This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we 
did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Management Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction 
M16475.lD, which guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and 
have made a preliminary determination that this action is one of a 
category of actions which do not individually or cumulatively have a 
significant effect on the human environment. A preliminary 
environmental analysis checklist supporting this determination is 
available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. This proposed 
rule involves the promulgation of special local regulations in 
conjunction with a permitted marine event and falls under the category 
of actions under paragraph 34(h) of the instruction for which further 
environmental analysis is not normally required. We seek any comments 
or information that may lead to the discovery of a significant 
environmental impact from this proposed rule.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100

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

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

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

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1233.

    2. Add Sec.  100.121 to read as follows:

Sec.  100.121:  Swim Across the Sound, Long Island Sound, Port 
Jefferson, NY to Captain's Cove Seaport, Bridgeport, CT.

    (a) Regulated area. All navigable waters of Long Island Sound 
within 100 yards of any swimmer or safety craft on the race course 
bounded by the following points: Starting Point at Port Jefferson Beach 
at approximate position 40[deg]58'12'' N 073[deg]05'51'' W, north-
westerly to the finishing point at Captain's Cove Seaport at 
approximate location 41[deg]09'25'' N 073[deg]12'48'' W.
    (b) Definitions. The following definition applies to this section: 
Designated On-scene Patrol Personnel,

[[Page 16703]]

means any commissioned, warrant and petty officers of the U.S. Coast 
Guard operating Coast Guard vessels who have been authorized to act on 
the behalf of the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound.
    (c) Special local regulations. (1) No person or vessel may approach 
or remain within 100 yards of any swimmer or safety craft within the 
regulated area during the enforcement period of this regulation unless 
they are officially participating in the Swim Across the Sound event or 
are otherwise authorized by the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound 
or by Designated On-scene Patrol Personnel.
    (2) All persons and vessels must comply with the instructions from 
Coast Guard Captain of the Port or the Designated On-scene Patrol 
Personnel. The Designated On-scene Patrol Personnel may delay, modify, 
or cancel the swim event as conditions or circumstances require.
    (3) Upon being hailed by a U.S. Coast Guard vessel by siren, radio, 
flashing light or other means, the operator of the vessel must proceed 
as directed.
    (4) Persons and vessels desiring to enter the regulated area within 
100 yards of a swimmer or safety craft may request permission to enter 
from the designated on scene patrol personnel by contacting them on 
VHF-16 or by a request to the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound via 
phone at (203) 468-4401.
    (d) Enforcement Period. This rule is enforced annually on a single 
Saturday during the last weekend of July or one of the first two 
weekends in August, depending on the tides. Notification of the 
specific date and enforcement of the special local regulation will be 
made via a Notice of Enforcement in the Federal Register, separate 
marine broadcasts and local notice to mariners.

    Dated: February 11, 2010.
Daniel A. Ronan,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Long Island Sound.
[FR Doc. 2010-7429 Filed 4-1-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P