Document ID: USCG-2018-0598-0004
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Safety Zone, Swim Around Charleston; Charleston, SC
Posted Date: 2018-09-04T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 4, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44828-44830]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19078]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2018-0598]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone, Swim Around Charleston; Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary moving safety zone 
during the Swim Around Charleston, a swimming race occurring on the 
Wando River, the Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and the Ashley River, 
in Charleston, South Carolina. The temporary moving safety zone is 
necessary to protect swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the 
general public during the event. Persons and vessels will be prohibited 
from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the 
Port Charleston or a designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 7:45 a.m. until 2 p.m. on September 
16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2018-0598 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule, 
call or email Lieutenant Justin Heck, Sector Charleston Office of 
Waterways Management, Coast Guard; telephone (843) 740-3184, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    On April 9, 2018, Kathleen Wilson notified the Coast Guard that she 
will be sponsoring the Swim Around Charleston on September 16, 2018 
which will impact waters of the Wando River, Cooper River, Charleston 
Harbor, and Ashley River, in Charleston, South Carolina. In response, 
on June 26, 2018, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) titled Safety Zone, Swim Around Charleston; 
Charleston, SC (83 FR 29719). There we stated why we issued the NPRM, 
and invited comments on our proposed regulatory action related to this 
event. During the comment period that ended July 26, 2018, we received 
one comment.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause 
exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after 
publication in the Federal Register. Delaying the effective date of 
this rule would be impracticable because immediate action is needed to 
respond to the potential safety hazards associated with the event.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 33 U.S.C. 
1231. The Captain of the Port (COTP) Charleston has determined that 
potential hazards associated with the large number of participants and 
spectators during the swim will be a safety concern. The purpose of the 
rule is to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, the general 
public, vessels and the navigable waters in the safety zone before, 
during and after the scheduled event.

[[Page 44829]]

IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes, and the Rule

    The Coast Guard received one comment from the public in favor of 
the rule. We acknowledge this comment. There are no changes in the 
regulatory text of this rule from the proposed rule in the NPRM.
    This rule establishes a safety zone from 7:45 a.m. until 2 p.m. on 
September 16, 2018. The safety zone will cover certain navigable waters 
on the Wando River, Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and Ashley River, 
in Charleston, South Carolina. The duration of the zone is intended to 
ensure the safety of the participants, spectators, and the general 
public. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter, transit 
through, anchor in or remain within the safety zone without obtaining 
permission from the COTP or a designated representative. If 
authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within 
the safety zone is granted by the COTP or a designated representative, 
all persons and vessels receiving such authorization must comply with 
the instructions of the COTP or a designated representative. The Coast 
Guard will provide notice of the safety zone by Local Notice to 
Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, or by on-scene designated 
representatives.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on a number of these statutes and Executive orders, and we 
discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This rule has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, this rule has not been reviewed by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), and pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt 
from the requirements of Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on: (1) The safety 
zone will be enforced for only seven hours; (2) the safety zone will 
move with the participant vessels so that once the swimmers clear a 
portion of the waterway, the safety zone will no longer be enforced in 
that portion of the waterway; (3) although persons and vessels will not 
be able to enter or transit through the safety zone without 
authorization from the COTP or a designated representative, they will 
be able to operate in the surrounding area during the enforcement 
period; (4) persons and vessels will still be able to enter or transit 
through the safety zone if authorized by the COTP or a designated 
representative; and (5) the Coast Guard will provide advance 
notification of the safety zone to the local maritime community by 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners, or by on-scene designated 
representatives.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as 
amended, requires Federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on small entities during rulemaking. 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 received no comments from the Small Business 
Administration on this rulemaking. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 
U.S.C. 605(b) that this rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section 
V.A. above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
any vessel owner or operator.
    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 rule. 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 the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.
    Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal 
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal 
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory 
Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory 
Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and 
rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to 
comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR 
(1-888-734-3247). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small 
entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or 
action of the Coast Guard.

C. Collection of Information

    This rule will not call for a new collection of information under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has 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. We have analyzed this rule under that Order and have 
determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in Executive 
Order13132.
    Also, this rule does not have tribal implications under Executive 
Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, because it does 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. If 
you believe this rule has implications for federalism or Indian tribes, 
please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section above.

E. 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 (adjusted for 
inflation) or more in any one year. Though this rule will not result in 
such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere 
in this preamble.

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this rule under Department of Homeland Security 
Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, which guide the 
Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have

[[Page 44830]]

determined that this action is one of a category of actions that do not 
individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human 
environment. This rule involves a safety zone that will prohibit 
persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or 
remaining within a limited area surrounding the participants on the 
Wando River, Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and Ashley River, in 
Charleston, South Carolina during the event lasting less than 7 hours. 
It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60(a) 
of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 
01. A Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this 
determination is available in the docket where indicated under 
ADDRESSES.

G. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that 
your message can be received without jeopardizing the safety or 
security of people, places or vessels.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

    For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 
33 CFR part 165 as follows:

PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1231; 50 U.S.C. 191; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-
1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T07-0598 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T07-0598  Safety Zone; Swim Around Charleston, Charleston, 
SC.

    (a) Regulated area. The following regulated area is a moving safety 
zone: All waters 50 yards in front of the lead safety vessel preceding 
the first race participants, 50 yards behind the safety vessel trailing 
the last race participants, and at all times extend 100 yards on either 
side of safety vessels. The Swim Around Charleston swimming race 
consists of a 12 mile course that starts at Remley's Point on the Wando 
River in approximate position 32[deg]48'49'' N, 79[deg]54'27'' W, 
crosses the main shipping channel under the main span of the Ravenel 
Bridge, and finishes at the I-526 bridge and boat landing on the Ashley 
River in approximate position 32[deg]50'14'' N, 80[deg]01'23'' W. All 
coordinates are North American Datum 1983.
    (b) Definition. As used in this section, ``designated 
representative'' means Coast Guard Patrol Commanders, including Coast 
Guard coxswains, petty officers, and other officers operating Coast 
Guard vessels, and Federal, state, and local officers designated by or 
assisting the COTP in the enforcement of the regulated areas.
    (c) Regulations. (1) All persons and vessels are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the 
regulated area, except persons and vessels participating in the Swim 
Around Charleston, or serving as safety vessels.
    (2) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain within the regulated area may contact the COTP by 
telephone at (843)740-7050, or a designated representative via VHF 
radio on channel 16, to request authorization. If authorization to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
is granted, all persons and vessels receiving such authorization must 
comply with the instructions of the COTP or a designated 
representative.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area by 
Marine Safety Information Bulletins, Local Notice to Mariners, 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement period. This rule will be enforced on September 16, 
2018 from 7:45 a.m. until 2 p.m.

    Dated: August 27, 2018.
J.W. Reed,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2018-19078 Filed 8-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P