Document ID: USCG-2013-0145-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: NPRM:  Special Regulations: St. Thomas Carnival Watersport Activities, Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St Thomas, USVI  (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2013-04-02T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19632-19636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07573]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket No. USCG-2013-0145]
RIN 1625-AA08

Special Local Regulations; St. Thomas Carnival Watersport 
Activities, Charlotte Amalie Harbor; St Thomas, USVI

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local 
regulation on the waters of Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St Thomas, USVI 
during the St. Thomas Carnival Watersport Activities, a high speed boat 
race. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 21, 2013. 
Approximately 40 high-speed power boats will be participating in the 
races and it is anticipated that 50 spectator crafts will be present 
during the races. The special local regulation is necessary for the 
safety of race participants,

[[Page 19633]]

participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the 
event. The special local regulation will establish the following four 
areas: (1) A high speed boat race area, where all persons and vessels, 
except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed boat 
races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, 
or remaining within; (2) a jet ski race area, where all persons and 
vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the jet ski 
races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, 
or remaining within; (3) a buffer zone around the race areas, where all 
persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the 
buffer zone or authorized participants transiting to their authorized 
the race area, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, 
anchoring in, or remaining within; and (4) a spectator area, where all 
vessels are prohibited from anchoring and from traveling in excess of 
wake speed, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a 
designated representative.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before April 10, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number using 
any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: 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. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for further instructions 
on submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of 
these three methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Chief Warrant Officer Anthony Cassisa, Sector San Juan 
Prevention Department, Coast Guard; telephone (787) 289-2073, email 
Anthony.J.Cassisa@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Barbara Hairston, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

A. 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.

1. Submitting comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, 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 at 
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, 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 email 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, 
type the docket number [USCG-2013-0145] in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with 
this rulemaking.
    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.

2. 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, 
type the docket number (USCG-2013-0145) in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on Open Docket Folder on the line associated with 
this rulemaking. 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.

3. 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).

4. Public meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one, using one of the 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.

B. Regulatory History and Information

    The Coast Guard is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) with a comment period shorter than 30 days. The Coast Guard is 
doing this because the sponsor did not provide information regarding 
the event details with sufficient time to provide for a 30 day comment 
period. This is an annual event, which in the past has not received 
comments from the public, however, the Coast Guard prefers to allow the 
public an opportunity to comment, therefore it is publishing this NPRM 
with a comment period shorter than 30 days.

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for the rule is the Coast Guard's authority to 
establish special local regulations: 33 U.S.C. 1233. The purpose of the 
rule is to ensure safety of life on navigable waters of the United 
States during the St Thomas Carnival Watersport Activities.
    On April 21, 2013, Virgin Islands Carnival Committee Inc. is 
sponsoring the St Thomas Carnival Watersport Activities, a series of 
high-speed boat races and jet ski races. The races will be held on the 
waters of Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St Thomas, USVI. Approximately 40 
high-speed power

[[Page 19634]]

boats will be participating in the races. It is anticipated that 
approximately 50 spectator vessels will be present during the races.

D. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The special local regulation encompasses certain waters of 
Charlotte Amalie in St Thomas, USVI. The special local regulation will 
be enforced from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on April 21, 2013. The special 
local regulation consists of the following four areas: (1) A high-speed 
boat race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and 
vessels participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; (2) a 
jet ski race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons 
and vessels participating in the jet ski races, are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; (3) a 
buffer zone around the race areas, where all persons and vessels, 
except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone or 
authorized participants transiting to their respective race areas, are 
prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or 
remaining within; and (4) a spectator area, where all vessels are 
prohibited from anchoring and from traveling in excess of wake speed 
unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated 
representative. Persons and vessels may request authorization to enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within the race area, or buffer 
zone; or to anchor or travel in excess of wake speed in the spectator 
area by contacting the Captain of the Port San Juan by telephone at 
(787) 289-2041, or a designated representative via VHF radio on channel 
16. If authorization to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain 
within the race area, or buffer zone; or to anchor or travel in excess 
of wake speed in the spectator area is granted by the Captain of the 
Port San Juan or a designated representative, all persons and vessels 
receiving such authorization must comply with the instructions of the 
Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative. The Coast 
Guard will provide notice of the special local regulations by Local 
Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene 
designated representatives.

E. Regulatory Analyses

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

1. 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, 
as supplemented by Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and 
Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential 
costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866 or 
under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and 
Budget has not reviewed it under those Orders. The economic impact of 
this rule is not significant for the following reasons: (1) The special 
local regulations will be enforced for only seven hours; (2) although 
persons and vessels will not be able to enter, transit through, anchor 
in, or remain within the race area and buffer zone, or anchor in the 
spectator area, without authorization from the Captain of the Port San 
Juan or a designated representative, they may operate in the 
surrounding area during the enforcement period; (3) persons and vessels 
may still enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the race 
area and buffer zone, or anchor in the spectator area, during the 
enforcement period if authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or 
a designated representative; and (4) the Coast Guard will provide 
advance notification of the special local regulations to the local 
maritime community by Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to 
Mariners.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered the impact of this proposed rule on small entities. The 
Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    This rule may affect the following entities, some of which may be 
small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within that portion of Charlotte 
Amalie harbor encompassed within the special local regulation from 10 
a.m. until 5 p.m. on April 21, 2013. For the reasons discussed in the 
Regulatory Planning and Review section above, this rule will not have a 
significant economic 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 qualifies and how and to what 
degree this rule would economically affect it.

3. 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. 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, above. 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.

4. Collection of Information

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

5. Federalism

    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 proposed rule under that Order and 
determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism.

6. 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.

7. 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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

[[Page 19635]]

8. Taking of Private Property

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

9. 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.

10. Protection of Children From Environmental Health Risks

    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.

11. 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.

12. Energy Effects

    This proposed rule is not a ``significant energy action'' under 
Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That 
Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use.

13. Technical Standards

    This proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we 
did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

14. 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 that do not individually or cumulatively have a 
significant effect on the human environment. This proposed rule 
involves a special local regulation issued in conjunction with a 
regatta or marine parade. This rule is categorically excluded from 
further review under paragraph 34(h) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant 
Instruction. A preliminary environmental analysis checklist supporting 
this determination and a Categorical Exclusion Determination are 
available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. 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 part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1233.

0
2. Add Sec.  100.35T07-1089 to read as follows:

Sec.  100.35T07-0145  Special Local Regulations; St Thomas Watersports 
Activities, Charlotte Amalie Harbor; St Thomas, USVI.

    (a) Regulated Areas. The following regulated areas are established 
as special local regulations. All coordinates are North American Datum 
1983.
    (1) Power Boat Race Area. All waters of the St. Thomas Harbor 
located around Hassel Island, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island 
encompassed within an imaginary line connecting the following points 
for the Power Boat Race: Starting at Point 1 in position 18[deg]20.19' 
N, 64[deg]56.07' W; thence southeast to Point 2 in position 
18[deg]19.70' N 64[deg]55.70' W; thence southwest to Point 3 in 
position 18[deg]19.35' N, 64[deg]55.71' W; thence west to point 4 in 
position 18[deg]19.27' N, 64[deg]56.01' N; thence north to point 5 in 
position 18[deg]19.98' N, 64[deg]56.46' W; thence northeast to point 6 
in position 18[deg]20.21' N, 064[deg]56.31' W; thence east back to 
origin. All persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels 
participating in the high-speed boat race, are prohibited from 
entering, transiting, anchoring, or remaining within the race area.
    (2) Jet Ski Race Area. All waters encompassed within an imaginary 
line connecting the following points: starting at Point 1 in position 
18[deg]20.08' N, 64[deg]55.88' W; thence west to Point 2 in position 
18[deg]20.08' N, 64[deg]56.06' W; thence north to Point 3 in position 
18[deg]20.28' N, 64[deg]56.06' W; thence east to Point 4 in position 
18[deg]20.28' N, 64[deg]55.88' W; thence south back to origin. All 
persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in 
the Jet Ski Race, are prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring, 
or remaining within the race area.
    (3) Buffer Zone. All waters of the St Thomas Harbor located around 
Hassel Island; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Island excluding the power boat 
race area and jet ski race area, encompassed within an imaginary line 
connecting the following points: starting at Point 1 in position 
18[deg]20.34' N, 64[deg]55.91' W; thence southeast to Point 2 in 
position 18[deg]19.70' N, 64[deg]55.71' W; thence south to Point 3 in 
position 18[deg]19.31' N, 64[deg]55.72' W; thence southwest to Point 4 
in position 18[deg]19.23' N, 64[deg]56.04' W; thence northwest to Point 
5 in position 18[deg]19.94' N, 64[deg]56.50' W; thence northeast to 
Point 6 in position 18[deg]20.26' N, 64[deg]56.31' W thence east back 
to origin. All persons and vessels except those persons and vessels 
enforcing the buffer zone are prohibited from entering, transiting 
through, anchoring in, or remaining within the buffer zone, with the 
exception of authorized race participants transiting to their 
respective race areas.
    (4) Spectator Area. All waters of the St. Thomas Harbor located 
east of Hassel Island, excluding the power boat race area, the jet ski 
race area, and the buffer zone, encompassed within an imaginary line 
connecting the following points: starting at Point 1 in position 
18[deg]20.30' N, 64[deg]55.76' W; thence south to Point 2 in position 
18[deg]19.97' N, 64[deg]55.67' W; thence northeast to Point 3 in 
position 18[deg]20.19' N, 64[deg]55.54' W; thence northwest back to 
origin. On-scene designated representatives will direct spectator 
vessels to the spectator area.
    (b) Definition. The term ``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 
Captain of the Port San Juan in the enforcement of the regulated areas.
    (c) Regulations.
    (1) All persons and vessels are prohibited from:
    (A) Entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within 
the power boat race area, unless participating in the power boat race.
    (B) Entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within 
the

[[Page 19636]]

jet ski race area, unless participating in the jet ski race.
    (C) Transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the 
buffer zone, unless enforcing the buffer zone or a race participant 
transiting to their designated race area.
    (D) All persons and vessels are prohibited from anchoring in, or 
traveling in excess of wake speed in the spectator zone.
    (2) Persons and vessels may request authorization to enter, transit 
through, anchor in, or remain within the race areas by contacting the 
Captain of the Port San Juan by telephone at (787) 289-2041, or a 
designated representative via VHF radio on channel 16. If authorization 
is granted by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated 
representative, all persons and vessels receiving such authorization 
must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port San Juan 
or a designated representative.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated areas by 
Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene 
designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement Date. This rule will be enforced from 10 a.m. until 
5 p.m. on April 21, 2013.

    Dated: March 14, 2013.
D.W. Pearson,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port San Juan.
[FR Doc. 2013-07573 Filed 4-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P