Document ID: USCG-2015-0236-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Safety Zones: Sabine River, Orange, TX (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2015-04-16T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 73 (Thursday, April 16, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20439-20441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-08759]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket No. USCG-2015-0236]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Sabine River, Orange, TX

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the 
navigable waters of the Sabine River in Orange, TX in support of Deep 
South Racing Association boat races. This temporary safety zone is 
necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the 
hazards associated with a boat race competition. Persons and vessels 
are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring 
within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or 
his designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective on May 30 and 31, 2015. This rule will be 
enforced from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on May 30 and May 31, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble are part of docket 
[USCG-2015-0236]. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type the 
docket number 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Mr. Scott Whalen, U.S. Coast Guard MSU Port Arthur, (409) 
719-5086 or email, scott.k.whalen@uscg.mil. If you have questions on 
viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, 
Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

BNM Broadcast Notices to Mariners
DSRA Deep South Racing Association
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
LNM Local Notice to Mariners
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

A. Regulatory History and Information

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior 
notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 
4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) U.S.C. 553(b)). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and 
opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those 
procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to public 
interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good 
cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
with respect to this rule. The Coast Guard received notice on March 16, 
2015 that this event is planned to take

[[Page 20440]]

place May 30 and 31, 2015. Upon full review of the event details, the 
Coast Guard determined that additional safety measures are necessary. 
Completing the full NPRM process would be impracticable, delaying the 
effective date for this safety zone. Immediate action is necessary to 
protect event participants and members of the public from hazards 
associated with high speed boat races on the waterway. This event is 
advertised and the local community has planned for this event. Delaying 
the safety zone may also unnecessarily interfere with the planned event 
and possible contractual obligations.
    The Coast Guard will notify the public and maritime community that 
the safety zone will be in effect and of its enforcement periods via 
broadcast notices to mariners (BNM) and will be published in the Local 
Notice to Mariners (LNM).

B. Basis and Purpose

    The Deep South Racing Association (DSRA) is holding a two day 
watercraft race competition on the Sabine River in Orange, TX on May 30 
and 31, 2015. This event poses a hazard to life and property as it 
involves high speed watercraft racing in a narrow waterway used by 
other commercial and recreational vessel traffic. Additionally, the 
race event is likely to attract spectator craft to the area. The Coast 
Guard determined that a temporary safety zone is needed to protect 
spectators as well as persons participating in the event. The legal 
basis and authorities for this rulemaking establishing a safety zone 
are found in 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, which collectively authorize the Coast Guard to establish and 
define regulatory safety zones.

C. Discussion of the Temporary Final Rule

    The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone 
encompassing all waters of the Sabine River, shoreline to shoreline, 
adjacent to the Naval Reserve Unit and the Orange public boat ramps 
located in Orange, TX. The northern boundary is from the end of Navy 
Pier One at 30[deg]05'50'' N. 93[deg]43'15'' W. then easterly to the 
rivers eastern shore. The southern boundary is a line shoreline to 
shoreline at latitude 30[deg]05'33'' N. (NAD83).
    This safety zone is needed to protect mariners and event 
participants from hazards associated with high speed boat races. No 
person or vessel may enter into or remain in the zone without 
permission of the Captain of the Port.

D. Regulatory Analyses

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

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This 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 Coast Guard has determined that this rule is not a significant 
regulatory action for the following reasons: (1) The rule will be 
enforced for 9.5 hours each day for two days; (2) scheduled breaks will 
be provided to allow waiting vessels to transit safely through the 
affected area; (3) persons and vessels may enter, transit through, 
anchor in, or remain within the regulated area if they obtain 
permission from the Captain of the Port or the designated 
representative; and (4) advance notification will be made to the 
maritime community via BNM and LNM. Therefore, the Coast Guard 
enforcement of this safety zone is not a significant regulatory action.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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. This rule may affect the following entities, some of which 
might be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending 
to transit through or remain in the safety zone area. 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 
for the following reasons: (1) This rule will only be enforced from 
8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day that it is effective; (2) during non-
enforcement hours all vessels will be allowed to transit through the 
safety zone without having to obtain permission from the Captain of the 
Port, Port Arthur or a designated representative; and (3) vessels will 
be allowed to pass through the zone with permission of the Coast Guard 
Patrol Commander during scheduled break periods between races and at 
other times when permitted by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.

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 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.
    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.

4. 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).

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 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

[[Page 20441]]

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

8. Taking of Private Property

    This rule will 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 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

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

11. Indian Tribal Governments

    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.

12. Energy Effects

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

14. Environment

    We have analyzed this 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 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 established for the 
protection of spectators from the hazards associated with a personal 
watercraft race competition. This rule is categorically excluded from 
further review under paragraph 34(g) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant 
Instruction. A checklist and categorical exclusion determination will 
be provided in the docket accessible as indicated under ADDRESSES.

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. A new temporary section, Sec.  165.T08-0236, is added to read as 
follows:

Sec.  165.T08-0236  Safety Zone; Sabine River, Orange, TX.

    (a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of 
the Sabine River, shoreline to shoreline, adjacent to the Orange public 
boat ramps located in Orange, TX. The northern boundary is from the end 
of old Navy Pier One at 30[deg]05'50'' N. 93[deg]43'15'' W. then 
easterly to the rivers eastern shore. The southern boundary is a line 
shoreline to shoreline at latitude 30[deg]05'33'' N. (NAD83).
    (b) Effective dates and enforcement times. This rule is effective 
on May 30 and 31, 2015. This rule will be enforced from 8:30 a.m. until 
6:00 p.m. on May 30 and 31, 2015.
    (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in 
Sec.  165.23 of this part, no person or vessel may enter into or remain 
in the zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.
    (2) Persons or vessels requiring entry into or passage through the 
zone may contact the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur, or a designated 
representative. They may be contacted on VHF-FM Channels 16, or by 
phone at (409) 719-5070.
    (3) All persons and vessels shall comply with the instructions of 
the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur and designated on-scene U.S. Coast 
Guard patrol personnel. On-scene U.S. Coast Guard patrol personnel 
include commissioned, warrant, and petty officers of the U.S. Coast 
Guard.
    (d) Information Broadcasts. The Captain of the Port, Port Arthur or 
a designated representative will inform the public through broadcast 
notices to mariners of the enforcement period for the safety zone as 
well as any changes in the planned schedule.

    Dated: March 31, 2015.
R.S. Ogrydziak,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Port Arthur.
[FR Doc. 2015-08759 Filed 4-15-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P