Document ID: USCG-2014-0110-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: NPRM:  Special Local Regulations: Low Country Splash, Wando River, Cooper River, and Charleston Harbor; Charleston, SC (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2014-03-21T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15712-15715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06268]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2014-0110
RIN 1625-AA08

Special Local Regulation; Low Country Splash, Wando River, Cooper 
River, and Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to issue a special local regulation 
on the waters of the Wando River, Cooper River, and Charleston Harbor 
in Charleston, SC during the Low Country Splash in Charleston, SC, on 
May 24, 2014, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. This special local regulation is 
necessary to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and the 
general public during the event. The special local regulation will 
temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Wando River and 
Charleston Harbor, preventing non-participant vessels from entering, 
transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated 
area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a 
designated representative.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before April 4, 2014. Requests for public meetings must be 
received by the Coast Guard by April 4, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number using 
any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:[sol][sol]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 Christopher Ruleman, Sector 
Charleston Office of Waterways Management, Coast Guard; telephone (843) 
740-3184, email Christopher.L.Ruleman@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

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:[sol][sol]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:[sol][sol]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:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov, type the

[[Page 15713]]

docket number USCG-2014-0110 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\1/2\ 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:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov, type the docket number USCG-2014-
0110 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 on or before 4 April, 2014, 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. 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 
proposed rule is to ensure safety of life on the navigable water of the 
United States during the Low Country Splash.

C. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    On Saturday, May 24, 2014, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. the Low Country 
Splash is scheduled to take place on the waters of the Wando River, 
Cooper River, and Charleston Harbor. The race will commence at Daniel 
Island Pier, transit south in the Wando River, crossing the 
navigational channel at Hobcaw Point and continue South into Charleston 
Harbor. The race will finish at Charleston Harbor Resort Marina. The 
event consists of a large number of swimmers. There will be safety 
vessels preceding the participating swimmers, and following the last 
participating swimmers. This event poses significant risks to 
participants, spectators, and the boating public because of the large 
number of swimmers and recreational vessels that are expected in the 
area of the event. The special local regulation is necessary to ensure 
the safety of participants, spectators, and vessels from the hazards 
associated with the event.
    The special local regulation will designate a temporary regulated 
area on the Wando River, Cooper River, and Charleston Harbor in 
Charleston, South Carolina. The special local regulation will be 
enforced from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. on May 24, 2014. Persons and vessels 
may not enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety 
zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a 
designated representative.
    Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, anchor in, 
or remain within the regulated area may contact the Captain of the Port 
Charleston 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 by the Captain of the Port Charleston or 
a designated representative, all persons and vessels receiving such 
authorization must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the 
Port Charleston or a designated representative. The Coast Guard will 
provide notice of the special local regulation by Local Notice to 
Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated 
representatives.

D. 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 proposed rule is not significant for 
the following reasons: (1) The special local regulations will be 
enforced for a maximum of 2 hours for only one day; (2) non-participant 
persons and vessels may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain 
within the regulated area during the enforcement periods if authorized 
by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative; 
(3) vessels not able to enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain 
within the regulated area without authorization from the Captain of the 
Port Charleston or a designated representative may operate in the 
surrounding areas during the enforcement period; and (4) the Coast 
Guard will provide advance notification of the special local regulation 
to the local maritime community by Local Notice to Mariners and 
Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

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. 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 proposed rule may affect the following entities, some of which 
may be small entities: the owner or operators of vessels intending to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
during the enforcement period. For the reasons discussed in 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

[[Page 15714]]

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 
section 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.

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 proposed 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 proposed rule is categorically excluded from further review under 
paragraph 34(h) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. 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

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

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1233.

0
2. Add a temporary Sec.  100.35T07-0110 to read as follows:

Sec.  100.35T07-0110  Special Local Regulation; Low Country Splash, 
Wando River, Cooper River, and Charleston Harbor, Charleston, SC.

    (a) Regulated Area. The following regulated area is established as 
a special local regulation. All waters within a moving zone, beginning 
at Daniel Island Pier in approximate position 32[deg]51[min]20[sec] N, 
079[deg]54[min]06[sec] W, South along the coast of Daniel Island, 
across the Wando River to Hobcaw Yacht Club, in approximate position 
32[deg]49'20'' N, 079[deg]53'49'' W, South along the coast of Mt. 
Pleasant, S.C., to Charleston Harbor Resort Marina, in approximate 
position 32[deg]47'20'' N, 079[deg]54'39'' W. There will be a temporary 
Channel Closer from approximately 0730 a.m. to 0815 a.m. on May 24, 
2014 between Wando River Terminal Buoy 3 (LLNR 3305), and Wando River 
Terminal Buoy 5 (LLNR 3315). The zone will at all times extend 75 yards 
both in front of the lead safety vessel preceding the first race 
participants; 75 yards behind the safety vessel trailing the last race 
participants; and at all times extending 100 yards on either side of 
participating race and safety vessels. Information regarding the 
identity of the lead safety vessel and the last safety vessel will be 
provided 2 days prior to the race via broadcast notice to mariners and 
marine safety information bulletins.
    (b) Definition. The term ``designated representative'' means Coast 
Guard

[[Page 15715]]

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 
Charleston in the enforcement of the regulated areas.
    (c) Regulations. (1) All persons and vessels, except those 
participating in the Low Country Splash or serving as safety vessels 
are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or 
remaining within the regulated area. Persons and vessels desiring to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
may contact the Captain of the Port Charleston 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 by the 
Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative, all 
persons and vessels receiving such authorization must comply with the 
instructions of the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated 
representative.
    (2) 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 Date. This rule will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 9 
a.m. May 24, 2014.

    Dated: March 4, 2014.
R.R. Rodriguez,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2014-06268 Filed 3-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P