Document ID: USCG-2020-0459-0003
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: Safety Zone: Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, CNMI
Posted Date: 2021-01-21T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 12 (Thursday, January 21, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6247-6249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01084]

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

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2020-0459]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, CNMI

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a annually recurring safety 
zone for navigable waters within Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. This safety 
zone will encompass the designated swim course for the Escape from 
Managaha swim event in the waters of Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This action is necessary 
to protect all persons and vessels participating in this marine event 
from potential safety hazards associated with vessel traffic in the 
area. Race participants, chase boats, and organizers of the event will 
be exempt from the safety zone. Entry of persons or vessels into the 
safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port 
(COTP) Guam.

DATES: This rule is effective February 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2020-0459 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 on this rule, 
call or email Chief Petty Officer Robert Davis, Sector Guam, U.S. Coast 
Guard, by telephone at (671) 355-4866, or email at WWMGuam@uscg.mil.

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

    The purpose of this rule is to ensure the safety of the 
participants and the navigable waters in the safety zone before, 
during, and after the scheduled swim event. In response, on November 
20, 2020, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) titled Safety Zone; Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, CNMI (85 FR 74304-
74306). There we stated why we issued the NPRM, and invited comments on 
our proposed regulatory action related to this safety zone. During the 
comment period that ended December 21, 2020, we received no comments.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under its authority in 46 
U.S.C 70034 (previously 33 U.S.C. 1231). The Captain of the Port (COTP) 
Guam has determined that potential hazards exist, and the purpose of 
this rule is to protect all persons and vessels participating in this 
marine event from potential safety hazards associated with vessel 
traffic in the area.

IV. Discussion of Comments, Changes, and the Rule

    As noted above, we received no comments on our NPRM published 
November 20, 2020. There are no changes in the regulatory text of this 
rule from the proposed rule in the NPRM.
    This rule establishes a annual recurring safety zone from 5:00 a.m. 
until 8:30 a.m. on a Saturday or Sunday between February and April. The 
safety zone will cover all navigable waters within 100-yard radius of 
race participants in Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. This rulemaking would 
prohibit persons and vessels not involved in the event from being in 
the safety zone unless authorized by the COTP or a designated 
representative.

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

[[Page 6248]]

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 the size, 
location, duration, and time-of-day of the safety zone. Vessel traffic 
will be able to safely transit around this safety zone, which will 
impact a small designated area of Tanapag Harbor for 3.5 hours. 
Moreover, the Coast Guard will issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners via 
VHF-FM marine channel 16 about the zone, and the rule allows vessels to 
seek permission to enter the zone.

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 00 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 
call or email 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 Order 
13132.
    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.

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, Rev. 1, associated implementing instructions, and 
Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 (series), which guide the Coast 
Guard in complying with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969(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 lasting 3.5 hours that will prohibit entry within 100-yards 
of swim participants. 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. 1. A Record of Environmental Consideration 
supporting this determination is available in the docket. For 
instructions on locating the docket, see the ADDRESSES section of this 
preamble.

G. Protest Activities

    The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. 
Protesters are asked to call or email 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--SAFETY ZONE; TANAPAG HARBOR, SAIPAN, CNMI

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

    Authority:  46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051; 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.  165.1417 to read as follows:

165.1417   Safety Zone; Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, CNMI.

    (a) Location. The following area, within the Guam Captain of the 
Port (COTP) Zone (See 33 CFR 3.70-15), all navigable waters within a 
100-yard radius of race participants for Escape for Managaha Swim in 
Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. Race participants, chase boats, and organizers 
of the event will be exempt from the safety zone.
    (b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative 
means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain, 
petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a

[[Page 6249]]

Federal, State, and local officer designated by or assisting the 
Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Guam in the enforcement of the safety 
zone.
    (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in 
section Sec.  165.23, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within this 
safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or a designated 
on-scene representative.
    (2) This safety zone is closed to all persons and vessel traffic, 
except as may be permitted by the COTP or a designated on-scene 
representative.
    (3) The ``on-scene representative'' of the COTP is any Coast Guard 
commissioned, warrant, or petty officer who has been designated by the 
COTP to act on his or her behalf.
    (4) Persons and Vessel operators desiring to enter or operate 
within the safety zone must contact the COTP or an on-scene 
representative to obtain permission to do so. The COTP or an on-scene 
representative may be contacted via VHF Channel 16. Vessel operators 
given permission to enter or operate in the safety zone must comply 
with all directions given to them by the COTP or an on-scene 
representative.
    (d) Enforcement period. This safety zone will be enforced at a 
specified date between February and April. The Coast Guard will provide 
advance notice of enforcement and a broadcast notice to mariners to 
inform public of specific date.

    Dated: January 12, 2021.
Christopher M. Chase,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Guam.
[FR Doc. 2021-01084 Filed 1-19-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P