Document ID: USCG-2010-0383-0002
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Rule
Title: SNPRM:  Special Local Regulations for Marine Events: Patuxent River, Solomons, MD (Federal Register Publication)
Posted Date: 2010-07-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register: July 19, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 137)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 41789-41790]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19jy10-19]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket No. USCG-2010-0383]
RIN 1625-AA08

 
Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Patuxent River, 
Solomons, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This action is a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking 
(SNPRM) to the Coast Guard's June 10, 2010, notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed special local regulations for the 
``Chesapeake Challenge'' power boat races, a marine event to be held on 
the waters of the Patuxent River, near Solomons, MD on October 1, 2010. 
This supplemental proposal adds an additional date to the ``Chesapeake 
Challenge'' power boat racing on October 3, 2010. These special local 
regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on 
navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to 
temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Patuxent River 
during the event.

DATES: Comments and related material must either be submitted on or 
before August 18, 2010 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that 
date.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2010-0383 using any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail: 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.
    (4) Hand delivery: Same as mail address above, between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-366-9329.
    To avoid duplication, please use only one of these four methods. 
See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion of 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for instructions on 
submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call or e-mail Mr. Ronald Houck, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, MD; 
telephone 410-576-2674, e-mail Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. If you have 
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Renee 
V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket Operations, telephone 202-366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to respond to this notice 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.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice (USCG-2010-0383), 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 
(via 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 via 
http://www.regulations.gov, 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 e-mail 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, 
inserting USCG-2010-0383 in the ``Keyword'' box, and then clicking 
``Search.'' 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.

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, 
inserting USCG-2010-0383 in the ``Keyword'' box, and then clicking 
``Search.'' You

[[Page 41790]]

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. We have an 
agreement with the Department of Transportation to use the Docket 
Management Facility.

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).

Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one on or before the comment period ends using one of the 
four methods specified under ADDRESSES. Please explain why you believe 
a public meeting would be beneficial. If we determine that one would 
aid in solving this problem, we will hold one at a time and place 
announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

III. Background

    On June 10, 2010, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled ``Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Patuxent 
River, Solomons, MD'' in the Federal Register (75 FR 111). The NPRM 
stated that on October 3, 2010, the Chesapeake Bay Powerboat 
Association will sponsor power boat races on the Patuxent River near 
Solomons, MD. The event consists of offshore power boats racing in a 
counter-clockwise direction on a racetrack-type course located between 
the Governor Thomas Johnson Memorial (SR-4) Bridge and the U.S. Naval 
Air Station Patuxent River, MD. The start and finish lines will be 
located near the Solomon's Pier. A large spectator fleet is expected 
during the event. Due to the need for vessel control during the event, 
the Coast Guard will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in the event 
area to provide for the safety of participants, spectators and other 
transiting vessels. After the NPRM was published in the Federal 
Register, however, the Chesapeake Bay Powerboat Association submitted a 
revised Application for Approval of Marine Event (form CG-4423), 
notifying the Coast Guard on June 25, 2010 that they seek approval to 
conduct power boat races on the Patuxent River near Solomons, MD on 
October 1, 2010 and on October 3, 2010. The additional day of power 
boat racing in Maryland is due to the relocation of the Offshore 
Powerboat Association's 2010 World Championship event from Alabama in 
light of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

IV. Information Requested

    The Coast Guard proposes to establish temporary special local 
regulations on specified waters of the Patuxent River. The regulations 
will be in effect from 10 a.m. on October 1, 2010 until 6 p.m. on 
October 3, 2010. Enforcement of the special local regulations will be 
from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 1st and 3rd only. The public is 
invited to comment on all aspects of this proposed rule, especially the 
new effective dates. The regulated area is unchanged from the notice of 
proposed rulemaking. The regulated area is approximately 4,000 yards in 
length and 1,700 yards in width, includes all waters of the Patuxent 
River, within lines connecting the following positions: From latitude 
38[deg]19'45'' N, longitude 076[deg]28'06'' W, thence to latitude 
38[deg]19'24'' N, longitude 076[deg]28'30'' W, thence to latitude 
38[deg]18'32'' N, longitude 076[deg]28'14'' W; and from latitude 
38[deg]17'38'' N, longitude 076[deg]27'26'' W, thence to latitude 
38[deg]18'00'' N, longitude 076[deg]26'41'' W, thence to latitude 
38[deg]18'59'' N, longitude 076[deg]27'20'' W, located at Solomons, 
Maryland. The effect will be to restrict general navigation in the 
regulated area during the event. Spectator vessels will be allowed to 
view the event from a designated spectator area within the regulated 
area, located within a line connecting the following positions: 
Latitude 38[deg]19'14'' N, longitude 076[deg]28'16'' W, thence to 
latitude 38[deg]18'00'' N, longitude 076[deg]27'26'' W, thence to 
latitude 38[deg]18'02'' N, longitude 076[deg]27'20'' W, thence to 
latitude 38[deg]19'16'' N, longitude 076[deg]28'10'' W, thence to the 
point of origin at latitude 38[deg]19'14'' N, longitude 076[deg]28'16'' 
W. Spectator vessels viewing the event outside the regulated area may 
not block the navigable channel. Other vessels intending to transit the 
Patuxent River will be allowed to safely transit around the regulated 
area. These regulations are needed to control vessel traffic during the 
event to enhance the safety of participants, spectators and transiting 
vessels.
    This document is issued under authority of 33 U.S.C. 1233.

    Dated: July 7, 2010.
Mark P. O'Malley,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Baltimore, Maryland.
[FR Doc. 2010-17473 Filed 7-16-10; 8:45 am]
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