Document ID: USCG-2018-0330-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Safety Zone; Appomattox River, Hopewell, VA
Posted Date: 2018-05-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 105 (Thursday, May 31, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24950-24952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11645]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2018-0330]
RIN 1625-AA00

Safety Zone; Appomattox River, Hopewell, VA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone 
for a marine event on the navigable waters of the Appomattox River at 
confluence with the James River in Hopewell, VA. This action is 
necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters 
in Hopewell, VA, during a fireworks display on June 30, 2018. This 
proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in 
the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Hampton 
Roads or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this 
proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before June 7, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0330 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email LCDR Barbara Wilk, Waterways 
Management Division Chief, Sector Hampton Roads, U.S. Coast Guard; 
telephone 757-668-5580, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On March 27, 2018, the Hopewell Recreation and Parks Department 
notified the Coast Guard that it will be conducting a fireworks display 
from approximately 9:30 to 9:45 p.m. on June 30, 2018, to serve as the 
city of Hopewell's Fourth of July celebration. The fireworks are to be 
launched from a barge in the Appomattox River near City Point. 
Potential hazards from firework displays include accidental discharge 
of fireworks, dangerous projectiles, and falling hot embers or other 
debris. The Captain of the Port Hampton Roads (COTP) has determined 
that potential hazards associated with the fireworks to be used in this 
display would be a safety concern for anyone within a 234-yard radius 
of the barge. The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of 
vessels and the navigable waters within a 234-yard radius of the 
fireworks barge before, during, and after the scheduled event. The 
Coast Guard proposes this

[[Page 24951]]

rulemaking under authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP proposes to establish a safety zone from 9 to 11 p.m. on 
June 30, 2018. The safety zone would cover all navigable waters within 
234 yards of a barge in the Appomattox River at approximate 
coordinates: 37[deg]18'52.20'' N, 077[deg]17'12.52'' W. The duration of 
the zone is intended to ensure the safety of vessels and these 
navigable waters before, during, and after the scheduled 9:30 to 9:45 
p.m. fireworks display. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter 
the safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a 
designated representative. The regulatory text we are proposing appears 
at the end of this document.

IV. 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 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 necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This NPRM has not been 
designated a ``significant regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 
12866. Accordingly, the NPRM 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-year of the safety zone. Vessel traffic 
will be able to safely transit around this safety zone which will 
impact a small designated area of the Appomattox River at confluence 
with the James River in Hopewell, VA, for 2 hours. Moreover, the Coast 
Guard will issue Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 
16 about the zone and the rule allows vessels to seek permission on-
scene 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 certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this 
proposed rule would 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 
IV.A above, this proposed rule would not have a significant economic 
impact on any vessel owner or operator.
    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.
    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. 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.

C. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 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. If 
you believe this proposed rule has implications for federalism or 
Indian tribes, please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT section.

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

F. Environment

    We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland 
Security Directive 023-01 and Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, which 
guide the Coast Guard in complying with the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (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 safety zone lasting 2 hours 
that would prohibit entry within 234 yards of a fireworks barge. 
Normally such actions are categorically excluded from further review 
under paragraph L60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 
023-01-001-01, Rev. 01. A preliminary Record of Environmental 
Consideration supporting this determination is 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.

G. 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

[[Page 24952]]

jeopardizing the safety or security of people, places, or vessels.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. 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.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, visit http://www.regulations.gov/privacyNotice.
    Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket, 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

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 proposes 
to amend 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, 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T05-0330 to read as follows:

Sec.  165.T05-0330  Safety Zone, Appomattox River; Hopewell, VA.

    (a) Definitions. The following definitions apply to this section: 
(1) Captain of the Port means the Commander, Sector Hampton Roads.
    (2) Representative means any Coast Guard commissioned, warrant or 
petty officer who has been authorized to act on the behalf of the 
Captain of the Port.
    (3) Participants mean individuals and vessels involved in the 
fireworks display.
    (b) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All navigable 
waters in the vicinity of the Appomattox River at confluence with the 
James River, within a 234 yard radius of the fireworks display barge in 
approximate position 37[deg]18'52.20'' N, 077[deg]17'12.52'' W. (NAD 
1983).
    (c) Regulations. (1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(4) of this 
section, all persons are required to comply with the general 
regulations governing safety zones of subpart C of this part.
    (2) With the exception of participants, entry into or remaining in 
this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the 
Port, Hampton Roads or his designated representatives. All vessels 
within this safety zone at the time it is implemented are to depart the 
zone immediately.
    (3) The Captain of the Port, Hampton Roads or his representative 
can be contacted at telephone number (757) 668-5555. The Coast Guard 
and designated security vessels enforcing the safety zone can be 
contacted on VHF-FM marine band radio channel 13 (165.65 Mhz) and 
channel 16 (156.8 Mhz), or by visual or verbal hailing on-scene.
    (4) This section does not apply to participants and vessels that 
are engaged in the following operations:
    (i) Enforcing laws;
    (ii) Servicing aids to navigation, and
    (iii) Emergency response vessels.

    Dated: May 24, 2018.
Richard J. Wester,
Captain of the Port, Hampton Roads.
[FR Doc. 2018-11645 Filed 5-30-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9110-04-P