Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/09/2017-09368/special-local-regulations-safety-zones-recurring-marine-events-in-sector-columbia-river
Timestamp: 2018-08-15 11:41:25
Document Index: 636961055

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 100', 'art 165', '§\u2009100', '§\u2009165', '§\u2009100', '§\u2009100', 'art 100', 'art 165', 'arts 100', 'art 100', '§\u2009100', '§\u2009165']

A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard on 05/09/2017
Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before June 8, 2017.
82 FR 21495
2017-09368
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100 and Part 165
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-09368 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2017-09368
You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-2017-0224 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.
Swim events and marine events are held on an recurring basis on the navigable waters within the Coast Guard COTP Columbia River Zone. In the past, the Coast Guard established special local regulations with regulated areas and safety zones for these recurring events on a case by case basis to ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these events. The Coast Guard has not received public comments or concerns regarding the impact to waterway traffic from these annually recurring events.
This proposed rule would consistently apprise the public in a timely manner through permanent publication in Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The table in this proposed rule would list each annual recurring event requiring a regulated area as administered by the Coast Guard.
By establishing permanent regulations containing these events the Coast Guard would eliminate the need to establish temporary rules for events that occur on an annual basis and thereby limit the costs associated with cumulative regulations.
This rulemaking would remove, add, and consolidate regulations to better meet the Coast Guard's intended purpose of ensuring safety during these events. The Coast Guard proposes this rulemaking under authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231 and 1233.
The Coast Guard proposes to revise and rename 33 CFR 100.1302 to cover marine events within the Captain of the Port Zone Columbia River. We also propose to remove §§ 100.1303 (Annual Kennewick, Washington, Columbia Unlimited Hydroplane Races), 100.1305 (Richland, Washington, west coast outboard championship hydro races), 165.1341 (Portland Dragon Boat Races, Portland, OR), and 165.1342 (Annual Roy Webster Cross-Channel Swim, Columbia River, Hood River, OR).
These proposed changes will convert two existing safety zones (those currently in §§ 165.1341 and 165.1342) and temporary safety zones established annually for four events (The Big Float, Swim the Snake, Richland Regatta, and Columbia Crossing) into regulated areas in § 100.1302. This is intended to consolidate and simplify our existing special local regulations. We are removing the West Coast Outboard Championship Hydro races regulations in § 100.1305 because that race has not been held for a number of years.
By establishing a single permanent regulation containing these events, the Coast Guard will eliminate the need to establish temporary rules for events that occur on an annual basis. This provides opportunity for the public to comment while limiting the unnecessary burden of continually establishing temporary rules every year.
Additionally, this rule proposes to reorganize and consolidate existing Sector Columbia River COTP Zone marine event regulations in 33 CFR part 100 and marine event safety zones under 33 CFR part 165. This action will eliminate the burden and confusion caused by the current configuration of numerous individual regulations spread across two CFR parts.
As large numbers of spectator vessels and marine traffic are expected to congregate around the event location, the regulated areas are needed to protect both spectators and participants from the safety hazards associated with the event. During the enforcement period of the regulated areas, persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering, transiting through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within the zone unless specifically authorized by the COTP or the designated representative. The Coast Guard may be assisted by other Federal, Start Printed Page 21496State and local agencies in the enforcement of these regulated areas. These events are listed below in the text of the regulation.
The Coast Guard has previously promulgated special local regulations or safety zones, in 33 CFR parts 100 and 165, for all event areas contained within this proposed regulation and has not received notice of any negative impact caused by any of the safety zones or special local regulations. By establishing a permanent regulation containing all of these events, the Coast Guard will eliminate the need to establish individual temporary rules for each separate event that occurs on an annual basis, thereby limiting the costs of cumulative regulations.
Vessels will only be restricted from special local regulation areas for a short duration of time. Vessels may transit in portions of the affected waterway except for those areas covered by the proposed regulated areas. Notifications of exact dates and times of the enforcement period will be made through notices of enforcements published in the Federal Register. In addition, we will inform the local maritime community via the Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, or both. No new or additional restrictions would be imposed on vessel traffic.
While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the regulated areas 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.
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 (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 regulated areas for swim events and other marine events. Normally such actions are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 34(h) of Figure 2-1 of Commandant Instruction M16475.lD. A preliminary environmental analysis checklist and Categorical Exclusion Determination are 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.Start Printed Page 21497
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard proposes to amend 33 CFR part 100 and 165 as follows:
(b) PATCOM may control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area. When hailed or signaled by an official patrol vessel, a vessel shall come to an immediate stop and comply with the lawful directions issued. Failure to comply with a lawful direction may result in expulsion from the area, citation for failure to comply, or both.
1. First or second weekend in June Rose Fest Dragon Boat Races Portland-Kaohsiung Sister Association Portland, OR. Regulated area includes all waters of the Willamette River shore to shore, bordered on the north by the Hawthorne Bridge, and on the south by the Marquam Bridge.
2. One day in May or June Spring Testing Hydroplane races Tri-Cities Water Follies Association Kennewick, WA. Regulated area includes all navigable waters within the Columbia River in the vicinity of Columbia Park, commencing at the Interstate 395 Bridge and continuing up river approximately 2.0 miles and terminating at the northern end of Wade Island.
3. Second weekend in June Richland Regatta Hydroplane races Northwest Power Boat Association Richland, WA. Regulated area includes all navigable waters of the Columbia River in the vicinity of Howard Amon Park, between River Miles 337 and 338.
4. Last Tuesday through Sunday in July Kennewick Hydroplane Races Tri-Cities Water Follies Association Kennewick, WA. Regulated area includesall navigable waters within the Columbia River in the vicinity of Columbia Park, commencing at the Interstate 395 Bridge and continuing up river approximately 2.0 miles and terminating at the northern end of Wade Island.
5. One Saturday in July The Big Float, group inner-tube float Human Access Project Portland, OR. Regulated area includes all navigable waters of the Willamette River, in Portland, Oregon, enclosed by the Hawthorne Bridge, the Marquam Bridge, and west of a line beginning at the Hawthorne Bridge at approximate location 45°30′50″ N.; 122°40′21″ W., and running south to the Marquam Bridge at approximate location 45°30′27″ N.; 122°40′11″ W.
6. Second Saturday in August Swim the Snake Blue Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Perry, WA. Regulated area includes all navigable waters, bank-to-bank of the Snake River, 500 yards upstream and 500 yards downstream from the Washington State Highway 261 Bridge at the approximate position of 46°35′23″ N.; 118°13′10″ W.
7. Annually on Labor Day Roy Webster Cross Channel Swim Hood River County Chamber of Commerce Hood River, OR. Regulated area includes all waters of the Columbia River between River Mile 169 and River Mile 170.
8. First or second weekend in September Portland Dragon Boat Races DragonSports USA Portland, OR. Regulated area includes the western side of the Willamette River extending from Tom McCall Waterfront Park between the Hawthorne and Marquam Bridges, Portland, OR: line one starting at 45-30′49″ N./122-40′24″ W. then heading east to 45-30′49″ N./122-40′22″ W. then heading south to 45-30′29″ N./122-40′08″ W. then heading west to 45-30′26″ N./122-40′14″ W. then heading north ending at 45-30′49″ N./122-40′24″ W.
9. First Saturday after Labor Day weekend Columbia Crossing Swim 3 Rivers Road Runners Pasco, WA. Regulated area includes all navigable waters, bank-to-bank of the Columbia River in Pasco, Washington, between river mile 332 and river mile 335.
3. Remove §§ 100.1303 and 100.1305
5. Remove §§ 165.1341 and 165.1342
[FR Doc. 2017-09368 Filed 5-8-17; 8:45 am]