Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Michelob Championship at Kingsmill Fireworks Display, James River, Williamsburg, Virginia

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is adopting temporary special local regulations during the Michelob Championship at Kingsmill fireworks display, to be held October 3, 2000, over the waters of the James River, Williamsburg, Virginia. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the James River during the event.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 8:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on October 3, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and materials received from the public as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket CGD05-00-041 and are available for inspection or copying at Commander (Aoax), Fifth Coast Guard District, 431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Chief Petty Officer A. Walther, Marine Events Coordinator, Commander, Coast Guard Group Hampton Roads, 4000 Coast Guard Blvd., Portsmouth, VA 23703-2199, (757) 483-8567.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

A notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was not published for this regulation. In keeping with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a NPRM. The Coast Guard received confirmation of the request for special local regulations on August 8, 2000. We were notified of the event with insufficient time to publish a NPRM, allow for comments, and publish a final rule prior to the event.

Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. We had insufficient time to prepare and publish this rule in the Federal Register 30 days in advance of the event. To delay the effective date of the rule would be contrary to the public interest since a timely rule is necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with the fireworks display.

Background and Purpose

The Michelob Championship at Kingsmill is sponsoring a fireworks display, to be held October 3, 2000, over the waters of the James River, Williamsburg, Virginia. The event will consist of pyrotechnic displays fired from a barge positioned near the Kingsmill Conference Center. A fleet of spectator vessels is anticipated. Due to the need for vessel control during the fireworks displays, vessel traffic will be temporarily restricted to provide for the safety of spectators and transiting vessels.

Discussion of Regulations

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations on specified waters of the James River. The temporary special local regulations will be in enforced from 8:45 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. on October 3, 2000 and will restrict general navigation in the regulated area during the event. Except for persons or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area. These regulations are needed to control vessel traffic during the fireworks display to enhance the safety of spectators and transiting vessels.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and does not require an assessment of potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order. The Office of Management and Budget has not reviewed it under that Order. It is not significant under the regulatory policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26, 1979).

We expect the economic impact of this temporary final rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

Although this regulation prevents traffic from transiting a portion of the James River during the event, the effect of this regulation will not be significant due to the limited duration of the regulation and the extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime community via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), we considered whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 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 rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This rule will affect the following entities, some of which may be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in the effected portions of the James River during the event.

Although this regulation prevents traffic from transiting or anchoring in a portion of the James River during the event, the effect of this regulation will not be significant because of its limited duration and the extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime community via the Local Notice to Mariners, marine information broadcasts, and area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly.

Collection of Information

This rule calls for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

Federalism

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those costs. This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate.

Taking of Private Property

This rule will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking implications under Executive Order 12630, Governmental Actions and Interference with Constitutionally Protected Property Rights.

Civil Justice Reform

This 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.

Protection of Children

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13045, Protection of Children from Environmental Health Risks and Safety Risks. This rule is not an economically significant rule and does not concern an environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may disproportionately affect children.

Environment

We considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraphs (34)(g), of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. A “Categorical Exclusion Determination” is available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES. By controlling vessel traffic during these events, this rule is intended to minimize environmental impacts of increased vessel traffic during the event.

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 amends 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100—[AMENDED]

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

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233 through 1236; 49 CFR 1.46; 33 CFR 100.35.

2. A temporary section, § 100.35-T05-041 is added to read as follows: