OPSAIL 2000, Port of San Juan, PR

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary regulations in the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico for OPSAIL 2000 activities from 17 May through 29 May 2000. The Coast Guard is establishing temporary limited access areas and Special Local Regulations to control vessel traffic within the Port of San Juan during this event. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during OPSAIL 2000. This action will restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Port of San Juan during specific time periods.

DATES:

This rule becomes effective at 9 p.m. Atlantic Standard Time (AST) on May 17, 2000, and terminates at 6 p.m. AST on May 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of the docket CGD707-00-014 and are available for inspection or copying at the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office San Juan, Puerto Rico, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Marine Safety Office San Juan Puerto Rico is located in the Rodriguez & Del Valle Building, 4th Floor, Calle San Martin, Carr #2 km 4.9, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico 00968.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lieutenant Commander Robert Le Fevers, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Office, San Juan at (787) 706-2440, between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

On January 13, 2000, we published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANRPM) (65 FR 2095), and on March 29, 2000 we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register (65 FR 16554) titled OPSAIL 2000, Port of San Juan, PR. We received no comments during the comment period for the ANPRM and two comments during the comment period for the NPRM. No public hearing was requested and none was held.

Under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard certifies that good cause exists from making these regulations effective less than 30 days after Federal Register publication. There was not sufficient time remaining for a full 30-day delayed effective date after the comment period for the ANPRM and NPRM. Furthermore, the event is very highly publicized.

Background and Purpose

These temporary regulations are for OPSAIL 2000 events in the Port of San Juan, in San Juan Puerto Rico. These events will be held from May 17 through May 29, 2000, and the Coast Guard estimates many spectator craft and commercial vessels will be in the area during that period. This rule is proposed to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters and to promote maritime safety and protect participants and the Port of San Juan during this event. The restrictions stated for the regulated areas will be enforced at various times throughout the official Opsail 2000 event from May 17-29, 2000.

Discussion of Rule

These regulations create temporary anchorage regulations and vessel movement controls. Special local regulations will be in effect for San Juan Bay including the waterways and adjacent piers along the Bar Channel, Anegado Channel, San Antonio Channel, Graving Dock Channel, Army Terminal Channel and Puerto Nuevo Channel for the period beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday, May 17 and ending at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 29. The safety of parade participants and spectators will require that spectator craft including, but not limited to, jet skis and sail boards be kept at a safe distance from participating tall ships while the vessels are in the harbor, whether moving, anchored, or tied up at their respective piers. The Bar Channel will be closed to inbound and outbound traffic to San Juan Harbor from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 29 during the Parade of Sail. No vessel will be permitted to transit the entrance channel during that time without permission from the Captain of the Port. This is required to ensure the safety of Tall Ships during the Parade of Sail event. Vessel movements inside the Port of San Juan will be prohibited from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on May 29, 2000, except Tall Ships departing for the Parade of Sail, Law Enforcement Patrol vessels, and the Puerto Rico Ports Authority ferries. This is required to ensure the safety of participating Tall Ships as they queue up to depart San Juan Bay during the Parade of Sail. The San Juan Harbor entrance must be kept clear to ensure safety of participant vessels. Normal commercial vessel operations will resume within the harbor from noon to 6 p.m., and through the harbor entrance after all participant vessels have cleared the harbor.

These regulations establish multiple limited access areas and temporarily modify existing anchorage areas within the port area to provide for maximum spectator viewing areas and traffic patterns for deep draft and barge traffic.

The Parade of Sail route will extend from the EL MORRO Fortress, coastwise to Boca de Cangrejos Inlet where participants will turn to the west, set sail, and return to EL MORRO. The safety of parade participants and spectators will require that spectator craft including jet skis and sail boards be kept at a minimum of 300 yards from parade vessels while the vessels are in the parade route.

The vessel congestion due to the large number of participating and spectator vessels poses a significant threat to the safety of life. This rulemaking is necessary to ensure the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

The Coast Guard received two comments during the comment period. Both comments requested that the beginning of the enforcement periods on May 29, 2000, be changed from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively, so commercial vessels can be moved through the harbor prior to the regulations taking effect. The Coast Guard decided not to change the time of the regulations but advised that the regulations as written permit vessels to move through the regulated areas with the permission of the Patrol Commander. Moreover, the Coast Guard plans to meet again with commercial maritime interests to coordinate requested harbor transits prior to and during the early stages of the port closure.

Regulated Areas

Three regulated areas will be established in the Port of San Juan. These three regulated areas are needed to protect the maritime public and participating vessels from possible hazards to navigation associated with the large number of participant and spectator craft transiting the waters of the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Regulated Area A is in the proximity of the fireworks launch area at the point of Isla Grande. This regulated area will be in effect from 9 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily from 17 May to 29 May 2000. An area within a 300 yard radius around the point of Isla Grande will be kept clear for the duration of the fireworks display. Vessel traffic movements through the regulated area will be coordinated by the Patrol Commander to avoid conflict with the daily fireworks.

Regulated Area B covers all navigable channels within San Juan Bay and their adjacent piers from 7 a.m. until 12 noon on Monday, May 29, 2000. No vessels other than OPSAIL 2000 vessels, their assisting tugs, and enforcement vessels, may enter or navigate within the boundaries of the Port of San Juan unless specifically authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, San Juan, or his on-scene representative. The operation of seaplanes, including taxiing, landing, and taking off, is prohibited without prior written authorization from the Captain of the Port. The Catano Ferry will continue to operate on its established route during this time. This regulated area is necessary to ensure maritime safety and protect the boating public and the participating Tall Ships as the Tall Ships form up in order during the Outbound Parade of Sail.

Regulated Area C comprises the Parade of Sail route. No vessel will be permitted to transit the Bar Channel to enter or depart San Juan Bay from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2000 without the consent of the Captain of the Port or his on-scene representative. The Parade of Sail route will encompass an area starting at the Northeast point of Isla Las Cabras extending north to the Three Nautical Mile line then east to a point north of Boca de Congrejos then south to the twenty fathom line just north of Boca de Congrejos, then west to the Northeast point of Isla Las Cabras. A line of anchored official yachts will mark the southern portion of this parade of sail route. The safety of parade participants and spectators will require that spectator craft including jet skis and sail boards be kept at a minimum of 300 yards from parade vessels while the vessels are in the parade route.

Regulated Area D comprises Bar Channel, the entrance to San Juan Harbor. No vessel will be permitted to transit the Bar Channel to enter or depart san Juan harbor from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, May 29, 2000, without the consent of the Captain of the Port or his on-scene representative.

Anchorage Regulations

These regulations also establish temporary Anchorage Regulations for participating OPSAIL 2000 vessels and spectator craft. The Anchorage Grounds are needed to provide viewing areas for spectator vessels while maintaining a clear parade route for the participating OPSAIL vessels and to protect boaters and spectator vessels. Rule 9 of the International Navigation Rules will be enforced. No vessel may anchor in any channel or otherwise impede the passage of a vessel, which can safely navigate only within a narrow channel or fairway. The Catano Ferry will continue to operate on its established route at all times. Spectator vessels will not anchor within 100 yards of the Catano Ferry route. The Catano Ferry route is defined by a line from the Catano Ferry pier at Punta Catano to pier two.

The following temporary anchorage regulations will be enforced, in addition to the existing anchorage regulations at 33 CFR 110.240, between 19 May and 29 May, 2000:

Anchorage “El Morro” (M)—Official Vessel Anchorage—Anchorage Permit Required. Temporary Anchorage M is a triangular area bounded by a line starting at 18-28.0N, 066-07.5W then southeast to 18-27.92N, 066-07.21w, then south to 18-27.65N, 066-07.15W, then to the starting point.

Anchorage “Catano” (C)—Spectator Anchorage—No Permit Required. Temporary anchorage area C is rectangular area near Catano bounded by a line starting at 18-27N, 066-07W, then south to 18-26.7N, 066-07W, then west to 18-26.7N, 066-07.55W, then north to 18-27N, 066-07.55W, then east to the starting point.

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 proposed rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. Although the Coast Guard anticipates restricting traffic in San Juan Harbor on Monday, May 29, 2000 during the events, the effect of this regulation will not be significant for the following reasons: the limited duration that the regulated areas will be in effect and the extensive advance notifications that will be made to the maritime community via the Federal Register, the Local Notice to Mariners, facsimile, the internet, marine information broadcasts, maritime association meetings, and San Juan area newspapers, so mariners can adjust their plans accordingly. Based upon the Coast Guard's experiences learned from previous events of a similar magnitude, these regulations have been narrowly tailored to impose the least impact on maritime interests yet provide the level of safety deemed necessary.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), we must consider whether this rule would have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. “Small entities” include 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. For the reasons discussed in the Regulatory Evaluation section above, 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.

This rule would affect the following entities, some of which might be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in portions of San Juan Harbor during May 29, 2000. These regulations would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. Before the effective period, the Coast Guard would make notifications to the public via mailings, facsimiles, the Local Notice to Mariners and use of the sponsors Internet site. In addition, the sponsoring organization, OPSAIL Inc., is planning to publish information of the event in local newspapers, pamphlets, and television and radio broadcasts.

Assistance for Small Entities

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 so that they can better evaluate its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking. If you are a small entity and believe 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 Coast Guard point of contact designated in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

Collection of Information

This rule would call for no new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

Federalism

The Coast Guard has analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and has 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 would not impose an unfunded mandate.

Taking of Private Property

This rule would 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 E.O. 12988, Civil Justice Reform, to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and reduce burden.

Protection of Children

The Coast Guard has 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 action and have determined under figure 2-1, paragraph 34 (f and h), of Commandant Instruction M16475.lC; that 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 the event, this rule is intended to minimize environmental impacts from increased vessel traffic during the parade of sail.

List of Subjects

33 CFR Part 100

• Marine safety
• Navigation (water)
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
• Waterways

33 CFR Part 110

• Anchorage grounds

In consideration of the foregoing, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR Parts 100, and 110 as follows:

PART 100—[AMENDED]

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

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233, 49 CFR 1.46, and 33 CFR 100.35.

2. Temporary § 100.35T-07-014 is added as follows:

PART 110—[AMENDED]

3. The authority for Part 110 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 33 U.S.C. 471, 1221 through 1236, 2030, 2035, and 2071; 49 CFR 1.46, and 33 CFR 1.05-1(g).

4. In § 110.240, from 9 p.m. on May 17, 2000 through 6 p.m. on May 29, 2000, temporary new paragraphs (a)(3) and (a)(4) and (b)(3) and (b)(4) are added to read as follows: