Safety Zone; Charles' Engagement Fireworks Display, Black Point, CT

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Temporary final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for a fireworks display located in Long Island Sound off shore of Black Point, CT. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in a portion of Long Island Sound.

DATES:

This rule is effective from 9:30 p.m. on June 7, 2002, until 10:30 p.m. on June 8, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket (CGD01-02-061) and are available for inspection or copying at Coast Guard Group/Marine Safety Office, 120 Woodward Ave., New Haven, CT 06512, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

BM2 R. L. Peebles, Marine Events Petty Officer, Coast Guard Group/MSO Long Island Sound at (203) 468-4408.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Regulatory Information

We did not publish a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) for this regulation. Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing an NPRM and for making the rule effective less than 30 days following publication. An NPRM was considered unnecessary because the fireworks display is a local event that will have minimal impact on the waterway. The zone is only in effect for one hour and vessels can be given permission to transit the zone during all but about 15 minutes of this time. Vessels may transit around the zone at all times. Additionally, vessels would not be precluded from mooring at or getting underway from commercial or recreational piers in the vicinity of the zone.

Background and Purpose

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the waters of Long Island Sound off shore of Black Point, CT. This safety zone encompasses all waters of Long Island Sound within an 800-foot radius of approximate position 41°17′50″ N, 072°12′06″ W (NAD 1983). The safety zone is intended to protect boaters from the hazards associated with fireworks launched from a barge in the area. This safety zone covers the minimum area needed and imposes the minimum restrictions necessary to ensure the protection of all vessels.

Discussion of Rule

The safety zone is for a fireworks display in Long Island Sound sponsored by Mr. Wade Thompson. The safety zone will be in effect from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on June 7, 2002. The safety zone encompasses all waters of Long Island Sound within an 800-foot radius of approximate position 41°17′50″ N, 072°12′06″ W (NAD 1983).

Public notifications will be made prior to the event via the Local Notice to Mariners and Marine Information Broadcasts. Marine traffic will be allowed to transit around the safety zone at all times. Vessels will not be precluded from mooring at or getting underway from recreational or commercial piers in the vicinity of the zone. No vessel may enter the safety zone without permission from the Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, 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).

The Coast Guard expects the economic impact of this temporary final rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10(e) of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary. This finding is based on the minimal time that vessels will be restricted from the zone, the opportunity for vessels to transit around the zone during the event, the ability of vessels to moor at or get underway from commercial or recreational piers in the vicinity of the zone, and the advance notifications that will be made.

The size of this safety zone was determined using National Fire Protection Association and the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound Standing Orders for 8-inch mortars fired from a barge combined with the Coast Guard's knowledge of tide and current conditions in the area.

Small Entities

Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), 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 a portion of Long Island Sound during the times this zone is activated.

This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: it is a local event with minimal impact on the waterway, vessels may still transit around the zone during the event, the zone is only in effect for one hour and vessels can be given permission to transit the zone except for all but about 15 minutes during this time. Additionally, vessels will not be precluded from mooring at or getting underway from commercial or recreational piers in the vicinity of the zone. Before the effective period, public notifications will be made via Local Notice to Mariners and Marine Information Broadcasts.

Assistance for Small Entities

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Public Law 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 the rule will affect your small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact BM2 Ryan Peebles, in the Operations at Coast Guard Group/Marine Safety Office Long Island Sound, CT, at (203) 468-4408.

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, Federalism, and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.

Unfunded Mandates

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 unfunded mandate 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.

Indian Tribal Governments

This rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments. A rule with tribal implications has 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.

Energy Effects

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use. We have determined that it is not a “significant energy action” under that order because it is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866 and is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the supply, distribution, or use of energy. It has not been designated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs as a significant energy action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects under Executive Order 13211.

Environment

The Coast Guard considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that under figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g), of Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This rule fits paragraph 34(g) as it establishes a safety zone. A “Categorical Exclusion Determination” is available in the docket for inspection or copying where indicated under ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165

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

Regulation

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard amends 33 CFR part 165 as follows:

Part 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

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(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

2. From 9:30 p.m. on June 7, 2002, until 10:30 p.m. on June 8, 2002, add temporary § 165.T01-061 to read as follows: