Safety Zone, Chesapeake Bay; Cape Charles, VA, 34425-34427 [2014-14177]

Agencies

• Coast Guard
• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 116 (Tuesday, June 17, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34425-34427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14177]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2014-0298]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone, Chesapeake Bay; Cape Charles, VA

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary Final Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable 
waters of the Chesapeake Bay in Cape Charles, VA. This safety zone will 
restrict vessel movement in the specified area during the Virginia 
Chapter Young Presidents Organization and Cape Charles fireworks 
displays. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life 
and property on the surrounding navigable waters during the fireworks 
displays.

DATES: This rule is effective and will be enforced from 9:30 p.m. until 
10 p.m. on June 20, 2014 and August 2, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Documents mentioned in this preamble are part of docket 
[USCG-2014-0298]. To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type the 
docket number in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rulemaking. You may also 
visit the Docket Management Facility in Room W12-140 on the ground 
floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email LCDR Gregory Knoll, Waterways Management Division Chief, 
Sector Hampton Roads, Coast Guard; telephone (757) 668-5581, email 
Gregory.J.Knoll@uscg.mil. If you have questions on viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl Collins, Program 
Manager, Docket Operations, telephone (202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Acronyms

DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

A. Regulatory History and Information

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary final rule without prior 
notice and opportunity to comment pursuant to authority under section 
4(a) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)). This 
provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior written 
notice and opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds 
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to 
the public interest.'' Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds 
that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed 
rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because doing so will be 
unnecessary and contrary to the public interest. The enforcement of the 
safety zone will be brief in time and well-publicized, and the location 
is already used for other fireworks displays during the year as noted 
in 33 CFR 165.506(c). It is unnecessary to provide a comment period for 
the safety zone because the public is already aware of the impact that 
a limited duration safety zone has in the immediate area. Additionally, 
providing a comment period would be against the public interest because 
of the delay that providing for a comment period would cause. Delaying 
the public announcement of this safety zone would be detrimental to the 
protection of life and property because of how limited notice the 
public would receive about the safety zone. As a result, the public may 
not be aware of the safety zone and may be at risk for danger from 
falling debris and other hazards associated with fireworks in a marine 
environment. The Coast Guard received the applications for these two 
fireworks displays with short notice, both well after the specified 
deadline of 135 days prior to the event. As such, it is in the public 
interest to publish the final rule as soon as possible to provide for 
maximal advertisement of the rule. By removing the comment period, the 
rule will be published with much greater advanced notice, allowing the 
boating public to make plans to avoid the safety zone as needed.

B. Basis and Purpose

    Spectator vessels may gather nearby to view the fireworks displays. 
Due to the need for vessel control during the fireworks display, vessel 
traffic will be temporarily restricted to provide for the safety of 
participants, spectators and transiting vessels. Under provisions of 33 
CFR 165.506, during the enforcement period, vessels may not enter the 
regulated area unless they receive permission from the Coast Guard 
Patrol Commander.

C. Discussion of the Final Rule

    The Captain of the Port of Hampton Roads is establishing a safety 
zone on specified waters of the Chesapeake Bay within a 350 foot radius 
of the position: 37[deg]-15'-47'' N/076[deg]-01'-29'' W (NAD 1983), in 
the vicinity of Cape Charles, Virginia. This safety zone will be 
enforced on June 20, 2014 and August 2, 2014 between the hours of 9:30 
p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Access to the safety zone will be restricted during 
the specified dates and times.
    Except for vessels authorized by the Captain of the Port or his 
Representative, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the safety 
zone during the time frame listed. The Captain of the Port will give 
notice of the enforcement of the safety zone by all appropriate means 
to provide the widest dissemination of notice among the affected 
segments of the public. This will include publication in the Local 
Notice to Mariners and Marine Information Broadcasts.

[[Page 34426]]

D. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on these statutes and executive orders.

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This rule is not a significant regulatory action under section 3(f) 
of Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Planning and Review, as 
supplemented by Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and 
Regulatory Review, and does not require an assessment of potential 
costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of Executive Order 12866 or 
under section 1 of Executive Order 13563. The Office of Management and 
Budget has not reviewed it under those Orders. The primary impact of 
these regulations will be on vessels wishing to transit the affected 
waterways during the safety zone on the Chesapeake Bay in the vicinity 
of Cape Charles, VA from 9:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on June 20, 2014 
and August 2, 2014. Although these regulations prevent traffic from 
transiting a portion of the Chesapeake Bay during these events, that 
restriction is limited in duration, affects only a limited area, and 
will be well publicized to allow mariners to make alternative plans for 
transiting the affected area.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (RFA), 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 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 might 
be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to 
transit or anchor in waters of the Chesapeake Bay during the outlined 
timeframe.
    This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: (i) The 
safety zone will only be in place for a limited duration, and (ii) 
before the enforcement period, maritime advisories will be issued 
allowing mariners to adjust their plans accordingly.

3. 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. 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, 
above.
    Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal 
employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal 
regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory 
Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory 
Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and 
rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to 
comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 1-888-REG-FAIR 
(1-888-734-3247). The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small 
entities that question or complain about this rule or any policy or 
action of the Coast Guard.

4. Collection of Information

    This rule will not call for a new collection of information under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

5. Federalism

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

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

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

8. Taking of Private Property

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

9. 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.

10. 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 create an 
environmental risk to health or risk to safety that may 
disproportionately affect children.

11. Indian Tribal Governments

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

12. Energy Effects

    This action is not a ``significant energy action'' under Executive 
Order 13211, Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect 
Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use.

13. Technical Standards

    This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not 
consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

14. Environment

    We have analyzed this 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 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have determined 
that this action is one

[[Page 34427]]

of a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have 
a significant effect on the human environment. This rule involves the 
establishment of a safety zone. This rule is categorically excluded 
from further review under paragraph 34-g of Figure 2-1 of the 
Commandant Instruction. An environmental analysis checklist supporting 
this determination and a 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 rule.

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 amends 
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; 46 U.S.C. Chapter 701, 3306, 3703; 
50 U.S.C. 191, 195; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, 160.5; Pub. L. 
107-295, 116 Stat. 2064; Department of Homeland Security Delegation 
No. 0170.1.

0
2. Add Sec.  165.T05-0298 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T05-0298  Safety Zone, Chesapeake Bay; Cape Charles, VA

    (a) Definitions. For the purposes of this section, Captain of the 
Port means the Commander, Sector Hampton Roads. 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
    (b) Location. The following area is a safety zone: Specified waters 
of the Captain of the Port Sector Hampton Roads zone, as defined in 33 
CFR 3.25-10, in the vicinity of the Chesapeake Bay near Cape Charles, 
VA all waters within a 350 foot radius of 37[deg]-15'-47'' N/076[deg]-
01'-29'' W (NAD 1983).
    (c) Regulations. (1) In accordance with the general regulations in 
165.23 of this part, entry into this zone is prohibited unless 
authorized by the Captain of the Port, Hampton Roads or his designated 
representatives.
    (2) The operator of any vessel in the immediate vicinity of this 
safety zone shall:
    (i) Contact on scene contracting vessels via VHF channel 13 and 16 
for passage instructions.
    (ii) If on scene proceed as directed by any commissioned, warrant 
or petty officer on shore or on board a vessel that is displaying a 
U.S. Coast Guard Ensign.
    (3) The Captain of the Port, Hampton Roads can be reached through 
the Sector Duty Officer at Sector Hampton Roads in Portsmouth, Virginia 
at telephone number (757) 668-5555.
    (4) The Coast Guard Representatives enforcing the safety zone can 
be contacted on VHF-FM marine band radio channel 13 (165.65Mhz) and 
channel 16 (156.8 Mhz).
    (d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 9:30 
p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on June 20, 2014 and August 2, 2014.

    Dated: May 23, 2014.
John K. Little,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Hampton Roads.
[FR Doc. 2014-14177 Filed 6-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P