
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 52 (Tuesday, March 18, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 15068-15071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05963]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2014-0108]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulations for Marine Events, Choptank River, 
Between Cambridge, MD and Trappe, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local 
regulations during the ``Choptank Bridge Swim'', a marine event to be 
held on the waters of the Choptank River between Cambridge, MD and 
Trappe, MD on May 10, 2014. These special local regulations are 
necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during 
the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel 
traffic in a portion of the Choptank River during the event.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before April 17, 2014. The Coast Guard anticipates that 
this proposed rule will be effective on May 10, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number using 
any one of the following methods:
    (1) Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
    (2) Fax: 202-493-2251.
    (3) Mail or Delivery: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. 
Department of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001. Deliveries 
accepted between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
federal holidays. The telephone number is 202-366-9329.
    See the ``Public Participation and Request for Comments'' portion 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for further instructions 
on submitting comments. To avoid duplication, please use only one of 
these three methods.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule, 
call or email Mr. Ronald Houck, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, MD; 
telephone 410-576-2674, email Ronald.L.Houck@uscg.mil. If you have 
questions on viewing or submitting material to the docket, call Cheryl 
Collings, 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. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We encourage you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
comments and related materials. All comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided.

1. Submitting comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
rulemaking, indicate the specific section of this document to which 
each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion or 
recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but 
please use only one of these means. If you submit a comment online, it 
will be considered received by the Coast Guard when you successfully 
transmit the comment. If you fax, hand deliver, or mail your comment, 
it will be considered as having been received by the Coast Guard when 
it is received at the Docket Management Facility. We recommend that you 
include your name and a mailing address, an email address, or a 
telephone number in the body of your document so that we can contact 
you if we have questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number [USCG-2014-0108] in the ``SEARCH'' box and click 
``SEARCH.'' Click on ``Submit a Comment'' on the line associated with 
this rulemaking.
    If you submit your comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them 
in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for 
copying and electronic filing. If you submit comments by mail and would 
like to know that they reached the Facility, please enclose a stamped, 
self-addressed

[[Page 15069]]

postcard or envelope. We will consider all comments and material 
received during the comment period and may change the rule based on 
your comments.

2. Viewing Comments and Documents

    To view comments, as well as documents mentioned in this preamble 
as being available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, 
type the docket number (USCG-2014-0108) 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.

3. Privacy Act

    Anyone can search the electronic form of comments received into any 
of our dockets by the name of the individual submitting the comment (or 
signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an association, 
business, labor union, etc.). You may review a Privacy Act notice 
regarding our public dockets in the January 17, 2008, issue of the 
Federal Register (73 FR 3316).

4. Public Meeting

    We do not now plan to hold a public meeting. But you may submit a 
request for one, using one of the methods specified under ADDRESSES. 
Please explain why you believe a public meeting would be beneficial. If 
we determine that one would aid this rulemaking, we will hold one at a 
time and place announced by a later notice in the Federal Register.

B. Regulatory History and Information

    The current regulations under 33 CFR part 100 address safety for 
reoccurring marine events. This marine event does not appear in the 
current regulations; however, as it is a regulation to provide 
effective control over regattas and marine parades on the navigable 
waters of the United States so as to insure safety of life in the 
regatta or marine parade area, this marine event therefore needs to be 
temporarily added.

C. Basis and Purpose

    The legal basis for the rule is the Coast Guard's authority to 
establish special local regulations: 33 U.S.C. 1233. The purpose of the 
rule is to ensure safety of life on navigable waters of the United 
States during the Choptank Bridge Swim event.

D. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    On May 10, 2014, The Columbia Triathlon Association, Inc. of 
Columbia, Maryland, is sponsoring the inaugural ``Choptank Bridge 
Swim'' across the Choptank River between Cambridge, MD and Trappe, MD. 
The event will occur from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Approximately 250 
swimmers will compete on a 3.6-mile and 1.6-mile endurance open water 
courses. For the 1.6 mile swim, participants will start at the Choptank 
River Fishing Pier State Park on the Talbot County side of the Choptank 
River and swim between the Choptank River Bridge and the Choptank River 
Fishing Pier, finishing on the beach at the Dorchester County Visitor's 
Center. Swimmers participating in the longer 3.6 mile swim will begin 
on the beach at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge (south side of the 
river), swim 2 miles north across the river to the Choptank River 
Fishing Pier State Park, and then follow the 1.6 mile course between 
the Choptank River Bridge and the Choptank River Fishing Pier, 
finishing on the beach at the Dorchester County Visitor's Center. The 
inaugural Choptank Bridge Swim is sanctioned by the World Open Water 
Swimming Association. Participants will be supported by sponsor-
provided watercraft. The swim course will impede the federal navigation 
channel.
    The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations on 
specified waters of the Choptank River. The regulations will be 
enforced from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 10, 2014. The regulated area 
includes all waters of Choptank River, from shoreline to shoreline, 
within and area bounded on the east by a line drawn from latitude 
38[deg]35'13'' N, longitude 076[deg]02'33'' W, thence south to latitude 
38[deg]33'50'' N, longitude 076[deg]02'07'' W, and bounded on the west 
by a line drawn from latitude 38[deg]35'37'' N, longitude 
076[deg]03'09'' W, thence south to latitude 38[deg]34'25'' N, longitude 
076[deg]04'05'' W, located at Cambridge, MD.
    The effect of this proposed rule will be to restrict general 
navigation in the regulated area during the event. Vessels intending to 
transit the Choptank River through the regulated area will be allowed 
to safely transit the regulated area only when the Coast Guard Patrol 
Commander has deemed it safe to do so. The Coast Guard will temporarily 
restrict vessel traffic in the event area to provide for the safety of 
participants, spectators and other transiting vessels. The Coast Guard 
will provide notice of the special local regulations by Local Notice to 
Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and the official patrol on 
scene.

E. Regulatory Analyses

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

1. Regulatory Planning and Review

    This proposed 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 economic impact of this rulemaking is not significant for the 
following reasons: (1) The special local regulations will be enforced 
for only 6 hours; (2) the regulated area has been narrowly tailored to 
impose the least impact on general navigation, yet provide the level of 
safety deemed necessary; (3) although the regulated area applies to the 
entire width of the Choptank River, persons and vessels will be able to 
transit safely through a portion of the regulated area once the last 
participant has cleared that portion of the regulated area and when the 
Coast Guard Patrol Commander deems it safe to do so; and (4) the Coast 
Guard will provide advance notification of the special local 
regulations to the local maritime community by Local Notice to Mariners 
and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

2. Impact on Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
considered the impact of this proposed rule on small entities. The 
Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule 
will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities.
    This rulemaking may affect the following entities, some of which 
may be small entities: The owners or operators of vessels intending to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within that portion of the 
Choptank River encompassed within the special local regulations from 9 
a.m. to 3 p.m. on May 10, 2014. For the reasons discussed in the 
Regulatory Planning and Review section above, this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact

[[Page 15070]]

on a substantial number of small entities.
    If you think that your business, organization, or governmental 
jurisdiction qualifies as a small entity and that this proposed rule 
would have a significant economic impact on it, please submit a comment 
(see ADDRESSES) explaining why you think it qualifies and how and to 
what degree this rulemaking would economically affect it.

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 proposed rule. If the rulemaking 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. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against 
small entities that question or complain about this proposed rule or 
any policy or action of the Coast Guard.

4. Collection of Information

    This proposed 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 proposed rule under that Order and 
determined that this rulemaking 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 
INFORMATON 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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this 
rulemaking elsewhere in this preamble.

8. Taking of Private Property

    This proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 from Environmental Health Risks

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

11. Indian Tribal Governments

    This proposed rule does not have tribal implications under 
Executive Order 13175, Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, because it would 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 proposed rule 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 proposed rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we 
did not consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

14. Environment

    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 (NEPA)(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 special 
local regulations issued in conjunction with a regatta or marine 
parade. This rulemaking is categorically excluded from further review 
under paragraph 34(h) of Figure 2-1 of the Commandant Instruction. A 
preliminary 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 proposed rule.

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 proposes 
to amend 33 CFR part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

0
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  33 U.S.C. 1233.
0
2. Add a temporary section, Sec.  100.35-T05-0108 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.35-T05-0108  Special Local Regulations for Marine Events, 
Choptank River; Between Cambridge, MD and Trappe, MD.

    (a) Regulated area. The following location is a regulated area: All 
waters of the Choptank River, from shoreline to shoreline, within and 
area bounded on the east by a line drawn from latitude 38[deg]35'13'' 
N, longitude 076[deg]02'33'' W, thence south to latitude 38[deg]33'50'' 
N, longitude 076[deg]02'07'' W, and bounded on the west by a line drawn 
from latitude 38[deg]35'37'' N, longitude 076[deg]03'09'' W, thence 
south to latitude 38[deg]34'25'' N, longitude 076[deg]04'05'' W, 
located at Cambridge, MD. All coordinates reference Datum NAD 1983.
    (b) Definitions: (1) Coast Guard Patrol Commander means a 
commissioned, warrant, or petty officer of the U.S. Coast Guard who has 
been designated by the Commander, Coast Guard Sector Baltimore.
    (2) Official Patrol means any vessel assigned or approved by 
Commander,

[[Page 15071]]

Coast Guard Sector Baltimore with a commissioned, warrant, or petty 
officer on board and displaying a Coast Guard ensign.
    (3) Participant means all persons and vessels participating in the 
Choptank Bridge Swim event under the auspices of the Marine Event 
Permit issued to the event sponsor and approved by Commander, Coast 
Guard Sector Baltimore.
    (c) Special local regulations: (1) The Coast Guard Patrol Commander 
may forbid and control the movement of all vessels and persons in the 
regulated area. When hailed or signaled by an official patrol, a vessel 
or person in the regulated area shall immediately comply with the 
directions given. Failure to do so may result in expulsion from the 
area, citation for failure to comply, or both.
    (2) With the exception of participants, all persons desiring to 
transit the regulated area must first obtain authorization from the 
Captain of the Port Baltimore or his designated representative. To seek 
permission to transit the area, the Captain of the Port Baltimore and 
his designated representatives can be contacted at telephone number 
410-576-2693 or on Marine Band Radio, VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz). 
All Coast Guard vessels enforcing this regulated area can be contacted 
on marine band radio VHF-FM channel 16 (156.8 MHz).
    (3) The Coast Guard Patrol Commander may terminate the event, or 
the operation of any participant in the event, at any time it is deemed 
necessary for the protection of life or property.
    (4) The Coast Guard will publish a notice in the Fifth Coast Guard 
District Local Notice to Mariners and issue a marine information 
broadcast on VHF-FM marine band radio announcing specific event date 
and times.
    (d) Enforcement period: This section will be enforced from 9 a.m. 
to 3 p.m. on May 10, 2014.

    Dated: February 28, 2014.
Kevin C. Kiefer,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Baltimore.
[FR Doc. 2014-05963 Filed 3-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


