
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14439-14441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-05547]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2017-0021]
RIN 1625-AA-08


Safety Zone; Cooper River Bridge Run, Cooper River and Town Creek 
Reaches, Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Temporary final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the waters of 
the Cooper River and Town Creek Reaches in Charleston, South Carolina

[[Page 14440]]

during the Cooper River Bridge Run. The Cooper River Bridge Run is a 
10-K run across the Arthur Ravenel Bridge. The safety zone is necessary 
for the safety of event participants, spectators, and vessels 
transiting the navigable waters of the Cooper River and Town Creek 
Reaches during this event. This regulation prohibits persons and 
vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining 
within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port 
Charleston or a designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on April 1, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being 
available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-
2017-0021 in the ``SEARCH'' box and click ``SEARCH.'' Click on Open 
Docket Folder on the line associated with this rule.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this rule 
call or email Lieutenant Commander John Downing, Sector Charleston 
Office of Waterways Management, Coast Guard; telephone (843) 740-3184, 
email John.Z.Downing@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
E.O. Executive order
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Pub. L. Public Law
Sec.  Section
U.S.C. United States Code
COTP Captain of the Port

II. Background Information and Regulatory History

    The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary 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 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 insufficient time remains to publish 
an NPRM and to receive public comments, as the Cooper River Bridge Run 
event will occur before the rulemaking process would be completed. 
Because of the dangers posed by the proximity of the proposed run track 
to the navigable waters of the Cooper River and Town Creek Reaches 
impacted by this event, the safety zone is necessary to provide for the 
safety of event participants, spectators, and vessels transiting the 
event area. For those reasons, it would be impracticable and contrary 
to the public interest to publish an NPRM.
    For the reason discussed above, 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.

III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule

    The legal basis for this rule is the Coast Guard's authority to 
establish regulated safety zones and other limited access areas is 33 
U.S.C. 1231. The purpose of the rule is to ensure the safety of the 
runners, the general public, vessels and the navigable waters during 
the Cooper River Bridge Run.

IV. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a safety zone on the waters of the Cooper 
River and Town Creek Reaches in Charleston, South Carolina during the 
Cooper River Bridge Run. The race is scheduled to take place from 7:30 
a.m.10:30 a.m. on April 1, 2017. Approximately 40,000 runners are 
anticipated to participate in the race. Persons and vessels desiring to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone may 
contact the Captain of the Port Charleston by telephone at (843) 740-
7050, or a designated representative via VHF radio on channel 16, to 
request authorization. If authorization to enter, transit through, 
anchor in, or remain within the safety zone is granted by the Captain 
of the Port Charleston or a designated representative, all persons and 
vessels receiving such authorization must comply with the instructions 
of the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative. 
The Coast Guard will provide notice of the safety zone by Local Notice 
to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated 
representatives.

V. Regulatory Analyses

    We developed this rule after considering numerous statutes and 
Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analyses 
based on a number of these statutes and Executive orders, and we 
discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    E.O.s 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the costs and 
benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is 
necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits. 
E.O.13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and 
benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting 
flexibility. This rule has not been designated a ``significant 
regulatory action,'' under E.O. 12866. Accordingly, the rule has not 
been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. 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 economic impact of this rule is not significant for the 
following reasons: (1) The safety zone will only be enforced for a 
total of three hours; (2) although persons and vessels may not enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone without 
authorization from the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated 
representative, they may operate in the surrounding area during the 
enforcement period; and (3) the Coast Guard will provide advance 
notification of the safety zone to the local maritime community by 
Local Notice to Mariners and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

B. Impact on Small Entities

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, as 
amended, requires Federal agencies to consider the potential impact of 
regulations on ``small entities'' comprised of small businesses and 
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 proposed rule would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
    While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the 
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section 
V.A above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on any 
vessel owner or operator.
    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

[[Page 14441]]

concerning its provisions or options for compliance, please contact the 
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    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.

C. 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).

D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments

    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 have 
determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism 
principles and preemption requirements described in Executive Order 
13132.
    Also, 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. If 
you believe this rule has implications for federalism or Indian tribes, 
please contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT 
section.

E. 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 expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in 
this preamble.

F. 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 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and have determined 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 
rule involves a safety zone that will prohibit persons and vessels from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within a 
limited area surrounding the Cooper River Bridge on the waters of the 
Cooper River and Town Creek Reaches for a 3 hour period. 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.

G. 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.

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; 50 U.S.C. 191, 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 
6.04-6, 160.5; and Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.

0
2. Add a temporary Sec.  165.35T07-0021 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T07-0021  Safety Zone; Cooper River Bridge Run, Charleston 
SC.

    (a) Location. All waters of the Cooper River, and Town Creek 
Reaches encompassed within the following points: 32[deg]48'32'' N., 
079[deg]56'08'' W., 32[deg]48'20'' N., 079[deg]54'20'' W., 
32[deg]47'20'' N., 079[deg]54'29'' W., 32[deg]47'20'' N., 
079[deg]55'28'' W.
    (b) Definition. The term ``designated representative'' means Coast 
Guard Patrol Commanders, including Coast Guard coxswains, petty 
officers, and other officers operating Coast Guard vessels, and 
Federal, state, and local officers designated by or assisting the 
Captain of the Port Charleston in the enforcement of the regulated 
areas.
    (c) Regulations. (1) All persons and vessels are prohibited from 
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the 
regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston 
or a designated representative.
    (2) Persons and vessels desiring to enter, transit through, or 
remain within the regulated area may contact the Captain of the Port 
Charleston by telephone at 843-740-7050, or a designated representative 
via VHF radio on channel 16, to request authorization. If authorization 
to enter, transit through, or remain within the regulated area is 
granted by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated 
representative, all persons and vessels receiving such authorization 
must comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port Charleston 
or a designated representative.
    (3) The Coast Guard will provide notice of the regulated area by 
Local Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene 
designated representatives.
    (d) Enforcement period. This rule will be enforced from 7:30 a.m. 
until 10:30 a.m. on April 1, 2017.

    Dated: March 15, 2017.
G.L. Tomasulo,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2017-05547 Filed 3-20-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


