[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 103 (Tuesday, May 29, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24441-24443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11474]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 165

[Docket Number USCG-2018-0171]
RIN 1625-AA00


Safety Zone; City of North Charleston Fireworks, North 
Charleston, SC

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone 
for certain navigable waters of the Cooper River in North Charleston, 
SC. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the general 
public, spectators, vessels, and the marine environment from potential 
hazards during a fireworks display. This proposed rulemaking would 
prohibit persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, 
anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by 
the Captain of the Port Charleston (COTP) or a designated 
representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast 
Guard on or before June 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2018-0171 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. See the ``Public Participation and Request for 
Comments'' portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for further 
instructions on submitting comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this 
proposed rulemaking, call or email Lieutenant Justin Heck, Sector 
Charleston Office of Waterways Management, Coast Guard; telephone (843) 
740-3184, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Table of Abbreviations

CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
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, Purpose, and Legal Basis

    On February 23, 2018, the City of North Charleston notified the 
Coast Guard that it will be conducting a fireworks display from 10 p.m. 
to 11 p.m. on July 4, 2018. The fireworks are to be launched from a 
barge along the bank of the Cooper River at River Front Park in North 
Charleston, SC. Hazards from firework displays include accidental 
discharge of fireworks, dangerous projectiles, and falling hot embers 
or other debris. The Captain of the Port Charleston (COTP) has 
determined that potential hazards associated with the fireworks to be 
used in this display would be a safety concern for anyone within a 500-
yard radius of the barge.
    The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels 
and the navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the fireworks 
barge before, during, and after the scheduled event. The Coast Guard 
proposes this rulemaking under authority in 33 U.S.C. 1231.

III. Discussion of Proposed Rule

    The COTP proposes to establish a safety zone from 9:45 p.m. to 
11:15 p.m. on July 4, 2018. The safety zone would cover all navigable 
waters within 500 yards of the fireworks barge located at River Front 
Park on the Cooper River in North Charleston, SC. The duration of the 
zone is intended to ensure the safety of vessels and these navigable 
waters before, during, and after the scheduled 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. 
fireworks display. No vessel or person would be permitted to enter, 
transit through, anchor in, or remain within the safety zone without 
obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative. The 
regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end of this document. 
The Coast Guard would provide notice of the safety zone by Local Notice 
to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners, and on-scene designated 
representatives.

IV. 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 and Executive orders and 
we discuss First Amendment rights of protestors.

A. Regulatory Planning and Review

    Executive Orders 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. Executive Order 13771 directs agencies to control 
regulatory costs through a budgeting process. This NPRM has not been 
designated a ``significant

[[Page 24442]]

regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, the NPRM 
has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and 
pursuant to OMB guidance it is exempt from the requirements of 
Executive Order 13771.
    This regulatory action determination is based on the size, 
location, duration, and time-of-day of the safety zone. The safety zone 
will only be enforced for an hour and a half, and 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, vessel traffic would be able 
to safely operate in the surrounding area during the enforcement period 
and the rule would allow vessels to seek permission to enter the zone. 
Moreover, 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 via VHF-FM marine channel 16.

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 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 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities.
    We have considered the impact of this proposed rule on small 
entities. This rule may affect the following entities, some of which 
may be small entities: The owner or operators of vessels intending to 
enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area 
during the enforcement period. For the reasons stated in section IV.A. 
above, this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact 
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 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 rule would economically affect it.
    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 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 
section. 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.

C. Collection of Information

    This proposed rule would 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 proposed 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 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. If 
you believe this proposed 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 proposed rule would not 
result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule 
elsewhere in this preamble.

F. 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 (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 a safety 
zone lasting an hour and a half that would prohibit entry within 500 
yards of a barge from which fireworks will be launched. Normally such 
actions are categorically excluded from further review under paragraph 
L 60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, 
Rev. 01. A preliminary Record of Environmental Consideration supporting 
this determination is 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.

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.

V. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    We view public participation as essential to effective rulemaking, 
and will consider all comments and material received during the comment 
period. Your comment can help shape the outcome of this rulemaking. 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.
    We encourage you to submit comments through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. If your material cannot be 
submitted using http://www.regulations.gov, contact the person in the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this document for alternate 
instructions.
    We accept anonymous comments. All comments received will be posted

[[Page 24443]]

without change to http://www.regulations.gov and will include any 
personal information you have provided. For more about privacy and the 
docket, you may review a Privacy Act notice regarding the Federal 
Docket Management System in the March 24, 2005, issue of the Federal 
Register (70 FR 15086).
    Documents mentioned in this NPRM as being available in the docket, 
and all public comments, will be in our online docket at http://www.regulations.gov and can be viewed by following that website's 
instructions. Additionally, if you go to the online docket and sign up 
for email alerts, you will be notified when comments are posted or a 
final rule is published.

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 proposes 
to amend 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, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 
0170.1.

0
2. Add a temporary Sec.  165.T07-0171 to read as follows:


Sec.  165.T07-0171  Safety Zone; City of North Charleston Fireworks, 
North Charleston, SC.

    (a) Location. This rule establishes a safety zone on all waters 
within a 500-yard radius of the barge, from which fireworks will be 
launched on the bank of the Cooper River at River Front Park in North 
Charleston, SC.
    (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, anchor 
in, 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, anchor in, 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 on July 4, 2018 
from 9:45 p.m. until 11:15 p.m.

    Dated: May 16, 2018.
J.W. Reed,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port, Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2018-11474 Filed 5-25-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


