Jump to main content.

Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Maryland Swim for Life, Chester River, Chestertown, MD

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

 [Federal Register: May 4, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 86)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 26227-26229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04my06-10]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[CGD05-06-006]
RIN 1625-AA08

Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Maryland Swim for 
Life, Chester River, Chestertown, MD

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations for

[[Page 26228]]

the ``Maryland Swim for Life'', held annually on the waters of the 
Chester River, near Chestertown, Maryland. These special local 
regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on 
navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict 
vessel traffic in portions of the Chester River and is necessary to 
provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event.

DATES: This rule is effective June 5, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Documents indicated in this preamble as being available in 
the docket, are part of docket CGD05-06-006 and are available for 
inspection or copying at Commander (dpi), Fifth Coast Guard District, 
431 Crawford Street, Portsmouth, Virginia 23704-5004, between 9 a.m. 
and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dennis Sens, Project Manager, 
Inspection and Investigations Branch, at (757) 398-6204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

    On February 9, 2006, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) entitled Special Local Regulations for Marine Events; Maryland 
Swim for Life, Chester River, Chestertown, MD in the Federal Register 
(71 FR 6713). No letters were received commenting on the proposed rule. 
No public meeting was requested, and none was held.

Background and Purpose

    On June 17, 2006, the Maryland Swim for Life Association will 
sponsor the ``Maryland Swim for Life'', an open water swimming 
competition held on the waters of the Chester River, near Chestertown, 
Maryland. Approximately 100 swimmers start from Rolph's Wharf and swim 
up-river 2.5 miles then swim down-river returning back to Rolph's 
Wharf. A fleet of approximately 20 support vessels accompanies the 
swimmers. The regulations at 33 CFR 100.533 are effective annually for 
the Maryland Swim for Life marine event. Paragraph (d) of Section 
100.533 establishes the enforcement date for the Maryland Swim for 
Life. This regulation changes the enforcement date from the second 
Saturday in July to the third Saturday in June each year. Notice of 
exact time, date and location will be published in the Federal Register 
prior to the event. The Maryland Swim for Life Association who is the 
sponsor for this event intends to hold it annually. To provide for the 
safety of participants and support vessels, the Coast Guard will 
temporarily restrict vessel traffic in the event area during the swim.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

    No comments were received in response to our notice of proposed 
rulemaking and accordingly no changes have been made to the regulatory 
text.

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 Homeland 
Security (DHS).
    We expect the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a 
full Regulatory Evaluation under the regulatory policies and procedures 
of DHS is unnecessary. The effect of this action merely establishes the 
dates on which the existing regulations would be in effect and would 
not impose any new restrictions on vessel traffic.
    Although this regulation prevents traffic from transiting a portion 
of the Chester River during the event, the effect of this regulation 
will not be significant due to the limited duration that the regulated 
area will be in effect and the extensive advance notifications that 
will be made to the maritime community via marine information 
broadcasts, local radio stations and area newspapers so mariners can 
adjust their plans accordingly.

Small Entities

    Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), we have 
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 this section of the Chester River during the event.
    This rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities for the following reasons. This 
rule merely establishes the dates on which the existing regulations 
would be in effect of the regulated area and would not impose any new 
restrictions on vessel traffic.

Assistance for Small Entities

    Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement 
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we offered to assist small 
entities in understanding the rule so that they could better evaluate 
its effects on them and participate in the rulemaking process. 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 address listed under ADDRESSES.
    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).

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

    A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132, 
Federalism, if it has a substantial direct effect on State or local 
governments and would either preempt State law or impose a substantial 
direct cost of compliance on them. We have analyzed this rule under 
that Order and have determined that it does not have implications for 
federalism.

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 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.

[[Page 26229]]

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 will not create 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, 
because it does not have a substantial and direct effect on one or more 
Indian tribes, on the relationship between the Federal Governments 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. The Administrator of the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs has not designated it as a significant energy 
action. Therefore, it does not require a Statement of Energy Effects 
under Executive Order 13211.

Technical Standards

    The National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act (NTTAA) (15 
U.S.C. 272 note) directs agencies to use voluntary consensus standards 
in their regulatory activities unless the agency provides Congress, 
through the Office of Management and Budget, with an explanation of why 
using these standards would be inconsistent with applicable law or 
otherwise impractical. Voluntary consensus standards are technical 
standards (e.g., specifications of materials, performance, design, or 
operation; test methods; sampling procedures; and related management 
systems practices) that are developed or adopted by voluntary consensus 
standards bodies.
    This rule does not use technical standards. Therefore, we did not 
consider the use of voluntary consensus standards.

Environment

    We have analyzed this rule under Commandant Instruction M16475.1D, 
which guides the Coast Guard in complying with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f), and 
have concluded that there are no factors in this case that would limit 
the use of a categorical exclusion under section 2.B.2 of the 
Instruction. Therefore, this rule is categorically excluded, under 
figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(h), of the Instruction, from further 
environmental documentation. Special local regulations issued in 
conjunction with a regatta or marine parade permit are specifically 
excluded from further analysis and documentation under those sections. 
Under figure 2-1, paragraph (34)(h), of the Instruction, an 
``Environmental Analysis Check List'' and a ``Categorical Exclusion 
Determination'' are not required for this 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 amends 33 
CFR Part 100 as follows:

PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS

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

    Authority: 33 U.S.C. 1233, Department of Homeland Security 
Delegation No. 0170.1.

? 2. In Sec.  100.533, revise paragraph (d) to read as follows:

Sec.  100.533  Maryland Swim for Life, Chester River, Chestertown, 
Maryland.

* * * * *
    (d) Enforcement period. (1) This section will be enforced annually 
on the third Saturday in June. A notice of enforcement of this section 
will be published annually in the Federal Register and disseminated 
through the Fifth Coast Guard District Local Notice to Mariners 
announcing the specific event dates and times. Notice will also be made 
via marine Safety Radio Broadcast on VHF-FM marine band radio channel 
22 (157.1 MHz).
    (2) For 2006, this section will be enforced from 6:30 a.m. to 1:30 
p.m. on June 17, 2006.

    Dated: April 14, 2006.
Larry L. Hereth,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 06-4190 Filed 5-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-15-P

 
 

Local Navigation

Jump to main content.