Safety Zone: Triathlon, Ulster Landing, Hudson River, NY

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone for the annual Hudson Valley Triathlon swim on the Hudson River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Hudson River.

DATES:

This rule is effective July 2, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Comments and material received from the public, as well as documents indicated in this preamble as being available in the docket, are part of docket (CGD01-00-248) and are available for inspection or copying at room 204, Coast Guard Activities New York, 212 Coast Guard Drive, Staten Island, NY 10305, between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lieutenant M. Day, Waterways Oversight Branch, Coast Guard Activities New York (718) 354-4012.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Information

On March 2, 2001, we published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) entitled Safety Zone: Triathlon, Ulster Landing, Hudson River, NY in the Federal Register (66 FR 13030). We received no letters commenting on the proposed rule. No public hearing was requested, and none was held.

Background and Purpose

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone for the annual Hudson Valley Triathlon swim on the Hudson River. The safety zone encompasses all waters of the Hudson River, in the vicinity of Ulster Landing, bound by the following points: 42°00′03.7″N, 073°56′43.1″W; thence to 41°59′52.5″N, 073°56′34.2″W; thence to 42°00′15.1″N, 073°56′25.2″W; thence to 42°00′05.4″N, 073°56′41.9″W (NAD 1983); thence along the shoreline to the point of beginning.

The safety zone is effective annually from 6 a.m. until 9 a.m. on the first Sunday after July 4th. The safety zone prevents vessels from transiting a portion of the Hudson River. It is needed to protect swimmers and boaters from the hazards associated with 500 swimmers competing in a confined area of the Hudson River. Recreational vessels can still transit to the east of the zone during the event and will not be precluded from mooring at or getting underway from recreational piers in the vicinity of the zone. Commercial vessels will be precluded from transiting the area because the safety zone encompasses about 800 yards of Barrytown Reach and there is no viable alternative route. No vessel may enter the safety zone without permission from the Captain of the Port, New York.

Special Local Regulations have been published for this event in 33 CFR 100.121 for 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on the same date. The location of this event was moved 3.5 nautical miles north in the summer of 2000 to the new location in the northern area of Barrytown Reach. A Temporary final rule was required for the 2000 event. This new location encompasses about 800 yards of Barrytown Reach and is about 1,000 yards smaller than the permanent area in 33 CFR 100.121.

This safety zone covers the minimum area needed and imposes the minimum restrictions necessary to ensure the protection of all swimmers and vessels. Public notifications will be made prior to the event via the Local Notice to Mariners.

Discussion of Comments and Changes

The Coast Guard received no letters commenting on the proposed rulemaking. No changes were made to this rulemaking.

Regulatory Evaluation

This rule is not a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 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 Transportation (DOT) (44 FR 11040, February 26, 1979).

We expect the economic impact of this rule to be so minimal that a full Regulatory Evaluation under paragraph 10e of the regulatory policies and procedures of DOT is unnecessary.

This safety zone temporarily closes a portion of the Hudson River to vessel traffic; however, the impact of this regulation is expected to be minimal for the following reasons: This is an annual marine event currently published in 33 CFR 100.121; this safety zone will close a smaller portion of the Hudson River during this event; this zone is only 3.5 miles north of the current zone; the event is limited in duration; the event occurs early on a Sunday morning, which historically is a time when there is less commercial traffic transiting the area; advance advisories will be made to allow the maritime community to schedule transits before and after the event; the event has been held for 4 years in succession and is therefore anticipated annually; and recreational vessels may still transit to the east of the zone during the event and will not be precluded from mooring at or getting underway from recreational piers in the vicinity of the zone.

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 might be small entities: the owners or operators of vessels intending to transit or anchor in a portion of the Hudson River during the time this zone is activated.

This safety zone will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities for the following reasons: this is an annual marine event currently published in 33 CFR 100.121; this safety zone will close a smaller portion of the Hudson River during the event; the event is limited in duration; it is expected that no more than 1 or 2 commercial vessels will be affected by this event early on a Sunday morning; advance advisories will be made to allow the maritime community to schedule transits before and after the event; the event has been held for 4 years in succession and is therefore anticipated annually; and recreational vessels may still transit to the east of the zone during the event and will not be precluded from mooring at or getting underway from recreational piers in the vicinity of the zone.

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. However, we received no requests for assistance from small entities.

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

We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132 and have determined that this rule does not have implications for federalism under that Order.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531-1538) governs the issuance of Federal regulations that require unfunded mandates. An unfunded mandate is a regulation that requires a State, local, or tribal government or the private sector to incur direct costs without the Federal Government's having first provided the funds to pay those costs. This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate.

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 does not concern 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. A rule with tribal implications has a substantial direct effect on one or more Indian tribe, 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.

Environment

We considered the environmental impact of this rule and concluded that, under figure 2-1, paragraph 34(g), of Commandant Instruction M16475.1C, this rule is categorically excluded from further environmental documentation. This rule fits paragraph 34(g) as it establishes a safety zone. A “Categorical Exclusion Determination” is available in the docket where indicated under ADDRESSES.

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

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(g), 6.04-1, 6.04-6 and 160.5; 49 CFR 1.46.

2. Add § 165.170 to read as follows: