Proposed Rule2023-05669
Safety Zone; Fireworks Display; James River, Newport News, VA
Primary source
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Published
March 21, 2023
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for navigable waters within a 400-yard radius of a fireworks barge in the James River, Newport News, VA. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the launching of fireworks. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Virginia. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 21, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 16922-16924]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05669]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2023-0127]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Fireworks Display; James River, Newport News, VA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for navigable
waters within a 400-yard radius of a fireworks barge in the James
River, Newport News, VA. The safety zone is needed to protect
personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards
created by the launching of fireworks. Entry of vessels or persons into
this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain
of the Port (COTP) Sector Virginia. We invite your comments on this
proposed rulemaking.
DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast
Guard on or before April 20, 2023.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-
2023-0127 using the Federal Decision-Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. 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
[[Page 16923]]
rulemaking, call or email LCDR Ashley Holm, Chief, Waterways Management
Division, Sector Virginia, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 757-668-5580
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5312203b3f362a7d167d1b3c3f3e13262030347d3e3a3f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="29685a41454c50076c0761464544695c5a4a4e07444045">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec. Section
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis
On January 12, 2023, the City of Newport News notified the Coast
Guard that it will be conducting fireworks display annually on July 4th
from 9 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. each year, to commemorate Independence Day.
The fireworks are to be launched from a barge at position
36[deg]58'28.72'' N, 076[deg]26'20.97'' W in the James River in Newport
News, VA. Hazards from firework displays include accidental discharge
of fireworks, dangerous projectiles, and falling hot embers or other
debris. The COTP Sector Virginia has determined that potential hazards
associated with the fireworks to be used in this display would be a
safety concern for anyone within a 400-yard radius of the barge.
The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of vessels
and the navigable waters within a 400-yard radius of the fireworks
barge before, during, and after the scheduled event. The Coast Guard is
proposing this rulemaking under authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034.
III. Discussion of Proposed Rule
The COTP is proposing to establish a safety zone annually on July
4th from 9 to 9:30 p.m. each year. The safety zone would cover all
navigable waters within 400 yards of the fireworks barge located at
position 36[deg]58'28.72'' N, 076[deg]26'20.97'' W in the James River
in Newport News, VA. The duration of the zone is intended to ensure the
safety of vessels and these navigable waters before, during, and after
the fireworks display. No vessel or person would be permitted to enter
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.
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. This NPRM has not been designated a ``significant
regulatory action,'' under Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, the NPRM
has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
This regulatory action determination is based on the size,
location, duration, and time-of-day of the safety zone. Vessel traffic
would be able to safely transit around this safety zone which would
impact a small designated area of the James River for less than 1 hour
during the evening when vessel traffic is normally low. Moreover, the
Coast Guard would issue a Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM
marine channel 16 about the zone, and the rule would allow vessels to
seek permission to enter the zone.
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.
While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the
safety zone may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section
IV.A above, this proposed rule would not have a significant economic
impact on any vessel owner or operator.
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 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 proposed rule
would affect your small business, organization, or governmental
jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or
options for compliance, please call or email 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 call or email 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 potential effects of
this proposed rule elsewhere in this preamble.
F. Environment
We have analyzed this proposed rule under Department of Homeland
[[Page 16924]]
Security Directive 023-01, Rev. 1, associated implementing
instructions, and Environmental Planning COMDTINST 5090.1 (series),
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 only 30 minutes that will prohibit entry within 400 yards
of the fireworks barge. Normally such actions are categorically
excluded from further review under paragraph L60(a) of Appendix A,
Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A preliminary
Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is
available in the docket. For instructions on locating the docket, see
the ADDRESSES section of this preamble. 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 call or email 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.
Submitting comments. We encourage you to submit comments through
the Federal Decision-Making Portal at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. To
do so, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type USCG-2023-0127 in the
search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for this document in the
Search Results column, and click on it. Then click on the Comment
option. If you cannot submit your material by using <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section of this proposed rule for alternate
instructions.
Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this
proposed rule as being available in the docket, find the docket as
described in the previous paragraph, and then select ``Supporting &
Related Material'' in the Document Type column. Public comments will
also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following
instructions on the <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> Frequently Asked
Questions web page. Also, if you click on the Dockets tab and then the
proposed rule, you should see a ``Subscribe'' option for email alerts.
The option will notify you when comments are posted, or a final rule is
published.
We review all comments received, but we will only post comments
that address the topic of the proposed rule. We may choose not to post
off-topic, inappropriate, or duplicate comments that we receive.
Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we
post to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> will include any personal
information you have provided. For more about privacy and submissions
to the docket in response to this document, see DHS's eRulemaking
System of Records notice (85 FR 14226, March 11, 2020).
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 165
PART 165--REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS
0
1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-
1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No.
00170.1, Revision No. 01.3.
0
2. Amend Sec. 165.506 by adding in Table 3 to Paragraph (h)(3) the
entry for ``14'' to read as follows:
Sec. 165.506 Safety Zones; Fireworks Displays in the Fifth Coast
Guard District.
* * * * *
(h) * * *
(3) Coast Guard Sector Virginia--COTP Zone
Table 3 to Paragraph (h)(3)
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* * * * * * *
14............ July 4th........ James River, All waters of the
Newport News, James River, within
VA; Safety Zone. a 400-yard radius
around position
36[deg]58'28.72''
N,
076[deg]26'20.97''
W.
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* * * * *
Dated: March 13, 2023.
Jennifer A. Stockwell,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Virginia.
[FR Doc. 2023-05669 Filed 3-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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