Rule2025-12366
Safety Zone; Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, TX
Primary source
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Published
July 2, 2025
Effective
July 2, 2025
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters in the Laguna Madre. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a series of fireworks displays launched from a barge in the Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, Texas. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 125 (Wednesday, July 2, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 2, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28901-28903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-12366]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2025-0462]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, TX
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for
certain navigable waters in the Laguna Madre. The safety zone is needed
to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from
potential hazards created by a series of fireworks displays launched
from a barge in the Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, Texas. Entry of
vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically
authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi or a
designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective without actual notice from July 2, 2025
through July 30, 2025. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice
will be used from June 26, 2025, until July 2, 2025. It will be subject
to enforcement from the hours of 9 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. each of the
following dates: June 27; July 1, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, and 29.
ADDRESSES: To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being
available in the docket, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type USCG-
2025-0462 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, in the Document
Type column, select ``Supporting & Related Material.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule,
call or email Lieutenant Timothy Cardenas, Sector Corpus Christi
Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 361-244-
4784, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1e4a7773716a76673054305d7f6c7a7b707f6d5e6b6d7d7930737772"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f8ac9195978c9081d6b2d6bb998a9c9d96998bb88d8b9b9fd6959194">[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 Information and Regulatory History
The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary rule under the authority
in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). This statutory provision authorizes an agency to
issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when the
[[Page 28902]]
agency for good cause finds that those procedures are ``impracticable,
unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.'' The Coast Guard
finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because it is
impracticable. We must establish this safety zone as soon as possible
to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from
potential hazards created by the fireworks displays beginning June 26,
2025. Therefore, publication of an NPRM is impracticable as the Coast
Guard does not have sufficient time to receive, consider, and respond
to comments before the series of fireworks displays begins.
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. Delaying the effective date of
this rule would be contrary to the public interest because immediate
action is needed to respond to the potential safety hazards associated
with fireworks launched from a barge in the waters of the Laguna Madre.
III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C.
70034. The Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) has
determined that potential hazards associated with a fireworks display
will be a safety concern for anyone within an 800-foot radius from a
stationary barge from which the fireworks will be launched. The purpose
of this rule is to ensure safety of vessels and persons on these
navigable waters in the safety zone while the display of the fireworks
takes place in the Laguna Madre.
IV. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes a temporary safety zone from June 26, 2025,
through July 30, 2025. The safety zone will be subject to enforcement
from the hours of 9 p.m. through 11:59 p.m. each day it is in effect.
It is anticipated that fireworks will only take place on each of the
following nights: June 27; July 1, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, and 29. The
COTP or a designated representative will inform the public of the
enforcement times and dates for this safety zone through Broadcast
Notices to Mariners and Safety Marine Information Broadcasts, as
appropriate. The safety zone will encompass certain navigable waters of
the Laguna Madre and is defined by an 800-foot radius around the
launching platform. The regulated area encompasses an 800-foot radius
around the following point: 26[deg]6'02.1'' N, 97[deg]10'17.7'' W. No
vessel or person is permitted to enter the temporary safety zone during
the effective period without obtaining permission from the COTP or a
designated representative, who may be contacted on Channel 16 VHF-FM
(156.8 MHz) or by telephone at 361-939-0450.
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.
A. Regulatory Planning and Review
Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and 13563
(Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) 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 13563 emphasizes the importance of
quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing
rules, and of promoting flexibility.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not designated this
rule a ``significant regulatory action,'' under section 3(f) of
Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed it.
The regulatory action determination is based on the size, location,
and duration of the safety zone. It is anticipated that the temporary
safety zone will only be subject to enforcement for a short period (3
hours) each of several nights in June and July 2025. The zone is
limited to an 800-foot radius of the launching position in the
navigable waters of the Laguna Madre. Vessels will be able to transit
around the safety zone unobstructed, and mariners may also be permitted
to enter or transit through the zone when the COTP or their
representative determines it is safe to do so.
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 rule
will 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 will 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.
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
[[Page 28903]]
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.
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 an 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
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 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 establishes a
temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Laguna Madre in a
zone defined by an 800-foot radius around the following coordinate:
26[deg]6'02.1'' N, 97[deg]10'17.7'' W. The safety zone is needed to
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential
hazards created by fireworks displays in the waters of the Laguna
Madre, and will be enforced approximately three hours per night, for
several nights in June and July 2025. It is 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 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.
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: 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. 01.4.
0
2. Add Sec. 165.T08-0462 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T08-0462 Safety Zone; Laguna Madre, South Padre Island, TX.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: all navigable
waters of the Laguna Madre encompassed by an 800-foot radius around the
following point: 26[deg]6'02.1'' N, 97[deg]10'17.7'' W.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section, designated representative
means a Coast Guard Patrol Commander, including a Coast Guard coxswain,
petty officer, or other officer operating a Coast Guard vessel and a
Federal, State, and local officer designated by or assisting the
Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) in the enforcement of
the safety zone.
(c) Regulations. (1) Under the general safety zone regulations in
subpart C of this part, you may not enter the safety zone described in
paragraph (a) of this section unless authorized by the COTP or the
COTP's designated representative.
(2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's
representative on Channel 16 VHF-FM (156.8 MHz) or by telephone at 361-
939-0450. If permission is granted, all persons and vessels shall
comply with the instructions of the COTP or designated representative.
(d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 9 p.m.
through 11:59 p.m. on June 27; and July 1, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25, and
29. The COTP or a designated representative will inform the public of
the enforcement times and dates for this safety zone through Broadcast
Notices to Mariners and Safety Marine Information Broadcasts.
Dated: June 25, 2025.
Torrey H. Bertheau,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi.
[FR Doc. 2025-12366 Filed 7-1-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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