Rule2025-22559
Safety Zone; Santa Barbara Harbor, Santa Barbara, CA
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
December 11, 2025
Effective
December 14, 2025
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of Santa Barbara Harbor. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Los Angeles-Long Beach.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 236 (Thursday, December 11, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 236 (Thursday, December 11, 2025)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57360-57362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-22559]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 165
[Docket Number USCG-2025-0997]
RIN 1625-AA00
Safety Zone; Santa Barbara Harbor, Santa Barbara, CA
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for
the navigable waters of Santa Barbara Harbor. The safety zone is needed
to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from
potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or
persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by
the Captain of the Port Los Angeles-Long Beach.
DATES: This rule is effective from 6:30 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. on
December 14, 2025.
ADDRESSES: To view available documents, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for USCG-2025-0997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule,
call or email Lieutenant Commander Kevin Kinsella, U.S. Coast Guard
Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, Chief, Waterways Management Division;
telephone (310) 521-3861, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9dd9acacb0ced0dfb0cef8fee9f2efd1dcd1dfb0cacad0dde8eefefab3f0f4f1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="6c285d5d413f212e413f090f18031e202d202e413b3b212c191f0f0b42010500">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR--Code of Federal Regulations
COTP--Captain of the Port
DHS--Department of Homeland Security
FR--Federal Register
NPRM--Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec. --Section
U.S.C.--United States Code
II. Background and Authority
The Coast Guard received notification that fireworks will be
launched from Santa Barbara Harbor's West Beach inside the jetties.
Hazards from fireworks displays include accidental discharge of
fireworks, dangerous projectiles, and falling hot embers or other
debris. The Captain of the Port (COTP) Los Angeles-Long Beach has
determined that potential hazards associated with fireworks are a
safety concern for anyone within the Santa Barbara Harbor channel
entrance. Therefore, the COTP is issuing this rule
[[Page 57361]]
under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034, which is needed to protect
personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable waters
within the safety zone.
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule without prior notice and
comment. As is authorized by 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), the Coast Guard finds
that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because the Coast Guard did
not receive sufficient notice of this fireworks event in time to
publish an NPRM. We must establish this safety zone by December 14,
2025 to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from
potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Accordingly, it is
impracticable to publish an NPRM because we lack sufficient time to
provide a reasonable comment period and then consider those comments
before issuing the rule.
For the same reasons, the Coast Guard finds that under 5 U.S.C.
553(d)(3), good cause exists for making this rule effective less than
30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
III. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes a safety zone from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.
on December 14, 2025. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters
within Santa Barbara Harbor channel entrance. No vessel or person will
be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from
the COTP or their designated representative.
IV. 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. Impact on Small Entities
The regulatory flexibility analysis provisions of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, 5 U.S.C. 601-612, do not apply to rules that
are not subject to notice and comment. Because the Coast Guard has, for
good cause, waived the notice and comment requirement that would
otherwise apply to this rulemaking, the Regulatory Flexibility Act's
flexibility analysis provisions do not apply here.
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), if this rule will affect your
small business, organization, or governmental jurisdiction and you have
questions, contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section.
Small businesses may send comments to the Small Business and
Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small
Business Regulatory Fairness Boards by calling 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.
B. 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).
C. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments
We have analyzed this rule under Executive Order 13132, Federalism,
and have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental
federalism principles and preemption requirements described in that
Order.
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
responsibilities between the Federal Government and Indian tribes.
D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
As required by The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C.
1531-1538), the Coast Guard certifies that this rule will not result in
an annual expenditure of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted for inflation)
by a State, local, or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the
private sector.
E. 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 is a safety zone. 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.
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; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.
0
2. Add Sec. 165.T11-218 to read as follows:
Sec. 165.T11-218 Safety Zone; Santa Barbara Harbor, Santa Barbara,
CA.
(a) Location. The following area is a safety zone: All waters of
Santa Barbara Harbor, from surface to bottom, encompassed by a line
connecting the following points beginning at 34[deg]24'26'' N,
119[deg]41'27'' W, thence to 34[deg]24'28'' N, 119[deg]41'15'' W,
thence to 34[deg]24'17'' N, 119[deg]41'15'' W, thence to 34[deg]24'29''
N, 119[deg]41'06'' W, thence to 34[deg]24'40'' N, 119[deg]41'17'' W and
along the shoreline back to the beginning point. These coordinates are
based on the World Geodetic System (WGS 84)/North American Datum 83
(NAD 83).
(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 Los Angeles-Long Beach (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 VHF-FM Channel 13 (156.65 MHz) or 16 (156.8MHz). Those
in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions
given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative.
[[Page 57362]]
(d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 6:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on December 14, 2025.
Stacey L. Crecy,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Los Angeles-Long Beach.
[FR Doc. 2025-22559 Filed 12-10-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on December 11, 2025.
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