Rule2026-08714
Special Local Regulation; Lake Erie, OH
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
May 5, 2026
Effective
June 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of Lake Erie. The SLR is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created during an overnight sailboat race beginning June 5, 2026, and ending the morning of June 6, 2026. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or their designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 86 (Tuesday, May 5, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24116-24117]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08714]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[Docket Number USCG-2026-0477]
RIN 1625-AA08
Special Local Regulation; Lake Erie, OH
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Temporary final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local
regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of Lake Erie. The SLR is
needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from
potential hazards created during an overnight sailboat race beginning
June 5, 2026, and ending the morning of June 6, 2026. This regulation
prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless
specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or their
designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective from 5 p.m. on June 5, 2026, through 10
a.m. on June 6, 2026.
ADDRESSES: To view available documents go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for USCG-2026-0477.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule,
contact MST1 Cera Turner, Marine Safety Unit Toledo Waterways
Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 419-418-6050, or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5f1b6f66720c121d72120c0a0b30333a3b30720808121f2a2c3c3871323633"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5511656c7806181778180600013a3930313a7802021815202636327b383c39">[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
SLR Special Local Regulation
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background and Authority
An organization notified the Coast Guard that from 5 p.m. on June
5, 2026, through 10 a.m. on June 6, 2026, they will sponsor an
overnight sailing race. The Coast Guard received a request under 33 CFR
100.15 from the Toledo Yacht Club for a Marine Event Permit to host an
overnight sailing race from the Toledo Harbor Light to South Bass
Island on Lake Erie. The sailing event will include approximately 120
participants and 15 spectator craft.
The Captain of the Port Detroit (COTP) is issuing this special
local regulation (SLR) under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70041. The COTP
has determined that potential hazards associated with the overnight
sailing race include increased vessel congestion due to the number of
participants, restricted maneuverability of racing sailboats, and
racing in the pathway of commercial traffic (ferries). The purpose of
this rulemaking is to protect event participants, non-participants, and
transiting vessels before, during, and after the scheduled event.
Because of these potential hazards, 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 it is impracticable. We must establish this SLR by June 5,
2026, to protect personnel and vessels. Therefore, we do not have
enough time to solicit and respond to comments.
For the same reason, 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 temporary SLR from 5 p.m. on June 5, 2026,
through 10 a.m. on June 6, 2026. The special local regulation will
cover all navigable waters within 100 yards of the racing sailing
vessels. No vessel or person will be permitted to enter the regulated
area 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
[[Page 24117]]
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 et seq.), 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 special local regulation. It is categorically
excluded from further review under paragraph L61 of Appendix A, Table 1
of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1.
List of Subjects in 33 CFR Part 100
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 100 as follows:
PART 100--SAFETY OF LIFE ON NAVIGABLE WATERS
0
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70041; 33 CFR 1.05-1.
0
2. Add Sec. 100.T999-0477 to read as follows:
Sec. 100.T999-0477 Special Local Regulation; Lake Erie, OH.
(a) Location. This special local regulation applies to the
following regulated area: All waters of Lake Erie, from surface to
bottom, within 100 yards of the participants in the race course,
encompassed by a line connecting the following points for each of the
following race courses:
(1) Mills Trophy Course: starting from the Toledo Harbor Light,
proceeding to the RACON Buoy at the base of the East Outer Channel, to
West Sister Island, to Niagara Reef Buoy, to Scott Point Shoal Light,
around the Sandusky Harbor (Mosley) Channel Buoy to Kelleys Island
Shoal Buoy, to Gull Island Shoal Buoy to the BELL Buoy, east of Middle
Bass Island at position: 41[deg]40'47.2332'' N, 82[deg]47'40.56'' W,
and finishing at South Bass Island in position: 41[deg]39'46.764'' N,
82[deg]48'37.4112'' W.
(2) President's Trophy Course: starting at the Toledo Harbor Light,
to the outer Toledo Channel Buoy to the Niagara Reef Buoy to Catawba
Island Buoy to Mouse Island to Scott Point Shoal Light to Ballast
Island at position: 41[deg]40'46.308'' N, 82[deg]47'8.7576'' W, and
finishing at South Bass Island in position: 41[deg]39'46.764'' N,
82[deg]48'37.4112'' W.
(3) Governor's Cup Course: starting at the Toledo Harbor Light, to
the outer Toledo Channel Buoy to Niagara Reef Buoy to Catawba Island
Buoy to Mouse Island to Sandusky Harbor (Moseley) Channel Buoy to
Kelley's Island Buoy then to Ballast Island at position:
41[deg]40'46.308'' N, 82[deg]47'8.7576'' W, finishing at South Bass
Island in position: 41[deg]39'46.764'' N, 82[deg]48'37.4112'' W.
The regulated area will move with the participants as they transit
the waters. 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 Sector Detroit (COTP) in the enforcement of the
regulated area. Participant means all persons and vessels registered
with the event sponsor as a participant in the race.
(c) Regulations. (1) All non-participants are prohibited from
entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the
regulated area described in paragraph (a) of this section unless
authorized by the COTP or their designated representative.
(2) To seek permission to enter, contact the COTP or the COTP's
representative on VHF-FM channel 16. Those in the regulated area must
comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP
or the COTP's designated representative.
(d) Enforcement period. This section will be enforced from 5 p.m.
on June 5, 2026, through 10 a.m. on June 6, 2026.
Dated: April 22, 2026.
Richard P. Armstrong,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Detroit.
[FR Doc. 2026-08714 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on May 5, 2026.
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