Proposed Rule2026-08715
Special Local Regulation; Marine Events in the Coast Guard Sector Detroit Captain of the Port Zone
Primary source
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Published
May 5, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is proposing to revise its existing regulation to add a new recurring Special Local Regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Maumee River. The SLR is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created during a paddle event on the Maumee River. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from transiting the regulated area unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port, Sector Detroit. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
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)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24140-24142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-08715]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[Docket Number USCG-2026-0349]
RIN 1625-AA08
Special Local Regulation; Marine Events in the Coast Guard Sector
Detroit Captain of the Port Zone
AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to revise its existing regulation
to add a new recurring Special Local Regulation (SLR) for certain
navigable waters of the Maumee River. The SLR is needed to protect
personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards
created during a paddle event on the Maumee River. This proposed
rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from transiting the
regulated area unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port,
Sector Detroit. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast
Guard on or before May 20, 2026.
ADDRESSES: To submit comments and view available documents, go to
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for USCG-2026-0349.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
proposed 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#7e3a4e47532d333c53332d2b2a11121b1a11532929333e0b0d1d1950131712"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a8ec989185fbe5ea85e5fbfdfcc7c4cdccc785ffffe5e8dddbcbcf86c5c1c4">[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 lists annual marine events in the CFR. For USCG
Sector Detroit, SLRs are listed in 33 CFR 100.911. The Paddle and
Groove events are held annually from June through October on a portion
of the Maumee River in Toledo, OH. Hazards from the paddle event
include increased vessel congestion due to the number of participants,
and racing in the pathway of commercial traffic. The Captain of the
Port Sector Detroit (COTP) has determined that potential hazards
associated with the paddle event are a safety concern for anyone in the
vicinity of the participating vessels. Therefore, the COTP is proposing
this rule under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70041, which is needed to
protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable
waters within the regulated area. We are providing a comment period of
15 days on the assumption we will have enough time to receive comments,
consider them, make any appropriate changes, and publish a final rule
with enough time to issue a notification of enforcement for this year's
event in June. The regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end
of this document.
III. Discussion of the Rule
The COTP is proposing to revise the special local regulations in
Table 1 to 33 CFR 100.911 to add a new recurring special regulated
area. The SLR is for the annual Paddle and Groove event and would cover
multiple events occurring from June through October. The regulated area
would cover all navigable waters of the Maumee River from riverbank to
riverbank and extending from the Robert Craig Memorial Bridge to the
Glass City River Wall. No vessel or person would be permitted to enter
the regulated area without obtaining permission from the COTP or their
designated representative.
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.
A. 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 for the following reasons.
This regulation will only impact a small area for a few hours. In
addition, the Coast Guard will issue a Broadcast Notice to Marines via
VHF FM marine channel 16, which will allow small entities to adjust
their transit plans, and the rule allows vessels to request permission
to enter the regulated area from the COTP.
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
[[Page 24141]]
qualifies and how and to what degree this proposed rule would
economically affect it.
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement
Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), if this proposed 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).
B. Collection of Information
This proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed rule is a special regulated area. It is categorically
excluded from further review under paragraph L61.
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 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-2026-0349 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 the docket. To view available documents, find
the docket as described in the previous paragraph, and then select
``Supporting & Related Material'' in the Document Type column. We will
post public comments in our online docket. Additional information is on
the <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> Frequently Asked Questions web page.
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 100
Harbors, Marine safety, Navigation (water), Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Security measures, Waterways.
For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the Coast Guard is
proposing to amend 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. Amend Table 1 to Sec. 100.911 by adding an entry for item 17 as
follows:
Sec. 100.911 Special Local Regulations; Marine Events in the Coast
Guard Sector Detroit Captain of the Port Zone.
* * * * *
Table 1 to Sec. 100.911
[COTP Zone Detroit]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sector Detroit special
Event local regulations Date
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* * * * * * *
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Event Marine Safety Unit Date
Toledo special local
regulations.
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* * * * * * *
(17) Paddle and Groove All waters of the Multiple events
(series). Maumee River, Toledo, from June
OH from surface to through
bottom, encompassed October.
from riverbank to
riverbank following
the Maumee River that
connects the Craig
Memorial Bridge at
position
41[deg]39'37.623'' N,
83[deg]30'42.908'' W
to the Glass City
River Wall in
position
41[deg]37'36.397'' N,
83[deg]31'52.431'' W.
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[[Page 24142]]
Dated: April 7, 2026.
Richard P. Armstrong,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Detroit.
[FR Doc. 2026-08715 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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