Rule2026-09493
Special Local Regulation; Marine Events Within the USCG East District
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 13, 2026
Effective
June 6, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of Prospect Bay near Kent Island Narrows, Maryland. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Kent Island, MD, during a power boat racing event on June 6, 2026. In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place on June 7, 2026. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Maryland-National Capital Region or their designated representative.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 92 (Wednesday, May 13, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26919-26921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-09493]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[Docket Number USCG-2026-0502]
RIN 1625-AA08
Special Local Regulation; Marine Events Within the USCG East
District
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 for certain waters of Prospect Bay near Kent Island Narrows,
Maryland. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on
these navigable waters near Kent Island, MD, during a power boat racing
event on June 6, 2026. In the event of inclement weather, the event
will take place on June 7, 2026. This regulation prohibits persons and
vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically authorized
by the Captain of the Port Sector Maryland-National Capital Region or
their designated representative.
DATES: This rule is effective from 12:30 p.m. On June 6, 2026, through
3 p.m. on June 7, 2026. It will only be subject to enforcement,
however, between 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. on one of those two days.
Weather permitting, it will be subject to enforcement, on June 6, 2026.
In the event of inclement weather, it will be subject to enforcement on
June 7, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule,
contact LCDR Kate Newkirk, Sector Maryland-NCR, Waterways Management
Division, U.S. Coast Guard: telephone 410-576-2596, or email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d9949d979a8b8eb8adbcabaeb8a0aa99acaababef7b4b0b5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="bdf0f9f3feefeadcc9d8cfcadcc4cefdc8cededa93d0d4d1">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region
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
On April 09, 2026, the Coast Guard received a request under 33 CFR
100.15 from the Smith Island Crab Skiff Association for a Marine Event
Permit to host Historic Smith Island crab skiff races. The event will
be held from 1 p.m. through 2:30 p.m. on June 6, 2026, in and around
Kent Island, MD. The power boat race will consist of three heats with
approximately 7 22-foot-long boats in each race, competing on a
designated, marked course.
The Captain of the Port, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region 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 power boat race, such as the risk of collisions, would be a
safety concern for anyone intending to participate in this event and
for vessels that operate within the specified waters of Prospect Bay.
The purpose of this rule is to protect event participants, non-
participants, and transiting vessels before, during, and after the
scheduled event.
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 to publish
an NPRM, consider and respond to comments, and publish a final rule
within the time since we received the Marine Event Permit application
on April 9, if we are to establish this SLR by June 6, 2026, to protect
personnel, vessels, and the marine environment.
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.
[[Page 26920]]
III. Discussion of the Rule
This rule establishes a temporary SLR which will be subject to
enforcement from 12:30 p.m. through 3 p.m. on June 6, 2026.
Alternatively, and in the event of inclement weather, the SLR will only
be subject to enforcement from 12:30 p.m. through 3 p.m. on June 7. The
SLR will cover certain waters of Prospect Bay near Kent Island Narrows,
Maryland. The coordinates of these waters are provided in the rule
text, at the end of this document. No vessel or person other than those
that are registered with the event host as participants 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 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.T599-0502 to read as follows:
Sec. 100.T599-0502 Special Local Regulation; Prospect Bay, Kent
Island Narrows, MD.
(a) Location. This special local regulation applies to the
following regulated area:
(1) Regulated area. All waters of Prospect Bay, from surface to
bottom, encompassed by a line connecting the following points beginning
at 38[deg]57'55.1580'' N 76[deg]15'8.1180'' W, thence to
38[deg]58'0.2700'' N 76[deg]14'57.2100'' W, thence to
38[deg]57'42.9420'' N 76[deg]14'44.7480'' W, thence to
38[deg]57'38.1480'' N 76[deg]14'57.2100'' W and back to the beginning
point. The race area and buffer zone are within the regulated area.
(2) Race area. This area is bounded by a line commencing at
position 38[deg]57'54.6840'' N 76[deg]15'5.7300'' W, thence to
38[deg]57'58.2780'' N 76[deg]14'57.9720'' W, thence to
38[deg]57'43.7100'' N 76[deg]14'48.8100'' W, thence to
38[deg]57'40.6320'' N 76[deg]14'57.1440'' W, and back to the beginning
point.
(3) Buffer zone. The buffer zone surrounds the entire race area and
is bounded by a line commencing at position 38[deg]57'55.1580'' N
76[deg]15'8.1180'' W, thence to 38[deg]58'0.2700'' N
76[deg]14'57.2100'' W, thence to 38[deg]57'42.9420'' N
76[deg]14'44.7480'' W, thence to 38[deg]57'38.1480'' N
76[deg]14'57.2100'' W and back to the beginning point.
(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 Maryland-National Capital Region (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 or by telephone at (410) 576-2525.
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 periods. This section will be enforced from 12:30
p.m. through 3 p.m. on June 6, 2026.
[[Page 26921]]
Alternatively, and in the event of inclement weather, enforcement will
occur from 12:30 p.m. through 3 p.m. on June 07, 2026.
Dated: May 8, 2026.
Patrick C. Burkett,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Maryland-National
Capital Region.
[FR Doc. 2026-09493 Filed 5-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
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