Special Local Regulation; Choptank River, Cambridge, MD

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain waters of the Choptank River, near Cambridge, MD. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during a power boat racing event on August 29, 2026 and August 30, 2026. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Maryland-National Capital Region or their designated representative.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 163 (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 25, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54810-54812]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17299]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2026-1060]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulation; Choptank River, Cambridge, MD

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 waters of the Choptank River, near 
Cambridge, MD. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of 
life on these navigable waters during a power boat racing event on 
August 29, 2026 and August 30, 2026. This regulation prohibits persons 
and vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically 
authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector

[[Page 54811]]

Maryland-National Capital Region or their designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 9 a.m. on August 29, 2026, through 7 
p.m. on August 30, 2026. It will only be subject to enforcement, 
however, from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on each of those two days.

ADDRESSES: To view available documents go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for USCG-2026-1060.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule, 
contact MST1 Zachary Rudy, Sector Maryland NCR Waterways Management 
Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (410) 576-2693, or email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f4ae95979c95868ddaa7daa681908db481879793da999d98"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a1fbc0c2c9c0d3d88ff28ff3d4c5d8e1d4d2c2c68fccc8cd">[email&#160;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
NAD North American Datum 83
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
Sec.  Section
SLR Special Local Regulation
U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background and Authority

    The Coast Guard received a request under 33 CFR 100.15 from the 
Kent Narrows Racing Association for a Marine Event Permit to host 
``Thunder on the Choptank,'' a power boat race. The event will be held 
from 10 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on August 29, 2026 and August 30, 2026, in 
and around Cambridge, MD. The power boat race will be competing on a 
designated, marked course.
    The COTP, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region is issuing this 
(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 the Choptank River. The purpose of this rule is to 
protect event participants, non-participants, and transiting vessels 
before, during, and after the scheduled event.
    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 
to publish an NPRM, consider and respond to comments, and publish a 
final rule by August 29, 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.

III. Discussion of the Rule

    This rule establishes a temporary SLR which will be subject to 
enforcement from 10 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. on August 29, 2026 and from 
10 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. on August 30, 2026. The SLR will cover 
certain waters of the Choptank River, near Cambridge, MD. 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 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.T599-1060 to read as follows:

[[Page 54812]]

Sec.  100.T599-1060   Special Local Regulation; Choptank River, 
Cambridge, MD.

    (a) Location. This special local regulation applies to the 
following regulated area: All waters of Hambrooks Bay, from surface to 
bottom, encompassed by a line connecting the following coordinates: 
Commencing at the shoreline at Long Wharf Park, Cambridge, MD, at 
position latitude 38[deg]34'30'' N, longitude 076[deg]04'16'' W; thence 
east to latitude 38[deg]34'20'' N, longitude 076[deg]03'46'' W; thence 
northeast across the Choptank River along the Senator Frederick C. 
Malkus, Jr. (US-50) Memorial Bridge, at mile 15.5, to latitude 
38[deg]35'30'' N, longitude 076[deg]02'52'' W; thence west along the 
shoreline to latitude 38[deg]35'38'' N, longitude 076[deg]03'09'' W; 
thence north and west along the shoreline to latitude 38[deg]36'42'' N, 
longitude 076[deg]04'15'' W; thence southwest across the Choptank River 
to latitude 38[deg]35'31'' N, longitude 076[deg]04'57'' W; thence west 
along the Hambrooks Bay breakwall to latitude 38[deg]35'33'' N, 
longitude 076[deg]05'17'' W; thence south and east along the shoreline 
to and terminating at the point of origin. These coordinates are based 
on 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 COTP 
Sector Maryland National Capital Region in the enforcement of the 
regulated area. Non-participant means any person or vessel not 
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) 576-2693. 
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 10 a.m. 
to 6:00 p.m. on August 29, 2026 and from 10 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. on 
August 30, 2026.

Patrick C. Burkett,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector Maryland NCR.
[FR Doc. 2026-17299 Filed 8-24-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


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