Special Local Regulation; Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City, AZ

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of Lake Havasu. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Lake Havasu City, AZ during the 2026 Lake Havasu Witch Paddle event beginning at 8 a.m. on October 25, 2026, and ending the evening of October 25, 2026, at 2 p.m. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port San Diego or their designated representative.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 199 (Friday, October 16, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65687-65688]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21162]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

33 CFR Part 100

[Docket Number USCG-2026-1213]
RIN 1625-AA08


Special Local Regulation; Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City, AZ

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 Havasu. This 
action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these 
navigable waters near Lake Havasu City, AZ during the 2026 Lake Havasu 
Witch Paddle event beginning at 8 a.m. on October 25, 2026, and ending 
the evening of October 25, 2026, at 2 p.m. This regulation prohibits 
persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless 
specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port San Diego or their 
designated representative.

DATES: This rule is effective from 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. on October 25, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: To view available documents go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for USCG-2026-1213.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this rule, 
contact Lieutenant Skye Eastman, Sector San Diego Waterways Management 
Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 619-454-9027, or email 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#773a16051e191232011219030424333702041410591a1e1b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="8bc6eaf9e2e5eecefdeee5fff8d8cfcbfef8e8eca5e6e2e7">[email&#160;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

    The Coast Guard received a request under 33 CFR 100.15 from the 
Lake Havasu Witch Paddle & Southwest Outfitters for a Marine Event 
Permit to host the paddle. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 
on October 25, 2026, in Lake Havasu City, AZ. The paddle will include 
approximately 2000 participants.
    The Captain of the Port San Diego (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 2026 Lake 
Havasu Witch Paddle include the obstruction of the navigable channel 
due to the event's location and duration, as well as the high number of 
participants involved. The event will require partial closure of the 
Bridgewater Channel to vessel traffic in both directions during the 
event. These conditions present increased risks of collision, 
congestion, and interference with the normal flow of marine traffic. 
The purpose of this rulemaking is to ensure the safety of event 
participants, non-participating mariners, and transiting vessels 
before, during, and after the scheduled event.

[[Page 65688]]

    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 and contrary to the public interest. 
The Coast Guard was notified of this event without sufficient time to 
solicit comments before this SLR must be established on October 9, 
2026, to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment. 
Therefore, we have do not have enough time to solicit and respond to 
comments.
    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 from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on 
October 25, 2026. The special local regulation will cover all navigable 
waters within 100 yards of the paddling event. 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 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.T1199-0143 to read as follows:


Sec.  100.T1199-0143  Special Local Regulation; Lake Havasu, Lake 
Havasu City, AZ.

    (a) Location. This special local regulation applies to the 
following regulated area: All waters of Lake Havasu, from surface to 
bottom, encompassed by a line connecting Thompson Bay to the London 
Bridge in the Bridgewater Channel.
    (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 San Diego (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 (619) 454-9027. 
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 8 a.m. 
to 2 p.m. on October 25, 2026.

R.C. Tucker,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the Port Sector San Diego.
[FR Doc. 2026-21162 Filed 10-15-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P


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