BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Part 100
[Docket Number USCG-2024-0244]
RIN 1625-AA08
Special Local Regulations; Recurring Marine Events, Sector St. Petersburg

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard is proposing to revise existing regulations by updating
the dates of existing events in the Seventh Coast Guard District Captain of the Port
(COTP) St. Petersburg. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these
navigable waters in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, FL. Through this notice the current list
of recurring special local regulations is updated with the revisions to two existing events.
When these special local regulations are enforced, certain restrictions are placed on
marine traffic in specified areas. The Coast Guard invites your comments on this
proposed rulemaking.
DATES: Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or
before [INSERT DATE 30 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE
FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by docket number USCG-20240244 using the Federal Decision-Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. See the
“Public Participation and Request for Comments” portion of the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section for further instructions on submitting comments. This notice
of proposed rulemaking with its plain-language, 100-word-or-less proposed rule
summary will be available in this same docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions about this
proposed rulemaking, call or email Marine Science Technician First Class Mara J.
Brown, Sector St. Petersburg Prevention Department, Coast Guard; telephone (813) 2282191, e-mail Mara.J.Brown@uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR
DHS
FR
NPRM
§
U.S.C.

Code of Federal Regulations
Department of Homeland Security
Federal Register
Notice of proposed rulemaking
Section
United States Code

II. Background, Purpose, and Legal Basis
The Coast Guard proposes to amend the Recurring Marine Events in the
geographic boundaries of the Seventh Coast Guard District Captain of the Port (COTP)
St. Petersburg Zone that are listed in 33 CFR 100.703, Table 1 to § 100.703. The
proposed rule would ensure that the public is informed of the most up to date recurring
special local regulations. The current list under § 100.703, Table 1 to § 100.703 requires
amendments to two existing special local regulations. The purpose of this rulemaking is
to ensure the safety of vessels and the navigable waters, during, and after the scheduled
events. The Coast Guard is proposing this rulemaking under authority in 46 U.S.C.
70041.
III. Discussion of Proposed Rule
This rule proposes to make the following changes in 33 CFR 100.703, Table 1 to
§ 100.703:
1. Revise Line No. 4, to reflect a date and time change to “One weekend (Friday,
Saturday,
and Sunday) in September Time (Approximate): 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
2. Revise Line No. 5, to reflect a date and time change to “One weekend (Friday,
Saturday,
and Sunday) in October Time (Approximate): 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Marine events
listed in Table 1 to § 100.703 are listed as recurring over a particular time, during each
month and each year. Exact dates are intentionally omitted since calendar dates for
specific events change from year to year. Once dates for a marine event are known, the
Coast Guard notifies the public it intends to enforce the special local regulation through
various means including a notice of enforcement published in the Federal Register, Local
Notice to Mariners, and Broadcast Notice to Mariners.
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, and we discuss First Amendment rights of
protestors.
A. Regulatory Planning and Review

Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess the costs and benefits
of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory
approaches that maximize net benefits. This NPRM has not been designated a
“significant regulatory action,” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, as amended
by Executive Order 14094 (Modernizing Regulatory Review). Accordingly, the NPRM
has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
This regulatory action determination is based on the size, location, and duration of
the special local regulations. These areas are limited in size and duration, and usually do
not affect high vessel traffic areas. Moreover, the Coast Guard would provide advance
notice of the regulated areas to the local maritime community by Local Notice to
Mariners, Broadcast Notice to Mariners via VHF-FM marine channel 16, and the rule
would allow vessels to seek permission to enter the regulated area.
B. 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.
While some owners or operators of vessels intending to transit the safety zone
may be small entities, for the reasons stated in section IV.A above, this proposed rule
would not have a significant economic impact on any vessel owner or operator.

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
qualifies and how and to what degree this rule would economically affect it.
Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), we want to assist small entities in understanding this proposed
rule. If the proposed rule would affect your small business, organization, or
governmental jurisdiction and you have questions concerning its provisions or options for
compliance, please call or email the person listed in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section. The Coast Guard will not retaliate against small
entities that question or complain about this proposed rule or any policy or action of the
Coast Guard.
C. Collection of Information
This proposed rule would not call for a new collection of information under the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520).
D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments
A rule has implications for federalism under Executive Order 13132 (Federalism),
if it has a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the National
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the
various levels of government. We have analyzed this proposed rule under that Order and
have determined that it is consistent with the fundamental federalism principles and
preemption requirements described in Executive Order 13132.
Also, this proposed rule does not have tribal implications under Executive Order

13175 (Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments) because it would
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. If you believe this
proposed rule has implications for federalism or Indian tribes, please call or email the
person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531–1538) requires
Federal agencies to assess the effects of their discretionary regulatory actions. In
particular, the Act addresses actions that may result in the expenditure by a State, local,
or tribal government, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of $100,000,000 (adjusted
for inflation) or more in any one year. Though this proposed rule would not result in
such an expenditure, we do discuss the potential effects of this proposed rule elsewhere in
this preamble.
F. 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. 4321–4370f), and have made
a preliminary determination 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 involves revising an existing recurring event to reflect a date and time
change for the event. Normally such actions are categorically excluded from further

review under paragraphs L61 in Table 3-1 of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction
Manual 023–01–001–01, Rev. 1, because it involves a revised special local regulation
related to a marine event permit for marine parades, regattas, and other marine events.
We seek any comments or information that may lead to the discovery of a significant
environmental impact from this proposed rule.
G. Protest Activities
The Coast Guard respects the First Amendment rights of protesters. Protesters are
asked to call or email the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section to coordinate protest activities so that your message can be received
without jeopardizing the safety or security of people, places, or vessels.
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 through the
Federal Decision-Making Portal at https://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to
https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2024-0244 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
https://www.regulations.gov, call or email the person in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section of this proposed rule for alternate instructions.
Viewing material in docket. To view documents mentioned in this proposed rule
as being available in the docket, find the docket as described in the previous paragraph,
and then select “Supporting & Related Material” in the Document Type column. Public
comments will also be placed in our online docket and can be viewed by following
instructions on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked Questions webpage.
Also, if you click on the Dockets tab and then the proposed rule, you should see a
“Subscribe” option for email alerts. The option will notify you when comments are
posted, or a final rule is published.
We review all comments received, but we will only post comments that address
the topic of the proposed rule. We may choose not to post off-topic, inappropriate, or
duplicate comments that we receive.
Personal information. We accept anonymous comments. Comments we post to
https://www.regulations.gov 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
1. The authority citation for part 100 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70041; 33 CFR 1.05-1.
3. In § 100.703, revise Table 1 to read as follows:
*

*

*

*

*

Table 1 to §100.703 – Special Local Regulations; Recurring Marine
Events, Sector St. Petersburg
Date / Time
1. One Saturday in
January
Time (Approximate):
11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Event / Sponsor
Gasparilla Invasion
and Parade/Ye
Mystic Krewe of
Gasparilla

Location
Tapa, Florida

Regulated Area
Location: A regulated area is established
consisting of the following waters of
Hillsborough Bay and its tributaries
north of 27°51’18”N and south of the
John F. Kennedy Bridge: Hillsborough
Cut “D” Channel, Seddon Channel,
Sparkman Channel and the Hillsborough
River south of the John F. Kennedy
Bridge.
Additional Regulation: (1) Entrance into
the regulated area is prohibited to all
commercial marine traffic from 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. EST on the day of the event.
(2) The regulated area will include a 100
yard Safety Zone around the vessel
JOSE GASPAR while docked at the
Tampa Yacht Club until 6 p.m. EST on
the day of the event.
(3) The regulated area is a “no wake”
zone.
(4) All vessels within the regulated area
shall stay 50 feet away from and give
way to all officially entered vessels in
parade formation in the Gasparilla
Marine Parade.
(5) When within the marked channels of
the parade route, vessels participating in

2. One Saturday in
February

Bradenton Area River Bradenton, FL
Regatta / City of
Bradenton

Time (Approximate):
9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

the Gasparilla Marine Parade may not
exceed the minimum speed necessary to
maintain steerage.
(6) Jet skis and vessels without
mechanical propulsion are prohibited
from the parade route.
(7) Vessels less than 10 feet in length
are prohibited from the parade route
unless capable of safely participating.
(8) Vessels found to be unsafe to
participate at the discretion of a present
Law Enforcement Officer are prohibited
from the parade route.
(9) Northbound vessels in excess of 65
feet in length without mooring
arrangement made prior to the date of
the event are prohibited from entering
Seddon Channel unless the vessel is
officially entered in the Gasparilla
Marine Parade.
(10) Vessels not officially entered in the
Gasparilla Marine Parade may not enter
the parade staging area box within the
following coordinates: 27°53’53” N,
082°27’47” W; 27°53’22” N,
082°27’10” W; 27°52’36” N,
082°27’55” W; 27°53’02” N,
082°28’31” W.
Location(s) Enforcement Area #1. All
waters of the Manatee River between
the Green Bridge and the CSX Train
Trestle contained within the following
points: 27º30’43” N, 082º34’20” W,
thence to position 27º30’44” N,
082º34’09” W, thence to position 27º30’
00” N, 082º34’04” W, thence to position
27º29’58” N, 082º34’15” W, thence
back to the original position, 27º30’43”
N, 082º34’20” W.
Enforcement Area #2. All waters of the
Manatee River contained within the
following points: 27º30’35” N,
082º34’37” W, thence to position
27º30’35” N, 082º34’26” W, thence to
position 27º30’26” N, 082º34’26” W,
thence to position 27º30’26” N,

3. One weekend
(Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday) in March

Gulfport Grand Prix /
Gulfport Grand Prix
LLC.

Gulfport, FL

Sarasota Powerboat
Grand Prix /
Powerboat P-1 USA,
LLC.

Sarasota, FL

St.Petersburg
Powerboat Grand
Prix

St. Petersburg,
FL

Time (Approximate):
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

4. One weekend
(Friday, Saturday and
Sunday) in September
Time (Approximate):
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

5. One weekend
(Friday, Saturday and
Sunday) in October
Time (Approximate):
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

6. One weekend
Clearwater Offshore
(Saturday and Sunday) Nationals / Race
in September
World Offshore

Clearwater, FL

082º34’37” W, thence back to the
original position, 27º30’35” N,
082º34’37” W.
Location(s): (1) Race Area. All waters
of Boca de Ciego contained within the
following points: 27º44’10’’ N,
082º42’29’’ W, thence to position
27º44’07’’ N, 082º42’40’’ W, thence to
position 27º44’06’’ N, 082º42’40’’ W,
thence to position 27º44’04’’ N,
082º42’29’’ W, thence to position
27°44’07’’ N, 082°42’19’’ W, thence to
position 27°44’08’’ N, 082°42’19’’ W,
thence back to the original position,
27º44’10’’ N, 082º42’29’’ W.
(2) Buffer Zone. All waters of Boca de
Ciego encompassed within the
following points: 27º44’10’’ N,
082º42’47’’ W, thence to position
27º44’01’’ N, 082º42’44’’ W, thence to
position 27º44’01’’ N, 082º42’14’’ W,
thence to position 27º44’15’’ N,
082º42’14’’ W.
Location: All waters of the Gulf of
Mexico contained within the following
points: 27º18’44” N, 082º36’14” W,
thence to position 27º19’09” N,
082º35’13” W, thence to position
27º17’42”, N, 082º34’00” W, thence to
position 27º16’43” N, 082º34’49” W,
thence back to the original position,
27º18’44” N, 082º36’14” W
Location: All waters of the Tampa Bay
encompassed within the following
points: 27°46'56.22" N,
082°36'55.50"W, thence to position
27°47'08.82" N, 082°34'33.24" W,
thence to position 27°46'06.96" N,
082°34'29.04" W, thence to position
27°45'59.22" N, 082°37'02.88"W,
thence back to the original position
27°46'24.24" N, 082°37'30.24" W.
Locations: (1) Race Area. All waters of
the Gulf of Mexico contained within the
following points: 27º58’34” N,
82º50’09” W, thence to position

Time (Approximate):
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

7. One Thursday,
Friday, and Saturday
in October

Roar Offshore / OPA
Racing LLC.

Fort Myers
Beach, FL

OPA World
Championships /
Englewood Beach
Waterfest

Englewood
Beach, FL

Time (Approximate):
10:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m.

8. One weekend
(Friday, Saturday, and
Sunday) in November
Time (Approximate):
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

27º58’32” N, 82º50’02” W, thence to
position 28º00’12” N, 82º50’10” W,
thence to position 28º00’13” N,
82º50’10” W, thence back to the
original position, 27º58’34” N,
82º50’09” W.
(2) Spectator Area. All waters of Gulf
of Mexico seaward no less than 150
yards from the race area and as agreed
upon by the Coast Guard and race
officials.
(3) Enforcement Area. All waters of the
Gulf of Mexico encompassed within the
following points: 28º58’40” N,
82º50’37” W, thence to position
28º00’57” N, 82º49’45” W, thence to
position 27º58’32” N, 82º50’32” W,
thence to position 27º58’23” N,
82º49’53” W, thence back to position
28º58’40” N, 82º50’37” W.
Locations: All waters of the Gulf of
Mexico west of Fort Myers Beach
contained within the following points:
26°26’27” N, 081°55’55” W, thence to
position 26°25’33” N, longitude
081°56’34” W, thence to position
26°26’38” N, 081°58’40”W, thence to
position 26°27’25” N, 081°58’8” W,
thence back to the original position
26°26’27”N, 081°55’55”W.
Locations: (1) Race Area. All waters of
the Gulf of Mexico contained within the
following points: 26º56’00” N,
082º22’11” W, thence to position
26º55’59” N, 082º22’16” W, thence to
position 26º54’22” N, 082º21’20” W,
thence to position 26º54’24” N,
082º21’16” W, thence to position
26º54’25” N, 082º21’17” W, thence
back to the original position, 26º56’00”
N, 082º21’11” W.
(2) Spectator Area. All waters of the
Gulf of Mexico contained with the
following points: 26º55’33” N,
082º22’21” W, thence to position
26º54’14” N, 082º21’35” W, thence to

position 26º54’11” N, 082º21’40” W,
thence to position 26º55’31” N,
082º22’26” W , thence back to position
26º55’33” N, 082º22’21” W.
(3) Enforcement Area. All waters of the
Gulf of Mexico encompassed within the
following points: 26º56’09” N,
082º22’12” W, thence to position
26º54’13” N, 082º21’03” W, thence to
position 26º53’58” N, 082º21’43” W,
thence to position 26º55’56” N,
082º22’48” W, thence back to position
26º56’09” N, 082º22’12” W.
* * * * * * *

Dated: June 11, 2024.
Michael P. Kahle,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard,
Captain of the Port Sector St. Petersburg.

[FR Doc. 2024-14245 Filed: 7/2/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 7/3/2024]