<RULE>
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
<SUBAGY>Coast Guard</SUBAGY>
<CFR>33 CFR Part 165</CFR>
<DEPDOC>[Docket Number USCG-2025-0654]</DEPDOC>
<RIN>RIN 1625-AA00</RIN>
<SUBJECT>Safety Zone; Lake Michigan, Sheboygan, WI</SUBJECT>
<HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD>
Coast Guard, DHS.
<HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD>
Temporary final rule.
<SUM>
<HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD>
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, WI. This rule is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated during a high-speed boat race. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan.
</SUM>
<EFFDATE>
<HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD>
This rule is effective each day from August 8 through August 10, 2025.
</EFFDATE>
<HD SOURCE="HED">ADDRESSES:</HD>
To view documents mentioned in this preamble as being available in the docket, go to
<E T="03">https://www.regulations.gov,</E>
type USCG-2025-0654 in the search box and click “Search.” Next, in the Document Type column, select “Supporting & Related Material.”
<FURINF>
<HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD>
If you have questions about this rule, call or email Lieutenant Commander Jessica Anderson, Sector Lake Michigan Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone 414-747-7182, email
<E T="03">d09-smb-seclakemichigan-wwm@uscg.mil.</E>
</FURINF>
<SUPLINF>
<HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD>
<HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Table of Abbreviations</HD>
<EXTRACT>
<FP SOURCE="FP-1">CFR Code of Federal Regulations</FP>
<FP SOURCE="FP-1">DHS Department of Homeland Security</FP>
<FP SOURCE="FP-1">FR Federal Register</FP>
<FP SOURCE="FP-1">NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking</FP>
<FP SOURCE="FP-1">§ Section </FP>
<FP SOURCE="FP-1">U.S.C. United States Code</FP>
</EXTRACT>
<HD SOURCE="HD1">II. Background Information and Regulatory History</HD>
The Coast Guard is issuing this temporary rule under the authority in 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B). This statutory provision authorizes an agency to issue a rule without prior notice and opportunity to comment when the agency for good cause finds that those procedures are “impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the public interest.” The Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for not publishing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with respect to this rule because the complete information surrounding the event was not obtained with sufficient time to propose a rule, consider comments, and publish a final rule in time to respond to the potential safety risks associated with this high-speed boat race scheduled for August 8, 2025.
Also, under 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), the Coast Guard finds that good cause exists for making this rule effective less than 30 days after publication in the
<E T="04">Federal Register</E>
. Delaying the effective date of this rule for 30 days would be contrary to the public interest by inhibiting the Coast Guard's ability to protect attendees in the navigable waters high-speed boat race.
<HD SOURCE="HD1">III. Legal Authority and Need for Rule</HD>
The Coast Guard is issuing this rule under authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034. The Captain of the Port Sector Lake Michigan (COTP) has determined that potential hazards associated with the Sheboygan Midwest Challenge would be a safety concern for anyone within the safety zone that is not participating in the event. The purpose of this rule is to ensure safety of vessels and the navigable waters in the safety zone before, during, and after the scheduled event.
<HD SOURCE="HD1">IV. Discussion of the Rule</HD>
This rule establishes a safety zone which will be enforced each day, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., starting on August 8, 2025, and continuing through August 10, 2025. The safety zone will cover certain waters of Lake Michigan with a rectangle shaped racecourse offshore of Sheboygan, WI. The duration of the zone is intended to ensure the safety of vessels and these navigable waters before, during, and after the high-speed boat race. No vessels or persons will be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or a designated representative.
<HD SOURCE="HD1">V. Regulatory Analyses</HD>
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.
<HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Regulatory Planning and Review</HD>
Executive Orders 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review) 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. Executive Order 13563 emphasizes the importance of quantifying both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and of promoting flexibility.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has not designated this rule a “significant regulatory action,” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866. Accordingly, OMB has not reviewed it.
This regulatory action determination is based on characteristics of the safety zone. The safety zone created by this rule will be relatively small, is designed to minimize its impact on navigable waters, and is not anticipated to exceed 10 hours in duration each day the rule is in place. Furthermore, under certain conditions vessels may still transit through the safety zone when permitted by the COTP or designated representative.
<HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Impact on Small Entities</HD>
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 rule will 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 V.A above, this rule will not have a significant economic impact on any vessel owner or operator.
Small businesses may send comments on the actions of Federal employees who enforce, or otherwise determine compliance with, Federal regulations to the Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and the Regional Small Business Regulatory Fairness Boards. The Ombudsman evaluates these actions annually and rates each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on actions by employees of the Coast Guard, call 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.
<HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Collection of Information</HD>
This rule will not call for a new collection of information under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
<HD SOURCE="HD2">D. Federalism and Indian Tribal Governments</HD>
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 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 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.
<HD SOURCE="HD2">E. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act</HD>
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 rule will not result in such an expenditure, we do discuss the effects of this rule elsewhere in this preamble.
<HD SOURCE="HD2">F. Environment</HD>
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. 4321-4370f), 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 involves a safety zone lasting 10 hours in duration each day that will prohibit entry into certain waters of Lake Michigan with a rectangle shaped racecourse offshore of Sheboygan, WI. It is categorically excluded from further review under paragraph L60(a) of Appendix A, Table 1 of DHS Instruction Manual 023-01-001-01, Rev. 1. A Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available in the docket. For instructions on locating the docket, see the
<E T="02">ADDRESSES</E>
section of this preamble.
<LSTSUB>
<HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 33 CFR Par
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