Document

Safety Zones; Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone-Henderson Harbor, NY

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the location of a safety zone for certain navigable waters of Henderson Harbor, NY, that is contained in a table of recurring events for th...

Department of Homeland Security
Coast Guard
  1. 33 CFR Part 165
  2. [Docket Number USCG-2026-0303]
  3. RIN 1625-AA00

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the location of a safety zone for certain navigable waters of Henderson Harbor, NY, that is contained in a table of recurring events for the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone, to correct the coordinates. The coordinates that the Coast Guard previously received were inaccurate. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Eastern Great Lakes (COTP). We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

DATES:

Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before June 4, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

To submit comments and view available documents, go to https://www.regulations.gov and search for USCG-2026-0303.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

If you have questions about this proposed rule, contact MST3 Jared Dobbs, MSU Thousand Islands Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (315) 774-8724, or email SMB-MSUThousandIslands-WaterwaysManagement.

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

§ Section

U.S.C. United States Code

II. Background and Authority

The Coast Guard lists annual recurring safety zones for the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone in Table 1 to 33 CFR 165.939. Item (G)(33) in Table 1, the Christmas in July Fireworks in Henderson Harbor, NY, is held on or around the last weekend in July. The Coast Guard recently discovered the coordinates provided to the Coast Guard for this event were inaccurate. This proposed rule corrects those coordinates. Hazards from fireworks displays include accidental discharge of fireworks, dangerous projectiles, and falling hot embers or other debris. The COTP has determined that potential hazards associated with fireworks are a safety concern for anyone within a 420-foot radius of the fireworks display. Therefore, the COTP is proposing this rule under the authority in 46 U.S.C. 70034, which is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment in the navigable waters within the safety zone.

III. Discussion of the Rule

We are proposing to revise the coordinates for the Christmas in July Fireworks in Henderson Harbor, NY, to indicate the correct location for the fireworks barge. The safety zone would continue to cover all navigable waters within 420 feet of the fireworks barge, and the date in the regulation for this event would not change. No vessel or person would be permitted to enter the safety zone without obtaining permission from the COTP or their designated representative. The regulatory text we are proposing appears at the end of this document.

IV. Regulatory Analyses

We developed this proposed rule after considering numerous statutes and Executive orders related to rulemaking. Below we summarize our analysis based on a number of these statutes and Executive orders.

A. 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. Section 605 of the RFA allows an agency to certify a rule, in lieu of preparing an analysis, if the rulemaking is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The Coast Guard certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) that this proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a ( printed page 24150) substantial number of small entities for the following reasons.

Vessel traffic will be able to safely transit around this regulated area. This regulation will only impact a small area for a few hours. The enforcement period is during a time when vessel traffic is normally low. In addition, the Coast Guard will issue a Broadcast Notice to Marines via VHF FM marine channel 16, which will allow small entities to adjust their transit plans, and the rule allows vessels to request permission to enter the regulated area from COTP.

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 proposed rule would economically affect it.

Under section 213(a) of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104-121), if this proposed 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).

B. Collection of Information

This proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 proposed 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 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 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 proposed rule involves safety zones. 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 preliminary Record of Environmental Consideration supporting this determination is available in the docket.

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 at https://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, type USCG-2026-0303 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 the docket. To view available documents, find the docket as described in the previous paragraph, and then select “Supporting & Related Material” in the Document Type column. We will post public comments in our online docket. Additional information is on the https://www.regulations.gov Frequently Asked Questions web page.

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 165

  • 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 165 as follows:

PART 165—REGULATED NAVIGATION AREAS AND LIMITED ACCESS AREAS

1. The authority citation for part 165 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 70034, 70051, 70124; 33 CFR 1.05-1, 6.04-1, 6.04-6, and 160.5; Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

2. Revise § 165.939, in Table 1, item (G)(33), as follows:

Safety Zones; Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone.
* * * * *

Table 1 to § 165.939

Event Location Date
*         *         *         *         *         *         *
(G) July Safety Zones
( printed page 24151)
*         *         *         *         *         *         *
(33) Christmas in July Fireworks Henderson Harbor, NY. All waters within a 420-foot radius of the barge at position 43°51′55″ N 76°12′23″ W in Henderson Harbor, NY On or around the last weekend of July.
*         *         *         *         *         *         *
* * * * *

Adam T. Mosley,

CDR, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port Sector Eastern Great Lakes.

[FR Doc. 2026-08752 Filed 5-4-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9110-04-P

Legal Citation

Federal Register Citation

Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.

91 FR 24149

Web Citation

Suggested Web Citation

Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.

“Safety Zones; Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone-Henderson Harbor, NY,” thefederalregister.org (May 5, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-08752/safety-zones-annual-events-in-the-captain-of-the-port-eastern-great-lakes-zone-henderson-harbor-ny.