Special Local Regulation; Maumee River, Toledo, OH
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Maumee River near Toledo, OH. This action is necessary to provide ...
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Maumee River near Toledo, OH. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during the Glass City Regatta occurring on September 19, 2026. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Detroit or their designated representative.
DATES:
This rule is effective from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. on September 19, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
To view available documents go to
www.regulations.gov
and search for USCG-2026-1161.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
If you have questions about this rule, contact MST2 Jacob Allen, Waterways Management Division, U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Toledo; (419) 418-6050,
D09-SMB-MSUToledo-WWM@uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Table of Abbreviations
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
COTP Captain of the Port
( printed page 58820)
DHS Department of Homeland Security
FR Federal Register
NPRM Notice of proposed rulemaking
§ Section
SLR Special Local Regulation
U.S.C. United States Code
II. Background and Authority
The Coast Guard received a Marine Event Application under 33 CFR 100.15 from the Toledo Rowing Foundation to host a rowing regatta. The event will be held from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. on September 19, 2026, in Toledo, OH. The event will include approximately 30 rowing vessels.
The Captain of the Port Detroit (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 rowing regatta include the participants rowing within the navigable channel, as well as the possibility that participants rowing within approaches to local public and private boat facilities might collide with or otherwise interfere with boaters near those facilities. The purpose of this rulemaking is to protect event participants, non-participants, and transiting vessels before, during, and after the scheduled event.
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. On August 31, 2026, the Coast Guard became aware that the planned racecourse differed from the historical course used for this event, described in 33 CFR 100.911, Table 1, Event 14. We must establish this SLR by September 19, 2026, to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment. Therefore, we 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 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. on September 19, 2026. The special local regulation will cover all navigable waters of the Maumee River from river mile 6.0 to river mile 3.2. 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. 4321et 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.
Special Local Regulation; Maumee River, Toledo, OH.
(a)
Location.
This special local regulation applies to the following regulated area: All waters of the Maumee River, from surface to bottom, beginning at river mile 6.0, south of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, to river mile 3.2, northeast of the Craig Memorial Bridge.
(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 Detroit (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.
( printed page 58821)
(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. 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 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on September 19, 2026.
Brett F. McCall,
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Captain of the Port Sector Detroit.