Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Potomac River. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters near Washington, DC from potential hazards posed by a fireworks display which will take place on October 5, 2023. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Maryland-National Capital Region, or a designated representative.

This rule makes non-substantive changes to Coast Guard regulations in association with a change in the Coast Guard's internal organization. The purpose of this rule is to reflect that U.S. Coast Guard Sector Juneau has been renamed U.S. Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

The Coast Guard will enforce the regulated areas in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay for the San Francisco Bay Navy Fleet Week Parade of Ships and Blue Angels Survey Flight and Demonstration days from October 5 through October 8, 2023. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the regulated area, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM). This notification of enforcement (NOE) announces the dates and times for enforcement.

The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule to revise the training requirements for national Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements as master of towing vessels (limited) or mate (pilot) of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers routes. Consistent with recommendations from two Federal advisory committees, this rule gives mariners seeking these endorsements the option of taking a modified basic firefighting course. That course excludes training on equipment that is not required to be carried on towing vessels operating on inland waters or the Western Rivers. Applicants who take the modified basic firefighting course will reduce their costs because it is shorter and less expensive than the basic firefighting course.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily modify the operating schedule that governs the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, Nassau County, NY. The bridge owner, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), submitted a request to operate the bridge under single leaf openings to perform bridge deck replacement. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and Beaufort Inlet in Morehead City, North Carolina. This SLR, will be enforced annually for one weekend each September, and will restrict vessel traffic on the AICW and Beaufort Inlet during high-speed boat races. The restriction of vessel traffic movement in the SLR is for the purpose of protecting participants and spectators from the hazards posed by these events. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), North Carolina or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for the Ohio River from October 2 through October 5, 2023, at mile marker 79.5 to mile marker 80 from 8 a.m. through 7 p.m. each day. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a helicopter operation. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary, moving safety zone for all navigable waters of the La Quinta and Corpus Christi Shipping Channel between gated pair lights 11 and 12 to the sea buoy. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards arising from the towing of the rig NFE PIONEER II. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi, or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waterways surrounding Key West, Florida, during the 26th Annual Key West Paddle Classic event. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the ``Swim the Loop and Motts Channel Sprint'' on October 15, 2023, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event, which lies in the vicinity of Wrightsville Beach, NC. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any official authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector North Carolina.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the waters of the Allegheny River on September 22, 2023, at mile marker 15.5 to 16.5 from 7:30 through 9 a.m. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during an on- land demolition. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Coast Guard data to the public in implementation of the Open Government Data Act and in support of Coast Guard rulemaking. The Coast Guard anticipates that the online data and geospatial dashboard will empower the general public, affected entities, and other interested parties to engage more effectively in Coast Guard rulemakings. We encourage you to submit comments describing what additional resources or data would help you participate in Coast Guard rulemakings.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Swim around Charleston on September 24, 2023, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Captain of the Port Charleston identifies the regulated area for this event in Charleston, SC. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Clearwater offshore Nationals/Race World Offshore on September 24, 2023, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Clearwater, FL. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters at the opening of Bay St. Louis, extending the entire width of the channel, approximately \1/2\ mile south of the Hwy 90 Bridge. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the 2023 Swim Across the Bay. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the San Diego Bay. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards during a U.S. Army parachute demonstration. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Diego.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone for the navigable waters of the Sector Virginia Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone, to be enforced in the event of hurricanes, tropical storms, and other storms with high winds. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of the waters of the Sector Virginia COTP Zone. This proposed rulemaking would establish actions to be completed by industry and vessels within the COTP Zone before hurricanes, tropical storms, and other storms with high winds threatening the State of Virginia make landfall, and afterwards as well. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters in the Missouri River at Mile Marker (MM) 184.5 through 185.5. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from all potential hazards associated with the demolition of the I-70 Bridge. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking, ``Marine Casualty Reporting on the Outer Continental Shelf,'' published June 14, 2023, that seeks comments on proposed changes to reporting criteria for certain casualties on the outer continental shelf (OCS) and a proposed increase to property damage dollar threshold that triggers a casualty report for fixed facilities on the OCS. We are extending the comment period an additional 60 days to allow the public more time to comment. The comment period is now open through November 13, 2023.

The Coast Guard is activating three safety zones for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Commercial Crew Program 6 (Crew-6) mission reentry vehicle splashdown, and recovery operations. These operations will occur in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Our regulation for safety zones in reentry sites within the Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated areas for this event. No U.S.-flagged vessel may enter the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a designated representative. Foreign-flagged vessels are encouraged to remain outside the safety zones.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Portland Dragon Boat Races from September 9 through 10, 2023, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Thirteenth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event on the Willamette River in Portland, OR. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with the directions from the Patrol Commander or any official patrol vessel. Official patrol vessels may consist of any Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, state, or local law enforcement vessels assigned or approved by the Captain of the Port, Sector Columbia River.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean near Islamorada, Florida during the Swim for Alligator Lighthouse, open water swim event. A safety zone for recurring marine events exists; however, for this year's event the date has changed. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. Persons and non-participant vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces the recertification of the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (CIRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook Inlet, Alaska. This certification allows the CIRCAC to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Cook Inlet Program established by the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters on Lake St. Clair in Grosse Point Park, MI. The safety zone is necessary and intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with fireworks displays created by the Foster family. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for certain waters of the Detroit River, Grosse Ile, MI. This action is necessary to protect safety of life on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and after the Find Your Way Home Swim. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or a designated representative.