Coast Guard 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces its intent to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) on the proposed decommissioning and excessing of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) STORIS (WMEC-38), homeported in Kodiak, AK, and USCGC ACUSHNET (WMEC-167), homeported in Ketchikan, AK. This notice provides information on the proposed action, requests public comments on environmental impacts that might occur from the proposed action, and provides instructions on how to submit comments to the USCG.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations governing the operation of the Beach Channel railroad bridge across Jamaica Bay, at mile 6.7, New York. This proposed rule would allow the Beach Channel Bridge to remain in the closed position during the morning and afternoon commuter rush hours from 6:45 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. This rule is expected to help facilitate commuter rail traffic while continuing to meet the present and anticipated needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard announces the completion of a Port Access Route Study that analyzed potential vessel routing measures and considered adjusting existing vessel routing measures in order to help reduce the risk of vessel strikes of the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale. The study focused on the northern region off the Atlantic Coast which included Cape Cod Bay, the area off Race Point at the northern end of Cape Cod (Race Point) and the Great South Channel; and in the southern region which included areas along the seacoast in the approaches to the Ports of Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach, Florida, and Brunswick, Georgia. This notice summarizes the study's recommendations. Comments on these recommendations are requested.

This is a notice of proposed rulemaking by the Department of Homeland Security, specifically by the Transportation Security Administration and the United States Coast Guard. If promulgated, this rule would implement the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program in the maritime sector. Under this program, merchant mariners holding an active License, Merchant Mariner Document, or Certificate of Registry and workers who require unescorted access to secure areas at maritime facilities or on vessels must undergo a security threat assessment, and, if found to not pose a security threat, obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential. Persons without Transportation Worker Identification Credentials will not be granted unescorted access to secure areas at affected maritime facilities or on vessels. Under this proposed rule, the Coast Guard seeks to amend its regulations on vessel and facility security to require the use of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential as an access control measure. It is also proposing to amend its regulations covering merchant mariners to incorporate the requirement to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential. In a separate rulemaking action published elsewhere in this edition of the Federal Register, the Coast Guard also is proposing to consolidate existing licensing and documentation regulations to minimize duplicative or redundant identification or background check requirements. The Transportation Security Administration proposes amending its security threat assessment standards that currently apply to commercial drivers authorized to transport hazardous materials in commerce to also apply to merchant mariners and workers who require unescorted access to secure areas on vessels and at port facilities. These proposed amendments also relate to the notification an employer receives when an employee who holds a hazardous materials endorsement or a Transportation Worker Identification Credential is determined to pose a security threat. The Transportation Security Administration also is proposing regulations dealing with the enrollment of port workers into the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program. In addition, the Transportation Security Administration is proposing a fee, as authorized under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2004, to pay for the costs related to the issuance of the Transportation Worker Identification Credentials under this rule. This rulemaking would enhance the security of ports by requiring background checks on persons and establishing a biometric access control system to prevent those who pose a security threat from gaining unescorted access to secure areas of ports. This rulemaking implements the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which requires that credentialed merchant mariners and workers with unescorted access to secured areas of vessels and facilities be subject to a security threat assessment and receive a biometric credential needed to access secured areas.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations in the navigable waters of the Sacramento River for a waterfront festival to be held on July 21 through July 23, 2006. The event includes boat racing, speed trials, water-skiing, and wakeboard competitions. The proposed special local regulations are intended to prohibit vessels and people from entering into or remaining within a regulated area in order to ensure the safety of participants and spectators.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a 1200 foot safety zone in the vicinity of Mathews, VA centered on position 37-23-56N/076-20- 42W on July 1, 2006 in support of the Mathews County Fireworks Event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on the East River as necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is seeking applications for appointment to membership on the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC). CTAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters relating to the safe and secure transportation and handling of hazardous materials in bulk on U.S.-flag vessels in U.S. ports and waterways.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the waters of the North Pacific Ocean bounded by a circle with a 2077-yard radius, centered at 13[deg]35'35'' North Latitude and 144[deg]56'29'' East Longitude (NAD 1983) in the vicinity of Pati Point, Guam. This safety zone is necessary to protect mariners who would otherwise transit or be within this area from possible safety hazards associated with U.S. Air Force detonation range operations. Entry of persons or vessels into this temporary safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in Sheboygan, WI, for the Rockets for Schools model rocket launch. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel and property from hazards associated with the storage, preparation, launching and recovery of model rockets, as well as for protection of the general public and vessels near where the rockets are being launched. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his duly appointed representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to implement a temporary safety zone for the TCF Bank Milwaukee Air Expo. This safety zone is necessary to safeguard vessels and spectators from hazards associated with air shows. This proposed rule is intended to restrict vessel traffic from a portion of Lake Michigan and Milwaukee Harbor.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operations of the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge, Mile 482.9, Rock Island, Illinois across the Upper Mississippi River. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m. on September 24, 2006. The deviation is necessary to allow time for repairs to mechanical components essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the Coast Guard has forwarded one Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR is 1625- 0073, Alteration of Unreasonably Obstructive Bridges under the Truman- Hobbs (T-H) Act. The ICR describes information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comment by OIRA ensures that we impose only paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Captain of the Port Portland, Oregon will begin, on April 23, 2006, enforcing a small area of the greater Large Passenger Vessel Security and Safety Zones that were published in the Federal Register on September 12, 2003. The zones provide for the security and safety of large passenger vessels in the navigable waters of Captain of the Port Portland, Oregon zone and adjacent waters. These security and safety zones will be enforced for passenger cruise ships only and only from the mouth of the Columbia River at buoy 14 upriver to, and including, Astoria, Oregon until October 31, 2006.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the draw of the U.S. 90 bascule bridge across the Back Bay of Biloxi, mile 0.4, between Biloxi and Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The bridge was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and will be replaced with a fixed bridge. Since the movable span of the bridge has been removed, the regulation controlling the opening and closing of the bridge is no longer necessary.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for the City of Lynn ``Fourth of July Fireworks'' occurring in Nahant Bay, Massachusetts. This safety zone is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public from the potential hazards associated with a fireworks display. The safety zone would temporarily prohibit entry into or movement within this portion of Nahant Bay during the closure period.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``Catholic Charities Dragon Boat Races'', a marine event to be held September 9, 2006 on the waters of the Patapsco River, Inner Harbor, Baltimore, MD. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Baltimore Inner Harbor during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for the Town of Weymouth's Fourth of July Celebration Fireworks in Weymouth, Massachusetts, currently scheduled to occur on July 1, 2006 with a rain date of July 2, 2006. The safety zone is needed to protect the maritime public from the potential hazards posed by a fireworks display. The safety zone will prohibit entry into or movement within this portion of the Weymouth Fore River during its effective period.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations during the ``6th Annual Escape from Fort Delaware Triathlon'', an event to be held June 10, 2006 on the waters of the Delaware River at Delaware City, DE. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Delaware River during the 6th Annual Escape from Fort Delaware Triathlon.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of San Carlos Bay, Florida in the vicinity of the Sanibel Island Bridge span ``A'' while bridge construction is conducted. This rule is necessary to ensure the safety of the construction workers and mariners on the navigable waters of the United States.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish temporary special local regulations for the ``SBIPFountain Powerboats Kilo Run and Super Boat Grand Prix'', a marine event to be held August 4 and August 6, 2006, on the waters of the Pamlico River, near Washington, North Carolina. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Pamlico River during the event.

The Coast Guard announces the stand-up of Sector Upper Mississippi River. Sector Upper Mississippi River is an internal reorganization that combines Group Upper Mississippi River and Marine Safety Office St. Louis into a single command. The Coast Guard has established a continuity of operations order whereby all previous practices and procedures will remain in effect until superseded by an authorized Coast Guard official or document.

This document informs the public that the Commandant of the Coast Guard is directing Coast Guard Captains of the Port to prevent access to waterfront facilities to persons that do not have appropriate identification credentials as defined under Coast Guard regulations. This document also identifies additional identification documents that have been approved by the Commandant as identification credentials.

The Coast Guard is temporarily revising the drawbridge operation regulations for the Heron Street Bridge on the Wishkah River, mile 0.2, at Aberdeen, Washington. The change will enable the bridge owner to provide delayed openings during major structural and mechanical rehabilitation of the bridge from April 2006 through March 2007.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around the M/V ZHEN HUA 1 while underway, anchored or moored on the Columbia River. Captain of the Port, Portland Oregon is taking this action to safeguard individuals and vessels from safety hazards associated with the transit of the M/V ZHEN HUA 1 while it is transporting a gantry crane on the Columbia River. This rule will provide a moving safety zone around the vessel for the purpose of safe and efficient navigation.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations for ``Atlantic County Day at the Bay'', an aerial demonstration to be held over the waters of Great Egg Harbor Bay adjacent to the City of Somers Point, New Jersey. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Great Egg Harbor Bay adjacent to Somers Point, New Jersey during the aerial demonstration.