Coast Guard June 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone encompassing a portion of the Keweenaw waterway on June 17, 2012. This safety zone is intended to help protect triathlon participants, as well as boaters and spectators of the event.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision to the following collections of information: 1625-0012, Certificate of Discharge to Merchant Mariner and 1625-0040, Application for Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate Evaluation Report, Small Vessel Sea Service Form, DOT/USCG Periodic Drug Testing Form, and Merchant Mariner Evaluation of Fitness for Entry Level Ratings, Merchant Mariner Credential, Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate, Recognition of Foreign Certificate. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

On March 23, 2012, the Coast Guard published in the Federal Register a Final Rule entitled ``Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters''. The rulemaking triggered new information collection requirements affecting vessel owners and their potential requests for an extension of the compliance date if they cannot practicably comply with the compliance date otherwise applicable to their vessels. This document announces that the request to revise the existing collection of information to add the new request for an extension provision has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and may now be enforced. The OMB control number is 1625-0069.

The Coast Guard will establish a special local regulation during the Chesapeake Bay Workboat Race, a series of boat races to be held on the waters of Back River, Poquoson, Virginia. Because this event will consist of approximately 75 powerboats conducting high-speed competitive races on the waters of Back River, this regulation is 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 Back River, Messick Point, Poquoson, Virginia during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Long Island Sound in the vicinity of Manursing Island, NY for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This rule is intended to restrict all vessels from a portion of Long Island Sound before, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones in the Sector New York area of responsibility on various dates and times. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard will establish a Special Local Regulation for ``The Crossing'' swim event to be held on the waters of Lake Gaston, adjacent to the Eaton Ferry Bridge in Littleton, North Carolina. This Special Local Regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on Lake Gaston under the Eaton Ferry Bridge and within 100 yards west of the bridge during the swim event.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval for the following collection of information: 1625-NEW, Coast Guard Living Marine Resources (LMR) Enforcement Survey. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones in the Sector New York area of responsibility on various dates and times. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard is amending the current regulations for fire suppression systems on several classes of commercial vessels. The amendments clarify that approved alternatives to carbon dioxide systems may be used to protect some spaces on these vessels, and set general requirements for alternative systems. Additionally, certain new carbon dioxide systems must be equipped with lockout valves and odorizing units to protect persons after a carbon dioxide discharge. By requiring these features on carbon dioxide systems and by making a wider range of fire suppression systems available, the regulations advance the Coast Guard's strategic goals of promoting marine safety and maritime mobility.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie and Cleveland Harbor at Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie and Cleveland Harbor near Burke Lakefront Airport. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect participants, spectators, and vessels from the hazards associated with aerial insertions and aircraft maneuvers.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones for annual firework displays in the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to prevent injury and to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the firework displays. During the enforcement periods, entry into, transit through, mooring, or anchoring within these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety and security zones on the Thames River near New London, CT for OPSAIL 2012 Connecticut (CT) activities. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life and protection of naval vessels on navigable waters during OPSAIL 2012 CT. This action will restrict vessel from entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within the zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound (SLIS).