Coast Guard 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary special local regulation (SLR) on the navigable waters of the Hudson River in the vicinity of New York, NY for the Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks Display. The temporary SLR is intended to restrict certain vessels from portions of the Hudson River before, during, and immediately after the fireworks event. This regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters by controlling vessel movement and to establish public viewing areas for the fireworks event.

The U.S. Coast Guard announces the availability of a final programmatic environmental impact statement (FPEIS) for the rulemaking entitled ``Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters'' (Docket No. USCG-2001-10486). This FPEIS provides an assessment of the potential environmental impacts associated with the establishment of a ballast water discharge standard for the allowable concentration of living organisms in ships' ballast water discharged in waters of the United States. The standard will be used to approve ballast water management methods that are effective in preventing or reducing the introduction of nonindigenous species via discharged ballast water into waters of the United States.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish temporary special local regulations on the navigable waters of Niantic Bay, Long Island Sound, the Thames River and New London Harbor, New London, Connecticut for OPSAIL 2012 Connecticut (CT) activities. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during OPSAIL 2012 CT. This action would restrict vessel traffic in portions of Niantic Bay, Long Island Sound, the Thames River, and New London Harbor unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound (SLIS).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0095, Oil and Hazardous Material Pollution Prevention and Safety Records, Equivalents/Alternatives and Exemptions. Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard requests approval of a revision to the following collections of information: 1625-0099, Requirements for the Use of Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Compressed Natural Gas as Cooking Fuel on Passenger Vessels and 1625-0103, Mandatory Ship Reporting System for the Northeast and Southeast Coasts of the United States. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting these ICRs to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for a portion of the Black Warrior River, from mile 338.5 to mile 341.5, Tuscaloosa, AL. This action is necessary for the safeguard of participants and spectators, including all crews, vessels, and persons on navigable waters during the USAT Triathlon/Race Rowing Competition. Entry into, transiting in or anchoring in this area is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or not part of the regatta patrol, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Mobile or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce Special Local Regulations for the Neches River Festival boat races in Port Neches, TX from 3 p.m. on May 4, 2012 through 6 p.m. on May 6, 2012. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the race participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, non-participating vessels and other users of the waterway. During the enforcement period no person or vessel may enter the zone established by the special local regulation without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for a portion of Saint Andrew Bay, Panama City, FL. This action is necessary for the safeguard of participants and spectators, including all crews, vessels, and persons on navigable waters during the Emerald Coast Super Boat Grand Prix high speed boat races. Entry into, transiting in or anchoring in this area is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or not part of the regatta patrol, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Mobile or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean east of Cocoa Beach, Florida during the Third Annual Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix, a series of high-speed boat races. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 20, 2012. Approximately 30 high-speed race boats are anticipated to participate in the races, and approximately 200 spectator vessels are expected to attend the event. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the races. The special local regulations would consist of the following areas: (1) A race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring, or remaining; and (2) a buffer zone around the race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone, are prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring, or remaining.

The Coast Guard proposes the establishment of two safety zones to remain in effect throughout the duration of the construction and renewal of the Sellwood Bridge located on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels transiting in close proximity to cranes, barges, and temporary structures associated with this construction project. During the effective period, all vessels will be required to remain at the prescribed safe distance from the construction area while transiting in the vicinity of the Sellwood Bridge project; however, the establishment of these safety zones does not entirely close this section of the Willamette River. The section of the Willamette River between the safety zones will remain open for vessel transits, and it will have a minimum channel width of 138 feet at all times. The two safety zones proposed in this rule are located within the same geographical points as safety zones issued as a temporary final rule effective through 11 a.m., July 1, 2012.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for a portion of O'Leary Lake, Moss Point, MS, on April 28- 29, 2012. This action is necessary for the safeguarding of participants and spectators, including crews, vessels, and persons on navigable waters during the Moss Point Rockin' the Riverfront Festival high speed boat races. Entry into, transiting in or anchoring in this area is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or not part of the regatta patrol, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Mobile or a designated representative.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Amtrak Pelham Bay Railroad Bridge, mile 0.5, across the Hutchinson River at the Bronx, New York. The deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled maintenance at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for four days.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company vertical lift span bridge across Berwick Bay, mile 0.4, (Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5) at Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to perform scheduled maintenance to the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position on two dates occurring in March of 2012.

The Coast Guard is proposing a temporary change to the enforcement period and location of safety zone regulations for a recurring fireworks display within the Fifth Coast Guard District. This regulation applies to two recurring fireworks display events that take place at Washington, NC. Safety zone 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 a portion of the Pamlico River and Tar River near Washington, NC, during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina during the Myrtle Beach Triathlon. The Myrtle Beach Triathlon, which is comprised of a series of triathlon races, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 13, 2012. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the swim portions of the triathlon races. Persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations concerning the transfer of hazardous materials to and from portable tanks on vessels. The Coast Guard proposes to expand the list of portable tanks approved for hazardous material transfers to include IMO Type 1 and IMO Type 2 portable tanks, UN portable tanks, and Intermediate Bulk Containers. In addition, the Coast Guard proposes to expand the list of allowed hazardous materials. The proposed amendments would provide greater flexibility in the selection and use of portable tanks and would allow for the transport of additional hazardous materials. The proposed effect would be to eliminate the need to obtain special permits or Competent Authority Approvals to use IMO Type 1 or IMO Type 2 portable tanks, UN portable tanks, or Intermediate Bulk Containers, or to transport hazardous materials not on the list.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish four separate security zones on both the waters and waterfront area of Chicago Harbor and the Chicago River. These proposed temporary security zones are intended to restrict vessels, regardless of the mode of propulsion, and people from certain land and water areas in Chicago Harbor and the Chicago River during the G8/NATO Summit and associated events, which will be held in Chicago from May 16, 2012, through May 24, 2012. These security zones are necessary to protect visiting government officials and dignitaries from the potential dangers, including terrorists threats, associated with a large scale, international political event.

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its special local regulations and safety zones relating to recurring marine parades, regattas, fireworks displays, and other events that take place in the Eighth Coast Guard District area of responsibility. This rule informs the public of regularly scheduled marine parades, regattas, fireworks displays, and other annual events. When these special local regulations and safety zones are enforced, marine traffic is restricted in specified areas. The purpose of this rule is to reduce administrative costs involved in producing a separate rule for each individual recurring event and to provide notice of the known recurring events requiring a special local regulation or safety zone throughout the year. This rule will also help to protect event participants and the public from the hazards associated with the listed events.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the drawbridge operating regulation for the Hood Canal floating drawbridge near Port Gamble. This modification would relieve heavy rush hour road traffic on State Routes 3 and 104, by allowing the draws of the bridge to not open for maritime traffic during afternoon rush hour in the summer months.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to facilitate the structural repairs and painting of the bridge.

The Coast Guard is adjusting the rates for pilotage services on the Great Lakes, which were last amended in February 2011. The adjustments establish new base rates and are made in accordance with a required full ratemaking procedure. They result in an average decrease of approximately 2.62 percent from the rates established in February 2011. This final rule promotes the Coast Guard's strategic goal of maritime safety.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Fort Lauderdale, Florida during the Lauderdale Air Show. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012 and Sunday, April 29, 2012. The safety zone is necessary for the safety of air show participants, participant aircraft, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes amend its regulations requiring safety zones in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan zone. This proposed rule is intended to amend the rules that restrict vessels from portions of water areas during events that pose a hazard to public safety. The safety zones amended or established by this proposed rule are necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with various maritime events.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will conduct an intercessional meeting so that a working group may discuss Task Statement 76, entitled ``Review of Performance Measures (Assessment Criteria).'' This meeting will be open to the public.