Coast Guard November 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) on the Piscataqua River near Portsmouth, NH. This temporary final rule places speed restrictions on all vessels transiting the navigable waters of the Piscataqua River, Portsmouth, NH near the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard between Henderson Point Light on Seavey Island and Badgers Island Buoy 14. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during ongoing dive operations.

The Coast Guard issued a notice in the Federal Register of October 23, 2013, concerning new measures to reduce the risks of oil spills in oil transfer operations from or to a tank vessel. In response to public comments requesting an extension of the original comment period ending on November 22, 2013, the Coast Guard is reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation on the waters of Lake Dora in Tavares, Florida during the Tavares Winter Thunder Vintage Race Regatta, a series of high-speed boat races. The event is scheduled for January 17 through 19, 2014. Approximately 60 vessels are anticipated to participate in the races. This proposed special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the races. The special local regulation would establish two areas: A race area, where all persons and vessels, except those participating in the races, are prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring, or remaining; and a buffer zone around the race area, where all persons and vessels, except those enforcing the buffer zone or authorized participants and vessels transiting to the race area, are prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring, or remaining, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in Key West, Florida, during the Bone Island Triathlon on Saturday, January 25, 2014. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters 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 Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard (USCG) announces the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Nationwide Use of High Frequency (HF) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Sound Navigation and Ranging (SONAR) Technology and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The USCG is proposing the nationwide use of active SONAR technologies that operate at frequencies of 50 kiloHertz (kHz) and greater from fixed and mobile platforms. Active SONAR technology would be used in support of USCG missions to locate, image, and classify submerged/underwater targets of interest (TOI). The PEA is a program- level document that will provide the USCG with management-level analysis of the potential impacts of each alternative on the human and natural environments.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the U.S. 101 Umpqua river swing bridge, mile 11.1, at Reedsport, OR. The rule change is necessary to accommodate Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) extensive bridge maintenance and restoration efforts. The bridge is currently scheduled to open on signal if at least two hours notice is given. The ODOT will only open the bridge with a minimum of six hours notice and will limit the openings to twice daily; once in the morning and once in the evening.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to perform preventive maintenance and critical repairs that are essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. The work is scheduled in the winter, when the impact on navigation is minimal, instead of scheduling the work at other times in the year, when river traffic is prevalent. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for 77 days.

The Coast Guard issues this final rule to remove from its regulations on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities a reference to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and a related TWIC definition and recordkeeping reference because they are inconsistent with a requirement in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. These regulations deal with the employment of personnel on the OCS to U.S. citizens or resident aliens. The TWIC reference incorrectly provides that a TWIC alone may be accepted by an employer as sufficient evidence of the TWIC holder's status as a U.S. resident alien, as that term is defined. This rule clarifies the regulations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the Oakland Estuary just north of the Park Street Bridge in Alameda, CA in support of the Oakland Estuary Closure for the Vessel Removal Project on November 4, 2013 through November 22, 2013. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of workers, mariners, and other vessels transiting the area from the dangers associated with cranes operating under heavy loads in close proximity to both sides of the Oakland Estuary. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes requiring cargo securing manuals (CSMs) on vessels of 500 gross tons or more traveling on international voyages and carrying cargo that is other than solid or liquid bulk cargo. The proposed regulations would authorize recognized classification societies or other approval authorities to review and approve CSMs on behalf of the Coast Guard. They would also prescribe when and how the loss or jettisoning of cargo at sea must be reported. The proposed regulations would help fulfill U.S. treaty obligations and could help prevent or mitigate the consequences of vessel cargo loss. This rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone encompassing certain waters of Baltimore Harbor. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during a fireworks display launched from a barge located in Baltimore's Inner Harbor at Baltimore, MD on December 31, 2013. This safety zone is intended to protect the maritime public in a portion of Baltimore Harbor.

The Navigation Safety Advisory Council (NAVSAC) will meet December 3-4, 2013, in Portsmouth, Virginia to discuss matters relating to maritime collisions, rammings, groundings; Inland and International Rules of the Road; navigation regulations and equipment; routing measures; marine information; diving safety; and aids to navigation systems. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) entitled ``Safety and Environmental Management System Requirements for Vessels on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf,'' published on September 10, 2013, until January 23, 2014. We are extending the comment period at the request of industry to ensure stakeholders have adequate time to submit complete responses.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone encompassing certain waters of Kent Island Narrows in Queen Anne's County, MD. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners and their vessels on navigable waters during submarine cable replacement operations at the Kent Island Narrows (MD-18B) Bridge. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to protect mariners from potential safety hazards associated with the bridge project. Entry into this zone would be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Baltimore or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to change the regulation that governs the operation of the Poplar Street Bridge, mile 8.2, and the U.S. 13A Bridge over Broad Creek, mile 8.25, both at Laurel, DE. The proposed new rule would change the current regulation by requiring a forty-eight hour advance notice and by allowing the bridges to remain in the closed position for the passage of vessels.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations pertaining to the Key West World Championship in the Atlantic Ocean, off Key West, FL from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on November 10, 2013. This action is necessary to protect race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public from the hazards associated with high-speed boat races. The special local regulations establish regulated areas on the waters of the Key West Main Ship Channel, Key West Turning Basin, and Key West Harbor Entrance. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the regulated area without permission from the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations in 33 CFR 100.1101 during the San Diego Fall Classic, held on November 10, 2013. This event occurs on Mission Bay in San Diego, CA. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor vessels of the race, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the draw of the Norfolk Southern 5 Railroad Bridge, across the Elizabeth River Eastern Branch, mile 1.1, at Norfolk, VA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate replacing the broken tread plates and milling the top of the plates and webs to create a flat surface on the Norfolk Southern 5 Railroad drawbridge. The final phase of repairs is shimming the tread plates into place. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone upon the navigable waters of the Colorado River in support of the HITS Triathlon Series. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Mission Bay in San Diego, California for Sea World Fireworks on the evenings of November 15 and 16, 2013. This temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the State Highway 4 Drawbridge across Old River, mile 14.8 between Victoria Island and Byron Tract, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to make critical repairs to the bridge shafts and gears. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the New Jersey Transit Rail Operation (NJTRO) Railroad Bridge across Cheesequake Creek, mile 0.2, at Morgan, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation, a four hour advance notice for openings on weekdays and one hour advance notice on weekends shall be required for bridge openings to facilitate scheduled bridge painting of the movable span.