Coast Guard 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) and its Subcommittees and Working Groups will meet on May 7 through 9, 2013, in Arlington, VA, to discuss marine transportation of hazardous materials. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 170 Centerville Turnpike Bridge, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 15.2, Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, at Chesapeake, VA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate structural repairs to the superstructure of the SR 170 Centerville Turnpike Draw Bridge. This temporary deviation will allow the drawbridge to change the operating schedule on specific dates and times.

The Coast Guard proposes amendments to its regulation establishing security zones that are enforceable in connection with the arrival or departure of international leaders for United Nations meetings in New York, NY. New regulated navigation areas would be established and some security zones would be modified, and the regulation would be rearranged. The proposed amendments would assist the Coast Guard in protecting public safety and visiting dignitaries during these events, and thus promote the Coast Guard's maritime safety and maritime security missions.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an approval of a revision to the following collection of information: 1625-0066, Vessel and Facility Response Plans (Domestic and Int'l), and Additional Response Requirements for Prince William Sound, Alaska. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard proposes to extend the temporary safety zone established on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during maintenance on the US 74/76 Bascule Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The safety zone extension will temporarily restrict vessel movement within the designated area from on July 27, 2013, until March 1, 2014.

The Coast Guard is issuing a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Southport SR27 Bridge across Townsend Gut, mile 0.7, between Boothbay Harbor and Southport, Maine. The bridge owner, Maine Department of Transportation, will be performing structural repairs at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to operate on a temporary schedule for eight weeks to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation for the Ironman St. Croix 70.3 Triathlon from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. on May 5, 2013. This action is necessary to ensure safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the Ironman St. Croix 70.3 Triathlon. During the enforcement period, the special local regulation will consist of a race area, which will exclude the presence of any and all non race participants and non safety vessels. Non-participants and non safety vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on the waters of Mayaguez Bay in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico during the Mayaguez Grand Prix, a high speed boat race. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 9, 2013. Approximately 30 high- speed power boats will be participating in the races. The special local regulation is necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. The special local regulation will establish the following three areas: (1) One race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; (2) a buffer zone around the race areas, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and (3) a spectator area, where all vessels are prohibited from anchoring and from traveling in excess of wake speed, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on the waters on Lake Dora in Tavares, Florida during the Pro Hydro-X Tour, a series of high-speed personal watercraft races. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2 and June 8-9, 2013. Approximately 75 vessels are anticipated to participate in the races. This 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 consist of the following two areas during each weekend of its enforcement: (1) A race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed personal watercraft 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, 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 is issuing a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Brightman Street Bridge across the Taunton River, mile 1.8, between Fall River and Somerset, Massachusetts. The deviation is necessary to facilitate power equipment upgrades. During this temporary deviation, the bridge may remain in the closed position for five hours.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the Intracoastal Waterway, in West Palm Beach, Florida, during the West Palm Beach Triathlon Championship, on Saturday, June 1, 2013. Approximately 1,500 participants are anticipated to participate in the triathlon. The special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of the triathlon participants and the general public during the swim portion of the event. Persons and vessels, except those participating in the event, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is extending the temporary safety zone established on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during maintenance on the US 74/76 Bascule Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. The safety zone extension will temporarily restrict vessel movement within the designated area starting on May 1, 2013, through July 27, 2013.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the drawbridges across Green River, mile 79.6, Small- house, KY and Black River, mile 41.0, Jonesboro, LA. The Green River bridge was removed in 2008 and the Black River bridge was replaced with a fixed bridge in 2008 and the operating regulations are no longer applicable or necessary.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for the Patriot Challenge Kayak Race in Charleston, SC. The race will take place on April 13, 2013, on the Ashley River. This special local regulation is necessary to insure the safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the race. The special local regulation will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Ashley River, preventing non-participant vessels from entering the regulated areas.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the draw of the US 17/George P. Coleman Memorial Swing Bridge across the York River, at mile 7.0, between Gloucester Point and Yorktown, VA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate maintenance on the George P. Coleman Memorial Swing Bridge. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed- to-navigation position on specific dates and times.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 529 Bridges across the Snohomish River, mile 3.6 near Everett, WA and the SR 529 Bridges across Steamboat Slough, mile 1.1, near Marysville, WA. This deviation is necessary to accommodate the Total Health Events Heroes Half Marathon. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed position to allow safe movement of event participants.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``Swim Across the Potomac'' swimming competition, to be held on the waters of the Potomac River on June 2, 2013. 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 Potomac River during the event.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the San Francisco Giants Fireworks Display in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to take place on May 2, 2013, in Seattle, Washington to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2013, under the title ``Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)Reader Requirements.'' The Coast Guard encourages members of the public to attend this meeting and provide oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking on TWIC reader requirements.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the operating schedule that governs the Pelican Island Causeway bridge across Galveston Channel mile 4.5 (GIWW mile 356.1), at Galveston, Texas. The temporary change to the regulations will allow the bridge to remain closed to navigation while major repairs are conducted to the mechanical portions of the bascule span. Failure to complete the repairs in a timely manner may render the bridge completely inoperable for the passage of vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard proposes to add, delete, and modify safety zones and special local regulations and add language to clarify time frames and notification requirements for annual marine events in the Sector Long Island Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. When these regulated areas are activated and subject to enforcement, this rule would restrict vessels from portions of water areas during these recurring events. The safety zones and special local regulations will facilitate public notification of events and provide protective measures for the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these recurring events.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the Lake Moovalya region of the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona for the Blue Water Resort and Casino Spring Classic. 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 is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with Engility Corporation (Engility) to develop, demonstrate, evaluate, and document contributions of tactical data link (TDL) range enhancement software technologies to improve operational effectiveness and communications interoperability (e.g., situational awareness, digital command and control, etc.) among forces including Coast Guard and other Department of Homeland Security components, Department of Defense, as well as other Federal, State, local, Tribal, and coalition forces. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Engility, we are soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on the waters of Charlotte Amalie Harbor in St Thomas, USVI during the St. Thomas Carnival Watersport Activities, a high speed boat race. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 21, 2013. Approximately 40 high-speed power boats will be participating in the races and it is anticipated that 50 spectator crafts will be present during the races. The special local regulation is necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. The special local regulation will establish the following four areas: (1) A high speed boat race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; (2) a jet ski race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the jet ski races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; (3) a buffer zone around the race areas, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone or authorized participants transiting to their authorized the race area, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and (4) a spectator area, where all vessels are prohibited from anchoring and from traveling in excess of wake speed, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative.

The Boats and Associated Equipment Subcommittee of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) will meet via teleconference and online webinar to discuss safety issues related to boats and associated equipment. This teleconference meeting will be open to the public.