Coast Guard July 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones for annual marine events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from 8 p.m. on July 2, 2015, through 11 p.m. on August 1, 2015. Enforcement of these zones is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after these fireworks events. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in Manchester Bay to be enforced during the Misery Challenge marine event, which will involve swimmers, kayakers, and stand-up paddlers. This safety zone will ensure the protection of the event participants, support vessels, and maritime public from the hazards associated with the event. Vessels will be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within this safety zone during periods of enforcement unless authorized by the Coast Guard Sector Boston Captain of the Port (COTP) or the COTP's designated representative.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period for the Port Access Route Study (PARS) in the Chukchi Sea, Bering Strait and Bering Sea until August 18, 2015. This extension is necessary to allow all interested parties to submit comments to the docket for Coast Guard consideration.

The Coast Guard is modifying the method of operation for the Victoria Barge Canal Railroad Bridge across the Victoria Barge Canal, mile 29.4, at Bloomington, Victoria County, Texas. The bridge owner, the Victoria County Navigation District, in conjunction with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), the operator of the bridge, is operating the bridge remotely under a temporary deviation. This interim rule codifies the change in method of operation while allowing for comments regarding the remote operations. This interim rule increases the efficiency of operations allowing for the safe navigation of vessels through the bridge while recognizing the bridge's importance to the Port of Victoria that it serves.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Oswego Harbor, Oswego, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Oswego Harbor during the Oswego Harborfest Jet Ski Show. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a jet ski show.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones in the Port of Dutch Harbor, Broad Bay or adjacent navigable waters in the Dutch Harbor area on June 15, 2015. The temporary safety zones will encompass the navigable waters within a 25-yard radius of moored or anchored offshore exploration or support vessels, and the navigable waters within a 100-yard radius of underway offshore exploration or support vessels. The purpose of the safety zones is to protect persons and vessels during an unusually high volume of vessel traffic in the Port of Dutch Harbor, and the adjacent territorial sea due to additional vessel traffic associated with exploratory drilling operations in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas during the summer of 2015.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones in the Captain of the Port Boston Zone on the specified dates and times listed below. This action is necessary to ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these annual recurring events. Under the provisions of our regulations, no person or vessel, except for the safety vessels assisting with the event may enter the safety zones unless given permission from the COTP or the designated on-scene representative. The Coast Guard may be assisted by other Federal, State, or local law enforcement agencies in enforcing this regulation.

At various times throughout the month of July, the Coast Guard will enforce certain safety zones located in 33 CFR 165.939. This action is necessary and intended for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during this event. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay in San Francisco, CA near Hunters Point, in support of the Underwater Vessel Testing. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of the testing participants and mariners transiting the area. 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 to change the regulation that governs the operation of the SR#38 Bridge in Centerton (Burlington County Route 635) over Rancocas Creek, mile 7.8, at Mt. Laurel, Westampton and Willingboro Townships in Burlington County, NJ. The proposed rule intends to change the current operating regulation and allow the bridge to remain in the closed position for the passage of vessels. There have been no requests for openings since the early 1990's. This proposed rule will also reflect a name change.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the enforcement date of the special local regulation for the recurring New Jersey Offshore Grand Prix, held in the waters of the Manasquan River and Atlantic Ocean, near Seaside Park, New Jersey. The change of enforcement date for the special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action will restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Manasquan River and Atlantic Ocean near Seaside Park, New Jersey, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on July 9, 2015, and July 10, 2015.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, Erie, PA. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Presque Isle Bay during the Erie Boom on the Bay fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a fireworks display.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Saint Lawrence River, Heart Island, Alexandria Bay, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Saint Lawrence River during the Alexandria Bay Chamber of Commerce fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a fireworks display.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida, for multiple 4th of July fireworks displays throughout the Miami area. This regulation is necessary to protect the public from hazards associated with boating traffic expected during 4th of July firework displays throughout the Miami area. To ensure the public's safety, all vessels within the regulated navigation area are: Required to transit the regulated navigation area at no more than 15 knots; subject to control by the Coast Guard members with law enforcement authority; and required to follow the instructions of all law enforcement officials in the area.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone from mile 0.5 Ohio River up-bound to mile 0.5 on the Allegheny River and mile 0.5 on the Monongahela River, extending the entire width of the rivers. This action is necessary to ensure public safety due to the inherent hazards associated with launching fireworks from a barge and the explosive nature of the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring in the safety zone is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Pittsburgh or a designated representative.