Coast Guard December 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is modifying the effective dates of a published temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad swing span drawbridge across Des Allemands Bayou, mile 14.0, at Des Allemands, St. Charles and Lafourche Parishes, Louisiana. This modification of the dates is necessary due to weather delaying the scheduled rehabilitations. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in its closed-to-navigation position for three eight-hour periods during three consecutive days on two separate occasions.

The Coast Guard is modifying the method of operation for the Norfolk Southern Railroad (Norfolk Southern or NSRR) Bascule Bridge across Lake Pontchartrain, mile 4.80, near Slidell, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The bridge owner, Norfolk Southern, requested in writing to operate the draw of the bridge remotely. This interim rule codifies the change in method of operation and increases the efficiency of railroad operations, allowing for the operation of the draw from another location, while allowing for comments regarding remote operations during the interim period.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the Morro Bay Harbor Entrance. This temporary safety zone is being established to reduce significant hazards subject to the vessels, the harbor, and the public during periods of poor weather conditions. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in this temporary safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los AngelesLong Beach, or her designated representative.

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 of a revision to the following collection of information: 1625-0061, Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Regulations. 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.

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 approval of revisions to the following collection of information: 1625-0038, Plan Approval & Records for Tank, Passenger, Cargo & Miscellaneous Vessels, Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, Nautical Schools Vessels & Oceanographic Research Vessels. 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 is establishing a temporary safety zone that encompasses all waters of the Main Branch of the Chicago River between the Michigan Avenue Highway Bridge and the west entrance to the Chicago Harbor Lock. The safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Main Branch of the Chicago River from 11:30 p.m. on December 31, 2015 to 12:15 a.m. on January 1, 2016. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with multiple barge based firework displays for Chicago's New Year's Eve Celebration.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Blynman (SR127) Bridge across the Annisquam River and Blynman Canal at mile 0.0 at Gloucester, MA. The deviation is necessary due to the inhabitability of the operator's house associated with a settling of the adjacent seawall resulting in a partial collapse of the house rendering the structure unsafe for occupancy. This deviation allows the bridge to be opened with a two hour advanced notice during the hours of 8 p.m. through 4 a.m. from January 1, 2016 through April 30, 2016.

Through this interim rule, the Coast Guard is providing administrative changes to the existing reporting requirements under the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) applicable to barges loaded with certain dangerous cargoes on the inland rivers in the Eighth District area of responsibility. The current stay of reporting requirements under the RNA is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015. This interim rule limits the reporting requirements in that rule for an interim period while also requesting comments before proposing or finalizing any long term or permanent revisions to the existing reporting requirements.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Amtrak Old Saybrook-Old Lyme Bridge across the Connecticut River, mile 3.4, at Old Lyme, Connecticut. This deviation is necessary to perform gear box replacement. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for approximately 5 days.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Sabula Railroad Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 535.0, at Sabula, Iowa. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to perform preventive maintenance that is essential to the safe operation of the drawbridge, and is scheduled in the winter when there is less impact on navigation. This deviation allows the bridge to open on signal if at least 24-hours advance notice is given.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Mercury Marine (Mercury) to evaluate and test the advantages, disadvantages, required technology enhancements, performance, costs, and other issues associated with diesel outboard engine technology. A test schedule has been proposed in which Mercury will provide and install two of their diesel outboard engines onto a selected Coast Guard boat platform; the Coast Guard Research and Development Center (R&D Center) will outfit the platform with the necessary instrumentation to monitor power, speed, and fuel consumption; and a Coast Guard field unit will operate the boat for performance testing over a six-month period to collect information on reliability, maintenance requirements, and availability data. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Mercury, the agency is 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 to propose similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone in support of a visit by very important persons (VIPs). The security zone begins on the navigable waters in Kailua Bay on the west side of a line connecting Kapoho Point and continuing at a bearing of 227[deg] (true) as well as the nearby channel from its entrance near Kapoho Point to a point along the channel 150 yards to the south of the N. Kalaheo Avenue Road Bridge. This security zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the VIPs.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJTRO) Morgan railroad bridge across Cheesequake Creek, mile 0.2, at Morgan, New Jersey. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to perform structural repairs at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed on six consecutive weekends.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Delaware River in the vicinity of Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel traffic from transiting or anchoring in a portion of the Delaware River while rock blasting, dredging, and rock removal operations are being conducted to facilitate the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening project for the main navigational channel of the Delaware River. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by rock blasting, dredging, and rock removal operations. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay, or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad swing span drawbridge across Des Allemands Bayou, mile 14.0, at Des Allemands, St. Charles and Lafourche Parishes, Louisiana. This deviation is necessary to perform two extensive rest pier rehabilitations to the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in its closed-to-navigation position for three eight-hour periods during three consecutive days on two separate occasions.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington-Bristol Bridge on Route 413, across the Delaware River, at mile 117.8, between Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA. This deviation restricts the operation of the draw span in order to facilitate the replacement of the tender control house. The drawbridge will not be able to open for three days during this project.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of the Hackensack River surrounding the Witt-Penn Bridge between Jersey City and Kearny, NJ. In response to a planned Witt-Penn Bridge construction project, this rule allows the Coast Guard to prohibit all vessel traffic through the safety zone during bridge replacement operations that could pose an imminent hazard to persons and vessels operating in the area. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life in the vicinity of the construction of the Witt-Penn Bridge.

In 1999, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century made $5 million per year available for the payment of Coast Guard expenses for personnel and activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the national recreational boating safety program. In 2005, the law was amended, and the amount was increased to $5.5 million. The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Act that a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the Act be published annually in the Federal Register. This notice specifies the funding amounts the Coast Guard has committed, obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2015, as of September 30, 2015.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Clinton Railroad Drawbridge across the Mississippi River, mile 518.0, at Clinton, Iowa. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to perform preventative maintenance that is essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. Maintenance is scheduled in the winter when there is less impact on navigation; instead of scheduling work in the summer, when river traffic increases. This deviation allows the bridge to open on signal if at least 24-hours advance notice is given. It further allows the bridge to remain closed for up to 120 hours in duration occasionally between January 4, 2016 and February 19, 2016 to replace larger bridge components as long as 72-hours notice is given to the USCG District Eight Western Rivers Bridge Branch.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Miami received a study from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) concluding that the Miami Anchorage could be changed to reduce threats to protected coral and its habitat. The study indicated that the Miami Anchorage could be divided into two separate anchorage areas to reduce threats to protected coral while also facilitating the safe anchorage of shallow and deep draft vessels. The Coast Guard requests comments from interested persons regarding a possible modification of the Miami Anchorage based on the SEFCRI study.