Coast Guard 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Sabine River in Orange, TX in support of Deep South Racing Association boat races. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with a boat race competition. 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 changing the operating schedule that governs the U.S. 101 highway drawbridge also known as Bullard's Drawbridge, near Bandon, Oregon. The change will allow the drawbridge to permanently remain in the closed-to-navigation position, no longer opening for vessel traffic. While there is vessel traffic on this waterway, no one has requested a drawbridge opening since 1998. Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) owns the bridge and requested to update the operating schedule accordingly.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Sara M. Long Bridge, mile 2.5, across the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine. This deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge construction. This deviation allows the secondary draw at the Sara M. Long Bridge to remain closed to marine traffic during construction.

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule establishing a consolidated Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) for the purposes of inspecting mobile offshore drilling units, and fixed and floating facilities, engaged in OCS activities in the Eighth Coast Guard District. This final rule also addresses comments submitted in response to our notice and request for comments related to the consolidation of the OCMI, for OCS activities, and makes other non- substantive changes. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the U.S. Highway 90 swing highway bridge across the Chef Menteur Pass, mile 2.8, at Lake Catherine, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to ensure the safety of participants in the Ochsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans event as they travel across the bridge as part of the bike and run courses. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position continuously during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of San Diego Bay for a helicopter aerial demonstration sponsored by the Naval Helicopter Association (NHA). This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of the helicopter aircrew, spectators, safety vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Unauthorized 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 requests public comments on the temporary safety zone.

The Coast Guard announces that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from all ports in Libya. Conditions of entry are intended to protect the United States from vessels arriving from countries that have been found to have deficient port anti-terrorism measures in place.

The Coast Guard proposes revisions to its regulations for the licensing, construction, design, equipment, and operation of deepwater ports, which are offshore fixed or floating structures, other than vessels, used as ports or terminals for the import or export of oil and natural gas. The proposed revisions would provide additional information, clarify existing regulations, provide additional regulatory flexibility, and add new requirements to ensure safety. The proposed rule would not affect the license to operate of any existing deepwater port, nor would it result in the licensing of any new deepwater port. This proposed rule furthers the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of an updated policy letter entitled ``Distant Water Tuna Fleet (DWTF) Vessels Manning Exemption Guidance.'' The letter provides revised guidance on procedures for requesting and issuing a Manning Exemption Letter as a result of recent statutory changes that affected the previous 2013 guidance.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Conoco Phillips Company (COP) to evaluate unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capabilities, benefits, risks and technical limitations of operating UAS from land and/or off a Coast Guard Cutter in a maritime environment. The Coast Guard will conduct flight testing and evaluation of UASs under a wide variety of simulated but realistic and relevant real-world maritime operational scenarios, such as ice operations, marine environmental monitoring, marine safety, search and rescue, and potentially other Coast Guard mission sets. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with COP, the agency solicits 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 for similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie, Cleveland Harbor, Cleveland, OH. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum 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 seeks applications for membership on the Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee. The Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee provides advice and makes recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security through the Coast Guard Commandant on matters relating to Great Lakes pilotage, including review of proposed Great Lakes pilotage regulations and policies.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Simpson Avenue Bridge on the Hoquiam River, mile 0.5, at Hoquiam, Washington. This temporary final rule is necessary to accommodate Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) extensive maintenance and restoration efforts on this bridge. WSDOT will only open one leaf of the double leaf bascule bridge when at least two hours of notice is given.

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in Marina del Rey around the fireworks launch site located on the south jetty. This temporary safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the waterway users during the fireworks display that will take place in the vicinity of the Marina del Rey Main Channel. Entry into this temporary safety zone will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los AngelesLong Beach, or her designated representative.

The Coast Guard is changing the way in which it makes Light Lists available to the public. The Coast Guard will continue to publish electronic versions of these publications and make them available free of charge, updated weekly, by means of the Internet, but will no longer produce printed Light List volumes.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the S64 drawbridge across Ontonagon River, mile 0.2, at Ontonagon, Ontonagon County, Michigan. The drawbridge was replaced with a fixed bridge in 2006 and the operating regulation is no longer applicable or necessary.

The Coast Guard will enforce Special Local Regulations for the RiverFest Power Boat races on the Neches River in Port Neches, TX from 2 p.m. on May 1, 2015, through 6 p.m. on May 3, 2015. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, non-participating vessels and other users of the waterway. During the enforcement periods no person or vessel may enter the zone established by the Special Local Regulation without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Port Arthur or his designated on-scene Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard will enforce the RiverFest fireworks safety zone on the Neches River in Port Neches, TX from 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on May 2, 2015. This action is necessary to protect persons from the hazards associated with a fireworks display. During the enforcement period no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Port Arthur or his designated on-scene Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Broadway Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 11.7, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Portland Race for the Roses event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the down, or closed, position to facilitate the safe movement of event participants across the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina during Charleston Race Week, a series of sailboat races. The races are scheduled to take place on April 17, 2015 through April 19, 2015. Approximately 300 sailboats are anticipated to participate in the races. The special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States during the races. The special local regulation consists of three race areas. Except for those persons and vessels participating in the sailboat races, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within any of the race areas unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding the Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of an extension of a currently approved collection: 1625-0034, Ships' Stores Certification for Hazardous Materials Aboard Ships. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard proposes temporary safety zones for multiple locations and dates within the Captain of the Port New Orleans' zone. These safety zones are necessary to protect persons and vessels from potential safety hazards associated with fireworks displays on or over federal waterways. Entry into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port New Orleans or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes a safety zone around the Big Foot Tension Leg Platform (TLP), Walker Ridge 29 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of the safety zone is to protect the facility from all vessels operating outside the normal shipping channels and fairways that are not providing services to or working with the facility. Placing a safety zone around the facility will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment.

The Coast Guard will enforce the 2015 Lake Havasu Desert Storm marine event special local regulations from 8 a.m. through 3 p.m. on April 25, 2015. This annual marine event occurs on the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Lake Havasu, Arizona. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, safety vessels, 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.

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 an extension of a currently approved collection: 1625-0069, Ballast Water Management for Vessels with Ballast Tanks Entering U.S. Waters. 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.