Coast Guard March 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is disestablishing thirteen anchorage grounds and one special anchorage area that are now obsolete in Newark Bay, the East River, Western Long Island Sound, Raritan Bay, and Lower New York Bay, and reducing the size of three anchorage grounds in Raritan, Sandy Hook, and Lower New York Bays.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent safety zone for an annually recurring marine event in the Red River, from MM 88.0 to MM 88.5. This action is necessary to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with a dragon boat race taking place in early May, 2016 and recurring annually thereafter. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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 for reinstatement, with change, of the following collection of information: 1625-0009, Oil Record Book for Ships. 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.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, and the University Bridge, mile 4.3, both crossing the Lake Washington Ship Canal at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Brooks Trailhead 10K & 15K foot race event. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to allow for the safe movement of event participants.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent security zone within Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound's Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone on the waters in the vicinity of escorted vessels. This security zone would be enforced around any escorted vessel in the Sector Long Island Sound COTP Zone in order to protect the vessel and the public from destruction, loss, or injury from sabotage, subversive acts, or other malicious acts of a similar nature. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee and its subcommittees will meet to discuss matters relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean offshore from Cocoa Beach, FL during the Space Coast Super Boat Grand Prix, a series of high-speed boat races. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters surrounding the event. This special local regulation will be enforced from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on May 15, 2016. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Jacksonville or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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: 1625-0104, Barges Carrying Bulk Hazardous Materials. 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 seeks applications for membership on the National Boating Safety Advisory Council. This Council advises the Coast Guard on recreational boating safety regulations and other major boating safety matters.

The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to determine whether it should revise existing regulations to improve navigation safety in Nantucket Sound due to factors such as increased vessels traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational difficulty.

The Coast Guard requests public comments on its draft strategic plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program for 2017-2021. This plan is under development to coordinate efforts of stakeholders to prevent future deaths and injuries of recreational boaters.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US 70 (Alfred C. Cunningham) Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC. The deviation is necessary to ensure the safety of attendees to the annual Mumfest celebration. This deviation allows the bridge draw span to remain in the closed to navigation position at two hour increments to accommodate the free movement of pedestrians and vehicles during the annual Mumfest celebration.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with several companies to evaluate small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) and their airborne sensors, to determine their potential for use in a maritime environment by a first responder and DHS operational components. The Coast Guard will conduct flight testing and evaluation of SUAS under a wide variety of simulated but realistic and relevant real-world maritime operational scenarios, such as law enforcement, search and rescue, and maritime environmental response. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Physical Sciences, Inc., it solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA, and the nature of that participation. 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.

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: 1625-0071, Boat Owners ReportPossible Safety Defect. 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 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: 1625-0033, Display of Fire Control Plans for Vessels. 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.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Sactown 10 race. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone for certain waters of the Willamette River in the vicinity of Tom McCall Waterfront Park, Portland, OR. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters for the duration of the marine event on July 10, 2016. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the final report issued by the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study (ACPARS) workgroup. The Coast Guard welcomes comments on the report.

The Coast Guard is revising its safety regulations for uninspected commercial fishing vessels (CFVs) carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargoes in bulk. The revisions align the regulations with the current applicable statute and make minor nonsubstantive changes. This rule promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship (environmental protection) missions.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the S37 Bridge across the Barnegat Bay, mile 14.1, New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, at Seaside Heights, NJ. This deviation is necessary to perform bridge maintenance and repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) from mile 321.4 to mile 321.6. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with work being completed on new power lines across the river. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP). Deviation from the safety zone may be requested and will be considered on a case-by-case basis as specifically authorized by the COTP or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend and update its list of recurring safety zone regulations that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley area of responsibility (AOR). This notice informs the public of regularly scheduled events that require additional safety measures through establishing a safety zone. Through this notice the current list of recurring safety zones is proposed to be updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place in Sector Ohio Valley's AOR. When these safety zones are enforced, vessel traffic is restricted from specified areas. Additionally, this one proposed rulemaking project reduces administrative costs involved in producing separate proposed rules for each individual recurring safety zone and serves to provide notice of the known recurring safety zones throughout the year.

The Coast Guard revises its Great Lakes pilotage ratemaking methodology, adjusts annual pilotage rates based on the new methodology, and authorizes a temporary surcharge to hire additional pilots and to pay for necessary training for new and current pilots. Rates for pilotage services on the Great Lakes were last revised in February 2015 and by law must be reviewed annually, with any adjustments to take effect by March 1 of the year for which new rates are established. The Coast Guard intends for the methodology changes to be understandable and transparent, and to encourage investment in pilots, infrastructure, and training while helping ensure safe, efficient, and reliable service on the Great Lakes. Without the updates to this methodology and enforcement of these rates, the Coast Guard believes the pilot associations will not be able to recruit experienced mariners, retain current pilots, or maintain and upgrade association infrastructure. Without sufficient registered pilots, current law will prevent international vessels from transiting the Great Lakes. This rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship (environmental protection) missions by promoting safe shipping on the Great Lakes.

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal between Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 at specified times from March 3, 2016 to March 11, 2016. This action is necessary to protect the waterway, waterway users, and vessels from the hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's underwater inspections of the electric dispersal system for invasive species.

The Coast Guard is amending its regulations regarding drawbridge operations in Saginaw River, Bay City, MI. In a final rule entitled, ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Saginaw River, Bay City, MI'' that appeared in the Federal Register on April 12, 2012, the Coast Guard revised the drawbridge opening schedules for the Saginaw River and inadvertently excluded the CSX Railroad Bridge and the Grand Trunk Western Railroad Bridge. This document amends the regulations by adding these two bridges back into the regulations.