Coast Guard June 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will enforce various special local regulations for annual regattas and marine parades in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from June 25, 2016 through September 24, 2016. Enforcement of these regulations is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after these regattas or marine parades. 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 regattas or marine parades.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Long Beach Bridge, mile 4.7, across Reynolds Channel, at Nassau County, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to facility public safety during a public event, the Annual Fireworks Display.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones for the Big Bay Boom Fourth of July Fireworks on the waters of San Diego Bay, CA on Monday, July 4, 2016. These safety zones are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, spectators, official vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. Our regulation for the southern California annual fireworks for the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone identifies the regulated areas for this event. During the enforcement period, no spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of participants or official patrol vessels in the regulated areas without the approval of the Captain of the Port, or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for all waters of the Cumberland River beginning at mile marker 190.5 and ending at mile marker 194.0. This special local regulation is necessary to provide safety for the participants in the ``Thunder on the Cumberland'' marine event. This rulemaking restricts transits into, through and within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this rulemaking to assess for future and events and similar rulemakings.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Avi Resort and Casino Independence Day Fireworks display on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada on Monday, July 4, 2016. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, spectators, official vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. Our regulation for annual firework events on the Colorado River within the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone identifies the regulated area for this event. During the enforcement period, no spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of official patrol vessels in the regulated area without the approval of the Captain of the Port, or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for all waters of the Ohio River, surface to bottom, extending from mile 791.0 to 795.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Evansville, IN, during the Evansville Freedom Festival Air Show. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent safety zone for an annually recurring marine event in the Verdigris River, from Mile Marker (MM) 444.5 to MM 443.5 in Catoosa, Oklahoma. This action is necessary to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with a fireworks display taking place between late June to early July, 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.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation for the Annual Kennewick, Washington, Columbia Unlimited Hydroplane Races from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day, from July 29, 2016, through July 31, 2016. This enforcement action is necessary to assist in minimizing the inherent dangers associated with hydroplane races. Our regulation for Recurring Marine Events in Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River Zone identifies the regulated area for this regatta. During the enforcement period, no vessel may transit this regulated area without approval from the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Cox Powertrain (Cox) 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 Cox 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 Cox, 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 announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Metamaterials Technologies USA Inc. to evaluate and test the advantages, disadvantages, required technology enhancements, performance, costs, and other issues associated with LEP technology. The Coast Guard Research and Development Center (RDC) will obtain materials from Metamaterials Technologies USA Inc. to test the performance, reliability, suitability, and effectiveness of their product as laser protective eyewear. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Metamaterials Technologies USA Inc., 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 safety zone for navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile 43.2 to mile 43.6. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created from a barge-based fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the San Joaquin County (Bacon Island Road) highway bridge across Middle River, mile 8.6, at between Bacon Island and Lower Jones Tract, California. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to make emergency mechanical and electrical repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to be secured in the closed- to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard will enforce safety zone for fireworks displays taking place at Urbanna Creek, Urbanna, VA on July 2, 2016. This action is necessary to ensure safety of life on navigable waters during this event. Our regulation for Recurring Marine Events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this fireworks display event. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area without approval from the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces that the First Coast Guard District's Prevention Department has issued certificates of alternative compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (72 COLREGS), to vessels of special construction or purpose that cannot fully comply with the light, shape, and sound signal provisions of 72 COLREGS without interfering with their special function. This notice promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile 25.2-25.6. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created from a barge-based fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation on the Black River in South Haven, Michigan for the Harborfest Dragonboat Race on June 18 and 19, 2016. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and after the Dragonboat race. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in the special regulated area.

The Coast Guard is revising the existing conditional security zone regulation currently in place in the navigable waters of Suisun Bay, California, near Concord, California around each of the three piers at the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO), California (formerly United States Naval Weapons Center Concord, California). This action is intended to clarify responsibilities and authorities for enforcement of the security zone.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US 50 (Harry W. Kelly Memorial) Bridge across the Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, MD. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the increased vehicular traffic of the 2016 Ocean City Air Show. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Loop Parkway Bridge, mile 0.7, across Long Creek and the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, at Nassau, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate public safety during a public event, the Annual Salute to Veterans and Fireworks Display.

The Coast Guard is considering establishing new anchorage grounds in the Hudson River from Yonkers, NY, to Kingston, NY. We are considering this action after receiving requests suggesting that anchorage grounds may improve navigation safety along an extended portion of the Hudson River, which currently has no anchorage grounds, allowing for a safer and more efficient flow of vessel traffic. The Coast Guard is seeking comments and information about the operational need for new anchorage grounds and what form possible regulations should take.

The Coast Guard is amending the Columbus Day Weekend regulated navigation area on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. The proposed amended regulation extends the Biscayne Bay regulated navigation enforcement period to New Year's Eve and Fourth of July events. It also expands the boundaries of the regulated navigation area south to Turkey Point, east to Elliott Key, west to the shoreline, and north to the Julia Tuttle Causeway. These regulations are necessary to protect the public during these events, which are periods that have historically had a significant concentration of persons and vessels on the waters of Biscayne Bay. 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; and required to follow the instructions of all law enforcement vessels in the area.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Metro-North ``SAGA'' Bridge across the Saugatuck River, mile 1.1, at Saugatuck, Connecticut. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to perform timber tie and headblock replacements at the bridge.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Cincinnati Reds Season Fireworks on the Ohio River, from mile marker 470.1 and ending at 470.4, extending 500 feet from the State of Ohio shoreline. This rule is effective during specific home games during the Major League Baseball season. Should the Cincinnati Reds make the playoffs and have additional home games; the Coast Guard will provide notification of enforcement periods via Broadcast Notices to Mariners, Local Notices to Mariners, and/or Marine Safety Information Bulletins as appropriate. This action is needed to protect vessels transiting the area and event spectators from the hazards associated with the Cincinnati Reds Barge-based fireworks. During the enforcement period, entry into or transiting in the safety zone is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the 63rd Street Bridge across Indian Creek, mile 4.0, at Miami Beach, FL. This rule implements restrictions that allow the bridge to remain closed during peak vehicle traffic times. Bridge openings during peak vehicle traffic times cause major traffic jams that may be avoided without negatively impacting vessel traffic on the Indian Creek. Modifying the bridge operating schedule will reduce major vehicle traffic issues during rush hour times.

The Coast Guard will establish a special local regulation during the VBC Sprints Regatta event on the James River. The event consists of a series of crew rowing and sculling races to be held on the waters of the James River, near Robious Landing Park in Midlothian, Virginia. This regulated area will restrict vessel traffic and is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the event.