Coast Guard October 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs three drawbridges crossing the Upper Mississippi River in Iowa: The Illinois Central Railroad Drawbridge, mile 579.9, Dubuque, IA; the Sabula Railroad Drawbridge, mile 535.0, Sabula, IA; and the Clinton Railroad Drawbridge, mile 518.0, Clinton, IA. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owners time to perform preventive maintenance that is essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridges and allows for a seasonal deviation issued for these bridges each year. Maintenance is scheduled in the winter, when there is less impact on navigation due to less traffic. This deviation allows the bridges to open on signal if at least 24 hours advance notice is given.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation to keep vessels from entering the Poquoson Seafood Festival Workboat Races route near the vicinity of Messick Point, in Back River, Poquoson, VA on October 23, 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 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 proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Willamette River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during a fireworks display on November 13, 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 Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee will meet on November 8, 2016 in New Orleans, LA to discuss committee matters relating to the safe transit of vessels and cargoes to and from the ports of the Lower Mississippi River. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Berkley (U.S. 460/S.R. 337) Bridge across the Elizabeth River, mile 0.4, at Norfolk, VA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate testing of the emergency drive motors. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone during the 2016 Fautasi Ocean Challenge canoe race in Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa, on November 11 and 25, 2016. This action is necessary to safeguard the participants and spectators, including all crews, vessels, and persons on the water in Pago Pago Harbor during the event. This regulation will functionally close the port to vessel traffic during the race, but will not require the evacuation of any vessels from the harbor. Entry into, transiting, or anchoring in the harbor would be prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or not part of the race patrol, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu or a designated representative. Vessels who are already moored or anchored in the harbor seeking permission to remain there shall request permission from COTP unless deemed a spectator vessel that is moored to a waterfront facility within the safety zone.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedules that govern the S.R. 74 (Wrightsville Beach) Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW), mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, NC and the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge across the Northeast Cape Fear River, mile 1.0, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the 2016 PPD IRONMAN North Carolina ``Beach2Battleship'' Triathlon. This deviation allows these bridges to remain in their closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones within the Captain of the Port New York Zone on the specified date and time. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP).

The Coast Guard, at Sector Corpus Christi, announces receipt of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Waterways Suitability Assessment (WSA) for three Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facility construction projects in Brownsville, Texas. The LOI and WSA for Annova LNG Common Infrastructure, LLC (Annova LNG) and Texas LNG Brownsville LLC (Texas LNG) were submitted by Rodino, Inc. The LOI and WSA for Rio Grande LNG, LLC was submitted by AcuTech Group, Inc. The Coast Guard is notifying the public of this action to solicit public comments on the proposed construction of these LNG facilities, as defined by 33 CFR 127.005.

The Coast Guard is canceling the temporary deviation concerning the James River Bridge (US17) across the James River, mile 5.0, at Isle of Wight and Newport News, VA. The deviation was necessary to perform bridge maintenance and repairs, which have been completed. The deviation allowed the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation controlling movement of vessels for certain waters of the Arkansas River. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during a rowing regatta on October 14 and 15, 2016. This regulation prohibits entry by all vessels, mariners, and persons into the event area, a 1.2 mile stretch of the Arkansas River extending 25-yards from the left descending bank. All vessels transiting the regulated area outside of the 25-yard zone will be limited to slowest speed for safe navigation to minimize wake unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Memphis.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the University of Pittsburgh Fireworks show, Pittsburgh, PA. 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 is establishing a safety zone within Chequamegon Bay in Ashland, WI. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from specified waters in Chequamegon Bay during the 100th Ore Dock Anniversary Celebration Fireworks Display. This safety zone is necessary to protect spectators from the hazards associated with the fireworks display.