Coast Guard 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Severn River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the Severn River at Sherwood Forest, MD, during a fireworks display on July 3, 2018 (with alternate date of July 6, 2018). This action would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for two events, the Cambridge Classic Powerboat Race on May 19, 2018 and May 20, 2018, and the NAS Patuxent River Air Show from May 31, 2018 through June 3, 2018, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during these events. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for each event. During the enforcement periods, the Coast Guard patrol commander or designated marine event patrol may forbid and control the movement of all vessels in the regulated area.

The U.S. Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee. The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee provides advice and makes recommendations on national maritime security matters to the Secretary of Homeland Security via the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its safety zone regulations for annual events in Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley that are listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section in this document. This proposed rule would add 23 new recurring safety zones and amend the event/ sponsor, dates, and/or regulated areas for 31 recurring safety zones already listed in the current table. This action in necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with annual marine events. This proposed rulemaking would restrict vessel traffic from the safety zones during the events unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hawthorne Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 13.1, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Walk MS Portland event. This deviation authorizes the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to allow safe roadway movement of event participants.

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 local community to participate in the Sactown Run 10-mile and 5K races. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

In this final rule, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) is making the 2018 annual inflation adjustment to its civil monetary penalties. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act) was signed into law on November 2, 2015. Pursuant to the 2015 Act, all agencies must adjust civil monetary penalties annually and publish the adjustment in the Federal Register. Accordingly, this final rule adjusts DHS's civil monetary penalties for 2018 pursuant to the 2015 Act and OMB guidance. The new penalties will be effective for penalties assessed after April 2, 2018 whose associated violations occurred after November 2, 2015.

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 local community to participate in the Sacramento Giant Race 5K/10K run/walk. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the MTA Long Island Railroad Bridge across the Reynolds Channel, mile 4.4, at Long Beach, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to replace bridge timbers. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Delaware River to restrict and protect vessel traffic during the offloading of two Post-Panamax gantry cranes at the Port of Philadelphia. This action is intended to protect mariners and vessels from the hazards associated with these offloading activities. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless a vessel meets the stated requirements or is specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay.

The Coast Guard is establishing an emergency temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 405 to MM 408. This emergency safety zone is necessary to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with vessels transiting this area during high water. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from entering the safety zone area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters on Pensacola Bay within 100 yards of each vessel participating in the Tall Ships Pensacola marine event and parade in Pensacola, FL and within 100 yards of the Port of Pensacola for the duration of the marine event and parade. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on these navigable waters during the Tall Ships Pensacola marine event. This rule will prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters on the Lower Mississippi River from mile marker (MM) 94 to MM 95, above Head of Passes. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans (COTP) or a designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee. The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters and actions concerning activities directly involved with or in support of the exploration of offshore mineral and energy resources insofar as they relate to matters within U.S. Coast Guard jurisdiction. Applicants selected for service on the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee via this solicitation will not begin their respective terms until January 31, 2019.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary moving safety zone in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near Pier 39 in support of the Pier 39 Fireworks Display on March 24, 2018. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge 38.3 across Ebey Slough, mile 1.5, at Marysville, WA. The modified schedule would change the operating schedule of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) Railroad Bridge 38.3 from on-demand opening to a four hours advance notice for an opening.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces the discontinuance of its remaining 38 maritime Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) sites. The USCG will implement the closures through a phased reduction in service, which will commence in September of 2018, and conclude by September of 2020. These closures will culminate in the complete cessation of the Nationwide Differential Global Positioning System (NDGPS) service. This notice provides the general schedule for the discontinuance of the remaining maritime DGPS sites. Specific site broadcast termination dates will be published via local notices to mariners (LNMs).

The Coast Guard announces that the U.S. Coast Guard First District Prevention Department has issued a certificate of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), for the NOAA Research Vessel FERDINAND R. HASSLER, ON 9478559. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. Due to the construction and placement of the vessel's side lights, NOAA Research Vessel FERDINAND R. HASSLER cannot fully comply with the light, shape, or sound signal provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. This notification of issuance of a certificate of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.

The Coast Guard will enforce the San Diego Crew Classic special local regulations on the waters of Mission Bay, California on March 24, 2018 and March 25, 2018. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from anchoring, blocking, loitering, or impeding within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone encompassing all navigable waters within a 250-yard radius of Commerce Construction vessels and machinery conducting survey and diving operations in the Delaware River, in the vicinity of Anchorage 7, near Marcus Hook, PA. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by survey and diving operations. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay.

The Coast Guard is amending the monetary property damage threshold amounts for reporting a marine casualty and for reporting a type of marine casualty called a ``serious marine incident.'' The original regulations that set these dollar threshold amounts were written in the 1980s and have not been updated since that time. Because the monetary thresholds for reporting have not kept pace with inflation, vessel owners and operators have been required to report relatively minor casualties. Additionally, the original regulations require mandatory drug and alcohol testing following a serious marine incident. As a result, vessel owners and operators are conducting testing for casualties that are less significant than those intended to be captured by the original regulations. Updating the original regulations will reduce the burden on vessel owners and operators, and will also reduce the amount of Coast Guard resources expended to investigate these incidents.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Clinch River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 49.5 to MM 52.0. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Oak Ridge, TN during the Cardinal Invitational Regatta marine event. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.

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 Main Branch of the Chicago River between Columbus Drive Bridge, mile marker 326.5, and Dearborn Street Bridge, mile marker 326.1. This action is necessary to prevent collisions between mariners and to facilitate safety during the dying of the Chicago River.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the U.S. 70/Alfred C. Cunningham Bridge which carries U.S. 70 and East Front Street across the Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the 2018 Neuse River Bridge Run. 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 Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge across the St. Johns River, mile 24.9, at Jacksonville, FL. The deviation is necessary to accommodate maintenance and repairs on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation with partial openings at pre-determined times during the maintenance period.