Coast Guard 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is correcting an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) published in the Federal Register of January 15, 2021, seeking public comment on the potential use of Safety Management Systems (SMSs) to improve safety and reduce marine casualties on board U.S.-flagged passenger vessels. The ANPRM contained an incorrect internal cross-reference in the list of questions for the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Houlihan Bridge (US 17), across the Savannah River, mile 21.6, at Savannah, Georgia and the Seaboard System Railroad Bridge, across the Savannah River, mile 27.4, near Hardeeville, South Carolina. This proposed rule would increase the advance notification time for an opening at the bridges. The proposed rule would also update the name and geographic location of the bridges.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone for navigable waters in the vicinity of U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Diego, CA. The security zone is necessary to protect the official party and the surrounding waterway and structures from terrorist acts, sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents or other causes of a similar nature. Entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within this security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Diego or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes amending and updating its special local regulations for recurring marine parades, regattas, and other events that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley area of responsibility (AOR). This proposed notice would update the current list of recurring special local with revisions, additions, and removals of events that no longer take place in the Sector Ohio Valley AOR. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Mark Hahn Memorial 300 PWC Endurance Race special local regulations on the waters of Lake Havasu, Arizona from February 27 through February 28, 2021. 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.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0011, Applications for Private Aids to Navigation and for Class I Private Aids to Navigation on Artificial Islands and Fixed Structures; without change. 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.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0085, Streamlined Inspection Program; without change. 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 is proposing to establish a recurring safety zone for navigable waters within Cocos Lagoon. This safety zone will encompass the designated swim course for the Cocos Crossing swim event in the waters of Cocos Lagoon, Merizo, Guam. Race participants, chase boats, and organizers of the event will be exempt from the safety zone. Entry of persons or vessels into the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Guam. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation for the 2021 Gasparilla Marine Parade on the waters of Hillsborough Bay in the vicinity of Tampa, Florida. This event is expected to attract over 600 spectator craft along the parade route, with approximately 18 vessels participating in the official flotilla. This regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of public, the official flotilla, and spectator vessels before, during, and after the parade. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of Corpus Christi Bay and the Corpus Christi Ship Channel. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near the Corpus Christi Bayfront, during an airshow taking place from April 29, 2021 through May 2, 2021. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is removing an existing regulated navigation area in Sparkman Channel, located in Tampa, FL. The regulated navigation area is no longer needed to protect vessels navigating in the area. This action removes the existing regulations related to restricting vessel draft in the channel due to an underwater pipeline that is no longer a navigational concern.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Route 30 (Absecon Boulevard) Bridge across the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway (NJICW), Beach Thorofare, mile 67.2, at Atlantic City, NJ. This temporary modification will allow the drawbridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to accommodate critical bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the Humboldt Bay Bar Channel and the Humboldt Bay Entrance Channel, of Eureka, CA. This emergency safety zone is in support of the safe navigation of piloted vessels transiting and is needed to protect life, vessels, and the maritime environment from potential hazards posed by the wreckage of a fishing vessel that sank near the Channel on January 24, 2021. The location of the wreckage is currently unknown. Due to heavy weather conditions, a proper survey of the wreckage cannot be immediately completed. Unauthorized piloted vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission from the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the CSX Transportation Railroad drawbridge across Bayou Sara, mile 0.1 near Saraland, Mobile County, Alabama. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), between Mile Marker 368 and 370. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, and the marine environment from the potential safety hazards associated with line pulling operations in the vicinity of the Natchez, MS. Entry of persons or vessels into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule extending the validity of a recreational vessel endorsement on a Certificate of Documentation (COD) from 1 to 5 years. Congress passed and the President signed the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, which requires the Coast Guard to issue recreational vessel CODs for 5 years. By updating the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect this change, the Coast Guard anticipates this final rule to harmonize with the requirements of the 2018 Act that decreased the burden on recreational vessel owners by requiring COD renewals every 5 years rather than annually.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0040, Applications for Merchant Mariner Credentials and Medical Certificates; without change. 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 is re-soliciting applications from persons interested in membership on the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (Committee) to represent the viewpoint of those credentialed with ratings as a qualified member of the engine department. This recently established Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners. Please read the notice for description of the Committee position we are seeking to fill.

The Coast Guard will enforce a security zone along the Potomac River and Anacostia River, and adjacent waters at Washington, DC, for activities associated with the 59th Presidential Inauguration. The zone will be enforced on the days leading up to and through the cessation of activities associated with the 59th Presidential Inauguration taking place on January 20, 2021. This action is necessary to protect government officials, mitigate potential terrorist acts and incidents, and enhance public and maritime safety and security immediately before, during, and after these activities. During the enforcement period, entry into or remaining within the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone on certain waters of Garrison Channel, Seddon Channel Turning Basin, and the Hillsborough River, in the vicinity of downtown Tampa, Florida during the Super Bowl LV celebrations from January 29, 2021, through February 7, 2021. The safety zone is necessary to protect the public and Super Bowl event personnel from the hazards associated with potential vessel traffic within the area of the safety zone. All persons and vessels would be required to transit through the safety zone at a steady speed and may not slow down, stop or anchor except in the case of unforeseen mechanical failure or other emergency unless given prior authorization from the Captain of the Port. Any person or vessel forced to slow or stop in the established zone must immediately notify the Captain of the Port Tampa via VHF channel 16. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.