Coast Guard January 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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: 1625-0041, Various International Agreement Pollution Prevention Certificates and Documents, and Equivalency Certificates; 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 temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Washington, DC, during a fireworks display on February 18, 2023. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in 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 a security zone along the Potomac River and Anacostia River, and adjacent waters at Washington, DC, for activities associated with the U.S. President's State of the Union Address before a Joint Session of Congress. The zone will be enforced on February 7, 2023 through the early morning hours on February 8, 2023. 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 this activity. 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 proposes to revise an existing safety zone regulation in Tampa Bay within the geographic boundaries of the Captain of the Port (COTP) St. Petersburg Zone. The proposed change is designed to align the coordinates in the regulation with the coordinates needed to properly control traffic in cases of restricted visibility in Tampa Bay. The current coordinates do not reflect the safety zones that the Coast Guard intended to put in place. The Coast Guard invites your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Metro-North (SAGA) Bridge, across the Saugatuck River, mile 1.1, at Westport, CT. The bridge owner, Metro-North (MNR), submitted a request on May 5, 2022 to modify the regulation to align with the Metro-North ``WALK'' Bridge train schedule and avoid bridge openings during peak transit hours. It is expected that this change to the regulations will better serve the needs of the community while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the replacement of the BNSF Railway Bridge across the Missouri River between Bismarck and Mandan, North Dakota. This was prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and Council on Environmental Quality implementing regulations. The ROD, which concludes the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process for the project, explains the Coast Guard's decision, describes the alternatives considered, and discusses the plans for mitigation and monitoring. The Coast Guard's decision is to approve the location and plans for the replacement of the BNSF Railway Bridge using the applicant's preferred alternative: Construct a new bridge with 200-foot spans and piers, 20 feet upstream of the existing bridge, and remove the existing bridge. The Coast Guard is making the ROD available to the public in the docket for this notice.

The Coast Guard announces that the Chief, Prevention Division, Thirteenth Coast Guard District has issued a certificate of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), for the SHAVER, O.N. 1257204, HULL 129. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. Due to the construction and placement of the mooring and anchor winches and fittings, placement of the sidelights in this area would be a potential hazard to the crew during vessel operations and may subject them to potential damage during mooring. The SHAVER, O.N. 1257204, HULL 129, 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 is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and Atlantic Ocean at the Charleston Harbor Entrance and Approach, Charleston Harbor, within a 100-yard radius of the vessel USNS Gordon and all towing vessels supporting its operations. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the dead ship movement of USNS Gordon from the Naval Weapons Station, Joint Base Charleston Transportation Core (TC) Dock or Wharf Alpha through the Charleston Harbor Entrance Channel. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Charleston.

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 rulemaking would update the current list of recurring special local regulations 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 is establishing two temporary safety zones on the waters of the Delaware River in portions of Marcus Hook Range and Anchorage 7, off Marcus Hook Range. The safety zones temporarily restrict vessel traffic from transiting or anchoring in portions of the Delaware River while maintenance dredging is being conducted within the Delaware River. The safety zones are needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from hazards created by dredging operations. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the COTP or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard requests individuals interested in serving on the Area Maritime Security Committee, Eastern Great Lakes, Northeast Ohio Region sub-committee submit their applications for membership to the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Buffalo. The Committee assists the Captain of the Port as the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator, Buffalo, in developing, reviewing, and updating the Area Maritime Security Plan for their area of responsibility.

The meeting of the Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee scheduled for February 8, 2023, from 8 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST) is cancelled.

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters in Chinese Harbor of Santa Cruz Island, California. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by ongoing oil recovery and salvage operations relating to the grounding of a 60- foot fishing vessel in Chinese Harbor. Entry of persons or vessels into this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Los AngelesLong Beach (COTP), or their designated representative.

This proposed rule would implement a special activities provision of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Coast Guard is proposing to establish three temporary safety zones for the safe splashdown and recovery of reentry vehicles launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions. The proposed temporary safety zones are located within the Coast Guard District Eight area of responsibility (AOR) offshore of Panama City, Pensacola, and Tallahassee, Florida. These proposed temporary safety zones are also located specifically within the Coast Guard Sector Mobile AOR. This proposed rule would prohibit U.S.-flagged vessels from entering any of the temporary safety zones unless authorized by the Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Sector Mobile or a designated representative. Foreign-flagged vessels would be encouraged to remain outside the safety zones. This action is necessary to protect vessels and waterway users from the potential hazards created by reentry vehicle splashdowns and recovery operations in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is also necessary to provide for the safe recovery of reentry vehicles, and any personnel involved in reentry services, after the splashdown. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

This temporary final rule would implement a special activities provision of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary safety zones for the safe splashdown and recovery of reentry vehicles launched by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) from January 9, 2023 until January 30, 2023. These three temporary safety zones are located within the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile area of responsibility offshore of Pensacola, Panama City, and Tallahassee, Florida. This rule would prohibit U.S. flagged vessels from entering any of the temporary safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile or a designated representative. Foreign-flagged vessels would be encouraged to remain outside the safety zones. This action is necessary to protect vessels and waterway users from the potential hazards created by reentry vehicle splashdowns and recovery operations in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). It is also necessary to provide for the safe recovery of reentry vehicles, and any personnel involved in reentry services, after the splashdown.

On January 28, 2023, the Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Gasparilla Invasion and Parade to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for recurring marine events within Sector St. Petersburg identifies the regulated area for this event in Tampa, FL. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any designated representative.