Coast Guard January 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 1,000-yard radius of the M/V HOS WARLAND, HOS INNOVATOR, and, or HOS MYSTIQUE. Operations are planned to relocate unexploded ordinance (UXO) in the Atlantic Ocean, within 12 miles of the shores of the State Military Reservation, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by these operations. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Virgina or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce a security zone for all navigable waters within 400 yards of the Left Descending Bank (LDB) of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR) Mile Marker (MM) 94.4 to MM 95.1, Above Head of Passes (AHP), New Orleans, LA. This security zone is necessary to provide security and protection for visiting personnel during the events related to the Mardi Gras celebration. No person or vessel may enter this security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New Orleans (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Choctawhatchee Bay where unexploded ordnances were discovered and a moving safety zone around vessels relocating any unexploded ordnance from Choctawhatchee Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. The safety zone is needed to protect mariners from the hazards associated with unexploded ordnance clearance operations. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector Mobile, or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for a fireworks display at ``The Wharf DC,'' in Washington, DC, on March 23, 2024 or, if necessary, due to inclement weather, on March 24, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation, ``Safety Zones; Fireworks Displays within the Fifth Coast Guard District,'' identifies the precise location. During the enforcement period, vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zone unless authorized to do so by the COTP or his representative, and vessels in the vicinity must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is altering 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.

The Coast Guard is altering the operating schedule that governs the Metro-North (Devon) Bridge, across the Housatonic River, mile 3.9, at Stratford, CT. The bridge owner, Metro-North (MNR), submitted a request on May 5, 2022 to modify the regulation by aligning 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.

The Coast Guard, as the lead agency, announces its intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement that will evaluate the potential environmental consequences of the Coast Guard's Proposed Action to establish shipping safety fairways and other routing measures along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. While vessels are not required to use them, fairways are designed to keep traditional navigation routes free from fixed structures that could impact navigation safety and impede other shared offshore activities. This Notice of Intent is intended to solicit feedback on preliminary alternatives to help the Coast Guard narrow the scope of the PEIS. The Coast Guard intends to host three in-person meetings and one virtual scoping public meeting to provide additional information to the public and to solicit input on potential issues, concerns, and reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the PEIS.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish shipping safety fairways (``fairways'') along the Atlantic Coast of the United States, identified in the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study. Fairways would preserve the safe and reliable transit of vessels along well- established traffic patterns and routes. While vessels are not required to use them, fairways are designed to keep traditional navigation routes free from fixed structures that could impact navigation safety and impede other shared offshore activities. The Coast Guard recognizes that there is increasing interest in offshore commercial development, including offshore renewable energy installations, and believes this development is best served by the establishment of consistent and well- defined fairways. The proposed fairways would help ensure that offshore developments remain viable by allowing developers to construct and maintain installations without risk of impeding vessel traffic. The Coast Guard is also proposing to establish traffic separation schemes and precautionary areas along the Atlantic coast to further improve navigation safety.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Gasparilla Invasion and Parade on January 27, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for recurring marine events within the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg identifies the regulated area for this event in Tampa, FL. During the enforcement periods, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area unless authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 1 nautical mile radius of the M/V GENIUS STAR XI. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fire onboard the M/V GENIUS STAR XI. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Western Alaska.

The U. S. Coast Guard announces the availability of recommendations from the National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (NCFSAC). The Committee met in September 2023 and sent eight recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The U.S. Coast Guard issues this Notice as the mechanism for receiving public comments and requests public comments on the recommendations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 1 nautical mile radius of the M/V GENIUS STAR XI. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fire onboard the M/V GENIUS STAR XI. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Western Alaska.