Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 at the old Governor Harry W. Nice/Senator Thomas ``Mac'' Middleton Memorial (US- 301) Bridge during demolition operations from February 1, 2023 through February 14, 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 is establishing a temporary security zone in the navigable waters near Mare Island Dry Dock, approximately 100 yards from any part of the berthing piers in the Mare Island Strait, Vallejo, CA within the San Francisco Captain of the Port (COTP) zone. The security zone is necessary to protect the harbors, ports, and waterfront facilities during the dry dock period of the USS Frank Cable and associated APL berthing barge. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Francisco.

The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule to extend the maximum validity period of merchant mariner medical certificates issued to first-class pilots, and masters or mates serving as pilot, from 2 years to 5 years. We are issuing this rule in response to federal advisory committee recommendations and a petition for rulemaking. This rule will reduce the frequency of medical certificate application submissions to the Coast Guard. The rule maintains the requirement for pilots to complete annual physicals and provides the Coast Guard opportunity to review the medical examinations of pilots who may become medically unqualified between medical certificate applications; therefore, the rule does not compromise safety.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Savannah River near Augusta, GA for the Head of the South Regatta. This temporary safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the rowing regatta. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with companies to evaluate autonomous detection and tracking systems to determine its potential use in Search and Rescue planning. The Coast Guard will provide video output from various sensors to detect and characterize targets for search along with collaboratively developing methods to evaluate the effectiveness of the autonomous detection and tracking systems to allow for the integration with accepted search planning systems and methodologies. From a recent demonstration, the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Zelim to investigate their artificial intelligence-based casualty detection system, SARBox, and solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA, and the nature of that participation. The Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters in the Upper Mississippi River at Mile Marker (MM) 485.3 through 485.9. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from all potential hazards associated with electrical line work. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 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 of 1969 (NEPA) and Council on Environmental Quality implementing regulations, and the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This final EIS evaluates the potential environmental consequences of permitting the replacement of the existing BNSF Railway Bridge across the Missouri River between the cities of Bismarck and Mandan, ND, or the construction of a bridge adjacent to the existing bridge. The applicant proposes to remove the existing structure, which is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The Coast Guard analyzed proposed alternatives, through the NEPA and NHPA processes, which included alternatives to construct the new bridge while retaining the existing bridge. The Coast Guard is making the final EIS available to the public on this docket. Section 4.0 of the final EIS identifies the preferred alternative, which is to construct a new bridge with 200-foot spans, and piers 20 feet upstream of the existing bridge, and to remove the existing structure.

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: 1625-0126, Requirements for Vessels that Perform Certain Aquaculture Support Operations; 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.

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: 1625-0104, Barges Carrying Bulk Hazardous Materials; 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 establishing 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 near Oaks Park, Portland, OR, during a fireworks display on October 31, 2022. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone around the Lucius Spar, located in Keathley Canyon Block 875 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. Establishing a safety zone around the facility will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment. Only vessels measuring less than 100 feet in length overall and not engaged in towing, attending vessels, or those vessels specifically authorized by the Eighth Coast Guard District Commander or a designated representative are permitted to enter or remain in the safety zone. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone on the navigable waters around the Horn Mountain Spar, located in Mississippi Canyon Block 127 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. Establishing a safety zone around the facility will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment. Only vessels measuring less than 100 feet in length overall and not engaged in towing, attending vessels, or those vessels specifically authorized by the Eighth Coast Guard District Commander or a designated representative are permitted to enter or remain in the safety zone. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone around the Vito Floating Production System (FPS), located in Mississippi Canyon Block 939 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. Establishing a safety zone around the facility would significantly reduce the threat of allisions, collisions, security breaches, oil spills, releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment. Only vessels measuring less than 100 feet in length overall and not engaged in towing, attending vessels, or those vessels specifically authorized by the Eighth Coast Guard District Commander or a designated representative are permitted to enter or remain in the safety zone. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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: 1625-0063, Marine Occupational Health and Safety Standards for Benzene; 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.

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: 1625-0065, Offshore Supply Vessels; 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.

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: 1625-0077, Security Plans for Ports, Vessels, Facilities, and Outer Continental Shelf Facilities and Other Security-Related Requirements; 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.

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 five 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) and privately chartered missions. The proposed temporary safety zones are located within the Coast Guard District Seven area of responsibility (AOR) offshore of Jacksonville, Daytona, Cape Canaveral, Tampa, and Tallahassee, Florida. This proposed rule would prohibit U.S.-flagged vessels from entering any of the temporary safety zones unless authorized by the District Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District, a Coast Guard Captain of the Port, 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.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Corpus Christi Shipping Channel in a zone defined by the following coordinates; 27[deg]50'31.28'' N, 97[deg]04'17.23'' W; 27[deg]50'31.73'' N, 97[deg]04'15.44'' W; 27[deg]50'29.06'' N, 97[deg]04'16.61'' W; 27[deg]50'29.32'' N, 97[deg]04'14.82'' W. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by pipelines that will be removed from the floor of the Corpus Christi Shipping Channel. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters in the Missouri River at Mile Markers (MM) 139.5- 139.2. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from all potential hazards associated with electrical line work. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the St. Johns River in connection with the Naval Air Station Jacksonville Air Show. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL, during the air show. Entry of vessels or persons into this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is updating the list of marine events occurring annually within the Eleventh Coast Guard District, specifically within the San Francisco Captain of the Port (COTP) zone. This rule will enable vessel movement restrictions in the regulated area when the special local regulations are activated and enforced.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Mystic River for the Mystic Seaport Bridge 100th Anniversary Fireworks Display. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters in the vicinity of the Mystic Bascule Bridge during a fireworks display. This rule would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period of the draft Pacific Coast Port Access Route Study (PAC-PARS) in order to provide stakeholders with additional time to provide the Coast Guard with valuable input. This study evaluates safe access routes for the movement of vessel traffic proceeding to or from ports or places along the western seaboard of the United States and determines whether a shipping safety fairway (``fairway'') and/or routing measures should be established, adjusted or modified.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Verdigris River, Mile Marker (MM) 431 through MM 432, Catoosa, OK. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during a bridge demolition. All vessels and persons are prohibited from entering the demolition area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

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 October 12, 2022 until November 10, 2022. 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.