Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended and the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA Regulations, the U.S. Coast Guard announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Expansion and Modernization of Base Seattle. The Draft PEIS analyzes the potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts, and identifies related mitigation measures, associated with land acquisition, facility and infrastructure modernization, and continued operation to support current and future Coast Guard missions at Base Seattle. By this notice, Coast Guard is announcing the availability of the draft PEIS for public review and comment.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent regulated navigation area (RNA) for all navigable waters within the area of lines drawn from Dune Park downward to the Point Ruston Historic Ferry dock on Commencement Bay, WA. This RNA is necessary to preserve the integrity of protective sediment caps placed in multiple areas within this waterway as part of the remediation process at the Commencement Bay, Nearshore/Tideflats Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund Cleanup Site. This RNA prohibits activities which would disturb the seabed, such as anchoring, dragging, trawling, spudding, or other activities that involve disrupting the integrity of the sediment cap, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Puget Sound or their Designated Representative. The RNA will not affect vessels transiting or navigating within this waterway.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters from Mile Marker 7.0 to 9.0 on the Green River, outside of Henderson, KY. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the bridge demolition. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) to evaluate track classification and discrimination technology and address its ability to perform for specific USCG needs supporting operations. The Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with RADA Technologies LLC 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 has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the West 79th Street Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), mile 1084.6 at Miami, Florida, and the East 79th Street Bridge crossing Miami Beach Channel, mile 2.20 at Miami Beach, Florida. North Bay Village requested the Coast Guard consider placing additional weekday restrictions during rush hour on both drawbridges to assist with alleviating vehicle congestion. This deviation will test a proposed 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 navigable waters of Mutiny Bay, Whidbey Island, Washington. The temporary safety zone encompasses all waters within a 1000-yard radius of a barge anchored in Mutiny Bay. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associate with operations to recover a downed aircraft in this area. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Puget Sound (COTP).

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Monte Foundation Fireworks Display in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM) or other federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies on scene to assist the Coast Guard in enforcing the regulated area.

The Coast Guard will enforce the limited access area in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay for the San Francisco Bay Navy Fleet Week Parade of Ships and Blue Angels Survey Flight and Demonstration days from October 6 through October 9, 2022. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the regulated area, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM). This notification of enforcement (NOE) announces new dates and times for enforcement and supersedes the previous NOE published for this event.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for fireworks at The Wharf DC on October 4, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for Fireworks Displays within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the safety zone for this event in Washington, DC. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the safety zone must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for fireworks at The Wharf D.C. on October 12, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for Fireworks Displays within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the safety zone for this event in Washington, DC. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the safety zone must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Ironman Ho'ala practice swim and Ironman World Championship Triathlon on October 2, 6, and 8, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fourteenth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event on certain waters of Kailua Bay, Kailua- Kona, Hawaii. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary, 500-yard radius, moving security zones for certain vessels carrying Certain Dangerous Cargoes (CDC) within the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and La Quinta Channel. The temporary security zones are needed to protect the vessels, the CDC cargo, and the surrounding waterway from terrorist acts, sabotage, or other subversive acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones 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 navigable waters near the Downtown Detroit, Detroit, MI. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with fireworks displays created by the K/E Electric Party Firework Show display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone from mile marker (MM) 191.1 to 191.5 of the Cumberland River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Korean Veterans Bridge, Nashville, TN, during Pro Wakeboard Tour on September 23, 2022. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Black River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Black River Landing, Lorain, OH, during a dragon boat festival. This established rulemaking will prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary, 500-yard radius, moving security zones for certain vessels carrying Certain Dangerous Cargoes (CDC) within the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and La Quinta Channel. The temporary security zones are needed to protect the vessels, the CDC cargo, and the surrounding waterway from terrorist acts, sabotage, or other subversive acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation on the waters of Mission Bay, CA, during the San Diego Bayfair on September 16, 2022, through September 18, 2022. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, sponsor vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for navigable waters on the Tennessee River. The special local regulation is needed to protect the participants of the Shoals Scholar Dollar Dragon Boat Festival. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, in the vicinity of Clearwater, Florida, during the Clearwater Offshore Nationals/Race World Offshore. Approximately 50 powerboats traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour are expected to participate. Additionally, it is anticipated that 500 spectator vessels will be present along the race course. The special local regulation is necessary to protect the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on certain navigable waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Clearwater, Florida during the event. The special local regulation will establish an enforcement area where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high-speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area without obtaining permission from the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-foot radius of a fireworks display in Bay Harbor, MI. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by repair work on the bridge. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and Beaufort Inlet in Morehead City, North Carolina. This SLR restricts vessel traffic on the AICW and Beaufort Inlet during high-speed boat races. The restriction of vessel traffic movement in the SLR is to protect participants and spectators from the hazards posed by these events. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) North Carolina or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from how the CSX Transportation railroad drawbridge across the Pascagoula River, mile 1.5, Pascagoula, MS will be operated. The bridge will continue to open according to the drawbridge regulations but the bridge tender will operate this bridge from a remote location at the CSX railroad terminal in Mobile, Alabama. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.

The Coast Guard is issuing this interim rule to remove an incorrect statement about field preemption of State or local regulations regarding inland navigation. The incorrect language was added in a 2014 rulemaking, and the error was recently discovered. By removing the language, this rule clarifies the ability of States to regulate inland navigation as they have historically done. This rule does not require States to take any action.