Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for certain waters of Tampa Bay, FL. in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Pier during the Annual St. Petersburg P1 Powerboat Grand Prix. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District, Sector St. Petersburg identifies the regulated area for this event. During the enforcement period, 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 (COTP) St. Petersburg 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 August 16, 2022 until September 30, 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.

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet virtually to review and discuss on matters relating to national maritime security, including on enhancing the sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks that may cause a transportation security incident, between relevant Federal agencies and State, local, and tribal governments, relevant public safety and emergency response agencies, relevant law enforcement and security organizations, maritime industry, port owners and operators, and terminal owners and operators. The virtual meetings will be open to the public.

The National Towing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet to review and discuss matters relating to shallow-draft inland navigation, coastal waterway navigation, and towing safety. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Bay Bridge Paddle on September 25, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event between Sandy Point State Park and Kent Island, MD. During the enforcement period, 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 will enforce the safety zone in the navigable waters of Suisun Bay, off Concord, CA, in support of explosive on- loading to Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) from August 12, 2022, through August 22, 2022. This safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential explosion within the explosive arc. The safety zone is open to all persons and vessels for transitory use, but vessel operators desiring to anchor or otherwise loiter within the safety zone must obtain the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative. All persons and vessels operating within the safety zone must comply with all directions given to them by the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Ohio River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 469.6-470.2 in Cincinnati, OH. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Cincinnati, OH, during the Great Ohio River Swim on August 28, 2022.

The Coast Guard proposes to change 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. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Atlantic City Ironman on September 10, 2022 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Atlantic City, NJ. 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 will enforce the special local regulation for the Thunder Over the Boardwalk Air Show from 8 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. on August 22, 23 and 24, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Atlantic City, NJ. 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 changing the operating schedule that governs the Lansing Island Bridge across Grand Canal, mile 0.7 at Indian Harbour Beach, FL. A request was made to the Coast Guard to allow the drawbridge to remain closed to navigation and untended during the overnight hours due to a lack of requested openings.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500 foot radius of a fireworks launch barge at 38[deg]12'29.502''N, -92[deg]45'15.4686''W, in the main channel, of the Lake of the Ozarks. The safety zone is to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is accepting applications to fill eight vacancies on the National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (Committee). This Committee advises the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials.

The Coast Guard announces the online availability, of a new Coast Guard policy that establishes regulatory compliance guidance for recreational vessels less than 20 feet in length that use batteries to power their primary propulsion. This document provides consistent guidance for the design, inspection, and/or testing of recreational vessels using batteries to power their primary propulsion. The policy can be found at https://safeafloat.com/policies-letters/.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Olympia Harbor Days Tug Boat Races, Budd, Inlet, WA, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on September 3, 2022. This action is necessary to limit vessel movement within the specified race area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after racing activity in order to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and the maritime public. 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.

This rule makes non-substantive amendments to Coast Guard regulations in association with a change in the Coast Guard's internal organization. These amendments reflect that U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam has been renamed U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

The Coast Guard will enforce Seattle's Seafair Fleet Week Moving Vessels security zones from 11:30 a.m. on August 1, 2022, through 5 p.m. on August 7, 2022. These security zones are necessary to help ensure the security of the vessels from sabotage or other subversive acts during Seafair Fleet Week Parade of Ships. The designated participating vessels are: USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG-57), USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-53), USCGC HENRY BLAKE (WLM-563), USCGC ANACAPA (WPB-1335), USCGC TERRAPIN (WPB-87366), USCGC OSPREY (WPB-87307), HMCS SASKATOON (MM-709), HMCS YELLOWKNIFE (MM-706), and Fireboat LESCHI. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the security zones without the permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP), Puget Sound or her designated representative. The COTP has granted general permission for vessels to enter the outer 400 yards of the security zones as long as those vessels within the outer 400 yards of the security zones operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain course unless required to maintain speed by the navigation rules.

The Coast Guard is proposing to 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 Riverfront Park, Nashville, TN, during Pro Wakeboard Tour on September 23 through September 24, 2022. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the St. Clair River in the vicinity of Port Huron, MI. This zone is intended to restrict and control movement of vessels in a portion of the St. Clair River. Though this is an unsanctioned, non-permitted marine event, this zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a float down event near Port Huron, MI.

The Coast Guard is establishing to a temporary safety zone from mile marker 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 Music City Grand Prix on August 5 through August 7, 2022. This rulemaking 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 proposing to establish 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 between the Marquam Bridge to Hawthorne Bridge, Portland, Oregon, during a fireworks display on the evening of September 3, 2022. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to eastablish 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 on October 15, 2022 enforced from 8:15 until 9 p.m. This proposed rulemaking 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. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The U.S. Coast Guard seeks input from the public on wing-in- ground (WIG) craft. This information will support the Coast Guard's compliance with Section 8431 of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. In addition, public input will help in assessing the current state of WIG craft development and the technology to provide transportation support to offshore energy facilities on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Finally, public input will aid in developing a plan to demonstrate WIG craft capability to conduct such operations.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Sabine River, extending the entire width of the river, adjacent to the public boat ramp located in Orange, TX. The special local regulation is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with a high-speed boat race competition in Orange, TX. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

In accordance with the statutory provisions enacted by the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is issuing new base pilotage rates for the 2022 shipping season. This rule will adjust the pilotage rates to account for changes in district operating expenses, an increase in the number of pilots, and anticipated inflation. In addition, this rule will make a policy change to round up in the staffing model. The Coast Guard is also making methodology changes to factor in an apprentice pilot's compensation benchmark for the estimated number of apprentice pilots. The Coast Guard estimates that this rule will result in a 7-percent increase in pilotage operating costs compared to the 2021 season.