Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Change 1 to CG- MMC Policy Letter 01-21, Guidelines for Qualifying for STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations. The Coast Guard will use applicable regulations and this policy to evaluate whether mariners may be issued endorsements for Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations.

The Coast Guard published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 23, 2021, which was effective on September 22, 2021, announcing changes to the Route 88 (Veterans Memorial) Bridge and Route 13 (Lovelandtown) Bridge across the NJICW at Point Pleasant Canal, mile 3.0 and 3.9, respectively at Point Pleasant, NJ. The amendatory instruction within that final rule was incorrect and the changes could not be incorporated into the CFR. This correcting amendment incorporates those changes into the CFR.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Columbia River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Portland, OR, at Columbia River Mile 105.6 during construction from November 1, 2021 through February 28, 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 establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Columbia River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Knapp, WA, at Columbia River Mile 95.8. 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 establishing a temporary safety zone on certain navigable waters surrounding Key West, Florida, during the Key West Paddle Classic event. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. Persons and non- participant vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone near Ship Rock, Catalina Island, in support of the Ocean Cup Pacific Rum Run. This action is necessary to protect the area near Ship Rock, Catalina Island, public vessels, and the high speed vessels participating in the event. This regulation would prohibit vessels from entering into, transiting through, or remaining within the designated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los AngelesLong Beach, or her designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near Pier 27 in support of a fireworks display on October 1, 2021. The safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) and its subcommittees will meet via teleconference to discuss matters relating to recreational boating safety. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is altering the operating schedules of the bridges over the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic Rivers and Burnham Canals. The City of Milwaukee requested the regulations to be reviewed and updated to allow for a more balanced flow of maritime and land based transportation.

On May 5, 2020, the Coast Guard published a notice of study and request for comments (85 FR 26695), announcing a Port Access Route Study (PARS) for the Seacoast of New Jersey Including Offshore Approaches to the Delaware Bay, Delaware. This notice announces the availability of a draft report for public review and comment. We seek your comments on the content, proposed routing measures, and development of the report. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemakings or appropriate international agreements.

The United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard), as the lead agency, announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program's acquisition and operation of a planned 30 WCCs. This PEIS is being prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; and the regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). The Coast Guard has determined that a PEIS is the most appropriate type of NEPA document for this action because of the scope and complexity of the proposed acquisition and operation of a planned 30 WCCs. This notice of availability (NOA) announces the start of the public review and comment period on this PEIS. After the Coast Guard addresses comments provided, Coast Guard will publish a final PEIS.

The Coast Guard proposes changes to its regulations for certifying a State's titling system for undocumented vessels to increase States' participation in the Vessel Identification System (VIS). The proposed changes would allow States that have adopted the recommendations of the model Uniform Certificate of Title Act for Vessels to certify their titling provisions with the Coast Guard. Once certified and participating in the VIS, a State is able to confer preferred mortgage status on financial instruments that apply to undocumented vessels, which benefits the owners of those vessels. While many of the proposed changes to the certification guidelines relate to the technical requirements of recording and maintaining titling documentation, the most significant change would be to implement a system of ``branding'' (permanently marking) titles for vessels that have sustained structural damage. This would help prevent a process known as ``title washing,'' where severe vessel damage is concealed by transferring the title to a different State.

The United States (U.S.) Coast Guard (Coast Guard), as the lead agency, announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (POEIS) for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Program's Stage 2 acquisition of up to 21 OPCs and for the operation of up to 25 total OPCs. The complete OPC Program of Record comprises 25 OPCs. OPC Stage 1 is already under contract to provide the first 4 OPCs. OPC Stage 2 is the focus of this PEIS/POEIS and will provide the remaining 21 OPCs. This PEIS/POEIS is being prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act and the regulations implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the Executive order titled ``Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions.'' The Coast Guard has determined that a PEIS/POEIS is the most appropriate type of NEPA document for this action because of the scope and complexity of the proposed acquisition and operation of up to 25 OPCs. This Notice of Availability (NOA) announces the start of the public review and comment period on this PEIS/POEIS. After the Coast Guard addresses comments provided, Coast Guard will publish a final PEIS/POEIS.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation on the waters of San Diego Bay, San Diego, California during the Honor Foundation Swim for Special Operations Forces (SOF) on September 18, 2021. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, sponsor vessels of the swim 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 withdrawing its proposed rule to establish temporary special local regulations for certain waters of the Choptank River. The rulemaking was initiated to establish a special local regulation during the ``Cambridge Classic Power Boat Regatta,'' a marine event to be held on certain waters of the Choptank River at Cambridge, MD. The proposed rule is being withdrawn because it is no longer necessary, as the event sponsor has cancelled the power boat racing event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the Suisun Bay, off Concord, CA, in support of explosive off and on-loading to Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO). This safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential explosion within the explosive arc. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for certain waters of the Detroit River, Wyandotte, MI. This action is necessary to protect safety of life on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and after the Roar on the River power boat race. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or a designated representative.

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 approval of an extension for the following collection of information: 1625-0029, Self- propelled Liquefied Gas Vessels; 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 will enforce special local regulations for the Clearwater Offshore Nationals on September 26, 2021, 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 Clearwater, 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.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Anacostia River. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters near Washington, DC, on September 4, 2021, and September 17, 2021, from potential hazards during fireworks displays occuring after Washington Nationals baseball games. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will add one safety zone for the Dolan Family Labor Day Fireworks event on Oyster Bay, NY, and remove six other annual recurring marine events in Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound's Captain of the Port Zone. This rule is intended to expedite public information and to ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain marine events. When enforced, the safety zones would restrict vessels from transiting the regulated area during annually recurring events.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation for navigable waters on the Tennessee River from mile 462.7 to mile 465.5. The special local regulation is needed to protect life and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the Chattajack rowing event. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically 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 special local regulation for certain waters of the Chesapeake Bay. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located between Sandy Point, Anne Arundel County, MD, and Kent Island, Queen Anne's County, MD, during a paddling event on September 26, 2021. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland- National Capital Region or the Coast Guard Event Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation of certain navigable waters of Huntington Bay, Long Island, NY, for the Lighthouse Musicfest marine event. This action is necessary to provide the safety of life on these navigable waters during the event scheduled for Saturday, September 4, 2021. This rule will allow the Coast Guard to prohibit vessel traffic in the vicinity of the event and establishes mooring areas and a speed restriction in the designated zone.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of change 2 to Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-18, Guidelines on Qualification for STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT. This NVIC provides guidance to mariners concerning regulations governing endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials for service on vessels of less than 500 Gross Tons (GT) (i.e., not limited to near-coastal waters). This change notice revises NVIC 02-18 to indicate that the Coast Guard will not enforce the 3 month maximum allowable substitution for credible sea service in a rating capacity.