Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish special local regulations 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 27, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or the Coast Guard Patrol Commander. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce a Safety Zone for the St. John the Baptist Independence Day fireworks display from 8:45 p.m. through 9:45 p.m. on July 3, 2020, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Eighth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event on the Lower Mississippi River, by Reserve, Louisiana. 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 updating the rules that regulate vessel traffic and control navigation on portions of waterways in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan zone during events that will introduce safety concerns to life and property on the navigable waters of the United States. This rule reorganizes the table listing existing safety zones into four separate tables organized by the State in which the safety zone occurs, makes minor formatting changes for consistency, updates the dates listed for some events, consolidates one safety zone, and removes six safety zones that are no longer necessary.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the Norfolk Southern Railroad (NSRR) vertical lift bridge across the Tombigbee River, mile 89.9, near Jackson, between Washington and Clarke Counties, Alabama. This rule moves the current onsite bridge tender control station to a geographically remote centralized control point located in Decatur, AL.

The Coast Guard is extending the application deadline for applications from persons interested in serving in membership on the National Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (Committee). This recently established Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to national commercial fishing safety. Please read this notice for a description of the 18 Committee positions we are seeking to fill.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0073, Alteration of Unreasonable Obstructive Bridges; 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.

This final rule establishes new, deep-water anchorage grounds for the Hampton Roads area near Cape Charles, VA, and increases the size and relocates the existing quarantine anchorage from near Cape Charles to further south in the lower Chesapeake Bay. The intended effect is to protect the environment, facilitate safe navigation of maritime commerce and national defense assets, and more safely and effectively support commercial vessel anchoring needs in the lower Chesapeake Bay.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-16 Change 2 issued May 21, 2020, together with a Deregulatory Savings Analysis. The NVIC 01-16 Change 2 allows for U.S.-flagged vessels to use previously downloaded, electronic copies of Inland Navigation Rules and Vessel Traffic Service Rules, and to access voyage planning navigation publications electronically, including through underway connectivity, to meet domestic carriage and International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea certification requirements.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announces the completion of The Areas Offshore of Massachusetts and Rhode Island Port Access Route Study. The study focused on the seven adjacent leased areas of the outer continental shelf south of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and east of Rhode Island that together constitute the Massachusetts/ Rhode Island Wind Energy Area (MA/RI WEA). The study was conducted to (1) determine what, if any, navigational safety concerns exist with vessel transits in the study area; (2) determine whether to recommend changes to enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses as any or all of the lease areas within the MA/RI WEA are partially or fully developed as wind farms; and (3) to evaluate the need for establishing vessel routing measures. This notice summarizes the study's recommendations.

The Coast Guard is adding, deleting, and modifying the special local regulations for annual recurring marine events, safety zones for firework displays, and swim events in the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port Zone. When enforced, these special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from transiting regulated areas during certain annually recurring events. The special local regulations and safety zones are intended to expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain marine events.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker (MM) 597.0 to MM 607.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Louisville, KY, during Thunder over Louisville. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is requesting applications from persons in interested in membership on the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (``Committee''). This recently established Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners. Please read the notice for description of Committee positions we are seeking to fill.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0102, National Response Resource Inventory; 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 proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the State Route 70 (SR 70), pontoon bridge across the Belle River mile 23.8, near Pierre Part, Assumption Parish, Louisiana. The bridge owner, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) provided the Coast Guard with information that demonstrated that significant vehicle queues were created during daylight hours in the months June, July and August and that these queues could be significantly decreased by changing the drawbridge operating schedule to open the bridge during the day on the hour instead of on signal as currently prescribed by regulations. This proposed action is intended to enhance vehicle safety and allow the bridge owner to effectively manage bridge operations during federal holidays.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of a tug and barge in the Straits of Mackinac. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the work, inspection, and surveying of underwater infrastructure. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its proposed rule concerning amendments to the regattas and marine parades regulations. The rulemaking was initiated to establish a special local regulations during the ``Cambridge Classic Power Boat Regatta,'' a marine event to be held on certain navigable waters of the Choptank River at Cambridge, MD on May 16, 2020, and May 17, 2020. The proposed rule is being withdrawn because it is no longer necessary. The event sponsor has cancelled the power boat races.

On April 17, 2020, the Coast Guard published a final rule updating the Liquid Chemical Categorization tables. The final rule contained minor typographical errors. This document corrects those errors.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker (MM) 597.0-605. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Louisville, KY, during a steamboat race. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to determine whether existing or additional vessel routing measures are necessary along the seacoast of New Jersey and approaches to the Delaware Bay. The PARS will consider whether existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel traffic, existing and potential anchorage areas, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational difficulty. Vessel routing measures are implemented to reduce the risk of marine casualties. Examples of potential measures include traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes, precautionary areas, and areas to be avoided. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemakings or international agreements.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations for certain waters of the Tred Avon River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located between Bellevue, MD, and Oxford, MD, during a swim event on June 6, 2020. 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 Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Route 1 & 9 Bridge, mile 1.8, and Route 7 Bridge, mile 3.1, both crossing the Hackensack River, at Jersey City, NJ. The bridge owner, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), submitted a request to allow two hours advance notice for nighttime transits due to infrequent bridge openings. This final rule would align the advance notice requirement for the PATH Bridge at mile 3.0.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0025, Carriage of Bulk Solids Requiring Special Handling; 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 is proposing to change the location of the special local regulation for the annual Great Western Tube Float, which is held on the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, AZ. The change of the location for the special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the event. This action will restrict vessel traffic in certain waters of the Colorado River, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. one Saturday in June, from Buckskin Mountain State Park to La Paz County Park. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to modify special local regulations and annual recurring marine events and safety zones regulations for firework displays and swim events in Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Captain of the Port Zone. When enforced, these special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from transiting regulated areas during certain annually recurring events. The proposed amendments to the special local regulations and safety zones are intended to expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain marine events. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

On July 8, 2019, the Coast Guard published a final rule that established two special anchorage areas in the Passagassawakeag River in the vicinity of Belfast, ME, effective August 7, 2019. That rule contained errors in the coordinates describing the boundaries of these special anchorage areas, causing parts of them to extend into the navigable channel. This document corrects those errors.