Coast Guard – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 safety zone regulations at various locations in the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone from May 26, 2023 to July 08, 2023, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during these fireworks displays. Our regulation for fireworks displays within the Thirteenth Coast Guard District designates the regulated areas and identifies the approximate dates for these events. The specific dates and times are identified in this notice. These regulations prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated areas unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces that it has received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection request associated with the interim rule requirements for fire safety on certain covered small passenger vessels. This rule announces the effective dates for the requirements for vessel operators to log the occurrence of passenger emergency egress drills and to post passenger safety bills in overnight accommodation spaces. In the interim rule, we stated we would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the collection-of- information related sections upon OMB approval. This rule establishes April 24, 2023 as the effective date for those sections.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of the Bush River and Otter Point Creek, in Maryland. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at Edgewood, MD, during a high-speed power boat race on May 13, 2023 and May 14, 2023. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels (other than those already at berth at the time the regulation takes effect) from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region (COTP), or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Windermere Cup on May 6, 2023, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Thirteenth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event on the Montlake Cut and Union Bay Reach between Portage Bay and Webster Point on Lake Washington in Seattle, WA. The regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated areas unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Puget Sound or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters in the Corpus Christi Bay. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by an acrobatic airshow near the Corpus Christi Bayfront, Corpus Christi, Texas. 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 temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the US 1 Bridge across the Housatonic River, mile 3.5, at Stratford, CT. This action is necessary to allow for an unexpected delay in construction material delivery related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This temporary final rule is necessary to allow the bridge owner to complete the remaining replacements and repairs.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for waters of the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent to Cape Canaveral, FL. This safety zone 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 this safety zone for the launch of the Terran 1 rocket, which is being launched by Relativity Space. The temporary safety zone will be located within the Coast Guard District Seven area of responsibility offshore of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This rule prohibits U.S.-flagged vessels from entering the temporary safety zone unless authorized by the District Commander of the Seventh Coast Guard District or a designated representative. Foreign-flagged vessels are encouraged to remain outside the safety zone. This action is necessary to protect vessels and waterway users from the potential hazards created by launch of the Terran 1 rocket, flying over the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a special local regulation on certain waters of the Hudson River near Castleton-on- Hudson, NY, in support of the Horsepower on the Hudson event, reoccurring annually one day in August. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of participants, participant vessels, spectators, and mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with vessels operating at high speeds during the Horsepower on the Hudson event. This proposed rulemaking would allow the Coast Guard to enforce vessel movements within two regulated areas in a portion of the Hudson River near Castleton-on-Hudson, NY. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones for the Big Bay Boom Fourth of July Fireworks on the waters of San Diego Bay, CA on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The safety zones are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, spectators, official vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. Our regulation for the Southern California Annual Firework Events for the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone identifies the regulated areas for this event. During the enforcement period, spectators may not anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of official patrol vessels in the regulated areas without the approval of the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone over the waters near Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu, CA, in support of the Point Mugu Airshow. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters in the area near the air demonstrations and to provide an emergency landing area for the event. This regulation prohibits vessels from entering into, transiting through, or remaining within the designated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach (COTP), or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the Chesapeake Bay entrance and Hampton Roads, VA and adjacent watersRegulated Navigation Area. Officially codified in 2003, the need for this review and update of the Regulated Navigation Area has been prompted by changes in the organizational structure, responsibilities, and shipboard requirements over the last 20 years. The Coast Guard is proposing to remove outdated or redundant language and requirements, including those related to port security. This action will provide administrative changes and amend vessel reporting requirements operating within the Regulated Navigation Area during Maritime Security Level 1. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters in the Missouri River at Mile Marker (MM) 175.5 to 176.5. 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 will enforce a safety zone for the Riverfest fireworks display on the Neches River in Port Neches, TX from 8:30 p.m. through 10 p.m. on May 6, 2023 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for fireworks displays and other events within the Eighth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Port Neches, TX. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or designated representative.

In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, Enterprise Products has submitted a Letter of Intent and Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Port Arthur, TX (COTP) regarding the company's plans to handle and transport Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) at the Enterprise Products East docks located in Orange, TX. The Coast Guard is notifying the public of this proposed increase in LHG marine traffic on the Sabine-Neches Waterway and is soliciting comments relevant to the Coast Guard's preparation of a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for issue to the Federal, State or local agency with jurisdiction over the proposed facility.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone regulation for Ocean Park Civic League on July 1st, 2023, 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 Virginia Beach, VA. During the enforcement period, entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Virginia.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone regulation for Norfolk's 41st Annual Independence Day Fireworks on July 4, 2023, 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 Norfolk, VA. During the enforcement period, entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Virginia.

The Coast Guard is establishing 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 March 13, 2023 through March 29, 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.

The Coast Guard announces the publication of the Vessel Traffic Services National Standards of Operating Commandant Instruction (COMDTINST) 16630.3B. This instruction replaces the Vessel Traffic Services National Standards of Operating Procedures COMDTINST M16630.3A. This instruction provides programmatic guidance to all Coast Guard Sectors and Vessel Traffic Services.

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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) missions. The temporary safety zones are located within the Coast Guard Sector Mobile area of responsibility (AOR) offshore of Panama City, Pensacola, and Tallahassee, Florida. This rule prohibits U.S.-flagged vessels from entering any of the temporary safety zones unless authorized by the Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Sector Mobile or a designated representative. Foreign-flagged vessels are 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 ensure the safe recovery of reentry vehicles, and any personnel involved in reentry services, after the splashdown. We received no public comments.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the annual Parade of Lights event in the Captain of the Port of Buffalo zone. Enforcement of this safety zone is necessary to protect the safety of life and property on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after this event. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without permission from the Captain of the Port Buffalo or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to evaluate the adequacy of existing vessel routing measures and determine whether additional vessel routing measures are necessary for port approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas, Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana, and international and domestic transit areas in the Eighth Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR). The Approaches to Galveston Bay and Sabine Pass, Texas and Calcasieu Pass, Louisiana PARS (TX/LAPARS) will consider whether existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential wind energy offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational difficulty. Vessel routing measures, which include traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes, precautionary areas, and areas to be avoided, are implemented to reduce risk of marine casualties. The recommendations of the study may subsequently be implemented through rulemakings or in accordance with international agreements.

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 2023 shipping season. This rule adjusts the pilotage rates to account for changes in district operating expenses, an increase in the number of pilots, and anticipated inflation. These changes, when combined, result in a 16-percent net increase in pilotage costs compared to the 2022 season.

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: 1625-0027, Vessel Documentation; 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 proposing to establish a Temporary Special Local Regulation for certain waters of the Clinch River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Oak Ridge, TN, during a rowing regatta on March 31, 2023 through April 1, 2023. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the special local regulation zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.