Coast Guard March 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces that Waterways Analysis and Management System (WAMS) studies are being planned for the Upper Chesapeake Bay, including the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The Coast Guard solicits comments on the specific waterways presented in this document so we can complete our WAMS studies. The goals of the studies are to analyze the waterway and aids to navigation, and then develop a plan to address any proposed changes and concerns.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone at the North Carolina State Port Authority (NCSPA), Wilmington to include the Cape Fear River and Eagle Island. Entry into or movement within the security zone will be prohibited without authorization from the COTP. This action is necessary to safeguard the vessels and the facility from sabotage, subversive acts, or other threats.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the U.S. 1 Bridge, mile 3.5, across the Housatonic River at Stratford, Connecticut. Under this temporary deviation only one of the two-bascule leafs at the bridge need open for the passage of vessel traffic from April 1, 2005 through May 27, 2005. Two-leaf, full bridge openings, will be provided upon three days advance notice. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate rehabilitation repairs at the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Upper Potomac River in the Washington Channel, Washington, DC. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property during a fireworks display being held during the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. This safety zone will restrict the movement of vessel traffic in the immediate area of the fireworks discharge site.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise the anchorage regulations in the Port of Hampton Roads. Infrastructure improvements and increases in vessel traffic and draft entering the port have prompted this proposed rulemaking. The proposed changes to this regulation will ensure that the Hampton Roads Anchorage Grounds continue to safely support current and future vessel anchoring demands. This supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) discusses changes made to Anchorages J, K, and, L since publication of the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) in the Federal Register on September 27, 2004 (69 FR 57656). The changes are explained in the section titled ``Discussion of Proposed Rule'' section of this document.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the Metropolitan Avenue Bridge, mile 3.4, across English Kills at New York City, New York. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may remain in the closed position from April 7, 2005 through April 8, 2005, and from April 13, 2005 through April 15, 2005. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge maintenance.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the CSX Transportation Railroad Bridge across the Pascagoula River, mile 1.5, at Pascagoula, Jackson County, Mississippi. This deviation allows the draw of the bascule span bridge to remain closed to navigation for nine hours per day Monday through Thursday from April 11 until April 14, 2005. The deviation is necessary to repair the drive motor and associated hydraulic components of the draw span operating mechanism.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``2005 Piankatank River Race'', a marine event to be held over the waters of the Piankatank River in Gloucester County, Virginia. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in the Piankatank River during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Delaware River encompassing all waters from the Commodore Barry Bridge to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. This temporary safety zone is needed for the T/V ATHOS 1 response operations and will protect cleanup crews from excessive wake caused by transiting vessels, provide for the safety of life, property and facilitate oil spill environmental response activities. All vessels transiting the safety zone must minimize wake as to not affect response operations.

The Coast Guard is establishing safety and security zones around waterfront areas in New London, Connecticut during the Congressionally-mandated third Top Officials exercise. These zones are necessary to provide for the safety and security of participants in the exercise, the surrounding shore and maritime communities from potential sabotage or subversive acts aimed at this large scale, high profile exercise. These temporary safety and security zones prohibit persons or vessels from entering unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is correcting the preamble to a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of March 18, 2005 (70 FR 13102). The final rule expands the number of conditions that a State may require in order for owners to obtain vessel numbering certificates in that State. The preamble to the final rule contains an error in the regulatory evaluation.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone around a petroleum and gas production facility in Green Canyon 787 of the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico. The facility needs to be protected from vessels operating outside the normal shipping channels and fairways, and placing a safety zone around this area would significantly reduce the threat of allisions, oil spills and releases of natural gas. This proposed rule prohibits all vessels from entering or remaining in the specified area around the facility's location except for the following: an attending vessel; a vessel under 100 feet in length overall not engaged in towing; or a vessel authorized by the Eighth Coast Guard District Commander.

The Coast Guard has changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the Route 36 Bridge, mile 1.8, across the Shrewsbury River at Highlands, New Jersey. This change to the drawbridge operation regulations will allow the bridge owner to require an advance notice for bridge openings during periods the bridge has received few requests to open from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., each day, and during the winter months from December 1 through March 31. This action is expected to help relieve the bridge owner from the burden of crewing the bridge at all times while continuing to meet the present needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary special local regulation for the Dania Beach/Hollywood Super Boat Race offshore in Dania Beach/Hollywood, Florida. These special local regulations restrict the movement of non-participating vessels and persons in the regulated race area and provide a viewing area for spectator craft. This rule is needed to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event.

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the SR 27 Bridge, at mile 0.7, across Townsend Gut, between Boothbay Harbor and Southport, Maine. This temporary rule requires the bridge to open at specific times between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., each day, from March 14, 2005 through November 30, 2005. Additionally, this temporary rule would also allow four 4-day closures during the effective period of this rule when the bridge may remain in the closed position. This action is necessary to help facilitate rehabilitation construction at the bridge.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) and its subcommittees on boats and associated equipment, aftermarket marine equipment, and prevention through people will meet to discuss various issues relating to recreational boating safety. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is changing the rates for pilotage on the Great Lakes. The last full-rate adjustment for pilotage on the Great Lakes became effective in August 2001, and a partial-rate adjustment became effective January 12, 2004. This change is necessary both to generate sufficient revenues for allowable expenses and to ensure that the pilots receive target compensation.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and its working groups will meet to discuss various issues relating to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. MERPAC advises the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters relating to the training, qualifications, licensing, and certification of seamen serving in the U.S. merchant marine. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing permanent moving security zones around escorted vessels while they are in the navigable waters of the Fifth Coast Guard District. The security zones require all vessels in a 500-yard radius around escorted vessels, to operate at the minimum speed necessary to navigate safely and prohibits any vessels from entering within 100 yards of an escorted vessel. These security zones mitigate potential terrorist acts and enhance public and maritime safety and security.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish moving and fixed security zones in the navigable waters of Coast Guard District 17 around and under all high capacity passenger (HCP) vessels. The zones would extend 100 yards from HCP vessels while they are underway and 25 yards from HCP vessels while they are moored or anchored. The Coast Guard also proposes to establish a regulated navigation area that would require other vessels operating within 250 yards of a HCP vessel be subject to speed restrictions. These security zones and regulated navigation area are needed to secure and safeguard HCP vessels and ports from sabotage, terrorist acts, and other incidents. Entry into these security zones would be prohibited, unless specifically authorized by the Coast Guard District 17 Commander, cognizant Captain of the Port, or the on-scene official patrol.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Coast Guard intends to seek the approval of OMB for the renewal of five Information Collection Requests (ICRs). The ICRs comprise (1) 1625- 0013, Plan Approval and Records for Load Lines, (2) 1625-0032, Vessel Inspection Related Forms and Reporting Requirements Under Title 46 U.S. Code, (3) 1625-0037, Certificates of Compliance, Boiler/Pressure Vessel Repairs, Cargo Gear Records, and Shipping Papers, (4) 1625-0041, Various International Agreement Pollution Prevention Certificates and Documents, and Equivalency Certificates, and (5) 1625-0042, Requirements for Lightering of Oil and Hazardous Material Cargoes. Before submitting the ICRs to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments on them as described below.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulations governing the operation of the CSX Railroad Bridge across the Hillsborough River, mile 0.7, Tampa, Florida. Previously owned by the Seaboard System Railroad, the bridge is now called the CSX Railroad Bridge vice the Seaboard System Railroad Bridge. This proposed rule would allow the bridge to operate using an automated system without an onsite bridge tender. Currently, the bridge is required to open on signal.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish three general anchorages and two tug and barge general anchorages in the vicinity of Anacortes, Washington. These anchorages would reduce the risk of collisions, provide a more orderly movement of tanker traffic in and out of near by oil refineries, and keep the approaches to Guemes Channel open to transiting traffic while providing ample room for barge operations.