Coast Guard 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the Loop Parkway Bridge, at mile 0.7, across Long Creek, New York. Under this temporary 90-day deviation the bridge will open on signal once an hour, on the half hour, between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., and at all other times after a 30 minute advance notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge. The bridge will open promptly on signal for commercial vessels at any time.

The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Union Pacific Railroad Drawbridge across the Carquinez Strait, mile 7.0, at Martinez, CA. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for the necessary replacement of drawspan Conley Joints.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily alter the effective period of the safety zone defined in 33 CFR 165.162 for the annual New York Super Boat Race. This temporary rule would change the effective date for this safety zone from Sunday, September 11, 2005 to Saturday, September 10, 2005 to permit the race sponsors to avoid interfering with various 9-11 memorial activities scheduled for the currently regulated date. This action is proposed to protect life on navigable waters during the event. No other changes to the original regulation are proposed.

The Coast Guard is establishing 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 will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, oil spills and releases of natural gas. This rule prohibits all vessels from entering or remaining in the specified area around the facility's location except under specified conditions.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone around a petroleum and gas production facility in Green Canyon 782 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 will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, oil spills and releases of natural gas. This rule prohibits all vessels from entering or remaining in the specified area around the facility's location except under specified conditions.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone restricting all vessel traffic on Lake Ontario, Near Hamlin Beach State Park, Monroe County, New York, due to Catamaran Sailboat Races, August 6, 2005 and August 7, 2005. This temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of both the participants and spectators of the sail boat races.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operating regulations governing the operation of the Willis Amtrak Portal Bridge, mile 5.0, across the Hackensack River at Little Snake Hill, New Jersey. This notice of proposed rulemaking would allow the bridge owner to expand the two time periods in the morning and in the afternoon, Monday through Friday, when the bridge may remain closed to vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary moving security zones around all escorted high capacity passenger vessels during their transit in the navigable waters of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District. These temporary security zones prohibit any vessel from entering within 100 yards of an escorted high capacity passenger vessel while in transit. These temporary security zones are necessary to mitigate potential terrorist acts and enhance public and maritime safety and security.

The Coast Guard is establishing a fixed security zone in the waters from the Don Holt, I-526 Bridge, on the Cooper River to the entrance of Foster Creek on the Cooper River, South Carolina. This security zone is necessary to protect the public and port from potential subversive acts during port embarkation operations. Vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring, mooring, or loitering within this zone, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Charleston, South Carolina or the Captain of the Port's designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``Cambridge Offshore Challenge'', a marine event to be held over the waters of the Choptank River at Cambridge, Maryland. 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 Choptank River during the event.

The Coast Guard announces the stand-up of Sector Ohio Valley. Sector Ohio Valley is an internal reorganization to combine Group Ohio Valley, Marine Safety Office Paducah, Marine Safety Office Louisville, Marine Safety Office Huntington, and Marine Safety Office Pittsburgh into one command. The Coast Guard has established a continuity of operations whereby all previous practices and procedures will remain in effect until superseded by an authorized Coast Guard official and/or document.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone during preconstruction for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge construction project. The Coast Guard is taking this action to safeguard the public from hazards associated with the transport and construction of the cable wires and cable bands being used to construct the catwalk for the new bridge. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard is temporarily suspending a portion of the regulation relating to security zones around Designated Vessels within the Captain of the Port New York Zone, and adding a temporary section to allow the Captain of the Port to protect Mass Transit Ferries and other vessels that are certificated to carry 150 or more passengers as Designated Vessels. This action is necessary to safeguard these vessels from sabotage, subversive acts, or other threats. This rule prohibits entry into or movement within these security zones without permission from the Captain of the Port of New York.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of an Environmental Equivalency Evaluation Index, which establishes a methodology to assess the oil outflow performance of alternative designs to the double hull oil tanker. This Environmental Equivalency Evaluation Index has been established in accordance with Section 705 of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004.

The Coast Guard is suspending for three years the regulations in Title 33 Code of Federal Regulations Parts 155 and 156 for tank level or pressure monitoring (TLPM) devices published in the Federal Register of September 17, 2002 (67 FR 58515). Furthermore, we are seeking public comments on the status of TLPM technology development and other means of detecting leaks from oil cargo tanks into the water.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Columbia River during hydroplane races. The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, is taking this action to safeguard watercraft and their occupants from safety hazards associated with these vessels that travel at a high rate of speed. Entry into this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard announces the establishment of Sector St. Petersburg. The Sector St. Petersburg Commanding Officer will have the authority, responsibility and missions of a Group Commander, Captain of the Port (COTP) and Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Office (MSO). The Coast Guard has established a continuity of operations order whereby all previous practices and procedures will remain in effect until superseded by an authorized Coast Guard official and/or document.

The Coast Guard has established a permanent safety zone and modified certain anchorages in the area of the Marcus Hook Range when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) conducts its annual dredging operations. Annual dredging is necessary to maintain congressionally authorized channel depths. The safety zone and anchorage modifications are necessary to ensure safe vessel transits during the dredging operations. These regulations will alter the route of vessels transiting the channel and requirements for those vessels wishing to anchor during the dredging operations.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement and seeks inquiries and proposals from potential partners. The goal of this agreement will be further development of innovative fire suppression/protection systems for use on marine vessels and Coast Guard approval procedures for such systems.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Mark 11 Static Barrier Running Gear Entanglement System (RGES). The Coast Guard is proposing to establish and operate a Mark (MK) 11 Static Barrier RGES at various and currently unknown U.S. ports throughout the U.S. Maritime Domain, when necessary. The purpose of Proposed Action is to improve the Coast Guard's capabilities to intercept and interdict small boats and watercraft. The MK11 Static Barrier RGES would deliver an entanglement device which would foul the propellers of unauthorized vessels attempting to approach restricted areas. The MK 11 Static Barrier RGES would not duplicate existing protective measures, but would provide complimentary, non-redundant capabilities that would be able to close significant readiness gaps in our nation's strategic ports.

On July 1, 2005, the Coast Guard published a temporary final rule establishing a security zone in Cleveland's inner harbor for the visit of the HMCS Toronto. On July 8, 2005, the Coast Guard learned the HMCS Toronto would be mooring at a different location. This rule changes the location of the temporary security zone and clarifies its duration Entry into this security zone is prohibited without permission of the Captain of the Port Cleveland.

The Towing Vessel Inspection Working Group of the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) will meet to discuss matters relating to inspection issues for towing vessels. The meetings will be open to the public.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the Coast Guard has forwarded one Information Collection Request1625-0040, Continuous Discharge Book, Merchant Mariner Application, Physical Examination Report, Sea Service Report, Chemical Testing and Entry Level Physical Reportabstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of the Office of Management and Budget for review and comment. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comment by OIRA ensures that we impose only paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations during the ``Thunder on the Narrows'' boat races, a marine event to be held August 6 and August 7, 2005, on the waters of Prospect Bay, near Kent Island Narrows, Maryland. 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 portions of Prospect Bay during the event.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Coast Guard intends to seek the approval of OMB for the renewal of one Information Collection Request (ICR). The ICR is for 1625-0089, The National Recreational Boating Survey. Before submitting the ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments on it as described below.