Coast Guard 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to implement a temporary safety zone for the TCF Bank Milwaukee Air Expo. This safety zone is necessary to safeguard the public from the hazards associated with air shows. This proposed rule would restrict vessel traffic from a portion of Lake Michigan near Milwaukee Harbor unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Milwaukee or designated representative.

The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, will enforce the safety zone established for the Fort Vancouver Fireworks Display, Vancouver, WA on the waters of the Columbia River on July 4, 2005. The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, is taking this action to safeguard watercraft and their occupants from safety hazards associated with the display of fireworks. Entry into this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations during the ``5th Annual Escape from Fort Delaware Triathlon,'' an event to be held June 18, 2005 over the waters of Delaware River at Delaware City, DE. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Delaware River during the 5th Annual Escape from Fort Delaware Triathlon.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone in the vicinity of the HOVENSA refinery facility in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This security zone extends approximately 2 miles seaward from the HOVENSA facility waterfront area along the south coast of the island of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This security zone is needed for national security reasons to protect the public and the HOVENSA facility from potential subversive acts. Vessels without scheduled arrivals must receive permission from the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port San Juan prior to entering this temporary security zone.

The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, will enforce the safety zones established May 30, 2003, to safeguard watercraft and their occupants from safety hazards associated with the display of fireworks. Entry into these safety zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Portland Zone.

This document provides required notice of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard and temporarily effective between January 1, 2005 and March 31, 2005, that were not published in the Federal Register. This quarterly notice lists temporary drawbridge operation regulations, safety zones and security zones, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the Virginia Area Maritime Security (VA AMS) Committee to submit their applications for membership to the Captain of the Port (COTP) Hampton Roads.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary final rule governing the operation of the P.J. McArdle Bridge, mile 0.3, across the Chelsea River between East Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts. This final rule will allow the bridge to remain in the closed position from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 18, 2005, to facilitate the Annual Chelsea River Revel 5K Road Race. Vessels that can pass under the bridge without a bridge opening may do so at all times.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Drawbridge, mile 190.4, Nashville, Tennessee across the Cumberland River. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed- to- navigation position for three consecutive days from 7 a.m. June 11, 2005 until 7 a.m. June 14, 2005. The deviation is necessary to allow time for making repairs of critical mechanical components essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge.

The Coast Guard modified the regulations that govern the operation of the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge. The change allows for daily bridge openings every 20-minutes from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This regulation should improve vehicular traffic movement while the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge is undergoing repairs and will not unreasonably interfere with vessel movement.

The Coast Guard is implementing the special local regulations for the U.S. Naval Academy Blue Angels Air show to be held May 24 and 25, 2005, over the waters of the Severn River at Annapolis, Maryland. These special local regulations are necessary to control vessel traffic due to the confined nature of the waterway and expected vessel congestion during the event. The effect will be to restrict general navigation in the regulated area for the safety of event participants, spectators and vessels transiting the event area.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a temporary safety zone for the Town of Marblehead Fourth of July Fireworks. This safety zone is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public from the potential hazards associated with a fireworks display. The safety zone would temporarily prohibit entry into or movement within this portion of Marblehead Harbor during the closure period.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for the City of Lynn Fourth of July Celebration. The safety zone is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public from the potential hazards posed by a fireworks display. The safety zone will prohibit entry into or movement within this portion of Nahant Bay during its effective period.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of an Internet Web site that provides information on dispersant pre-approval requirements throughout the United States and its territories. The Web site contains information of interest to owners and operators of oil tankers and facilities required to have an oil spill response plan. The Web site, which consists of a chart and map with informational pop-ups, is available to the general public through the Coast Guard's Web site.

The Coast Guard is establishing an interim safety zone around the primary component of the Gulf Gateway Deepwater Port, Gulf of Mexico, and its accompanying systems. The purpose of this safety zone is to protect vessels and mariners from the potential safety hazards associated with deepwater port operations. All vessels, with the exception of deepwater port support vessels, are prohibited from entering into or moving within this safety zone.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulations that govern the operation of the Dominion Boulevard (U.S. 17) Bridge across the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, at Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) mile 8.8, at Chesapeake, Virginia. The proposal would change the morning rush hour closure period so that it starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 9 a.m., and also allow the bridge to open every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. The proposed change is necessary to relieve vehicular traffic congestion and reduce traffic delays between weekday rush hours while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public that the Coast Guard has recertified the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification allows the PWSRCAC to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under the Prince William Sound Program established by statute.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise the perimeter of the existing security zone that extends approximately 150 feet into the navigable waters of the Oakland Estuary, Alameda, California, around the United States Coast Guard Island Pier to coincide with the perimeter of a floating security barrier. This action is necessary to provide continued security for the military service members on board vessels moored at the pier and the government property associated with these valuable national assets. This security zone would prohibit all persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, or anchoring within a portion of the Oakland Estuary surrounding the Coast Guard Island Pier unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend the permanent special local regulations for the Suncoast Offshore Challenge and the Suncoast Offshore Grand Prix in the Gulf of Mexico near Sarasota, Florida. By existing permanent special local regulations, these two race events have nearly identical course and time characteristics, however one event is held annually on the first Saturday of July and the other event is held annually on the first Sunday of July. The sponsor has decided to combine the events into a single day, reduced the length of the racecourse, and modified the times of the event which would take place annually on the first Sunday of July between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). These amended regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life for the participating vessels, spectators, and mariners on the navigable waters of the United States during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary security zone on the waters of the upper Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the security of a large number of visitors to the annual July 4th celebration on the National Mall in Washington, DC. The security zone will allow for control of a designated area of the river and safeguard spectators and high-ranking officials.

The Coast Guard proposes a permanent 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. During enforcement of the security zone vessels would be 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 revise regulations governing safety zones for fireworks displays in Long Island Sound. This revision would establish 9 new permanent safety zones, would revise the location for one established fireworks safety zone, and would amend the notification and enforcement provisions to include additional launches from beach areas. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the events.

The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, will enforce the safety zones established for the Cinco de Mayo Fireworks Display and the Portland Rose Festival Fireworks Display on the waters of the Willamette River on May 6, 2005 and June 3, 2005 respectively. The Captain of the Port, Portland, Oregon, is taking this action to safeguard watercraft and their occupants from safety hazards associated with the display of fireworks. Entry into these safety zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary regulated navigation area, temporary security zone and temporary drawbridge operation regulation during the Organization of American States (OAS) conference. These regulations are needed to provide for public safety and security during the OAS conference. The regulations will control the movement of vessels within the regulated navigation area, restrict access to the security zone, and alter the schedule of the Brooks Memorial Bascule Bridge.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Norfolk Southern (NS) 5 Railroad Bridge across the Elizabeth River, Eastern Branch, at mile 1.1, in Norfolk, VA in May 2005. To facilitate extensive maintenance that is required at the bridge, the deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for three daytime closure periods during May, each closure period lasting 2 to 4 days.