Coast Guard August 16, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On July 7, 2006, the Coast Guard published a temporary final rule in the Federal Register establishing temporary special local regulations for the ``Thunder Over the Boardwalk Airshow'', an aerial demonstration to be held over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to Atlantic City, New Jersey. On July 14, 2006, the Coast Guard was notified that this marine event was proposed to be conducted at a different time period. This rule changes the times of enforcement for the temporary regulated area. 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 regulated area during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Stockton Deep Water Channel, in the vicinity of the Old Mormon Slough. This safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels, which might otherwise transit near the work site, from the hazards associated with the work. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the coastlines of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The Regional Examination Center (REC) at New Orleans, which provided credentialing services to approximately 29,000 mariners in those three states and 14 percent of mariners nationwide, was completely flooded, destroying vital records and equipment and rendering the facility inoperable for a considerable period of time. As a result, many mariners in the area are in possession of merchant mariner's documents, licenses and/or certificates of registry (collectively referred to as ``credentials'') that either have expired or may expire before the Coast Guard will be able to process these mariners' applications for renewal or upgraded credentials. With the authority Congress has granted, the Coast Guard is temporarily extending the expiration dates for credentials of eligible mariners for up to one year.