Coast Guard August 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the ``D'' Street Drawbridge across the Petaluma River, mile 13.7, at Petaluma, CA. The deviation is necessary to conduct maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a safety zone on the Appomattox River in the vicinity of Hopewell, VA in support of the Christmas Holiday Boat Parade Fireworks Event. This action will protect the maritime public on the Appomattox River from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The U. S. Coast Guard is establishing a security zone extending 12 nautical miles offshore from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) Pad 0B launch complex for the launch of a large suborbital test rocket by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The NASA rocket launch is scheduled to occur between 2 a.m. and 4 p.m. on August 21, 2008, on Wallops Island, VA. If the launch is postponed because of inclement weather or technical difficulties, it will be attempted between 2 a.m. and 4 p.m. on each subsequent day after August 21, 2008, until the launch takes place or until 4 p.m. August 30, 2008. After August 30, 2008, the rule will no longer be in effect. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of persons and property, and to prevent terrorist acts or incidents on U.S. navigable waters during the rocket launch. This rule prohibits vessels and people from entering the security zone and requires vessels and persons in the security zone to depart the security zone.

The Coast Guard is establishing a 420-foot radius safety zone on the Chesapeake Bay in the vicinity of the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, Virginia Beach, VA in support of the American Music Festival Fireworks event. This action is intended to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays by restricting vessel traffic movement in the vicinity of the event.

The Coast Guard will enforce the ``Oregon Symphony Celebration Fireworks Display safety zone on the Willamette River''; from 8:30 p.m. through 11:30 p.m. on August 28, 2008. This action is necessary to provide a safe display for the public and to keep them clear of the fall out area of the fireworks. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port Portland or his designated representative.

The Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee will meet in New Orleans to discuss various issues relating to navigational safety on the Lower Mississippi River and related waterways. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) will meet in Nashville, TN, to discuss various issues relating to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. These meetings will be open to the public.

On April 29, 2008, we published a final rule entitled ``Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships'' (LRIT). In it we noted that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had not yet approved a collection of information, ``Enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness via Electronic Transmission of Vessel Transit Data,'' associated with the LRIT rule. This document provides notice that on August 12, 2008, OMB approved the referenced collection of information associated with the LRIT final rule.

The Coast Guard proposes to create a permanent regulated navigation area on a portion of the Thea Foss and Wheeler-Osgood Waterways, Commencement Bay, Tacoma, Washington. This regulated navigation area would be used to preserve the integrity of a clean sediment cap placed over certain areas of the Thea Foss and Wheeler- Osgood Waterways as part of the remediation process of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Commencement Bay Nearshore/ Tideflats superfund cleanup site. This regulated navigation area would prohibit activities that would disturb the seabed, such as anchoring, dragging, trawling, spudding, or other activities that involve disrupting the integrity of the cap. It would not affect transit or navigation of the area.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations governing the stability of passenger vessels and the maximum number of passengers that may safely be permitted on board a vessel. The average American weighs significantly more than the assumed average weight per person utilized in current regulations, and the maximum number of persons permitted on a vessel is determined by several factors, including an assumed average weight for each passenger. Updating regulations to more accurately reflect today's average weight per person will maintain intended safety levels by taking this weight increase into account. The Coast Guard is also taking this opportunity to clarify and update intact stability and subdivision and damage stability regulations.

The Coast Guard proposes establishment of four safety zones to protect infrastructure and marine traffic from the hazards associated with recurring space vehicle launches from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). The safety zones extend from the shoreline to points approximately 12 nautical miles offshore and will only be activated and enforced during pre-launch hours and terminate approximately 15 minutes after a successful launch. This action is necessary to protect marine traffic from the hazards associated with the launching of space vehicles; expedite notification to the public of such launches and also reduce the administrative workload of the Coast Guard.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) and its working groups on the Revision of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 04-01, on the Inspection of Towing Vessels, and on the Medical NVIC will meet in Linthicum, MD. The committee will also discuss various issues relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. All meetings will be open to the public.

The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC), its Subcommittees on Outreach, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)472 Standard, Hazardous Cargo Transportation Security (HCTS), and International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code; as well as its Working Groups on Barge Emission and Hazard Communication and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex; will meet to discuss various issues relating to the marine transportation of hazardous materials in bulk. These meetings will be open to the public.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0011, Applications for Private Aids to Navigation and for Class I Private Aids to Navigation on Artificial Islands/Fixed Structures. 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 changing the drawbridge operation regulations of the S117-S133 Bridge, at mile 1.5, across Smith Creek at Wilmington, NC. This action will allow that the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Route 36 Bridge, across the Shrewsbury River, mile 1.8, at Highlands, New Jersey. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This deviation will allow the bridge to open on signal for all marine traffic once an hour on the hour between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0010, Defect/ Noncompliance Report and Campaign Update Report. 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 proposes to change the drawbridge operating regulations governing the operation of the bridges across the Harlem River at New York City, New York. This proposed rule would revise the drawbridge operation regulations removing redundant language and requirements that are no longer necessary.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``War of 1812 North American Grand Tactical'', a marine event to be held September 21, 2008 on the waters of St. Leonard Creek and Patuxent River, Calvert County, MD. 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 St. Leonard Creek and the Patuxent River during the event.

The Coast Guard publishes Light List Volumes 1-4 and 6-7 annually; with Volume 5 being published biennially. In order to adjust to a new printing cycle, the Coast Guard will not publish the 2008 editions of the Light Lists as required by 33 CFR 72.05-1 (50 FR 50904), except for Light List Volume 5 (Mississippi River System). The Coast Guard is changing the publication cycle of the Light List so that annual editions are available early in each calendar year. Since the printing of the 2007 editions occurred in November 2007, they will remain effective for approximately 14 months.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for an area on the St. Clair River, Algonac, Michigan. This temporary special local regulation is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the St. Clair River during the Chris Craft Silver Cup Regatta. This temporary special local regulation is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with boat race operations.

The Coast Guard is creating a temporary safety zone for a fireworks event being held in Beverly, Massachusetts. This safety zone will last for the limited duration of the fireworks. The zone is necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of Lake Washington, WA during Seattle's Seafair Fireworks show. This safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of recreational and commercial boaters in the area during the fireworks show on August 2nd, 2008. Entry into, transit through, mooring, or anchoring within this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or his designated representatives.