Coast Guard September 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for Coast Guard modernization. Based on the PEA's analysis and the mitigation plan committed to in the PEA, the Coast Guard determined that an environmental impact statement is not required, and a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) has been issued for the proposed action. Availability: Electronic copies of the Final PEA and FONSI, as well as comments received on the Draft PEA and FONSI, are available from the Federal Docket Management Facility at Internet Web site address: http:/ /www.regulations.gov using the docket number USCG-2008-0991.

This document informs owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Honolulu, Prince William Sound, Southeast Alaska, and Western Alaska that they must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC no later than February 12, 2009.

The Coast Guard is amending its regulations to allow the discharge of bulk dry cargo residue (DCR) in limited areas of the Great Lakes by self-propelled vessels and by any barge that is part of an integrated tug and barge unit. DCR is the residue of non-toxic and non- hazardous bulk dry cargo like limestone, iron ore, and coal. These regulations also add new recordkeeping and reporting requirements and encourage carriers to adopt voluntary control measures for reducing discharges. Discharges are now prohibited in certain protected and sensitive areas where, previously, they were allowed. The Coast Guard also requests public comments on the need for and feasibility of additional conditions that might be imposed on discharges in the future, such as mandatory use of control measures, or further adjustments to the areas where discharges are allowed or prohibited.

This rule makes non-substantive changes throughout Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this rule is to make conforming amendments and technical corrections to Coast Guard shipping regulations. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public. These changes are provided to coincide with the annual recodification of Title 46 on October 1.

The Coast Guard is establishing 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 has established both moving and fixed safety zones around all vessels carrying Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cargo in the waters of the Caribbean Sea and Bahia de Ponce, Puerto Rico. This rule is necessary to protect the public by minimizing the chance of collisions of vessels carrying this inherently dangerous and highly volatile material. This rule requires vessel traffic to maintain a safe distance from LNG vessels operating near or moored in Ponce, Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish moving and fixed security zones around cruise ships entering, departing, mooring or anchoring at the Port of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. This proposed regulation is necessary to protect cruise ships operating in this port. All vessels, with the exception of servicing pilot boat and assisting tug boats, would be prohibited from entering the security zones without the express permission of the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a 420-foot radius safety zone on the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of the 14th Street Fishing Pier, Virginia Beach, Virginia, in support of the Neptune 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) and Analysis to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0073, Alteration of Unreasonable Obstructive Bridges. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Milwaukee River, Milwaukee, WI. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Milwaukee River during the Milwaukee River Challenge on September 20, 2008. This temporary safety zone will establish restrictions upon, and control the movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the regatta.

The Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the NASA Railroad bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 876.6, at Jay Jay, FL. The deviation is necessary to perform rehabilitation work on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to not open to vessel traffic from 7 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday except Federal holidays until October 19, 2008. All other times the bridge will continue to operate in accordance with 33 CFR 117.261(j).

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone on the navigable waters of Buck Island Channel, St. Croix, USVI. This proposed regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of participants, marine spectators, and recreational and professional mariner traffic during the St. Croix Coral Reef Swim event. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the waters where the event will be held unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) San Juan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the waters of Agat Bay and Outer Apra Harbor, Guam. The zone will encompass two distinct areas, each area bounded by a circle with a 300-meter radius on the surface and a 2750-meter radius underwater, centered at 13[deg]23[min]00[sec] N and 144[deg]35[min]00[sec] E (NAD 1983) and 13[deg]27[min]42[sec] N and 144[deg]38[min]30[sec] E (NAD 1983) respectively. This safety zone is necessary to protect mariners who would otherwise transit or be within the affected area from possible safety hazards associated with an underwater detonation operation. Entry of persons or vessels into this temporary safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the drawbridge operation regulation for the Broadway and Burnside Bridges across the Willamette River, mile 11.7, in Portland, Oregon so that one-hour notice would be required from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and two-hour notice at all other times. The Broadway Bridge would be deleted as a point of contact for upstream vessels, leaving the Hawthorne Bridge as the point of contact for both upstream and downstream travel directions.

This document informs owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Hampton Roads, Morgan City, New Orleans, Upper Mississippi River, Miami, Key West, and St. Petersburg that they must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC no later than January 13, 2009.

The Coast Guard amends certain regulations relating to mariner training and service. These regulatory changes remove the expiration date of the radar-observer endorsement from the merchant mariner's license, allow for an apprentice mate of towing vessels to reduce sea- service time for mate (pilot) of towing vessels by completing additional approved training, and provide an alternate path to mate (pilot) of towing vessels for master of steam or motor vessels of any tonnage that is 200 GRT or less. These changes are intended and expected to eliminate confusion and provide alternate training and service requirements for mate (pilot) of towing vessels.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone encompassing certain waters of the Potomac River. This action is necessary to prevent terrorist acts and incidents immediately before, during and after a dedication ceremony held at The Pentagon on September 11, 2008. 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, unless specifically exempt under the provisions in this rule or granted specific permission from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Goose Creek Channel surrounding the Wantagh Parkway 2 Bridge located in the Town of Hempstead, New York. This safety zone is necessary to protect vessels transiting in the area from hazards imposed by construction barges and equipment. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Long Island Sound, New Haven, CT.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Navy Pier East Safety Zone in Chicago Harbor on September 30, 2008. This action is necessary to protect vessels and people from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This safety zone will restrict vessel traffic from a portion of the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan Zone.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary 500-yard moving safety zone around the S/V FALLS OF CLYDE and her tow vessel(s) during transit within the Honolulu Captain of the Port Zone. The safety zone is established at the request of the Hawaii Maritime Center to protect vessels and persons from approaching too close to the dead-ship tow of the S/V FALLS OF CLYDE. Entry of persons or vessels into this temporary safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard will enforce two local regulations for annual regattas and marine parades in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone. The ``Detroit Belle Isle Gran Prix'' regulated area will be enforced from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on August 29, 30, and 31, 2008. ``The Old Club Cannonade'' regulated area will be enforced from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on October 18, 2008. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades. During the enforcement periods, no person or vessel may enter the regulated areas without permission of the Captain of the Port or the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.