Coast Guard October 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document informs owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Buffalo, Duluth, Detroit, Lake Michigan, and Sault Ste. Marie that the date by which they must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC has been extended to no later than December 1, 2008. This extension is due to a building- wide loss of power that occurred on October 21, 2008, at the government facility that houses the TWIC system, which affected the system's ability to activate TWICs.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Beach Channel Railroad Bridge at mile 6.7, across Jamaica Bay, at New York City, New York. Under this temporary deviation the Beach Channel Railroad Bridge may remain in the closed position for three weekends in November. This deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge track repairs.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Witt Penn Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 3.1, at Jersey City, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may remain in the closed position for one day to facilitate bridge maintenance. Vessels that can pass under the draw without a bridge opening may do so at all times.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) and Analyses to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625-0079, Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1995 and 1997 Amendments to the International Convention; and (2) 1625-0088, Voyage Planning for Tank Barge Transits in the Northeast United States. Before submitting these ICRs to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

This document informs owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zone Port Arthur that the date by which they must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC has been extended to no later than April 14, 2009. This extension is due to the disruption in enrollment capacity caused by Hurricane Ike.

The Coast Guard announces that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from the country of Cambodia.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking concerning drawbridge operations for the Spokane Street Bridge across the Duwamish Waterway, mile 0.3, in Seattle, Washington. The proposed rule would have established two daily closed draw periods Monday through Friday to help alleviate road traffic, with the proviso that openings would be provided at any time for vessels of 5000 gross tons or more. The proposed rule is being withdrawn because Spokane Street Bridge draw records along with road traffic counts conducted after the notice of proposed rulemaking was published indicate that the number of draw openings and the amount of traffic using the Spokane Street Bridge are not sufficient to warrant the negative impact that the proposed rule would have on commercial maritime traffic using the waterway under the bridge.

This document informs owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Portland (OR), Puget Sound, and San Francisco Bay that they must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC no later than February 28, 2009.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Louisville and Nashville (CSX) Railroad Drawbridge, across the Cumberland River, Mile 190.4, at Nashville, Tennessee. The deviation is necessary to retrofit the bridge with an upgraded rail lift system. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in a closed-to-navigation position for a four-day period.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Fox Hill (SR107) Bridge across the Saugus River at mile 2.5, between Lynn and Saugus, Massachusetts. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may open on a limited operating schedule for several months to facilitate the reliability of the bridge until it can be repaired during the winter months.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the NJTRO Bridge, across the Raritan River, mile 0.5, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation the draw may remain in the closed position for one weekend to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

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 their approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0035, Title 46 CFR Subchapter Q: Lifesaving, Electrical, and Engineering Equipment, Construction and Materials & Marine Sanitation Devices (33 CFR part 159). Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of Lake Moolvalya region on the lower Colorado River in support of the Bluewater Resort and Casino Annual Thanksgiving Regatta. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) will meet, in New Orleans, LA, to discuss various issues relating to offshore safety and security. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations of the Route 30 Bridge, at ICW mile 67.2, across Beach Thorofare at Atlantic City, NJ. This proposal would allow for the drawbridge to open on signal every hour during high transit periods in the summer months and to operate on an advance notice basis at all other times. The proposed changes would result in more efficient use of the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing Temporary special local regulations for the swim portions of ``Beach 2 Battleship Full and Half Iron Distance Triathlon'', to be held on the waters of Banks Channel, adjacent to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. 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 Wrightsville Channel during the swimming portion of this event.

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