Coast Guard November 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has set the calendar year 2009 minimum random drug testing rate at 50 percent of covered crewmembers.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the drawbridge operation regulation for the Washington State drawbridges across the Chehalis, Hoquiam, and Wishkah Rivers at Grays Harbor, Washington. The change is necessary to reduce staffing requirements during the night when openings are infrequent. The rule will do so by modifying the number of hours of advance notice required for draw openings and establishing the telephone as the only means of contact for openings at night.

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 10 hours each day for a four-day period.

The Coast Guard has established a temporary safety zone extending the entire width of the Allegheny River from mile marker 36.1 to mile marker 36.5. This safety zone is established to protect the general public, marinas, and commercial vessel operators from the hazards associated with the active failure of Lock & Dam 6 (mile marker 36.3). Entry into this zone is prohibited, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around the Dredge R.S. Weeks during dredging operations in Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. This safety zone will enhance the safety of vessels transiting Oregon Inlet, North Carolina during periods of dredging operations. This project is being undertaken to increase the water depth in Oregon Inlet, North Carolina to 14 feet. Entry into the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, North Carolina.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Amtrak Railroad Bridge, across the Connecticut River, mile 3.4, at Old Lyme, Connecticut. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may remain in the closed position for nine days in December and twelve days in January to facilitate required bridge maintenance.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the S.R. 44 Bridge, at mile 1.7, across Mantua Creek at Paulsboro, NJ. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation to facilitate mechanical repairs.

This action is a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to Coast Guard's April 15, 2008, notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) which proposed the revision of the list of permanent safety zones established for fireworks displays at various locations within the geographic boundary of the Fifth Coast Guard District (73 FR 20223). In the April 2008 NPRM, the Coast Guard proposed the addition of 22 new safety zones, and the modification 4 existing zones for fireworks display launch platforms and fallout areas. This supplemental proposal includes three additional safety zones and removes one previously proposed zone for a total of 24 new safety zones for fireworks displays. This action also proposes modification to one existing safety zone for a total of five modifications to preexisting zones established for fireworks displays. This action is necessary to protect the life and property of the maritime public from the hazards posed by fireworks displays. Entry into or movement within these proposed zones during the enforcement periods will be prohibited without approval of the appropriate Captain of the Port.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Norfolk Southern 7 Railroad Bridge, at AIWW mile 5.8, across the Elizabeth River (Southern Branch) in Chesapeake, VA. Under this temporary deviation, the drawbridge may remain in the closed position on specific dates and times to facilitate structural repairs.

The Coast Guard is issuing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to revise our notice of proposed rulemaking (73 FR 45922) published on August 7, 2008. The notice of proposed rulemaking did not include a provision to allow ten of the eleven moveable bridges across the Harlem River to remain closed during the morning and afternoon commuter rush hours. It also did not specify the maximum time railroad bridges may delay bridge openings for the passage of rail traffic.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the operation of the SR 316 Blue Bayou Pontoon Bridge across the GIWW, mile 49.8, near Houma, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The notice of proposed rulemaking proposed to allow the bridge to stay closed for school buses to pass when carrying children, but due to mechanical improvements of the bridge, the requester, Lafourche Parish Council, has withdrawn their request.

The Navigation Safety Advisory Council (NAVSAC) will meet in Washington, DC, to discuss various issues relating to the safety of navigation. The meeting will be open to the public.