Coast Guard October 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to update the rates for pilotage on the Great Lakes by 5.07% to generate sufficient revenue to cover allowable expenses, target pilot compensation, and return on investment. The proposed update reflects an August 1, 2010 increase in benchmark contractual wages and benefits and an adjustment for inflation. This rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard strategic goal of maritime safety.

The Coast Guard is issuing a correction to an earlier notice that published in the Federal Register on Thursday, October 22, 2009, in order to correct the location of the Oakland, CA, public meeting listed in that earlier notice. The public meetings will be held by the Coast Guard (USCG) regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters'' that published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 28, 2009. For the Oakland, CA meeting, our earlier notice incorrectly listed the Marriott Oakland City Center, 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607. The correct location for the Oakland public meeting is the Hilton Oakland Airport, One Hegenberger Road, Oakland, CA 94621.

This notice provides the times and locations of two public meetings which will be held by the Coast Guard (USCG) regarding the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled ``Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water Discharged in U.S. Waters'' that published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 28, 2009.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area on the Piscataqua River near Portsmouth, NH. This temporary final rule places speed restrictions on all vessels transiting the navigable waters on the Piscataqua River, Portsmouth, NH near the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard between Henderson Point Light on Seavey Island and Badgers Island Buoy 14. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during ongoing ship construction.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the CSX Transportation Railroad swing bridge across the Blackwater River, mile 2.80, at Milton, Florida. The deviation is necessary to replace the center pivot bearing of the swing span and will allow the bridge to remain closed to navigation for two consecutive days.

The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the California Route 160 Drawbridge across Three Mile Slough, mile 0.1, near Rio Vista, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow Caltrans to conduct drawbridge maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the maintenance period.

The Coast Guard is extending the periods for public comment on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for the rulemaking entitled ``Standards for Living Organisms in Ships' Ballast Water'' (Docket No. USCG-2001-10486).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding three Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of its approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625-0014, Request for Designation and Exemption of Oceanographic Research Vessels; (2) 1625- 0038, Plan Approval and Records for Tank, Passenger, Cargo and Miscellaneous Vessels, Mobile Offshore Drilling Units, Nautical School Vessels and Oceanographic Research Vessels46 CFR Subchapters D, H, I, I-A, R and U; and (3) 1625-0069, Ballast Water Management for Vessels with Ballast Tanks Entering U.S. Waters. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard is finalizing its January 16, 2009, interim rule establishing oil pollution prevention equipment requirements with one minor amendment to the rule's effective date for vessels with equipment installed on or after January 1, 2005. The rule harmonizes Coast Guard regulations with new International Maritime Organization (IMO) guidelines and specifications issued under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex I. It implements these MARPOL Annex I regulations and, ultimately, is intended to reduce the amount of oil discharged from vessels and eliminate the use of ozone-depleting solvents in equipment tests. All vessels replacing or installing oily-water separators and bilge alarms must install equipment that meets these revised standards. Newly constructed vessels carrying oil in bulk must install monitoring systems that meet the revised standards.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the regulations that govern the operation of the Berkley Bridge, mile 0.4, across the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, VA. Due to the temporary closure of two area bridges, the Berkley Bridge has experienced an increase in traffic volume. The proposed change would provide set opening periods for the bridge during the day, relieving vehicular traffic congestion during the weekday daytime hours while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations in the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay for the annual U.S. Navy and City of San Francisco sponsored Fleet Week Parade of Navy Ships, Blue Angels Flight Demonstrations, and Ship Tours to be held from October 8, 2009 through October 12, 2009. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, no persons or vessels may enter the regulated area without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a new anchorage, modifying existing anchorages, and revising the regulations governing anchorages in the Captain of the Port Portland, Oregon, area of responsibility. These changes are necessary to ensure that there are sufficient anchorage opportunities in that area, and to clarify the locations of those anchorage opportunities. In addition, the changes will help prevent conflicts with navigable channels and other uses of anchorage waters.

The Coast Guard is issuing a correction to an earlier document that published on September 25, 2009, in order to correct the date of the Washington, DC, public meeting. Our earlier notice listed 2 different dates for the same meeting; the correct date is October 28, 2009.

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting in order to receive public comments on the results of the U.S. Coast Guard sponsored Ports and Waterways Safety Assessment conducted July 14-15, 2009. Specific comments should target any risk areas within the waterways and

By this direct final rule, the Coast Guard is amending existing regulations with a set of coordinates which will better reflect the safety and security zone around the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant. This action will prohibit entry into, or movement within, the safety and security zones located in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent shore areas. This action is necessary to ensure public safety and prevent sabotage or terrorist acts. The safety and security zones will close certain waters of Cape Cod Bay near the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant and land adjacent to those waters.

The Coast Guard is expanding a naval security zone. The expanded zone will encompass a nearby, separate security zone in its entirety. The subsumed security zone will be removed from the regulations. This action also includes the installation of water barriers within the expanded security zone. These water borne barriers will provide a line of demarcation and a defensive measure as a safeguard from destruction, loss, or injury from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. No persons or vessel may enter or remain in the security zone without permission of the Captain of the Port, the Commander of Naval Base Point Loma, the Commander of Naval Region Southwest, or a designated representative of those individuals.