Coast Guard May 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will temporarily change the enforcement period of special local regulations for recurring marine events in the Fifth Coast Guard District. These regulations apply to only one recurring marine event that conducts various river boat races and a parade. 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 portions of the Southern Branch, Elizabeth River, VA during the event.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the enforcement period of special local regulations for a recurring marine event involving power boat races in the Fifth Coast Guard District. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Pasquotank River, near Elizabeth City, NC, during the 2010 International Cup Regatta. Special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish moving security zones for certain vessels for which the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur deems enhanced security measures are necessary. In addition, the Coast Guard proposes a 100-foot security zone around LNG carriers while they are moored at the Golden Pass LNG facility in Sabine, TX and/or the Sabine Pass LNG facility located in Cheniere, LA.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the Great Wicomico River in the vicinity of Mila, VA in support of the Wicomico Community Fireworks event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement on the Great Wicomico River to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

In this final rule, the Coast Guard revises the requirements for waterfront facilities handling liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied hazardous gas (LHG). The revisions bring the regulations up to date with industry practices and Coast Guard policy implemented due to increased emphasis on security since the events of September 11, 2001. These revisions harmonize the Coast Guard's regulations for LNG with those established by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency with exclusive authority to approve or deny an application for the siting, construction, expansion, or operation of an LNG facility located onshore or within State waters. This rulemaking does not affect LNG deepwater ports.

The Coast Guard announces the release of Maritime Security (MARSEC) Directive 104-6 (Rev 2 and 3). This Directive only applies to U.S. flagged vessels subject to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) on international voyages through or in designated high risk waters, and provides additional anti-piracy guidance and mandatory measures for these vessels operating in these areas where acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships are prevalent. MARSEC Directive 104-6 (Rev 2 and 3) also includes an annex that provides specific direction for vessels operating around the Horn of Africa. MARSEC Directives are designated Sensitive Security Information (SSI) and are not subject to public release.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Osage River, Mile 016.8 to 017.2, extending the entire width of the river. This safety zone is needed to protect persons and vessels from safety hazards associated with a fireworks display occurring on the Osage River. Entry into this zone would be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone in certain waters of Washington Channel on the Potomac River. The security zone is necessary to provide for the security and safety of life and property of event participants, spectators and mariners during the U.S. Coast Guard Vice Commandant's Change of Watch ceremony from 6 a.m. through 5 p.m. on May 24, 2010. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Baltimore, Maryland, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a moving security zone around any U.S. Navy submarine that is operating in the Sector Seattle Captain of the Port Zone, which includes the Puget Sound and coastal waters of the State of Washington, and is being escorted by the Coast Guard. The security zone is necessary to help ensure the security of the submarines, their Coast Guard security escorts, and the maritime public in general. The security zone will do so by prohibiting all persons and vessels from coming within 1000 yards of an escorted submarine unless authorized by the Coast Guard patrol commander.

The Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division (WSF) is conducting a Marine Rescue Response (M2R) full-scale exercise in Port Madison. This training exercise will simulate a mass rescue incident (MRI) and will involve an abandon ship scenario with multiple response vessels. This temporary safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the participating ferries, rescue vessels, and the maritime public during the exercise by prohibiting any vessel operators from entering or remaining within a 500-yard radius of the participating ferries unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) covering a portion of the Hood Canal in the State of Washington that will be in effect whenever any U.S. Navy submarine is operating in that area and is being escorted by the Coast Guard. The RNA is necessary to help ensure the safety and security of the submarines, their Coast Guard security escorts, and the maritime public in general. The RNA will do so by requiring all persons and vessels located within the RNA to follow all lawful orders and/or directions given to them by Coast Guard security escort personnel.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary Safety Zone during the ``Westville Parade of Lights,'' an annual event held annually on the last Saturday in June with a rain date of the first Saturday in July. This Safety Zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in the regulated area within Big Timber Creek.

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.

The U.S Coast Guard is establishing two safety zones on the waters of Puget Sound, WA for two fireworks displays. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the fireworks displays. Entry into, transit through, mooring, or anchoring within these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel PEYTON CANDIES as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a temporary safety zone on Cockrell's Creek in the vicinity of Reedville, VA in support of the Reedville July 4th Celebration event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement on Cockrell's Creek to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing a temporary safety zone on the Chesapeake Bay in the vicinity of Ocean View Beach Park, Norfolk, VA in support of the Shore Thing & Independence Day Fireworks event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement on the Chesapeake Bay to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone from Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan. This temporary safety zone will cover 77 miles of navigable waterways in the Chicago area. This temporary interim rule is intended to restrict vessels from entering certain segments of the navigable waters of the Des Plaines River, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC), branches of the Chicago River, and the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel (Cal-Sag Channel). This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the waters, waterway users and vessels from hazards associated with a myriad of actions designed to control the spread of aquatic nuisance species. Because Federal and State agencies may take such actions at any time and in any segment of the waterways covered by this temporary safety zone, this rule provides the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, the ability to take targeted and expeditious action in order to protect vessels and persons from the hazards associated with any Federal and State efforts to control aquatic nuisance species.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone around the riser for the DEEPWATER HORIZON, a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU), at Mississippi Canyon 252 in the Outer Continental Shelf. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel involved in oil pollution response efforts. Placing a safety zone around the riser will significantly reduce the threat of collisions, oil spills, and releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment. Oil response efforts are taking place on the water's surface and subsurface.

The Coast Guard is establishing eight safety zones for marine events within the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England area of responsibility for regattas, power boat races, parades, and fireworks displays. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the events. Entry into, transit through, mooring or anchoring within these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Northern New England.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary regulated navigation area on the navigable waters of the lower Hudson River and Upper New York Bay in the vicinity of Liberty State Park, New Jersey and Ellis Island, New Jersey and New York for the Red Bull Air Race World Championship, an event scheduled to be held over water. This regulation is necessary to protect participants and spectators from the hazards associated with air races. This proposed action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the lower Hudson River and Upper New York Bay during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its rules related to numbering of undocumented vessels and reporting of casualties. These changes would align and modernize terminology used in the Standard Numbering System (SNS), the Vessel Identification System (VIS), and casualty reporting; require validation of vessel hull identification numbers; require SNS vessel owners to provide personally identifiable information; and provide administrative flexibility for States. Together, the proposed changes would improve recreational boating safety efforts, enhance law enforcement capabilities, advance maritime security, and clarify requirements for all stakeholders.

This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the Pittsburgh Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) to submit their application for membership, to the Captain of the Port, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In the Federal Register published on April 19, 2010, the Coast Guard temporarily changed the enforcement period of two special local regulations for recurring marine events in the Fifth Coast Guard District, one on April 17-18, 2010, and one on May 29-30, 2010. That publication contained several errors. These errors do not impact the events scheduled for this year, but could cause confusion about future years.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around the Tallas Island area of the St. Louis River, Duluth, Minnesota. All vessels are prohibited from transiting the zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative. This temporary safety zone is necessary in order to ensure the safety of the general public from hazards associated with the dredging project.