Coast Guard October 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Route 88/Veterans Memorial Bridge across Point Pleasant Canal, at NJICW mile 3.0, in Point Pleasant, NJ. This closure is necessary to facilitate extensive mechanical rehabilitation and to maintain the bridge's operational integrity.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) on the Lower Mississippi River and is transferring certain vessel traffic management (VTM) provisions of the Mississippi River, LouisianaRegulated Navigation Area to the VTS. This final rule establishes a mandatory participation VTS by implementing current voluntary practices and operating procedures. This rule facilitates vessel transits, enhances good order, promotes safe navigation, and improves existing waterway operating measures. The rule also proposes minor conforming revisions to the existing VTM provisions and related regulations.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the S99 Alford Street Bridge across the Mystic River, mile 1.4, at Charlestown, Massachusetts. The deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position three days in November to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Captain of the Port of New Orleans, under the authority of the Magnuson Act, 33 CFR 165.30 and 165.33, has established a security zone in the vicinity of the Michoud Slip encompassing the entire slip from position 30[deg]0'34.2'' N, 89[deg]55'40.7'' W to position 30[deg]0'29.5'' N, 89[deg]55'52.6'' W across the mouth of the slip. Vessels will not be allowed to enter this security zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port, New Orleans. This security zone is necessary to protect the Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer and adjacent piers and infrastructure from destruction, loss or injury from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents or other causes of a similar nature.

The Coast Guard is issuing an interim rule based on comments received from the subject Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 27, 2010. This interim rule establishes moving security zones for certain vessels for which the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur deems enhanced security measures necessary. In addition, it establishes security zones encompassing the mooring basins of LNG carriers while they are moored at the Golden Pass LNG facility in Sabine, TX and/or the Sabine Pass LNG facility located in Cameron Parish, LA.

The Coast Guard proposes to increase maritime domain safety by revising existing safety regulations for facility and vessel vapor control systems (VCSs). The proposed changes would make VCS requirements more compatible with new Federal and State environmental requirements, reflect industry advancements in VCS technology, and codify the standards for the design and operation of a VCS at tank barge cleaning facilities. These changes would increase the safety of operations by regulating the design, installation, and use of VCSs, but would not require anyone to install or use VCSs.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the enforcement period of safety zone regulations for a recurring fireworks display within the Fifth Coast Guard District. These regulations apply to only one recurring fireworks display event that takes place at Wrightsville Beach, NC. Safety zone 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 a portion of Motts Channel and Banks Channel near Wrightsville Beach, NC, during the event.

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal between Mile Marker 291.0 and Mile Marker 296.1 from 4 p.m. on October 19, 2010 to 12 p.m. on October 20, 2010 and from 4 p.m. on October 20, 2010 to 10 a.m. on October 21, 2010. This action is necessary to protect the waterways, waterway users, and vessels from hazards associated with intensive fish sampling efforts in the Lockport pool to be conducted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). These sampling efforts will include the setting of nets throughout this portion of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The purpose of this sampling is to provide essential information in connection with efforts to control the spread of aquatic nuisance species that might devastate the waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, mooring, laying-up or anchoring within the enforced area of this safety zone by any person or vessel is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, or his or her designated representative.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway swing bridge across Des Allemands Bayou, mile 14.0, in St. Charles and Lafourche Parishes, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to perform extensive rehabilitation to the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation completely from January 18, 2011 through February 22, 2011.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the I-110 (HWY 15) bridge across the Back Bay of Biloxi, mile 3.0, between Biloxi and D'Iberville, Harrison County, Mississippi. This deviation is necessary to allow timely bridge rehabilitation to extend the bridge life, optimize traffic and boat operations, and improve overall traffic, boat and pedestrian safety. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed with limited exception.

Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Duluth Ship Canal Aerial Bridge at Mile 0.1 over the Duluth Ship Canal, at Duluth, MN, for scheduled maintenance. During this temporary deviation the bridge will be secured to masted navigation. Vessels that can pass under the bridge without an opening may do so at any time.

The Coast Guard announces that it has recently notified the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of issuance of an exemption under the International Convention on Load Lines (ICLL) covering reduced ``working freeboard'' exemptions for hopper dredges. In addition, the Coast Guard announces completion and availability of the DR-68 reduced freeboard standards for hopper dredges. The Coast Guard also notified IMO of approved equivalent arrangements, as permitted by the ICLL and U.S. regulations, regarding hatch covers for hopper dredges and barges that meet ``flooded hopper'' stability criteria. This notice may be of special interest to the U.S. dredging industry and naval architecture, and marine engineering firms.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge across Newtown Creek, mile 1.3, New York. The deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for seven days to facilitate bridge rehabilitation maintenance.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), 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 collection of information: 1625-New, Port Stakeholder Interface Form. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Lake Havasu on the lower Colorado River in Arizona in support of the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) World Finals. This temporary 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 will be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this temporary safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Diego or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Columbia River due to repairs being made to the Interstate 5 Bridge. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the workers involved as well as the maritime public and will do so by prohibiting all persons and vessels from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) in Boston Harbor, Reserved Channel, the Boston Marine Industrial Park and a portion of the Boston Inner Harbor shipping channel, Boston, Massachusetts, for the offload of six cranes from the barge CHICAGO BRIDGE to Conley Terminal in South Boston. This rule is intended to control entry to the Reserved Channel, establish operating conditions for those vessels allowed entry into the Reserved Channel and control the speed of all vessels transiting within the RNA. The RNA is necessary to protect participants and vessels from the hazards associated with the offload of these cranes.