Coast Guard March 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On December 21, 2010, the Coast Guard published a direct final rule that notified the public of the Coast Guard's intent to amend its ``Coast Guard Whistleblower Protection'' regulations to conform to statutory protections for all members of the Armed Forces. We have not received an adverse comment, or notice of intent to submit an adverse comment, on this rule. Therefore, the rule will go into effect as scheduled.

The Coast Guard is establishing a drawbridge regulation for the Canadian National Railway Bridge across the Rainy River at Mile 85.0 at Rainer, Minnesota. This rule addresses the request by the bridge owner to remotely operate the drawbridge and establishes seasonal dates of operation.

By this direct final rule, the Coast Guard is harmonizing structural and performance standards for inflatable recreational personal flotation devices (PFDs) with current voluntary industry consensus standards. This direct final rule also slightly modifies regulatory text in anticipation of a future rulemaking addressing the population for which inflatable recreational PFDs are approved, but does not change the current affected population.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations governing the operation of the Arthur Kill (AK) Railroad Bridge at mile 11.6, across Arthur Kill between Staten Island, New York and Elizabeth, New Jersey. This proposed rule would provide relief to the bridge owner from crewing their bridge by allowing the bridge to be operated from a remote location while continuing to meet the present and future needs of navigation.

The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined that the establishment of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties of the U. S. Coast Guard. Name of Committee: Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the S12 Bridge across Pocomoke River, mile 29.9, at Snow Hill, MD. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to facilitate the cleaning and painting of the bridge.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the reenactment portion of the ``Chestertown Tea Party Festival'', a marine event to be held on the waters of the Chester River, Chestertown, Maryland. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Chester River during the event.

The Coast Guard is amending its regulations for Security Zones; Cruise Ships, Port of San Diego, California, by providing a common description of all security zones created by this section to encompass only navigable waters within a 100 yard radius around any cruise ship that is located within the San Diego port area landward of the sea buoys bounding the Port of San Diego. This final rule removes a reference to shore area that is no longer necessary to provide for the safety of the cruise ship, vessels, and users of the waterway. Entry into these security zones will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) San Diego, or a COTP designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to remove an obsolete Naval explosives anchorage in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, and to add an offshore anchorage in Rhode Island Sound south of Brenton Point, Rhode Island, for use by vessels waiting to enter Narragansett Bay.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the SR127 Bridge at mile 0.0 across the Annisquam River and Blynman Canal. The deviation is necessary to facilitate a public event, the Yucan One- Mile Road Race, which will cross the SR127 Bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position during the deviation period.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Townsends Inlet Bridge across, mile 0.3, at Avalon, NJ. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the cleaning and painting of the structure. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for the deviation period.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge across the Grassy Sound Channel, mile 1.0, at Middle Township, NJ. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the cleaning and painting of the structure. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed for the entirety of the deviation period.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the enforcement period of special local regulations for a recurring marine event in the Fifth Coast Guard District. These regulations apply to four recurring marine events that conduct a rescue at sea demonstration, an air show, a swimming competition, and power boat races. Special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during these events. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Severn River at Annapolis, MD, the Chester River near Chestertown, MD, and Prospect Bay at Kent Island, MD during the events.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) will meet on April 1-2, 2011, in Arlington, Virginia. NBSAC discusses issues relating to recreational boating safety. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Upper Hack Bridge at mile 6.9, across the Hackensack River, at Secaucus, New Jersey. The deviation is necessary to facilitate electrical repairs. This deviation will allow the bridge to remain in the closed position for two days.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge across the Sloop Channel, mile 12.8, at Hempstead, New York. The deviation is necessary to install new link arms at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) concerning the establishment of remote drawbridge operating procedures for the Canadian National Railway Bridge across the Fox River at Mile 55.72 at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. After careful consideration of the comments from all parties it was determined to be in the best interest of navigation to withdraw the NPRM.

The Coast Guard announces the release of policy letter 11-01, Policy for Guidelines for Coast Guard Evaluations of Compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Vessel General Permit (VGP) for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Vessels. This policy letter provides guidance to assist Coast Guard personnel to evaluate compliance with the provisions of the EPA's VGP, for U.S. and foreign-flagged vessels subject to the VGP and operating in the waters of the United States.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Delaware River while the Dredge Pullen conducts dredging operations at the Sunoco Marcus Hook docks in the vicinity of the Marcus Hook Range near Marcus Hook, PA. This action is necessary to maintain the 42 ft. berth draft in this portion of the Delaware River. The dredging action will facilitate commerce and safe navigation within the Port of Philadelphia, PA.

The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Annual Cesar Chavez March. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the event.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the S71 Bridge across Shark River (South Channel), mile 0.8, at Belmar, NJ. The deviation is necessary to help lessen traffic congestion during the Saint Patrick's Day Parade. This deviation allows the drawbridge to be maintained in the closed position to vessels on March 6, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of revisions to the following collections of information: 1625-0058, Application for Permit to Transport Municipal and Commercial Waste, 1625-0072, Waste Management Plans, Refuse Discharge Logs, Letters of Instruction for Certain Persons-in-Charge (PIC) and Great Lakes Dry Cargo Residue Recordkeeping, and 1625-0092 Sewage and Graywater Discharge Records for Certain Cruise Vessels Operating on Alaskan Waters. Our ICRs describe 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0003, Coast Guard Boating Accident Form (CG-3865). Our ICR describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the North Branch of the Chicago River near Chicago, Illinois. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the North Branch of the Chicago River due to soil sampling in this area. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the soil sampling efforts.