Coast Guard April 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is removing two redundant sections from its regulations: Bellingham Bay, Bellingham, WA, and Lake Union, Seattle, WA. This action is necessary to eliminate duplicate safety zones from the regulations. These safety zones are also codified under these regulations: Safety Zones; annual firework displays within the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound Area of Responsibility.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent safety zone from Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan. This proposed safety zone will cover 77 miles of navigable waterways in the Chicago area and 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 proposed 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 the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) may take such actions at any time and in any segment of the waterways covered by this proposed safety zone, this proposed safety zone would provide the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, the ability to take targeted and expeditious action 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 temporary safety zone for a portion of Pensacola Bay including all waters represented by positions 30[deg]20'40.73'' N 087[deg]17'19.73'' W, 30[deg]20'11.12'' N 087[deg]17'20.31'' W, 30[deg]20'41.51'' N 087[deg]15'01.15'' W, and 30[deg]20'11.76'' N 087[deg]15'01.18'' W creating a box, referred to as the ``Show Box''. This action is necessary for the protection of persons and vessels on navigable waters during the Blue Angels' air show. Entry into, transiting or anchoring in this zone is prohibited to all vessels, mariners, and persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Mobile or a designated representative.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Route 30/Absecon Boulevard Bridge across Beach Thorofare, at NJICW mile 67.2, at Atlantic City, NJ. This deviation is necessary to facilitate extensive rehabilitation and maintenance in order to maintain the bridge's operational integrity. Under this deviation, the bascule lift span of the drawbridge will remain in the closed-to-navigation position for the extent of the effective period.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Special Local Regulation, Hydroplane Races within the Captain of the Port Puget Sound Area of Responsibility for the Tastin' n' Racin' hydroplane event in Lake Sammamish, WA from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. on June 11, 2011 and from 9 a.m. through 6 p.m. on June 12, 2011. This action is necessary to restrict vessel movement in the vicinity of the race courses thereby ensuring the safety of participants and spectators during these events. During the enforcement period non-participant vessels are prohibited from entering the designated race areas. Spectator craft entering, exiting or moving within the spectator area must operate at speeds which will create a minimum wake.

The Coast Guard is finalizing without change its November 19, 2010, interim rule codifying traffic separation schemes in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and its Approaches; in Puget Sound and its Approaches; and in Haro Strait, Boundary Pass, and the Strait of Georgia. The Coast Guard established these traffic separation schemes under authority of the Ports and Waterways Safety Act.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the specified navigable waters of Mission Bay in support of the Sea World Fireworks. This 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 are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting approval of a revision to the following collections of information: 1625-0005, Application and Permit to Handle Hazardous Materials, 1625-0024, Safety Approval of Cargo Containers, 1625-0036, Plan Approval and Records for U.S. and Foreign Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk, and 1625-0061, Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Regulations. 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.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone in the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie zone. This proposed rule is intended to establish a safety zone that will restrict vessels from certain portions of water areas within Sector Sault Sainte Marie Captain of the Port zone, as defined by 33 CFR 3-45.45. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Navy Pier Southeast Safety Zone in Chicago Harbor during various periods from May 28, 2011 until June 29, 2011. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and immediately after various fireworks events. Enforcement of this safety zone will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after various fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Cass Street Drawbridge across the Illinois Waterway, mile 288.1, at Joliet, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow participants in an 8K run to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for three hours.

The Coast Guard is disestablishing the special anchorage, referred to as Ashley River Anchorage 2, in Charleston, South Carolina. The removal of Ashley River Anchorage 2 would accommodate an expansion of the Ripley Light Yacht Club.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the LA 1 vertical lift span bridge across Company Canal, mile 0.4, at Lockport, Lafourche Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to perform electrical rehabilitation work on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for twelve consecutive hours each day from Monday through Thursday for three weeks.

The Coast Guard will enforce a permanent increase in security zone size from 100 yards (91 meters) to 500 yards (457 meters) for tankers, cruise ships, and High Value Assets (HVAs) while underway on the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay, Delta Ports, Monterey Bay, and Humboldt Bay, CA. Once a tanker, cruise ship, or HVA is anchored or moored within the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay, Delta Ports, Monterey Bay, and Humboldt Bay, CA, the security zone will decrease from 500 yards (457 meters) to 100 yards (91 meters). Security zones are necessary to effectively protect HVAs and are only enforceable within the limits of that zone. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the temporary security zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Niagara River, Niagara Falls, NY for the Boom Days Fireworks. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from La Salle Marina and a portion of the Niagara River, Niagara Falls, NY during the Boom Days Fireworks on April 16, 2011. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a firework display.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation in Boston Harbor, Boston, Massachusetts, within the Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston Zone. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the Extreme Sailing Series Boston regatta. The special local regulation will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of Boston Harbor, and prohibit vessels not participating in the Extreme Sailing Series event from entering the designated race area.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend an existing anchorage ground which currently overlaps a pilot underwater cap (``pilot cap'') in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) New Bedford Harbor Superfund Site in New Bedford, MA. The Coast Guard also proposes to establish a regulated navigation area (RNA) prohibiting activities that disturb the seabed around the site. The proposed RNA would not affect transit or navigation of the area.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Padanaram Bridge at mile 1.0 across the Apponagansett River, at Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The deviation is necessary to facilitate electrical maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for five days.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the 103rd Street (Wards Island) Pedestrian Bridge, mile 0.0, across the Harlem River at New York City, New York. The deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge rehabilitation. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for 70 days.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend 33 CFR 165.1305 to expand the established safety zone during the annual Tacoma Freedom Air Show on the fourth of July. The proposed safety zone expansion would establish a larger clear area for low flying aircraft during this event. This rule is necessary to help ensure the safety of the maritime public and event participants during this annual event and will do so by prohibiting any person or vessel from entering or remaining within the safety zone during this event.

On December 14, 2010, the Coast Guard amended its regulations governing the maximum weight and number of passengers that may safely be permitted on board a vessel and other stability regulations, including increasing the Assumed Average Weight per Person (AAWPP) to 185 lb. The amendment triggered new information collection requirements affecting documentation needed from certain inspected vessels as part of the Coast Guard commercial vessel safety program. This document announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved changes to the collections of information with control numbers 1625- 0057 and 1625-0064, which will now be enforced.

The Coast Guard announces that it is removing the conditions of entry on vessels arriving from the country of Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

The Coast Guard proposes a permanent regulation that would create security zones around cruise ships in the Southeastern New England Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. These security zones are nearly identical to security zones currently put in place by a temporary final rule. The proposed rule would create a 100-yard radius security zone encompassing all navigable waters around any cruise ship anchored or moored and 200-yard radius security zone encompassing all navigable waters around any cruise ship underway that is being escorted by Coast Guard or law enforcement agencies assisting the Coast Guard. These zones are needed to protect cruise ships and the public from destruction, loss, or injury from sabotage, subversive acts, or other malicious acts of a similar nature. Persons or vessels may not enter these security zones without permission of the COTP or a COTP designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard is extending the stationary and moving emergency safety zones established on the waters of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers surrounding the M/V DAVY CROCKETT. The Coast Guard is also reducing the size of the stationary emergency safety zone surrounding the M/V DAVY CROCKETT at approximately river mile 117 on the Columbia River. The safety zones are necessary to help ensure the safety of the response workers and maritime public from the hazards associated with deleterious state of and ongoing response operations involving the M/V DAVY CROCKETT. All persons and vessels are prohibited from entering or remaining in the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Columbia River or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Corpus Christi, Texas for North American Tri-Hull Championship scheduled to take place during the Texas International Boat Show. The North American Tri-Hull Championship will consist of a series of power boat races for approximately 8-12 vessels that are 18-feet long. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of race participants, spectators and the general public.