Coast Guard August 9, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Route 35 Bridge across Cheesequake Creek, mile 0.0, at South Amboy, New Jersey. The deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position from December through March to facilitate bridge rehabilitation construction.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the St. Clair River, Port Huron, Michigan. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the Port Huron Offshore Gran Prix boat race. This special local regulation will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a portion of the St. Clair River. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the regulated area without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River, extending the entire width of the river from Mile Marker (MM) 291.0 to MM 295.0. This safety zone is needed to protect vessel traffic from the safety hazards associated with dredging operations being conducted in the area by the Army Corps of Engineers. When vessels are allowed by the Captain of the Port (COTP), entry into this zone is restricted to one way traffic unless authorized by the (COTP) New Orleans or a designated representative. Any full closures will be announced via Broadcast Notice to Mariners.

Federal law requires that classification societies conducting certain work in the United States be approved by the Coast Guard. In this rule, we finalize application procedures and performance standards that classification societies must meet in order to obtain approval by the Coast Guard. Through this final rule, we seek to improve marine safety and environmental protection by assuring the consistency and quality of work conducted by classification societies that review, examine, survey, or certify the construction, repair, or alteration of a vessel in the United States.