Coast Guard August 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Interstate 5 (I-5) Bridges across the Columbia River, mile 106.5, between Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate heavy maintenance on the bridges lift-spans. This deviation allows height-restricted lifts which will reduce the vertical clearance available to vessels transiting beneath the bridges.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Berkley (I-264) Bridge, at mile 0.4, across the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River, Norfolk, VA. The current temporary regulation for the Berkley Bridge is scheduled to end on October 5, 2012. This regulation will make the provisions of the temporary regulation permanent. This change to the regulation is necessary to alleviate heavy vehicular traffic delays throughout the day and secondary congestion during the afternoon rush hour, while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard will enforce two fireworks display safety zones in the Sector Long Island Sound area of responsibility on various dates and times listed in the table below. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during these fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Long Island Sound, in the vicinity of Sands Point, NY. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This rule is intended to restrict all vessels from a portion of Long Island Sound before, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

The National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC) will meet on September 11-12, 2012 in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to discuss various issues relating to national maritime security. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, at mile 26.8, over Cape Fear River, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span to facilitate the structural repairs of the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Long Island Sound in the vicinity of Manursing Island, NY for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This rule is intended to restrict all vessels from a portion of Long Island Sound before, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

The Coast Guard has issued temporary deviations from the operating schedules that govern seven bridges in St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. The deviations are necessary to allow for the safe transportation of officials and participants to the Republican National Convention (RNC). These deviations will result in the seven bridges remaining in the closed position for the time periods listed. This temporary deviation affects the following bridges: The Walsingham Road/ Indian Rocks Beach (CR 688) Bridge; the Park Boulevard (CR 694) Bridge; the Welch/Tom Stuart Causeway/150th Avenue Bridge; the Treasure Island Causeway Bridge; the Corey Causeway/Pasadena Avenue Bridge; the Pinellas Bayway Structure ``C'' (SR 679) Bridge; and Johns Pass Bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary moving security zones around Certain Dangerous Cargo (CDC) vessels, which are vessels carrying anhydrous ammonia, liquefied propane gas (LPG), and ammonium nitrate. The security zones will start at buoys 3 and 4 in Tampa Bay ``F'' cut following the vessel to the pier, from pier to pier for berth shifts, and from the pier out to buoys 3 and 4 in Tampa Bay ``F'' cut. The security zones are to be implemented during the 2012 Republican National Convention from August 25, 2012, through August 31, 2012.

The Coast Guard is establishing fifteen temporary security zones around certain bridges on the waters of Pinellas County and Tampa Bay, Florida, during the 2012 Republican National Convention, from August 25, 2012, to August 31, 2012. The security zones are necessary to protect convention delegates, official parties, dignitaries, the public, and surrounding waterways from terrorist acts, sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature, intended to harm people, damage property, or disrupt the proceedings of the 2012 Republican National Convention. All persons and vessels are prohibited from loitering, anchoring, stopping, or mooring on waters within 50 yards of the designated bridges during the times that the security zones will be enforced for each bridge. Expeditious transiting through the security zones is authorized. This rule establishes security zones around the following bridges: the Gandy Bridge; Howard Franklin Bridge; Courtney Campbell Causeway Bridge; the Clearwater Memorial Causeway (60); Sand Key Bridge (699); Belleair Causeway Bridge; Walsingham Rd Bridge (688); Park Blvd. (co Rd 694); Welch Causeway (Tom Stuart Causeway/150th Ave); Seminole Bridge (Bay Pines Blvd./19/595); Johns Pass Bridge (Gulf Blvd./699); Treasure Island Causeway (Central Ave); Corey Causeway (Pasadena Ave); Blind Pass Bridge (699); and Pinellas Bayway Structures A, B, and C.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near Pier 14 in San Francisco, CA in support of the Wedding Reception Fireworks at Pier 24 on August 24, 2012. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of mariners and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of Lake Erie in the vicinity of East Harbor State Park, OH, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on September 9, 2012. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of Lake Erie during the Jet Express Triathlon. This safety zone is necessary to protect participants, spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with triathlon event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Carolina Beach, North Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during maintenance on the U.S. 421 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 295.6, at Carolina Beach, North Carolina. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel movement within the designated area starting on December 20, 2012 through October 31, 2013.

The Coast Guard has established a special local regulation and a safety zone for sailing events scheduled to occur on the waters of San Francisco Bay adjacent to the City of San Francisco waterfront in the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island. This rule will revise the start time for enforcement on August 26, 2012, to 11:30 a.m. instead of noon. This change will protect mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with the sailing events. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean east of Daytona Beach, Florida during the Embry-Riddle Wings and Waves air show. The event is scheduled to take place from Thursday, October 11, 2012, through Sunday, October 14, 2012. This temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of air show participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels that are not participating in the air show will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Navy Pier Southeast Safety Zone in Chicago Harbor during various periods from September 1, 2012 through October 27, 2012. 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 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 zones without permission of the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Grassy Sound Channel (Ocean Drive) Bridge across the Grassy Sound Channel, mile 1.0, at Middle Township, NJ. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the annual ``The Wild Half'' run. The deviation allows the bridge draw span to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for 3.5 hours during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean located east of Cocoa Beach, Florida during the Cocoa Beach Air Show. The Cocoa Beach Air Show will include aircraft engaging in aerobatic maneuvers. The event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 22, 2012, and Sunday, September 23, 2012. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of air show participants, participant aircraft, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the St. Clair River, Port Huron, MI. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the St. Clair River during the Port Huron Float-Down. Though this is an unsanctioned, non-permitted event, this temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with river tubing and Float-Down events.

The Coast Guard proposes establishing two permanent safety zones on Lake Erie near Sandusky, OH. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on navigable waters and is intended to restrict vessel traffic during the swim portion of the Revolution 3 Triathlon, Lake Erie, Sandusky Bay, OH.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for an annual fireworks event in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from 9:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. on August 18, 2012. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulations that govern the operation of the Conrail Bridge over the Schuylkill River, mile 6.4 near Christian Street, at Philadelphia, PA. The proposed rule intends to change the current regulation to reflect a change in name of the bridge and to meet the current lack of demand for openings. The current regulation requires the Conrail Bridge to open on signal if at least two hours notice is given. CSX Transportation acquired the bridge from Conrail 13 years ago and there have been no requests requiring openings. Based on this lack of demand for opening, this proposed rule would allow the bridge to remain in the closed to navigation position. This proposed rule would also rename the bridge from the Conrail Bridge to the CSX Bridge.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule governing the Freeport Drawbridge, mile 46.0, over the Sacramento River. The bridge owner has proposed to change the 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., summer time ``on demand'' bridge opening hours to a new timeframe between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; and to extend the winter (4 hour advance notice), operating schedule to include the month of October, due to a documented decrease in drawbridge openings compared to other nearby bridges. The proposed change is to address the issue of misalignment between drawbridge staffing and actual usage of the drawbridge, apparently resulting in unnecessary staffing of the drawbridge during periods of navigational inactivity.

The Coast Guard will enforce Special Local Regulations for the S.P.O.R.T. Power Boat Neches River in Orange, TX from 3 p.m. on September 21, 2012, through 6 p.m. on September 23, 2012. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, non-participating vessels and other users of the waterway. During the enforcement period no person or vessel may enter the zone established by the Special Local Regulation without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Port Arthur or his designated on- scene Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Special Local Regulation for the ``Swim Harbor Island'' swim event, to be held on the waters adjacent to and surrounding Harbor Island in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. This Special Local Regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway within 550 yards north and south of the U.S. 74/76 Bascule Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 283.1, at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, during the swim event.