Coast Guard 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard published a notice of public meeting; request for comments in the Federal Register on October 11, 2012 (77 FR 61771), announcing a public meeting to receive comments on the development of a Facility Security Officer training program. The notice contains an inaccurate Internet link to RSVP for the public meeting.

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) will meet on November 7 and 8, 2012, in Houston, TX to discuss various issues related to safety of operations and other matters affecting the oil and gas offshore industry. These meetings are open to the public.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation that governs the operation of the Conrail Bridge over the Schuylkill River, mile 6.4 near Christian Street, at Philadelphia, PA. The new rule will change the bridge name to CSX Bridge and the current regulation requiring a two hour advance notice to allow the bridge to remain in the closed position for the passage of vessels. There have been no requests for openings in 13 years.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the operating schedule that governs the Carolina Coastal Railroad Bridge, at AIWW mile 203.8, across Newport River in Morehead City, NC. This bridge is presently maintained in the open position except when closure is necessary for train crossings. This change would allow the bridge to remain closed at night so that necessary repairs may be made while still providing for the reasonable needs of navigation.

The U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on the James River in the vicinity of Kingsmill Resort Marina, Williamsburg, VA during a visit by The President of the United States. This security zone will prohibit unauthorized vessels and people from entering or remaining in the security zone without permission from the Captain of the Port or designated representative. This security zone is necessary to provide security for The President of the United States.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the Willamette River between the Oregon City Bridge and the Interstate 205 Bridge on October 13, 2012 from 7:30 p.m. (P.D.T.) to 9 p.m. (P.D.T.). This safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public during a fireworks display, and will do so by prohibiting unauthorized persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port (COTP) or his designated representative.

This rule redefines the geographical points described in our regulations, which demarcate an area of the Detroit River in which certain vessels are restricted to speeds not greater than 12 statute miles per hour.

The Coast Guard is amending the Columbus Day weekend regulated navigation area on Biscayne Bay in Miami, Florida. The amended regulated navigation area alters the boundaries of the area and expands the enforcement period. These regulations are necessary to protect the public during Columbus Day weekend; a period that has historically had a significant concentration of persons and vessels on the waters of Biscayne Bay. To ensure the public's safety, all vessels within the regulated navigation area are: Required to transit the regulated navigation area at no more than 15 knots; subject to control by the Coast Guard; and required to follow the instructions of all law enforcement vessels in the area.

On May 4, 2012 the Coast Guard published a notice of recommended interim voluntary guidance titled ``Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit Dynamic Positioning Guidance''. The notice recommended owners and operators of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) follow Marine Technology Society (MTS) Dynamic Positioning (DP) operations guidance for MODUs. The Coast Guard is now also recommending owners and operators of all vessels other than MODUs conducting Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities on the U.S. OCS follow the appropriate MTS DP operations guidance for these vessels. In particular, the Coast Guard recommends owners and operators of these vessels operate within an Activity Specific Operating Guideline for each activity and operate with its Critical Activity Mode of Operation when that activity is critical.

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to receive comments on the development of a Facility Security Officer training program, with the primary focus on developing the curriculum for such a program. Section 821 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Pub. L. 111- 281) requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish comprehensive FSO training requirements, and to coordinate with the Maritime Administrator of the Department of Transportation in developing the FSO training curriculum. The purpose of the public meeting is to obtain public comment on a draft model FSO training course and other elements of the FSO training program.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Rio Vista Bass Derby Fireworks in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay in vicinity of San Francisco West Yacht Harbor Light 2, approximately 1,250 yards east of Anita Rock in San Francisco Bay, in support of the 2012 America's Cup World Series sailing events. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of mariners and spectators from the dangers of vessel collision associated with high-speed race finishes that will occur in vicinity of San Francisco West Yacht Harbor Light 2. 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 Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Burlington-Bristol Bridge on Route 413, across the Delaware River, at mile 117.8, between Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA. This deviation restricts the operation of the draw span in order to facilitate the adjustment of the operating lift cables.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of Biscayne Bay, east of Bayfront Park, in Miami, Florida during the Red Bull Flugtag. The Red Bull Flugtag is scheduled to take place on Saturday, November 3, 2012. The event consists of 30 participants launching self-propelled flying machines from a 30ft ramp to the water below. 150 spectator vessels are expected to attend the event. The special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, participant vessels, and general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation will encompass the following two areas: An event area, where non-participant vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and a spectator area, where all vessels are permitted to anchor.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Patchogue Bay, in Patchogue, NY for the DeStefano family wedding fireworks display. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. Entering into, transiting through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard proposes to make five general anchorage areas smaller. It also proposes administrative changes that would rename 33 CFR 110.230, reorganize it by incorporating 33 CFR 110.229, and modify the descriptions of four general anchorages. These changes will clarify to the general public the boundaries and requirements of anchorages, and enhance safety by ensuring good order and predictability within the anchorages of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Puget Sound zone.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Chicago River near Chicago, Illinois. This zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Chicago River due to the installation of submarine cables in the vicinity of both the West Adams Street and West Jackson Boulevard bridges. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the installation of submarine cables in the vicinity of both the West Adams Street and West Jackson Boulevard bridges.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a petition for rulemaking, and requests public comment accordingly. The petition was submitted by a river barge operator, who requests that the Coast Guard establish a special load line exemption on the Gulf of Mexico. The requested exemption would allow non-load line river barges to transit along the west coast of Florida, en route to/from Tampa Bay.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater, Florida during the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship Race. The race is scheduled to take place on Sunday, September 30, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Approximately 35 boats ranging in length from 24 feet to 50 feet traveling at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour are expected to participate. Additionally, it is anticipated that 400 spectators will be present along the race course. The special local regulation is necessary to protect the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater, Florida. The special local regulation will establish the following three areas: a race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; a buffer zone around the race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels enforcing the buffer zone, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; and a spectator area, where all vessels must be anchored or operate at No Wake Speed.

The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary safety zones within Sector Boston's Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone for the drilling, blasting, and dredging operation on the navigable waters of Boston Inner Harbor, in the main ship channel near Castle Island. These temporary safety zones are necessary to enhance navigation, vessel safety, marine environmental protection, and provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the drilling, blasting and dredging operations in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rock removal project. Entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within these safety zones is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or the designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of CG-ENG Policy Letter 04-12, ``Alternative Pressure Relief Valve Settings on Vessels Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk in Independent Type B and Type C Tanks.'' Existing Coast Guard regulations regarding the allowable stress factors for type B and type C independent cargo tanks are more stringent than the International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards for such cargo tanks. Materials, manufacturing, and inspections have advanced since the Coast Guard first promulgated regulations on allowable stress factors on May 3, 1979. CG-ENG Policy Letter 04-12 establishes that for certain type B and type C independent cargo tanks that are designed and manufactured using advanced techniques, the IMO standards for allowable stress factors provide a level of safety protection equivalent to the standards in 46 CFR 154.447 and 46 CFR 154.450.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around vessels involved in a Coast Guard Ready for Operations exercise in Hood Canal, WA that will take place between Oct 16, 2012 and Oct 18, 2012. A safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public during the exercise and will do so by prohibiting any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or his Designated Representative.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Metro North (Peck) Bridge across the Pequonnock River, mile 0.3, at Bridgeport, Connecticut. The deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position to facilitate electrical repairs.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Broadway Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 11.7, at Portland, OR. This deviation is necessary to accommodate the running of the Portland Marathon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the down or closed position during the marathon.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Fleet Week Fireworks in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).