Coast Guard 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily modify the operating schedule that governs the Route 1 & 9 (Lincoln Highway) Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 2.0, between Kearny and Jersey City, New Jersey. The bridge owner, New Jersey Department of Transportation, submitted a request to restrict bridge openings during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from area roadway closures. It is expected that this change to the regulations would provide relief to vehicular traffic while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Marine Exchange of Alaska (MXAK) to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate, in an operational setting, at least one promising technology approach to the ``Next Generation Arctic Maritime Navigational Safety Information System,'' which provides important, time-critical, information to mariners, in order that they may better assess and manage their voyage risks, as they transit the remote and hostile waters of the U.S. Arctic Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with MXAK, it is soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MEDMAC) will meet on September 24-25, 2013 to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of merchant mariner credentials, medical standards and guidelines for physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is revising and updating the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) regulations in 33 CFR Part 161. The revision makes participation in the VTS in Port Arthur, TX mandatory and expands it to include Lake Charles, LA; consolidates and expands a VTS Special Area in Puget Sound, WA; adds the designated frequencies for the Maritime Mobile Service Identifiers (MMSIs) for Louisville, KY and Los Angeles/ Long Beach, CA; and updates the definitions and references in Sailing Plan requirements. The changes made by this rule will align regulations with the current operating procedures of the VTSs affected, with the benefit of creating regulatory efficiency.

The Coast Guard is establishing five temporary safety zones on waterways near Chicago, IL. These safety zones are intended to restrict vessels from portions of Chicago waterways due to the filming of a motion picture. These temporary safety zones are necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the stunt work, low-flying helicopter, and other hazards involved in the filming of a motion picture.

The Coast Guard is amending the escort requirements for certain tankers operating on the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska (PWS). This interim rule is necessary to implement section 711 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (Act), which mandates two tug escorts for double hull tankers over 5,000 gross tons transporting oil in bulk in PWS. The Act directed the Coast Guard to promulgate interim regulations as soon and practicable to ensure that tug escort requirements apply to certain double hull tankers.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie, Conneaut, OH. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie during the D-Day Conneaut event. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a historical re- enactment.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Niagara River near North Tonawanda, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Niagara River during the Thunder on the Niagara hydroplane race. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a hydroplane race.

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 at specified times on each day from August 12 through August 16, 2013. This action is necessary to protect the waterways, waterway users, and vessels from the hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dispersal barriers performance testing. During any of the enforcement periods listed below, entry into, transiting, mooring, laying-up or anchoring within the enforced area of this safety zone by any person or vessel is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan, or his designated representative.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) and its subcommittees will meet on September 4 through 6, 2013, in Chicago, Illinois to discuss issues related to shallow draft inland, coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Luna Pier Fireworks Show, Luna Pier, MI, from 9:25 p.m. until 10:25 p.m. on August 24, 2013. Enforcement of this zone is necessary to ensure the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the associated marine event. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels on those waters of Lake Erie within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks launch site at the Clyde E. Evens Municipal Pier, located at position 41[deg]48'32'' N, 83[deg]26'23'' W (NAD 83) immediately prior to, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

The Coast Guard will establish 8 permanent safety zones for annually recurring marine events in the Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) Duluth zone. These safety zones are needed to protect both spectators and participants from the hazards associated with the events. During the enforcement period of the safety zones, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transitioning through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within the zone unless specifically authorized by the COTP or designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft update to the Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume III, Marine Industry Personnel, and the corresponding Commandant Change Notice that highlights the changes made to that manual. MSM Volume III provides information and interpretations on international conventions and U.S. statutory and regulatory issues relating to marine industry personnel. This Commandant Change Notice discusses the substantive changes to chapters 20 through 26 of MSM Volume III. The Coast Guard seeks and will consider comments on this draft before issuing a final version of this manual.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the I64 Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, South Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 7.1, at Chesapeake, VA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate maintenance work on the moveable spans. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is amending special local regulations for annual regattas and marine parades in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan Zone. This rule is intended to provide for the safety of life and property on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control the movement of, vessels in a portion of the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan Zone.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Grassy Sound Channel Bridge (Ocean Drive) across Grassy Sound, mile 1.0, at Middle Township, NJ. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the ``Tri the Wildwoods Triathlon and 5k'' event. This temporary deviation allows the bridge draw span to remain in the closed to navigation position for 4 hours during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes rate adjustments for pilotage services on the Great Lakes, which were last amended in February 2013. The proposed adjustments would establish new base rates and are made in accordance with a full ratemaking procedure. The proposed update reflects the Coast Guard exercising the discretion provided by Step 7 of the Appendix A methodology. The result is an upward adjustment to match the rate increase of the Canadian Great Lakes Pilotage Authority. We also propose adjusting weighting factors used to determine rates for vessels of different size, providing a procedure for temporary surcharges, and including dues paid to the American Pilots Association. This notice of proposed rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard's strategic goal of maritime safety.

The Coast Guard proposes to disestablish the existing Safety Zone for the Chelsea River, Boston Inner Harbor, Boston, MA. Since the implementation of the regulation, physical changes have occurred within the confines of the safety zone, making the provisions of the safety zone no longer applicable.

The Coast Guard will enforce a Safety Zone for the AVI Resort and Casino Labor Day Fireworks Display located on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada from 8 p.m. until 9:45 p.m. on September 1, 2013. This action is necessary for the safety of spectators and participants, including all crews, vessels and persons on navigable waters during the AVI Resort and Casino Fireworks. During the enforcement period, in accordance with the established Safety Zone, entry into transiting through or anchoring in the Safety Zone is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the event sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Diego or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of the San Diego Bay in support of the Kuoni Destination Management Fireworks Display on August 6, 2013. This temporary 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.

The Coast Guard has established temporary safety zones around the following Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association facilities: the Columbia Grain facility on the Willamette River in Portland, OR, the United Grain Corporation facility on the Columbia River in Vancouver, WA, the Temco Irving facility on the Willamette River in Portland, OR, the Temco Kalama facility on the Columbia River in Kalama, WA, and the Louis Dreyfus Commodities facility on the Willamette River in Portland, OR. These safety zones extend approximately between the navigable channel and the shoreline of the facility described. These safety zones have been established to ensure that on-water protest activities near these facilities do not create hazardous navigation conditions for vessels protesting, transiting in the navigable channel, or attempting to moor at the facilities and that any on-water activities do not create hazardous conditions while grain- shipment vessels are moored at the facilities. This rule revises the safety zones already promulgated to add one additional grain facility, respond to comments already received, and to correct typographical errors in previous versions of the safety zones at the Columbia Grain and United Grain Corporation facilities.

The Coast Guard is updating special local regulations and permanent safety zones in the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Northern New England Zone for annual recurring marine events. When these special local regulations or safety zones are activated and subject to enforcement this rule will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during these annual recurring events. The revised special local regulations and safety zones will expedite public notification of events, and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these annual recurring events.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the S.R. 74 Bridge, at mile 283.1, over the AICW, at Wrightsville Beach, NC. The deviation is necessary to facilitate electrical system and equipment upgrades to the bridge. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary safety zones on the Chicago River in Chicago, IL. These safety zones are intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Chicago River due to the filming of a motion picture. These temporary safety zones are necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the stunt work, rigging, and other hazards involved in the filming of a motion picture.

The Coast Guard will enforce safety zones in the Captain of the Port New York Zone on the specified dates and times. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels and spectators from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port.