Coast Guard January 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in all navigable waters of the Captain of the Port Baltimore Zone. The temporary safety zone restricts vessels from transiting the zone during the effective period, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Baltimore or his designated representative. This safety zone is necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with ice in the navigable waterways.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 57 drawbridge across the Dulac Bayou, mile 0.6, at Dulac, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary in order to conduct repair and replacement of parts associated with the wedge-drive system hydraulic unit. These repairs are essential for the continued safe operation of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation for 20 consecutive days with three openings per day during daylight to facilitate the movement of vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the LA 315 drawbridge across the Falgout Canal, mile 3.1, in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary in order to conduct repair and replacement of parts associated with the wedge-drive system hydraulic unit. These repairs are essential for the continued safe operation of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation for 20 consecutive days with three openings per day during daylight to facilitate the movement of vessel traffic.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision to the following collections of information: 1625-0057, Small Passenger VesselsTitle 46 Subchapters K and T and 1625-0064, Plan Approval and Records for Subdivision and Stability RegulationsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter S. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting these ICRs to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hillsborough Avenue Bridge across the Hillsborough River, mile 4.8, at Tampa, Florida, to facilitate repairs. The deviation is necessary to provide repair personnel the time needed to safely remove equipment on the bridge prior to opening. This deviation allows the bridge a limited opening providing 20 feet of vertical clearance if four hours advanced notice is given. Special arrangements with the bridge owner can be made for full openings.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the Lake Moolvalya region of the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona in support of the Blue Water Resort and Casino (BWRC) and Arizona Drag Boat Association Southwest Showdown Three high speed boat race. 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.

On December 2, 2013, the Coast Guard issued a temporary deviation, lasting approximately 10 weeks, from the operating schedule that governs the Illinois Central Railroad Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 579.9, at Dubuque, Iowa. This temporary deviation allows the bridge to open on signal if at least 24 hours advance notice is given. It is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to perform preventive maintenance that is essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. Maintenance is scheduled in the winter and when there is less impact on navigation; instead of scheduling work in the summer, when river traffic increases. We are modifying that temporary deviation to allow for two three-day periods during the deviation when the bridge will remain in the closed-to- navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone encompassing certain waters of the Potomac River and Anacostia River. This action is necessary to safeguard persons and property, and prevent terrorist acts or incidents. This rule prohibits vessels and people from entering the security zone and requires vessels and persons in the security zone to depart the security zone, unless specifically exempt under the provisions in this rule or granted specific permission from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Christina River in Wilmington, DE, from January 18, 2014 to January 31, 2014, to be enforced for a period of 48 hours within this time frame. The safety zone will restrict vessel traffic on the Christina River in the immediate area of the M/V OCEAN FORCE, which will be moored inside a boundary described as originating from 39[deg]43'14'' N, 075[deg]31'41'' W; northeasterly to 39[deg]43'17'' N, 75[deg]31'40'' W; then east to 39[deg]43'15'' N, 075[deg]31'47'' W; then southwesterly to the shoreline at 39[deg]43'10'' N; 075[deg]31'30'' W. The safety zone is intended to facilitate 24 hour cargo operations in which a 110 ft object will be offloaded from the vessel to the facility. This regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the Christina River. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to ensure the safety of the vessels and personnel involved with the cargo operation.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Upper New York Bay in the vicinity of Ellis Island, New York for a fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This rulemaking is intended to restrict all vessels from a portion of The Upper New York Bay before, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

In 1999, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century made $5 million per year available for the payment of Coast Guard expenses for personnel and activities directly related to coordinating and carrying out the national recreational boating safety program. In 2005, the law was amended, and the amount was increased to $5.5 million. The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Act that a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the Act be published annually in the Federal Register. This notice specifies the funding amounts the Coast Guard has committed, obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2013, as of September 30, 2013.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary moving safety zone on the waters of Charleston Harbor, in Charleston, South Carolina during the Charleston Sharkfest Swim on Sunday, April 27, 2014 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The Charleston Sharkfest Swim is a 1500 meter swimming race. The safety zone is necessary for the safety of the swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the swim. Persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision to the following collection of information: 1625-0008, Regattas and Marine Parades. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

Pursuant to section 421 of the Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Act (CGMTA) of 2006, section 904 of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act, and section 701 of the CGMTA of 2012, the Coast Guard announces the availability of CG-CVC Policy Letter 13-04, Distant Water Tuna Fleet (DWTF) Vessels Manning Exemption Guidance. The Coast Guard also requests public comments on the manning exemption criteria and eligibility, and on the process for obtaining a manning exemption approval letter.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of draft guidance in the form of a Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) entitled ``Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 4 Marine Casualty Reporting Procedures Guide with Associated Standard Interpretations.'' The draft NVIC will assist regulated maritime industry stakeholders in determining if certain occurrences are reportable or not reportable to the Coast Guard, other than those related to recreational vessel casualties. This notice requests public comment on the impacts that the interpretations and policies contained in the draft NVIC would have upon vessel owners and operators or other affected parties. This notice promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions.

The Coast Guard announces the additional delay of the effective date of this interim rule from January 16, 2014, to January 16, 2015. The delay until 2015 will allow the Coast Guard to investigate and, if necessary, correct technical errors that were brought to the Coast Guard's attention by public comments on the interim rule.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations for certain design and approval standards for fire protection, detection, and extinguishing equipment on inspected and uninspected vessels, outer continental shelf facilities, deepwater ports, and mobile offshore drilling units. The proposed amendments would harmonize Coast Guard regulations with appropriate national and international consensus standards; address advances in fire protection technologies and standards; update Coast Guard approval processes for fire detection and alarm systems; and revise Coast Guard regulations for other types of equipment or components, such as spanner wrenches, non-metallic pipes, and sprinkler systems. These proposed changes are necessary to ensure Coast Guard regulations remain current and address advances in technology.

The Coast Guard is considering revising and consolidating existing Regulated Navigation Areas, Security Zones and Safety Zones currently in place in Apra Harbor, Guam. This action is intended to replace a number of redundant, potentially confusing and outdated navigation regulations with a cogent regulatory framework. The goal is to better meet the needs of the community today and ensure the safe and efficient use of the harbor by clarifying and streamlining requirements thereby reducing vessel operator confusion while transiting the waters of Apra Harbor, Guam. We are soliciting comments related to navigation in Apra Harbor, Guam including ways the Coast Guard can streamline the regulations in place while promoting safety on the waterway.