Coast Guard February 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge, across Newtown Creek, mile 1.3, at New York City, New York. The deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge painting operations at the bridge. This temporary deviation authorizes the Greenpoint Avenue Bridge to remain in the closed position for up to six consecutive days followed by four consecutive days of full operation at various times during the effective period of this deviation.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the State Route 23 (SR 23) vertical lift span bridge, also known as the Judge Perez Bridge, across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Alternate Route), mile 3.8, at Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. This deviation is necessary to provide for the safe movement of vehicular traffic during major plant reconstruction on one side of the waterway and the resulting change in work schedule and increase in workforce transiting the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation for an additional one hour in the evening during weekdays for two months.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of nine Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVICs), which are the first set of a series of NVICs to implement the final rule that aligned Coast Guard regulations with amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, and made changes to national endorsements. These NVICs will provide guidance to mariners concerning new regulations governing merchant mariner certificates and endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC).

The Coast Guard proposes to disestablish Commercial Anchorage ``A'' and to revise the permit and notification requirements for the anchorage grounds of Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors, California. Commercial Anchorage ``A'' has become the location of a Submerged Material Storage Site and is no longer usable. Revised permit and notification requirements will affect the six commercial anchorages within the breakwater of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach that can accommodate vessels with lengths exceeding 800 feet overall and drafts greater than 40 feet. The proposed revision will require vessels using these deep draft anchorages for more than 48 hours to obtain an extended anchorage permit from the Captain of the Port (COTP) Los Angeles-Long Beach. This action will assist the COTP and the Pilots for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to reduce congestion in the deep draft anchorage grounds within the harbor breakwater.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the Quad Cities Heart Walk to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for two hours.

The Coast Guard is canceling the temporary deviation concerning the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois due to work scheduling issues and has been postponed to a later date.

The Coast Guard is amending several permanent safety zones located in the Eleventh Coast Guard District that are established to protect public safety during annual firework displays. These amendments will standardize the safety zone language, update listed events, delete events that are no longer occurring, add new annual fireworks events, and establish a standardized format using a table to list these recurring annual fireworks events. When these safety zones are activated, and thus subject to enforcement, this rule will limit the movement of vessels within the established firework display area.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around the blasting and dredging project taking place in Portland Harbor between Portland and South Portland, Maine. This safety zone is required to protect users of the waterway from the safety hazards associated with this blasting and dredging project, which is being undertaken to increase the water depth of the main channel to 35 feet. Entry into this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Northern New England.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation is necessary to restrict the operation of the draw span to facilitate the biannual inspections.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the draw of the Norfolk Southern 5 Railroad Bridge, across the Elizabeth River Eastern Branch, mile 1.1, at Norfolk, VA. This deviation is necessary to facilitate the replacement of 189 bridge ties and the reworking of the moveable rail joints on the Norfolk Southern 5 Railroad drawbridge. This temporary deviation allows the drawbridge to remain in the closed to navigation position.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the St. Ann swing bridge across Terrebonne Bayou, mile 28.8, at Bourg, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The change will allow the bridge to operate on signal if at least 24 hours advanced notice is given. This change increases the efficiency of operations allowing for the safe navigation of vessels through the bridge while recognizing the low volume of vessel traffic through the bridge.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the San Joaquin County highway bridge, across Bishop Cut, mile 1.0 near Stockton, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow PG&E Company to temporarily interrupt electric service to the area while installing new overhead equipment. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard announces the availability, in the docket, of two draft policy letters for which it seeks public comment. The first draft policy letter provides voluntary guidance for liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel transfer operations on vessels using natural gas as fuel in U.S. waters, and training of personnel on those vessels. It recommends transfer and personnel training measures that we believe will achieve a level of safety that is at least equivalent to that provided for traditional fueled vessels. It would apply to vessels equipped to receive LNG for use as fuel, but not to vessels carrying LNG as cargo that use boil-off gas as fuel. The second draft policy letter discusses voluntary guidance and existing regulations applicable to vessels and waterfront facilities conducting LNG marine fuel transfer (bunkering) operations. The second draft policy letter provides voluntary guidance on safety, security, and risk assessment measures we believe will ensure safe LNG bunkering operations. We request your comments on these draft policy letters before signature and public release.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hwy 160 drawbridge across Three Mile Slough, mile 0.1, at Rio Vista, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow California Department of Transportation to replace the steel deck of the bridge lift span. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The U.S. Coast Guard is confirming the changes made to the restricted anchorage areas of San Nicolas Island, California. A direct final rule detailing the changes was published in the Federal Register on November 12, 2013, (78 FR 67300). We received no adverse comments in response to the direct final rule, therefore, the rule will go into effect as scheduled.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations during the ``Oxford-Bellevue Sharkfest Swim'', a marine event to be held on the waters of the Tred Avon River on May 10, 2014. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Tred Avon River during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone on the navigable waters of Port Valdez within a 200-yard radius of the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS) Port Valdez Ferry Terminal. The purpose of the safety zone is to restrict all vessels except AMHS vessels from entering within 200-yards of the AMHS Port Valdez Ferry Terminal whenever an AMHS ferry is underway within 200 yards of the terminal and there is a declared Commercial Salmon Fishery Opener. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life, property and the environment during periods of vessel traffic congestion during a declared Commercial Salmon Fishery Opener.

The Coast Guard, at Sector Houston-Galveston, announces receipt of a Letter of Intent (LOI) and Waterways Suitability Assessment (WSA) for two separate proposed construction projects expanding existing Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) facilities in Houston, Texas. The LOI and WSA were submitted by Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) and Vopak. The Coast Guard is notifying the public of this action to solicit public comments on the proposed expansion of Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) facilities, as defined by 33 CFR 127.005.