Coast Guard April 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Wando River, Cooper River, and Charleston Harbor in Charleston, SC during the Low Country Splash in Charleston, SC, on May 24, 2014. This special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and the general public during the event. The special local regulation will temporarily restrict vessel traffic in a portion of the Wando River and Charleston Harbor, preventing non-participant vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near AT&T Park in support of Giants Enterprises Fireworks Display on May 21, 2014. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with 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 his designated representative.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Revision 7 to Maritime Security (MARSEC) Directive 104-6, which provides guidelines for U.S. vessels operating in high risk waters (HRW) where acts of terrorism, piracy, and armed robbery against ships are prevalent, as well as specific guidance for offshore supply vessels and liftboats operating in the Gulf of Guinea. The directive contains security- sensitive information and therefore cannot be made available to the general public. U.S. vessel owners and operators who have needed to take action under previous versions of MARSEC Directive 104-6, or whose vessels operate in waters off the coast of Africa, should immediately contact their local Coast Guard Captain of the Port or District Commander for a copy of Revision 7, which contains important updates to the locations of HRW and to the guidelines for addressing security risks in those waters. The Coast Guard advises such owners and operators that, under Revision 7, they may need to take specific actions in accordance with MARSEC Directive 104-6 before their vessel enters HRW. This notice is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

The Coast Guard proposes to establish regulations for annual, combined marine events that require the establishment of a temporary safety zone within the Captain of the Port Zone Buffalo on the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH. This proposed safety zone regulation is necessary to protect the surrounding public, spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with the rowing regatta in the narrow waterway of the Cuyahoga River. This proposed rule is intended to restrict vessels annually from a portion of the Cuyahoga River for up to 10 hours during the combined Dragon Boat Festival and the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Byram Harbor near Greenwich, CT for the Belle Haven Club fireworks display. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. The safety zone will facilitate public notification of the event and provide protective measures for the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with this event. Entering into, transiting through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within this regulated area would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Raritan Bay in the vicinity of Perth Amboy, NJ 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 Raritan Bay before, during, and immediately after the fireworks event.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of South Oyster Bay near the Guy Lombardo Marina in Freeport, NY for the Freeport Chamber of Commerce fireworks display. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. The safety zone will facilitate public notification of the event and provide protective measures for the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with this event. Entering into, transiting through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within this regulated area would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) will meet via teleconference to receive tasking related to the report of investigation into the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) KULLUK grounding incident and receive final reports or status reports from seven active TSAC Subcommittees. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule governing the ``I'' Street Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.4 at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Capitol City Classic 10K run. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Gil Hodges (Marine Parkway) Bridge across the Jamaica Bay, mile 3.0 at Queens, New York. This temporary deviation authorizes the bridge to remain in the closed position for three days to facilitate mechanical repairs at the bridge.

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its special local regulations relating to recurring marine parades, regattas, and other events that take place in the Eighth Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR). This interim rule informs the public of regularly scheduled marine parades, regattas, and other recurring events that require additional safety measures through establishing a special local regulation. Through this interim rule the current list of recurring marine events requiring special local regulations is updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place in the Eighth Coast Guard District AOR. When these special local regulations are enforced, certain restrictions are placed on marine traffic in specified areas. Additionally, this one rulemaking project reduces administrative costs involved in producing a separate rule for each individual recurring event and serves to provide notice of the known recurring events requiring a special local regulation throughout the year.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone during the Xterra swim, a swimming race occurring on waters of the Intracoastal Waterway in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Xterra Swim is scheduled to take place on Sunday, May 4, 2014. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of the swimmers, participant vessels, 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 Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish temporary moving safety zones during the Swim Around Charleston, a swimming race occurring on the Wando River, the Cooper River, Charleston Harbor, and the Ashley River, in Charleston, South Carolina. The Swim Around Charleston is scheduled on Sunday, September 21, 2014. The temporary moving safety zone is necessary to protect swimmers, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels would be prohibited from entering the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

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, August 31, 2014 from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. The Charleston Sharkfest Swim is a 1850 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.

The Coast Guard announces two public meetings to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking addressing the Coast Guard's assessment framework for, and restating its position regarding, the federalism implications of regulations issued under the authority of various statutes within Titles 33 and 46 of the United States Code. The meetings will be held in two locations in order to allow for greater public involvement.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the navigable waters of Thompson Bay in Lake Havasu City, Arizona in support of the Lucas Oil Drag Boat Racing Series high speed drag 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.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Colorado River in Lake Havasu, AZ for the Lucas Oil Drag Boats Racing Series from May 2, 2014 through May 4, 2014. The safety zone would be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily during this timeframe. 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 would be 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 proposes to establish a special local regulation pertaining to the Beaufort Water Festival from 11:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. on July 19, 2014. This action is necessary to ensure safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the Beaufort Water Festival Air Show. During the enforcement period, the special local regulation establishes a regulated area which all people and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring, or remaining within. Vessels may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the area if authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Southern Railroad Drawbridge across the Tennessee River, mile 304.4, at Decatur, Alabama. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to replace and adjust the down haul operating ropes that are essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and not open to vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the South Park Highway Bridge across the Duwamish Waterway, mile 3.8, at Seattle, Washington. The deviation is necessary to enable timely completion of drawbridge construction. This deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed to mariners needing a full channel, double bascule leaf drawbridge opening unless 12 hours advance notice is provided. Mariners that only require a single leaf, half channel drawbridge opening will be given an opening upon signal.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding Information Collection Requests (ICRs), abstracted below, 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: 1625-0002, Application for Vessel Inspection, Waiver, and Continuous Synopsis Record. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Long Island Sound near Greenwich, CT for the Ellie's Wedding fireworks display. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. The safety zone will facilitate public notification of the event and provide protective measures for the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these events. Entering into, transiting through, remaining, anchoring or mooring within this regulated area would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound.

The Coast Guard finalizes regulations previously published as an interim rule on July 9, 2013. In this final rule, the Coast Guard removes the wave height and surface current provisions and regulated boating areas for bar crossing locations along the coasts of Oregon and Washington because they conflict with more recently promulgated wave height provisions and regulated boating areas for the same bar crossings. This amendment is necessary in order to remove confusion as to which safety requirements apply to recreational vessels, uninspected passenger vessels, small passenger vessels, and commercial fishing vessels when operating within the regulated navigation areas.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Conch Republic Navy Parade and Battle Special Local Regulation in the Gulf of Mexico, from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on April 25, 2014. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public from the hazards associated with this event. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the regulated area without permission from the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Stillwater Highway Drawbridge across the St. Croix River, mile 23.4, at Stillwater, Minnesota. The deviation was requested by the City of Stillwater to perform a functional review of drawspan operation needs during the navigation season due to growing traffic congestion. This deviation will test an altered opening schedule operated Monday through Friday (Except Federal Holidays) for approximately 5 months.