Coast Guard January 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is seeking public comment on the policy clarification proposed in this Notice regarding the criteria for granting medical waivers to mariners who require the use of potentially impairing prescription medications. The Coast Guard is also seeking input regarding effective methods of risk evaluation of such mariners. Current Coast Guard guidance states that the ``use of certain medications is considered disqualifying for the issuance of credentials,'' and that ``the underlying cause or need for use of these medications and potential side effects may result in denial of a credential application or require a waiver.'' Current guidance specifically identifies that use of benzodiazepine medications, opioid and opiate medications, non-benzodiazepine sedative hypnotic medications, and barbiturate medications require a waiver, but does not specify the factors that the Coast Guard will consider in making its determination on whether the risks associated with use of these medications are low enough to warrant consideration for a waiver. The Coast Guard is proposing additions to the current medication policy that will clarify the circumstances that the Coast Guard will consider when determining whether to grant a medical waiver for use of these medications. Additionally, the Coast Guard is proposing to include a safety warning to mariners advising them to refrain from use of impairing medications while operating under the authority of their credential. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public on whether the proposed policy adequately addresses safety concerns regarding merchant mariners whose medical conditions require the use of medications that have the potential to impair cognitive ability, judgment or reaction time.

This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the AMSC Western Florida (AMSC-WF) submit their applications for membership to the Captain of the Port (COTP) St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater Beach, Florida during the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship. The race is scheduled to take place annually on the last Saturday and Sunday of September from approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater, Florida. It 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 spectator area, where all vessels must be anchored or operate at No Wake Speed; and an enforcement area where designated representatives may control vessel traffic as determined by the prevailing conditions.

The Coast Guard is modifying the effective date of a published temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Morgan City (Berwick Bay) Railroad Bridge across the Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5 (Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Morgan City-Port Allen Alternate Route) mile 0.3) in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The modification of the date is necessary to further minimize the effects on navigation caused by additional repairs required for the bridge. The deviation is necessary to complete the previously approved repairs and to allow additional repairs to the fender system. This deviation allows for the bridge to remain closed to navigation for four consecutive hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon with an opening in the middle to pass vessels for five weekdays over a two-week period.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near Yerba Buena Island, CA in support of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (SFOBB) Demolition Safety Zone from December 31, 2014 through December 30, 2015. An earlier temporary safety zone was established in this same area from September 1, 2013 through December 30, 2014 to protect mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with over-head demolition and debris removal operations of the SFOBB. Extended demolition efforts necessitate a new temporary safety zone in the area. 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 Coast Guard is declaring Sea Area A1 in certain areas off the coast of the United States based upon the performance of the Coast Guard's Rescue 21 System, and in accordance with applicable provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS). The Coast Guard defines Sea Area A1 as those areas where more than ninety percent of the area within 20 nautical miles seaward of the territorial baseline along the East, West and Gulf Coasts of the United States, excluding Alaska, and including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, is within coverage of Coast Guard very high frequency (VHF) Coast Stations that provide both a continuous watch for Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress alerts on Channel 70 and a capability to respond to distress alerts.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Sabula Railroad Drawbridge across the Mississippi River, mile 535.0, at Sabula, Iowa. This deviation is necessary for scheduled maintenance on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to open on signal if at least 24 hours advance notice is given.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Morgan City(Berwick Bay) Railroad Bridge across the Atchafalaya River, mile 17.5 (Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Morgan City-Port Allen Alternate Route) mile 0.3) in Morgan City, St. Mary's Parish, Louisiana. This deviation provides for the bridge to remain closed to navigation for four consecutive hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon with an opening in the middle to pass vessels. This will last for six consecutive days. The purpose of the closure is to conduct scheduled maintenance and repairs to the drawbridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing and modifying anchorage grounds within the Port of New York. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation and provide safe and secure anchorages for vessels operating in the area. This rule is intended to increase the safety of life and property of both the anchored vessels and those operating in the area, as well as provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of commerce.

The Coast Guard will enforce a security zone associated with the North American International Auto Show, Detroit River, Detroit, MI. This security zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Detroit River in order to ensure the safety and security of participants, visitors, and public officials at the North American International Auto Show, which is being held at Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit, MI. Vessels in close proximity to the security zone will be subject to increased monitoring and boarding during the enforcement of the security zone. No person or vessel may enter the security zone while it is being enforced without permission of the Captain of the Port Detroit.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters around the Eastport Breakwater Terminal in Eastport, Maine. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from approaching within 100 yards of the eastern face of the Eastport Breakwater Terminal without authorization from the Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector Northern New England. This action is necessary due to the uncertainty regarding the breakwater's strength following a partial collapse of the structure on December 4, 2014.

The Coast Guard is revising and consolidating existing regulated navigation areas, security zones and safety zones currently in place in Apra Harbor, Guam. This action will replace existing redundant, potentially confusing and outdated navigation regulations with a cogent regulatory framework in order to better meet the needs of the community and help ensure the safe and efficient use of the harbor.

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 Arizona Drag Boat Association sponsored race event, the Blue Water Resort and Casino Southwest Showdown. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Unauthorized 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 their designated representative. The Coast Guard requests public comments on the temporary safety zone.

The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee and its subcommittees will meet on February 24, 25, and 26, 2015, in New Orleans, LA, to discuss the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. The meetings will be open to the public.

A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee will meet to work on and review Task Statement 30, concerning evaluating military education, training, and assessment for the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 and U.S. Coast Guard Certifications. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the operating schedule that governs the Simpson Avenue Bridge on the Hoquiam River, mile 0.5, at Hoquiam, Washington. The proposed rule change is necessary to accommodate Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) extensive maintenance and restoration efforts on that bridge. The bridge is currently scheduled to open on signal if at least one hour of notice is given. From April 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015, the Coast Guard proposes to only open half of the bascule, a single leaf, of the bridge when at least two hours of notice is given.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the Amtrak Bridge across the Thames River at mile 3.0, at New London, Connecticut. The bridge owner, National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak), submitted a request to allow the Amtrak Bridge to open to 75 feet above mean high water instead of the full bridge opening at 135.3 feet above mean high water, unless a full bridge opening is requested. It is expected that this change to the regulations will create more efficiency in drawbridge operations while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

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 collections of information: 1625-0013, Plan Approval and Records for Load LinesTitle 46 CFR Subchapter E; 1625- 0094, Ships Carrying Bulk Hazardous Liquids; 1625-0096, Report of Oil or Hazardous Substance Discharge and Report of Suspicious Maritime Activity; 1625-0097, Plan Approval and Records for Marine Engineering SystemsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter F; and 1625-0101, Periodic Gauging and Engineering Analyses for Certain Tank Vessels over 30 Year Old. 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.