Coast Guard February 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Loop Parkway Bridge, mile 0.7, across Long Creek, and the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, both at Hempstead, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate the Dee Snider's Motorcycle Ride to Fight Hunger on Long Island.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Marine Parkway Bridge across the Jamaica Bay, mile 3.0, at Queens, New York. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to replace the auxiliary clutch shafts at the bridge.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the CONRAIL Railroad Bridge across the Mantua Creek, mile 1.4, at Paulsboro, NJ. This deviation is necessary to complete bridge construction. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Morgan City Railroad Bridge across the Atchafalaya River (also known as Berwick Bay), mile 17.5 [Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Morgan City-Port Allen Alternate Route), mile 0.3] in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. This deviation is necessary to perform maintenance needed for the operation of the bridge. This deviation allows for the bridge to remain closed-to- navigation for eight-consecutive hours in the morning and five- consecutive hours in the evening with an opening in the middle to pass vessels for a five-day period.

The Coast Guard is making a correction to the operating schedule that governs the New Bedford-Fairhaven Rt-6 Bridge, mile 0.0, across the Acushnet River, between New Bedford and Fairhaven, MA. On July 1, 2013, a technical amendment was published that updated the name of the bridge, however, the requested correction was drafted incorrectly and three subparagraphs were inadvertently removed from the section.

The Coast Guard announces that it has withdrawn the October 30, 2013, proposed policy letter concerning the carriage of shale gas extraction waste water (SGEWW) in bulk via barge. The policy letter proposed a new standardized process and specified conditions under which a barge owner could request and be granted a Certificate of Inspection endorsement or letter allowing the barge to transport SGEWW in bulk. That proposed policy is withdrawn and no new policy is proposed at this time. Barge owners may continue to request case-by-case approval to transport SGEWW under current regulations by providing recent detailed chemical composition, environmental analyses, and other information for each individual tank barge load. The Coast Guard will consider instituting a standardized process for transporting SGEWW in bulk after it has assessed whether current regulations are inadequate to handle requests for transport of SGEWW in bulk and environmental impacts that may be associated with SGEWW transport by barge.

The Coast Guard is establishing an interim rule, providing for temporary moving security zones around vessels being escorted by one or more Coast Guard or other Federal, State, or local law enforcement assets, on the navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River, New Orleans, LA. This rule follows the interim rule that published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2015, re-establishing the same moving security zone regulations necessary for the safe transit and mooring of vessels requiring escort protection by the Coast Guard for security reasons as well as the safety and security of personnel and port facilities. Entry into, remaining in or transiting through these zones is prohibited for all vessels, mariners, and persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port New Orleans or a designated representative. The Coast Guard seeks comments on this interim rule specific to making this rule a permanent final rule.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the 63rd Street Bridge across Indian Creek, mile 4.0, at Miami Beach, FL. This proposed rule implements restrictions that allow the bridge to not open for vessels during peak vehicle traffic times. Bridge openings during peak vehicle traffic times cause major traffic jams that may be avoided without negatively impacting vessel traffic on the Indian Creek. Modifying the bridge operating schedule will reduce major vehicle traffic issues during rush hour times.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for underwater detonation operations in the waters of Apra Outer Harbor in Piti, Guam. This rule is effective from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on February 19, 2016. The Coast Guard believes this safety zone regulation is necessary to protect all persons and vessels that would otherwise transit or be within the affected area from possible safety hazards associated with underwater detonation operations. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Guam.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a 500-yard safety zone around each of five locations where the Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) wind turbine generator (WTG) towers, nacelles, blades and subsea cables will be installed in the navigable waters of the Rhode Island Sound, RI, from April 1 to October 31, 2016. These safety zones are intended to safeguard mariners from the hazards associated with construction of the BIWF. Vessels would be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within these safety zones while construction vessels and associated equipment are present at any of the BIWF WTG sites, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Southeastern New England or the COTP's designated representative. We invited your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard announces the availability, in the docket, of a policy letter which provides voluntary guidance for the training of deck officers on vessels operating in polar waters. It recommends training measures that will achieve a higher level of safety for mariners working in this specialized polar environment. It is applicable to SOLAS vessels operating outside the boundary line and subject to the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code). The draft policy letter and voluntary guidance would not apply to vessels on voyages that do not operate in areas subject to the Polar Code.

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee and its Subcommittees will hold meetings in New Orleans, LA to discuss the safety of operations and other matters affecting the offshore oil and gas industry. These meetings are open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Galveston Causeway Railroad Vertical Lift Bridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, mile 357.2 west of Harvey Locks, at Galveston, Galveston County, Texas. The deviation is necessary to conduct maintenance on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain temporarily closed to navigation for two four-hour periods, on five consecutive days during day-light hours.

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Towing Safety Advisory Committee. This Committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to shallow draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety.

On behalf of the Alaska Regional Response Team (ARRT), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces establishment of a more inclusive, comprehensive, and conservative dispersant use policy that includes a preauthorization area and an enhanced protocol for use of chemical dispersant during responses to spills of crude oil in certain waters offshore of Alaska. Federal regulations covering certain vessel response plans require development of defined dispersant response capabilities when such vessels are operating in waters where dispersant use preauthorization agreements exist.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on all navigable waters within a 750 foot radius around the center of the Boudreaux Canal Flood Gates in Chauvin, LA. This safety zone is necessary to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with repair work on the Boudreaux Canal Sector Flood Gates located on Bayou Petite Caillou. During the periods of enforcement, entry into and transiting or anchoring within this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by Captain of the Port (COTP) Morgan City or other designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), 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: 1625-0039, Declaration of Inspection Before Transfer of Liquid in Bulk. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Norfolk and Western railroad bridge (Norfolk Southern V6.8 Bridge) across the South Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 3.6, at Portsmouth-Chesapeake, VA. The deviation is necessary to perform bridge maintenance and repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the James River Bridge (US17) across the James River, mile 5.0, at Isle of Wight and Newport News, VA. The deviation is necessary to perform bridge maintenance and repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean east of Daytona Beach, Florida during the Daytona Beach Grand Prix of the Seas, a series of high-speed personal watercraft boat races. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters surrounding the event. This special local regulation will be enforced daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., from April 22 through April 24, 2016. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Jacksonville or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), 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: 1625-0001, Report of Marine Casualty & Chemical Testing of Commercial Vessel Personnel. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), 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: 1625-0016, Welding and Hot Works Permits; Posting of Warning Signs. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Senator Ted Hickey (Leon C. Simon Blvd./Seabrook) bascule bridge across the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, mile 4.6, at New Orleans, Louisiana, and the US 90 bridge at Chef Menteur Pass over Lake Catherine at Mile 2.8 at New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Ochsner Ironman 70.3 New Orleans event. This deviation allows the bridges to remain closed-to-navigation for a scheduled amount of time on the day of the event.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Wantagh Parkway Bridge across the Sloop Channel, mile 15.4, at Wantagh, New York. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Jones Beach July 4th Fireworks. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for approximately 3 hours.