Coast Guard February 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Seventeenth Coast Guard District has concluded the Port Access Route Study (PARS) of the Chukchi Sea, Bering Strait and Bering Sea and announces the availability of the report. The Coast Guard is also requesting comments on the preliminary findings contained in the report. Any comments received will be reviewed and considered as the Coast Guard deliberates advancing the recommendations from this study forward into a domestic rulemaking or international agreement.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation on the Black Warrior River extending the entire width of the river from mile marker 339.0 to mile marker 341.5 in Tuscaloosa, AL. The special local regulation is needed to protect the persons participating in the NCAA Collegiate Rowing Competition marine event. This rulemaking restricts transit into, through and within the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Mobile.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish two safety zones on the navigable waters of Newtown Creek, NY. The first safety zone is within 500 feet of the two barges and assist vessels to be used for the removal and loading of the existing center span from the Kosciuszko Bridge at mile 2.1. The second is from approximately 370 yards south (upstream) of the Kosciuszko Bridge at mile 2.1 and Newtown Creek's confluence with the East River at mile 0.0 during transport of the existing center span to an offsite location. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during the lowering and securing of the existing bridge's center span onto two barges within the Federal navigation channel and during the barge's outbound transit through Newtown Creek to the East River tentatively scheduled during April-May, 2017. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New York or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend the Miami Anchorage. The Miami Anchorage would be divided into two separate anchorage areas. This action is necessary to reduce potential damage to threatened coral posed by anchoring vessels. We invite your comments on this supplemental proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating regulation that governs the Bayview (State Route 42/57) Bridge, Mile 3.0, Maple-Oregon Bridge, Mile 4.17, and Michigan Street Bridge, Mile 4.3, all over Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal in Sturgeon Bay, WI, to allow testing of the remote operation equipment for all three drawbridges. The operating schedules are not changing. The three drawbridges will be remotely operated by a single tender throughout the 2017 navigation season with request for comments from all stakeholders on the safety and effectiveness of the remote operation arrangement.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the U.S. 70 (Alfred A. Cunningham) Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, at New Bern, NC. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the free movement of pedestrians and vehicles during the 2017 Neuse River Bridge Run. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance (COAC) was issued for the TUG CLAYTON W MORAN. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Mack Boring & Parts Co (hence forth referred to as Mack) to evaluate and test the advantages, disadvantages, required technology enhancements, performance, costs, and other issues associated with diesel outboard engine technology. A test schedule has been proposed in which Mack will provide and install two of their diesel outboard engines onto a selected Coast Guard boat platform; the Coast Guard Research and Development Center (R&D Center) will outfit the platform with the necessary instrumentation to monitor power, speed, and fuel consumption; and a Coast Guard field unit will operate the boat for performance testing over a six-month period to collect information on reliability, maintenance requirements, and availability data. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with Mack the agency is soliciting public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. In addition, the Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants to propose similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee. The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee provides advice and makes recommendations on matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials insofar as they relate to matters within the United States Coast Guard's jurisdiction.

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 new collection of information: 1625New, Maritime Transportation System Recovery Essential Elements of Information. 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 extends the deadline for accepting applications for membership on the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee. The Committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters and actions concerning activities directly involved with or in support of the exploration of offshore mineral and energy resources insofar as they relate to matters within Coast Guard jurisdiction. Applicants selected for service on the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee via this solicitation will not begin their respective terms until January 31, 2018.

On July 9, 2015, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a regulated navigation area (RNA) on the navigable waters of the Fifth Coast Guard District to allow the Coast Guard to impose and enforce restrictions on vessels operating within the RNA where a threat to navigation exists due to ice covered waterways. Based on consideration of the comments received in response to that NPRM and further analysis, the Coast Guard is now proposing to establish 11 safety zones on certain navigable waters of the Fifth Coast Guard District instead of 1 RNA. This action is necessary to promote navigational safety, provide for the safety of life and property, and facilitate the reasonable demands of commerce when navigation safety is threatened due to ice covered waterways. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the operating schedule that governs the Oregon State highway bridge across Youngs Bay foot of Fifth Street (Old Youngs Bay Bridge), mile 2.4, at Astoria, OR. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) requested to change the operating schedule of the Old Youngs Bay Bridge for several months while work is performed on the north bascule lift. This change will allow ODOT to operate the double bascule draw in single leaf mode, one lift at a time, and reduce the vertical clearance of the non-operable half of the span by five feet.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast Railway Bridge, St. Johns River, mile 24.9, at Jacksonville, FL. The deviation is necessary to perform major bridge repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee and its working groups will meet to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has set the calendar year 2017 minimum random drug testing rate at 25 percent of covered crewmembers.

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee will meet via teleconference to review and accept the minutes from the Fall 2016 Committee meeting and to discuss the issuance of a task statement to the Committee. The task statement is being issued by the U.S. Coast Guard and requests the Committee's input on Safety Management Systems for vessels engaging in Well Intervention Activities. This teleconference is open to the public.