Coast Guard August 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this final rule, the Coast Guard is setting new rates for the 2017 shipping season for pilotage services on the Great Lakes. The Coast Guard is also updating its methodology for setting these rates. These updates to the methodology will incorporate the income generated from weighting factors into the ratemaking methodology used to set rates in this and future rulemakings. The Coast Guard believes that the new rates will continue to encourage pilot retention, ensure safe, efficient, and reliable pilotage services on the Great Lakes, and provide adequate funds to upgrade and maintain infrastructure.

The Coast Guard is extending the duration of a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Wando River within a 500-yard radius of the SC-41 Bridge, vessels and machinery in Charleston, South Carolina. The safety zone is needed to ensure the safety of persons, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by demolition work on the SC-41 Bridge. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee and its subcommittees will meet in Washington, DC, to discuss committee matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. These meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the I-64 (High Rise) Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, mile 7.1, at Chesapeake, VA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate routine maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard will enforce Special Local Regulations for the Olympia Harbor Days Tug Boat Races, Budd Inlet, WA from 11 a.m. through 5 p.m. on September 3, 2017. This action is necessary to restrict vessel movement within the specified race area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after racing activity in order to ensure the safety of participants, spectators and the maritime public. Entry into, transit through, mooring or anchoring within the specified race area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Puget Sound or Designated Representatives.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to Ocean City, NJ on August 26, 2017. The safety zone will restrict vessel traffic from operating on a portion of Atlantic Ocean during a fireworks display. This safety zone is necessary to protect the public, spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with a fireworks display. The safety zone restricts vessels from transiting the zone during the effective period, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Ironman Triathlon in Augusta, Georgia on 24 September 2017, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Augusta, GA. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Ontario, Sodus Point, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of Lake Ontario during the Village of Sodus Point Fireworks display on September 2, 2017. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect mariners and vessels from the navigational hazards associated with a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for a fireworks display within the Captain of the Port (COTP) Long Island Sound (LIS) Zone. This temporary final rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during these events. Entry into, transit through, mooring or anchoring within the limited access area is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP LIS.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Mississippi River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near New Orleans, LA, during a fireworks display on October 28, 2017. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New Orleans (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing 11 safety zones on certain navigable waters of the Fifth Coast Guard District. This action is necessary to promote navigational safety, provide for the safety of life and property, and facilitate the reasonable demands of commerce where a threat to navigation exists due to ice covered waterways. This rule is intended to mitigate the potential threat ice poses to the maritime public in the Fifth Coast Guard District by implementing control measures on vessels operating in certain ice covered waterways.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee and its Working Groups will meet to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' documents, medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Humboldt Bay in King Salmon, CA in support of the Pacific Gas and Electric Evolution that will be effective on August 2, 2017 and on August 30, 2017. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of workers, mariners, and other vessels transiting the area from the dangers associated with this evolution. 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 has issued a temporary deviation from the

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for all

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 200-yard radius of the position of the grounded vessel, M/V CALUMET on the north end of Sugar Island. The safety zone is needed to provide for the safety of life and property on the navigable waters during emergency salvage operations onboard a bulk carrier that ran aground. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sault Ste. Marie.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Flagler Memorial (SR A1A), Royal Park (SR 704), and the Southern Boulevard (SR 700/80) bridges, across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), miles 1020.8, 1022.6 and 1024.7 at Palm Beach, Florida. This deviation will test for 180 days a change to the drawbridge operation schedules to determine whether a permanent change to the schedules is needed. This deviation is necessary to reduce traffic congestion and ensure the safety of the roadways, while meeting the needs of waterways users, whenever the President of the United States, members of the First Family, or other persons under the protection of the Secret Service are present or expected to be visiting Mar-a-Lago. This deviation allows the Flagler Memorial and Royal Park bridges to open once an hour during a 4 hour period on weekdays when the President is staying at Mar-a-Lago, and the Southern Boulevard Bridge to remain closed to navigation when the presidential motorcade is in transit.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of Islamorada, FL during the Islamorada Grand Prix of the Seas high-speed boat race. Approximately 70 high-speed boats and personal watercraft are expected to participate in the race, in addition to spectators. The special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation will establish two regulated areas: a race area and buffer zone; and a spectator area. This special local regulation prohibits non-participant persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the race area or buffer zone and prohibits vessels from transiting in excess of wake speed within the spectator area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation on the Mobile River, Mobile, AL. The special local regulation is needed to protect the persons participating in the Rubber Ducky Regatta marine event. This rule restricts transit into, through, and within the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Mobile.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Sitcum Waterway Security Zone, Commencement Bay, Washington, from Noon on August 12, 2017, through 11:59 p.m. on August 19, 2017, unless cancelled sooner by the Captain of the Port. This action is necessary for the security of Department of Defense assets and military cargo in the navigable waters of Puget Sound and adjacent waters. Entry into this security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or their Designated Representative, or is otherwise provided by exemption or waiver provisions in these security zone regulations.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a new anchorage area, Anchorage Area Alpha (A) East in Bolivar Roads near Galveston, Texas. The establishment of this additional anchorage area would enhance navigational safety, support regional maritime security needs, and contribute to the free flow of commerce in the Houston-Galveston area. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

In accordance with Coast Guard regulations, Lynx Terminals LLC (Lynx Terminals) has submitted a Letter of Intent and Preliminary Waterway Suitability Assessment to the Coast Guard Captain of the Port, Port Arthur, TX (COTP) regarding the company's plans to handle and transport Liquefied Hazardous Gas (LHG) at the Port of Port Arthur docks in Port Arthur, TX. The Coast Guard is notifying the public of this proposed increase in LHG marine traffic on the Sabine-Neches Waterway and is soliciting comments relevant to the Coast Guard's preparation of a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for issue to the federal, state or local agency with jurisdiction over the proposed facility.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Wando River within a 500-yard radius of SC-41 Bridge, vessels and machinery in Charleston, South Carolina. The safety zone is needed to ensure the safety of persons, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by demolition work on the SC-41 Bridge. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting a Reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired for the following collection of information: 1625-0019, Alternative Compliance for International and Inland Navigation Rules 33 CFR parts 81 through 89 without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting a Reinstatement, without change, of a previously approved collection for which approval has expired: 1625-0078, Credentialing and Manning Requirements for Officers on Towing Vessels; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.