Coast Guard September 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is extending, for an additional six months, the existing temporary safety zone surrounding the entry of lava from the Kilauea volcano into the navigable waters of the Pacific Ocean on the southeast side of the Island of Hawaii, HI. The extension of this safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with molten lava entering the ocean while the proposed rule is reviewed.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent special local regulation for the Fautasi Ocean Challenge canoe races in Pago Pago Harbor, American Samoa. These annual events historically occur four separate weekend or holiday days each year. The annual dates include one day in April and three separate days between Veteran's Day and the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Each of the four days, canoe races are held between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. This action is necessary to safeguard the participants and spectators, including all crews, vessels, and persons on the water in Pago Pago Harbor during the event. This regulation will functionally close the port to vessel traffic during the race, but will not require the evacuation of any vessels from the harbor. Entry into, transiting, or anchoring in the harbor would be prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or not part of the race patrol, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu or a designated representative. Vessels who are already moored or anchored in the harbor seeking permission to remain there shall request permission from the COTP unless deemed a spectator vessel that is moored to a waterfront facility within the regulated area. The area concerned for this permanent special local regulation is described below.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulation on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Englewood, Florida during the OPA World Championships High Speed Boat Race, an annually recurring event in the month of November. The special local regulation is necessary to protect 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 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.

This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the Boston Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) to submit their applications for membership, to the Captain of the Port (COTP), Boston, MA.

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 issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 401 Drawbridge, mile 5.5 at Port Canaveral, Florida. The deviation is necessary to allow fuel trucks a less restrictive access to and from Port Canaveral to pick up and deliver fuel due to the critical fuel supply in the region. With the passage of Hurricane Irma, delivery of fuel from the port is critical to the local community and beyond. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation the majority of the day to facilitate the safe passage of vehicles picking up and delivering fuel.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Margate Boulevard/Margate Bridge which carries Margate Boulevard across the NJICW (Beach Thorofare), mile 74.0, at Margate City, NJ. The deviation is necessary to facilitate urgent bridge maintenance. 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 Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation One Walk event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters within 50-yards of either side of the Route 73 Weskeag Bridge, at mile 0.1 on the Weskeag River, in South Thomaston, Maine. The safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the potential hazards created by the demolition, subsequent removal, and replacement of the Route 73 Weskeag Bridge. When enforced, this regulation prohibits entry of vessels or people into the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector Northern New England or a designated representative.

The meeting of the full Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC), scheduled for October 5, 2017, was announced in the Federal Register on August 30, 2017. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR- 2017-08-30/pdf/2017-18331.pdf At that time no teleconference option was announced; this notice announces the alternative of participating by teleconference. To participate via teleconference, please dial 202-475- 4000; the participant access code is 607 493 32#.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-13, Change (1) entitled, ``Guidance Implementing the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.'' This change incorporates the 2014 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) related to financial liability for repatriation of seafarers (MLC Regulation 2.5.2) and financial security relating to shipowners' liability in cases of seafarer injury or death (MLC Regulation 4.2.1) into the existing voluntary compliance framework for vessels that engage on international voyages to those countries that are signatory to the MLC. NVIC 02-13, Change (1) is available as indicated in this notice.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Farm-to-Fork Dinner event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed- to-navigation position during the deviation period.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Cannonade cannon fire event on Lake St. Clair on October 21, 2017 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. During the enforcement periods, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and after this event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Tombigbee River from mile marker (MM) 215.5 to MM 216.5, near Demopolis, AL. This action is necessary to protect persons and property on navigable waters during a fireworks display taking place on or over the waterway. Entry into or transiting in this zone is prohibited to all vessels, mariners, and persons unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the subject safety zone for the Pittsburgh Steelers Fireworks on all navigable waters of the Allegheny River miles 0.0 to 0.25, Ohio River mile 0.0 to 0.1, Monongahela River mile 0.0 to 0.1, extending the entire width of the rivers. The zone is needed to protect vessels transiting the area and event spectators from the hazards associated with the barge-based fireworks display. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring in the safety zone is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Tennessee River from mile marker (MM) 333.2 to MM 337.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Huntsville, AL during the Swim Hobbs Island event. Entry of persons or vessels into this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has modified a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Beach Lane Bridge across the Quantuck Canal, mile 1.1 at Westhampton Beach, New York. This action is necessary to complete rehabilitation of the bascule leaves of the drawbridge. This modified deviation extends the period during which the bridge may open only one bascule span at a time in order to provide passage for vessels requiring an opening.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MEDMAC) meeting scheduled for September 12 and 13, 2017 and announced in the Federal Register on August 22, 2017 (82 FR 39881) has been cancelled. A notice of meeting will be published in the Federal Register when the meeting is rescheduled.

The Great Lakes Pilotage Advisory Committee will meet in Martinsburg, West Virginia, at the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center to discuss Committee matters relating to Great Lakes pilotage, including review of proposed Great Lakes pilotage regulations and policies. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the Quad Cities Marathon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for approximately four and a half (4.5) hours on one day until the race is completed.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters on the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) between mile marker (MM) 180 and MM 180.5. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect persons and property from potential damage and safety hazards during a fireworks display on and over the navigable waterway. During the period of enforcement, entry into the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or other designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Pulaski Bridge across Newtown Creek, mile 0.6 at New York City, New York. This deviation is necessary to facilitate planned repairs and will allow the owner to temporarily close the draw during weeknights for periods not to exceed five hours.

The Coast Guard proposes modifying the operating schedule that governs the Venetian Causeway Bridge (West) across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway mile 1088.6, Miami, FL and the operating schedule that governs the Venetian Causeway Bridge (East) across Biscayne Bay, Miami, FL. This action will extend the twice an hour opening schedule of the Venetian Causeway Bridges (East and West) across Miami Beach Channel and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, Miami, FL between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., to include weekends and Federal holidays. This action is intended to reduce vehicular traffic caused by these bridges opening on demand on weekends

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Lady's Island Bridge, across the Beaufort River, Mile 536.0 at Beaufort, SC. This modification allows Lady's Island Bridge to remain closed during peak vehicular traffic times. The bridge owner, South Carolina Department of Transportation, requested this action to assist in reducing traffic caused by bridge openings.