Coast Guard November 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard has issued a Certificate of Alternative Compliance (COAC) to the TUG BENSON GEORGE MORAN because it is a vessel of special construction or purpose, that, with respect to the position of its navigation and towing lights, is not able to fully comply with the provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, without interfering with the normal operation of the vessel. Our publication of this notice fulfills a statutory requirement and promotes maritime safety.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Delaware River between Marcus Hook Range and Tinicum Range. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel traffic from transiting or anchoring in portions of the Delaware River while rock blasting, dredging, and rock removal operations are being conducted to facilitate the Main Channel Deepening project for the Delaware River. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from hazards created by rock blasting, dredging, and rock removal operations. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the COTP or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation pertaining to the Charleston Harbor Christmas Parade of Boats on December 9, 2017. This action is necessary to ensure safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the Charleston Harbor Christmas Parade of Boats. During the enforcement period, and in accordance with previously issued special local regulations, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the designated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a Certificate of Alternative Compliance (COAC) to the TUG BERT REINAUER because it is a vessel of special construction or purpose, that, with respect to the position of its navigation and towing lights, is not able to fully comply with the provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, without interfering with the normal operation of the vessel. Our publication of this notice fulfills a statutory requirement and promotes maritime security.

The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act that a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the Act be published annually in the Federal Register. This notice specifies the funding amounts the Coast Guard has committed, obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2017, as of September 30, 2017.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) will hold a public town hall meeting to disseminate information related to the 2020 entry into force of international standards affecting the testing and maintenance of lifeboats, rescue boats, and launching appliances, and authorization of service providers. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2016 adopted amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, (SOLAS) which contain new requirements related to maintenance of lifesaving equipment on vessels subject to SOLAS. The purpose of the public town hall meeting is to provide an opportunity for the public to obtain information and ask questions related to these new requirements and their implementation in the United States.

The Coast Guard is establishing a 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 establishes 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.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0121, United States Coast Guard Academy Introduction Mission Program Application and Supplemental Forms; 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.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with several companies to evaluate small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) sensors or payloads, to determine their potential use in a maritime environment by first responders and DHS operational components. The Coast Guard will conduct flight testing and evaluations of SUAS under a wide variety of simulated but realistic and relevant real-world maritime operational scenarios, such as: law enforcement; search and rescue; and maritime environmental responses. From our previous solicitations, the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with AeroVironment, Inc. and solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA, and the nature of that participation. The Coast Guard also invites other potential non-Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones in the navigable waters of the Humboldt Bay Entrance Channel, of Eureka, CA, Noyo River Entrance Channel, of Fort Bragg, CA, and Crescent City Harbor Entrance Channel, of Crescent City, CA to safeguard navigation safety during extreme environmental conditions. These safety zones are established to protect the safety of vessels transiting the areas from the dangers associated with extreme breaking surf and high wind conditions occurring in the Humboldt Bay Bar Channel, Noyo River Entrance Channel, and Crescent City Harbor Entrance Channels. When enforced, entry of persons or vessels into this temporary safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), San Francisco or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the subject safety zone for the annual fireworks display that takes place every November on the Ohio River, Monongahela River and Allegheny River 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 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 proposes to temporarily modify the operating schedule that governs the 3rd Street Bridge, across China Basin, Mission Creek, mile 0.0, at San Francisco, California. This action is necessary to allow the bridge owner, the City of San Francisco, to keep the drawspan in the closed-to-navigation position in order to conduct critical mechanical and structural rehabilitation over an estimated 18 month period, scheduled to commence in February 2018. The temporary change to the regulations is expected to meet the reasonable needs of navigation on the waterway. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is correcting a temporary final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on November 6, 2017. The document issued a temporary safety zone for in the Mifflin Range on the Delaware River to facilitate pipeline removal in preparation for the deepening of the Delaware River. Due to mechanical issues on the SHELBY, the dredging operations will be attended by the towing vessel GRAPE APE for the duration of the safety zone. All vessel contact information remains the same.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information without change: 1625-0085, Streamlined Inspection Program. Our ICR describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the South Fulton Avenue Bridge across the Hutchinson River, mile 2.9, at Mount Vernon, New York. This deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge rehabilitation allowing the owner to temporarily close the draw for ten days.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Route 1 & 9 (Lincoln Highway) Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 1.8, at Jersey City, New Jersey. The deviation is necessary to restrict bridge openings during the morning and afternoon rush hour periods to alleviate vehicular traffic congestion resulting from area roadway closures.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge (SR-520 Floating Bridge) across Lake Washington, mile 4.3, at Seattle, WA. The drawbridge was replaced with a fixed bridge in 2016, and the operating regulation is no longer applicable or necessary. The SR-520 Floating Bridge was rebuilt, and the center span was built with a fixed span that replaced the draw.

On October 10, 2017, the commercial fishing vessel PACIFIC PARADISE ran aground off of the navigable waters of Mamala Bay approximately 400 yards southwest of Kaimana Beach, Oahu, Hawaii. The Coast Guard established a temporary safety zone around the grounded vessel to facilitate vessel salvage operations and on October 18, 2017, the safety zone was extended for two additional weeks. To date, the vessel remains grounded. Accordingly, effective November 1, 2017, the Coast Guard extends the safety zone for an additional thirty days to facilitate ongoing salvage and subsequent removal operations. The extension of this safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels and the marine environmental from potential hazards associated with ongoing operations to salvage and remove a grounded vessel in this area. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the U.S. Route 50/301 (Kent Narrows) Bridge across the Kent Island Narrows, mile 1.0, at Grasonville, MD. The deviation is necessary to facilitate a routine inspection. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0031, Plan Approval and Records for Electrical Engineering RegulationsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter J. 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.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US 64/Alligator River Bridge which carries US 64 over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), Alligator River, mile 84.2, near Columbia, NC. The deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.