Coast Guard 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee working group will meet via teleconference to work on Task Statement 98, review of the progress made by the military services towards meeting the goals on the use of Military Education, Training, and Assessment for STCW and National Mariner Endorsements as identified in the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 and subsequent legislation, and to complete the discussions from its March 22-23 and May 16, 2017 meetings. The teleconference will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish temporary safety zones in portions of Billingsport Range, on the Delaware River, to facilitate the removal of existing pipelines along the river bed of the Federal Navigation Channel. The safety zones would be established for the waters of Billingsport Range, on the Delaware River, in the vicinity of working vessels and associated equipment. At times the working vessels and equipment may be in close proximity or impede the navigation channel. This regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters of the Delaware River, in the vicinity of pipeline-removal operations, and is intended to protect mariners from the associated hazards.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary special local regulation to enable vessel movement restrictions for certain waters of the Zimovia Strait. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Wrangell Harbor during power boat races on July 4, 2017. This regulation would prohibit persons and vessels from transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within the specified race area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Southeast Alaska or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Amtrak Bridge across Thames River, mile 3.0, at New London, CT. This action is necessary to complete installation of an emergency generator. This deviation allows the bridge to require a two hour advance notice for openings during nighttime hours.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones in portions of Marcus Hook Range, Deepwater Point Range, and New Castle Range, on the Delaware River, to facilitate the annual maintenance dredging of the Federal Navigation Channel. The safety zones will be established for the waters in the vicinity of the dredge and associated pipeline, including dredge pipe which is located in Marcus Hook Anchorage No. 7 and Pea Patch Island Anchorage No. 5. This regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters of the Delaware River, in the vicinity of dredging activity, and is intended to protect mariners from the hazards associated with pipe- laying and dredging operations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie, Dunkirk, NY. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of Lake Erie during the Dunkirk Lakeshore Air Show on July 1, 2017 and July 2, 2017. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect participants, spectators, and vessels from the hazards associated with aerial stunts, low flying aircraft, and aircraft maneuvers. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo (COTP).

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its annual and recurring safety zones that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River Captain of the Port Zone (COTP Zone). This regulation informs the public of regularly scheduled events that require additional safety measures through establishing a safety zone. Through this final rule the current list of recurring safety zones is updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place in the COTP Zone. When these safety zones are enforced, vessel traffic is restricted from specified areas. Additionally, this rulemaking project serves to provide notice of the known recurring safety zones throughout the year.

The Coast Guard is establishing 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 on June 21-22, 2017. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New York or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Maine Department of Transportation (Barter's Island) Highway Bridge over the Back River, mile 4.6, between Barter's Island and Hodgdon Island, Maine. This deviation is necessary to conduct geotechnical borings needed to design a new bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be closed to vessel traffic for three days.

The Coast Guard will enforce five safety zones for fireworks displays in the Sector Long Island Sound area of responsibility on the date and time listed in the table below. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during the events. During the enforcement periods, no person or vessel may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sector Long Island Sound or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is dividing its Miami anchorage ground into two separate anchorage areas. This action is necessary to reduce potential damage to threatened coral posed by anchoring vessels. The area for vessels to anchor will be reduced by approximately 3 square nautical miles, but this rule still leaves vessels with approximately 1.5 square miles of anchorage areas.

The Coast Guard will enforce certain safety zones located in federal regulations for recurring marine events. This action is necessary and intended for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during this event. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters, surface to bottom, of the Ohio River miles 127.5 to 128.5. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near New Martinsville, WV during a high-speed boat race on June 17, 2017 and June 18, 2017. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 300-yard radius of the fireworks barge positioned in vicinity of the western side of Spectacle Island in Boston Harbor. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a barge based fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Avi Resort and Casino Labor Day Fireworks on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada on Sunday, September 3, 2017. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, spectators, official vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. Our regulation for annual fireworks events on the Colorado River within the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone identifies the regulated area for this event. During the enforcement period, no spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of official patrol vessels in the regulated area without the approval of the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a fireworks display in Charles County near Newburg, MD on June 17, 2017. This action will prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Avi Resort and Casino Independence Day Fireworks on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada on Tuesday, July 4, 2017. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, spectators, official vessels of the event, and general users of the waterway. Our regulation for annual firework events on the Colorado River within the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone identifies the regulated area for this event. During the enforcement period, no spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of official patrol vessels in the regulated area without the approval of the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Sea World Fireworks on the waters of Mission Bay, CA on specific evenings from Memorial Day to Labor Day in 2017. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, spectators, official vessels of the events, and general users of the waterway. Our regulation for the Southern California annual fireworks for the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone identifies the regulated area for the events. During the enforcement period, no spectators shall anchor, block, loiter in, or impede the transit of official patrol vessels in the regulated area without the approval of the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary 500 yard safety zone around the sailing canoe HOKULEA for her return to Oahu from a three year worldwide voyage. HOKULEA is a culturally significant double-hulled sailing canoe modeled after the vessels that brought the first Polynesians to Hawaii. Thousands of people on various types of water craft, including surfboards, canoes, sailing vessels and motor vessels as well as swimmers, have come out to greet HOKULEA when she has returned to port in the past. This safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential safety hazards associated with the anticipated large number of spectator craft expected to greet the sailing canoe HOKULEA upon her arrival. A moving 500 yard safety zone around the HOKULEA will be in place during her transit, starting when she passes abeam of Makapu'u light house and continuing through Mamala Bay to her mooring in the Ala Wai Harbor. Upon mooring, the moving safety zone will cease but a stationary 500 yard safety zone will be maintained around the HOKULEA until the conclusion of the HOKULEA arrival festivities. Entry of vessels or persons into the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu or his designated representative. The Coast Guard will establish a command post at the entrance to the Ala Wai Harbor. This command post will maintain a list of all vessels with authorized moorings in the Ala Wai Harbor that will be allowed to transit the safety zone to depart from or return to these moorings. Vessels not on this list may request to transit the safety zone by contacting the COTP Honolulu or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is amending its special local regulations and safety zones established for recurring marine events and fireworks displays that take place within the Fifth Coast Guard District area of responsibility. This interim final rule revises the listing of events that informs the public of regularly scheduled marine parades, regattas, other organized water events, and fireworks displays that require additional safety measures provided by regulations. This interim final rule updates the list of recurring marine events with revisions to include additional events, change of date(s), and removal of events that no longer take place in the Fifth Coast Guard District. When these regulations are enforced, certain restrictions are placed on marine traffic in specified areas. This rulemaking project promotes efficiency by eliminating the need to produce a separate rule for each individual recurring event and serves to provide notice of the known recurring events requiring a special local regulation or safety zone throughout the year. This rule also removes regulations that are no longer effective or required.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 170-yard radius of the fireworks barge in Mill Creek, Hampton, VA. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Hampton Roads.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the U.S. 70 (Alfred C. 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 Mumfest celebration. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Chicago River, Chicago, IL. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and after the filming of a motion picture from a low flying helicopter. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan.

The Coast Guard will enforce certain safety zones located in the Code of Federal Regulations. This notice of enforcement includes the Thunder of the Niagara Hydroplane boat races. This action is necessary and intended for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during this event. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Buffalo.