Coast Guard 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Tennessee River from mile marker (MM) 641 to MM 648.7. This special local regulation is necessary to provide safety for the participants of the Bridges to Bluffs marine event in Knoxville, TN. This regulation prohibits vessels from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the Tennessee River from MM 641 to MM 648.7 from 9 a.m. through 1 p.m. unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP).

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Smith Point Bridge across Narrow Bay, mile 6.1, at Brookhaven, New York. This deviation is necessary in order to facilitate the annual 5K Run for Literacy and allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for one hour.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hawthorne Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 13.1, at Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Race for the Cure event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to allow safe roadway movement of event participants.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, near Ka'Ena Point. The temporary safety zone encompasses all waters extending 3 nautical miles in all directions from position 21[deg]34.88' N.; 158[deg]17.90' W. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with ongoing operations to salvage a downed helicopter 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 deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Stillwater Highway Bridge across the St. Croix River, mile 23.4, at Stillwater, Minnesota. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed.

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 repair the bridge for safe continued operation. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for approximately three (3) hours on one day until the repair is completed.

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with American Underwater Contractors, Inc. (AUC) to develop, demonstrate, evaluate and document the use of environmentally friendly buoy mooring systems (line and anchor) attached to a navigational buoy to determine the feasibility and practicality of the Coast Guard using both helix (screw) anchors and elastic mooring lines in environmentally sensitive areas. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with AUC, we are 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, 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 has modified a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hutchinson River Parkway Bridge across the Hutchinson River, mile 0.9 at New York, New York. This deviation is necessary to complete application of protective coating on the bridge as well as maintenance of operating machinery. This modified deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for periods of up to two weeks in order to expedite work efforts.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones in portions of Bellevue Range, Marcus Hook Range, Anchorage 7 off Marcus Hook Range, Chester Range, and Eddystone Range, on the Delaware River, in Philadelphia, PA. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel traffic from transiting or anchoring in a portion of the Delaware River while dredging operations are being conducted to facilitate the Delaware River Main Channel Deepening project for the main navigational channel of the Delaware River. 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 will enforce two safety zones within the Captain of the Port Boston zone on August 31, 2017. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of vessels, spectators, and participants from hazards associated with fireworks displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel, except for the safety vessels assisting with the events, may enter the safety zones without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) or his designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the San Diego Bayfair special local regulations on the waters of Mission Bay, California from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September 15, 2017, to September 17, 2017. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from anchoring, blocking, loitering, or impeding within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of August 8, 2017. The document announced an upcoming Public Workshop on Marine Technology and Standards to be held on October 16 and 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. The document had an incorrect amount for the registration fee.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule and vertical clearance that governs the Crescent Beach Bridge (SR 206) across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (Matanzas River), mile 788.6, at St. Augustine, Florida. The temporary deviation is necessary to complete rehabilitation work on the bridge. This temporary deviation allows the bridge single-leaf operations on a schedule with an advanced notice for a double-leaf opening and a two foot reduction in the vertical clearance of the bridge. This action is intended to allow for the contractor to conduct necessary rehabilitation work on the bascule spans with little to no effect on navigation.

The U. S. Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Navigation Safety Advisory Council. The Navigation Safety Advisory Council provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to maritime collisions, rammings, and groundings; Inland Rules of the Road; International Rules of the Road; navigation regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, diving safety, and aids to navigation systems.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the NASA Railroad Bridge (Jay Jay Bridge) across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (Indian River), mile 876.6, Titusville, Florida. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to repair the bridge. Due to the type of repairs this bridge will be required to remain closed to navigation periodically throughout the day. This deviation is deemed necessary for the continued safe operation of the bridge.

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 announces that it will impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving from the Federated States of Micronesia. Conditions of entry are intended to protect the United States from vessels arriving from countries that have been found to have deficient port anti-terrorism measures in place.