Coast Guard March 19, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is amending the monetary property damage threshold amounts for reporting a marine casualty and for reporting a type of marine casualty called a ``serious marine incident.'' The original regulations that set these dollar threshold amounts were written in the 1980s and have not been updated since that time. Because the monetary thresholds for reporting have not kept pace with inflation, vessel owners and operators have been required to report relatively minor casualties. Additionally, the original regulations require mandatory drug and alcohol testing following a serious marine incident. As a result, vessel owners and operators are conducting testing for casualties that are less significant than those intended to be captured by the original regulations. Updating the original regulations will reduce the burden on vessel owners and operators, and will also reduce the amount of Coast Guard resources expended to investigate these incidents.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Clinch River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 49.5 to MM 52.0. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Oak Ridge, TN during the Cardinal Invitational Regatta marine event. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.