Coast Guard April 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Cuyahoga River during the Blazing Paddles Stand Up Paddle Race. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard announces that the Thirteenth Coast Guard District has issued a certificate of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), for the Gunderson Marine LLC Hull 117. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. Due to the construction and placement of the mooring and anchor winches and fittings, placement of the sidelights in this area would be a potential hazard to the crew during vessel operations and may subject them to potential damage during mooring. Gunderson Marine LLC Hull 117 cannot fully comply with the light, shape, or sound signal provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. This notification of issuance of a certificate of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking entitled ``Anchorages; Captain of the Port Puget Sound Zone, WA'' that we published on February 10, 2017. The Coast Guard is withdrawing this rulemaking in response to public comments and to better analyze potential impacts to tribal treaty rights, especially treaty fishing rights.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Buffalo Bluff CSX Railroad Bridge across the St. Johns River, mile 94.5, at Satsuma, Putnam County, FL. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation to determine whether a permanent change from manned to remote operations is feasible. This deviation will allow the bridge to operate remotely from the CSX Railroad Bridge on the Ortega River (McGirts Creek) located at mile 1.1 on the Ortega River.

The U.S. Coast Guard, as lead agency, is providing notice of their intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the Polar Icebreaker Program's design and build of up to six polar icebreakers (PIB). Notice is hereby given that the public scoping process has begun for the preparation of an EIS that will address the impacts and alternatives of the Proposed Action. The purpose of the scoping process is to solicit public comments regarding the range of issues, including potential environmental impacts and alternatives that should be addressed in the EIS. This notice also notifies the public that the U.S. Coast Guard intends to hold public meetings to discuss potential issues, concerns and reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the EIS. Following the scoping meetings and comment period, a Draft EIS will be prepared and ultimately circulated for public comment.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Red River from mile marker (MM) 88.0 to MM 88.4, in Alexandria, LA. This action is necessary to protect spectators and vessels during the Louisiana Dragon Boat Races regatta. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the DELAIR Memorial Railroad Bridge across the Delaware River, mile 104.6, at Pennsauken Township, NJ. This deviation will test the remote operation system of the drawbridge to determine whether the bridge can be safely operated from a remote location. This deviation will allow the bridge to be remotely operated from the Conrail South Jersey dispatch center in Mount Laurel, NJ, instead of being operated by an on-site bridge tender.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the US 50/Harry W. Kelly Memorial Bridge, which carries US 50 and Ocean Gateway across the Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, MD. The deviation is necessary to facilitate the ``Island to Island'' Half Marathon. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Buffalo Outer Harbor during the Officer Lehner Memorial Vintage Regatta. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation on the Black Warrior River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 338.5 to MM 339.5 in Tuscaloosa, AL. This special local regulation is necessary to protect the persons participating in the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships marine event. This regulation restricts transit into, through, and within the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Mobile (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary regulated area for certain waters of the Willamette River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Port of Portland Terminal 2, Portland, OR, during a naval vessel commissioning ceremony on April 14 through 23, 2018. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the security zone surrounding the bridge between Liberty State Park and Ellis Island in order to increase navigational safety in New York Harbor. This security zone modification would allow certain vessels to transit underneath the bridge, reducing congestion in the adjacent Anchorage Channel. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone on Lake Macatawa in Holland, MI for the Tulip Time Festival Fireworks on May 12, 2018. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and after the fireworks display. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in the safety zone. No person or vessel may enter the safety zone while it is being enforced without permission of the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is announcing its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with W.L. GORE and Associates Inc. (GORE) to conduct insulation value testing for the Coast Guard's Maritime Cold Weather Suit System (MCWSS) in the air instead of the water, which the system was designed for. While the Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with GORE, 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 issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Southern Boulevard (SR 700/80) Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 1024.7, at Palm Beach, FL. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the installation of a temporary lift bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation with openings when advanced notice is given during the temporary lift bridge installation.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the University of Washington graduation ceremony. This deviation allows the bridge span to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its safety zones regulation for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan zone. This amendment updates two permanent safety zones, adds three new permanent safety zones, and removes one old permanent safety zone. These amendments, additions, and removals are necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with annual maritime events, including sailing races, boat parades, swim events and air shows. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation for parts of the navigable waters of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during the weekend of the Kenny Chesney concert at Heinz Field. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from loitering, anchoring, stopping, mooring, remaining, or drifting in any manner that impedes safe passage of another vessel to any launching ramp, marina, or fleeting area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or a designated representative. In addition, this proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from loitering, anchoring, stopping, or drifting more than 100 feet from any riverbank unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulations in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay for the annual Blessing of the Fleet to be held on April 22, 2018. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the regulated area, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a special local regulation for certain navigable waters of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, PA. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during the weekend of the Luke Bryan concert at Heinz Field. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from loitering, anchoring, stopping, mooring, remaining, or drifting in any manner that impedes safe passage of another vessel to any launching ramp, marina, or fleeting area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or a designated representative. In addition, this proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from loitering, anchoring, stopping, or drifting more than 100 feet from any river bank unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its safety zone regulations for annual events in Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River. This proposed rule would add one new recurring safety zone, remove four safety zones, and amend the sponsor/name, date, and/or safety zones for three recurring safety zones already listed in the current table. This action is necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with annual marine events. This proposed rulemaking would restrict vessel traffic from the safety zones during the events unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Venetian Causeway Bridge (West) across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway mile 1088.6, and the operating schedule that governs the Venetian Causeway Bridge (East) across Biscayne Bay, Miami Beach, FL. This action will extend the daily twice an hour opening schedule of the Venetian Causeway Bridges (East and West) to include weekends and Federal holidays. This action is intended to reduce vehicular traffic caused by the on-demand weekend and Federal holiday bridge openings.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the annual Beat the Bridge run to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This deviation allows the bridge span to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the upper deck of the Steel Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.1, in Portland, OR. The deviation is necessary to support multiple events. This deviation allows the lower lift span of the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Mississippi River from mile marker (MM) 94 to MM 95 above Head of Passes. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Algiers Point, New Orleans, LA, during a fireworks display on June 30, 2018. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.