Coast Guard March 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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

The Coast Guard proposes to authorize the Conrail Railroad Bridge, mile 1.48, across the River Rouge, to be operated remotely. The request was made by the bridge owner. This proposed rule will test the remote operations with tenders onsite, and will not change the operating schedule of the bridge.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend and update its list of recurring safety zone regulations that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley area of responsibility (AOR). This proposed action is necessary to update the current list of recurring safety zones with revisions, additional events and removal of events that no longer take place. This regulation would restrict vessel traffic from the safety zones during the events unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

In order to provide safe access routes for the movement of vessel traffic offshore of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island area of the United States for vessels proceeding to or from ports or places of the United States and transiting within the United States Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the Coast Guard is conducting a Massachusetts and Rhode Island Port Access Route Study (MARIPARS) to evaluate the need for establishing vessel routing measures. The information gathered during this MARIPARS may result in the establishment of one or more vessel routing measures. The goal of the MARIPARS is to enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemaking action or appropriate international agreements.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its recurring safety zones regulations in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone. This proposed rule would update 51 safety zone locations, dates, and sizes, add 3 safety zones, remove 6 established safety zones and reformat the regulations into an easier to read table format. These proposed amendments will protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with annual marine events and firework shows, and improve the clarity and readability of the regulation. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River from mile marker (MM) 953.8 to MM 887.0, the Upper Mississippi River from MM 0.0 to MM 3.0, and the Ohio River from MM 981.5 to MM 978.5. This action is necessary to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and the safety hazards associated with the demolition of federal levees on the Lower Mississippi River and utilization of the Bird's Point-New Madrid Floodway. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit the entry of vessels or persons into this temporary safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the Northwestern Pacific (SMART) railroad bridge across the Petaluma River, mile 12.4, at Haystack Landing (Petaluma), CA. This action is necessary to coordinate vessel passage with the commencement of commuter rail traffic on a previously rarely used rail line and to reduce wear and tear of the drawspan. The proposed rulemaking would require vessels to provide a 30-minute advance notification for a bridge opening.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Fort Pierce North Causeway A1A Bridge (Banty Sanders) across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW), mile 964.8 at Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, FL. This deviation will be a second test of a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This test deviation will modify the existing deviation to allow the bridge scheduled openings.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Missouri River from mile marker (MM) 360 to MM 450 between Kansas City, MO and St. Joseph, MO. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of persons, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters as a result of increasing flood conditions on the river that is threatening to overtop levees. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Delaware Bay and River to restrict and protect vessel traffic during the transit of Post-Panamax gantry cranes to and from the Port of Philadelphia. This action is intended to protect mariners and vessels from the hazards associated with the transportation of these large cranes. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone would be prohibited unless a vessel meets the stated requirements or is specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Delaware Bay. This rule compliments a safety zone found in docket number USCG-2019-0122 addressing safety risks while the vessel carrying the cranes is moored at the Port of Philadelphia.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone on Lake Macatawa in Holland, MI for the Tulip Time Festival Fireworks on May 11, 2019 to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this fireworks display. This action is necessary and intended to protect the safety of life and property on navigable waters prior to, during, and immediately after a fireworks display. During the enforcement period listed below vessels and persons are prohibited from transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative. The operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. This safety zone will encompass the designated swim course for the Escape from Managaha swim event in the waters of Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. This action is necessary to protect all persons and vessels participating in this marine event from potential safety hazards associated with vessel traffic in the area. Race participants, chase boats, and organizers of the event will be exempt from the safety zone. Entry of persons or vessels into the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Guam.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations for certain waters of Breton Bay and McIntosh Run. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at Leonardtown, MD, during a high-speed power boat demonstration event on October 5, 2019, and October 6, 2019. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or Coast Guard Patrol Commander. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary special local regulation in the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay in San Francisco, CA in support of the San Francisco Sail Grand Prix 2019 race periods on May 4, 2019 and May 5, 2019. This special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with high-speed sailing activities associated with the Sail Grand Prix 2019 race event. This proposed temporary special local regulation would temporarily restrict vessel traffic adjacent to the city of San Francisco waterfront in the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island and prohibit vessels and persons not participating in the race event from entering the dedicated race area. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is issuing a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Amtrak Portal Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 5.0, at Little Snake Hill, New Jersey. 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 is seeking comments from the public about the impact to both train and vessel traffic generated by this change.

The Coast Guard is amending the anchorage regulations for the Sabine Pass Channel, Sabine Pass, TX anchorage ground for the navigational safety of vessels entering and exiting a new liquefied natural gas terminal mooring basin being constructed on the eastern waterfront of the Sabine Pass Channel. This amendment will reduce the overall size of the existing anchorage.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Boca Ciego Bay in the vicinity of Gulfport, Florida, during the Gulfport Grand Prix High Speed Boat Race. Approximately 75 boats, 14-30 feet in length, traveling at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour are expected to participate. Additionally, it is anticipated that 100 spectator vessels will be present along the race course. 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 Gulf of Mexico during the event. The special local regulation will establish the following regulated areas: A race area where all non-participant persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg (COTP) or a designated representative; and a buffer zone where designated representatives may control vessel traffic as deemed necessary by the COTP St. Petersburg or a designated representative based upon prevailing weather conditions.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the New York City Highway Bridge across Mill Basin, mile 0.8, at Brooklyn, New York. The drawbridge was replaced with a fixed bridge in December 2017 and the operating regulation is no longer applicable or necessary.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within Cocos Lagoon. This safety zone will encompass the designated swim course for the Cocos Crossing swim event in the waters of Cocos Lagoon, Merizo, Guam. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend the Thea Foss and Wheeler- Osgood Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) for Commencement Bay to include portions of the Middle Waterway in Tacoma, Washington. This proposed amendment would protect sediment cap areas in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Commencement Bay Nearshore-Tideflats Superfund Cleanup Site within the Middle Waterway Problem Area that are not geographically encompassed by the existing Thea Foss and Wheeler-Osgood RNA. The modified RNA would prohibit certain activities that could disrupt the integrity of the engineered sediment caps that have been placed within the Middle Waterway Problem Area. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing an emergency temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 405 to MM 408. This emergency safety zone is necessary to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with vessels transiting this area during high water. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from entering the safety zone area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

This final rule makes non-substantive technical and conforming amendments to existing Coast Guard regulations. The Coast Guard is issuing this technical amendment to conform to the changes made by the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, which redesignated existing United States Code provisions into new Titles and sections. This technical amendment updates the statutory authority citations for Coast Guard regulations that establish safety zones, security zones, special local regulations, regulated navigation areas, and anchorages. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.

The Coast Guard establishes two security zones. One of the zones is a temporary fixed security zone for the receiving facility's mooring basin while the Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier (LNGC) MARAN GAS MYSTRAS is moored at the facility. The other zone is a moving security zone encompassing all navigable waters within a 500-yard radius around the LNGC MARAN GAS MYSTRAS while the vessel transits with cargo in the La Quinta Channel and Corpus Christi Ship Channel in Corpus Christi, TX. The security zones are needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by Liquified Natural Gase (LNG) cargo aboard the vessel. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations for certain waters of the Bush River and Otter Point Creek. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at Edgewood, Harford County, MD, during a high-speed power boat racing event on May 11, 2019, and May 12, 2019. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or Coast Guard Patrol Commander. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is modifying the Marine Air Terminal, LaGuardia Airport Security Zone to expand the existing security zone boundary north along the Rikers Island Bridge to the intersecting point on the southern tip of Rikers Island then east to the western end of LaGuardia Airport. This expanded security zone is necessary to protect the port, waterfront facilities, and waters of the United States from terrorism, sabotage, or other subversive acts and incidents of a similar nature during visits to New York City by various dignitaries.