Coast Guard November 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the CSX Railroad swing bridge across the Tensaw River mile 15.0, Hurricane, Baldwin County, AL. This bridge will open on signal if at least ten-hours-notice is given. This rule is being changed because there are infrequent requests to open the bridge. This change will remove the drawbridge tender during daylight hours.

The Coast Guard is considering amending its regulations to establish new anchorage grounds in the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. We are considering this action after receiving requests suggesting additional anchorage grounds are necessary to accommodate current and future vessel traffic, improve navigation safety, and because traditional anchorage areas may not be available due to planned or potential offshore wind energy development. We invite your comments on whether we should initiate a rulemaking to amend our existing anchorage regulations based on this, or if the status quo should be maintained or other actions considered.

The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to determine whether existing or additional vessel routing measures are necessary in the approaches to the Chesapeake Bay, VA. This PARS will consider whether existing or additional routing measures are necessary to improve navigation safety due to factors such as planned or potential offshore development, current port capabilities and planned improvements, increased vessel traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational difficulty. Vessel routing measures are measures aimed at reducing the risk of casualties and include among others, traffic separation schemes, two-way routes, recommended tracks, deep-water routes, precautionary areas, and areas to be avoided. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemakings or appropriate international agreements.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River from mile marker (MM) 229.5 to MM 230.5, above Head of Passes. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters near Baton Rouge, LA, during a New Year's Eve fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with several companies to evaluate the suitability of implementing Radio Frequency (RF) communications capabilities as virtualized services in a commercial cloud/Secure Cloud Computing Architecture (SCCA) environment. This CRADA would leverage CG network infrastructure, DISA Cloud Access Points (CAPs) and commercial cloud offerings to evaluate RF detection, processing, recording and distribution services. The CRADA will explore communication services that are developed to leverage virtualization and cloud hosting environments under a variety of scenarios. The Coast Guard is currently considering partnering with General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) and solicits public comment on the possible participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA, and the nature of that participation. 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 is authorizing the Conrail Railroad Bridge, mile 1.48, across the River Rouge, to be operated remotely.

The United States Coast Guard will conduct a public meeting in Washington, DC on consistent implementation of regulation 14.1.3 of MARPOL Annex IV (Global 0.50% Sulfur Limit). The purpose of this meeting will be to review the MARPOL Annex VI provisions for implementing the Global 0.50% Sulfur Limit and the associated guidance developed through the International Maritime Organization, as well as discuss related issues and Coast Guard enforcement plans.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of Christiansted Harbor, St Croix, Virgin Islands during the Beauty and the Beast Triathlon. Approximately 150 competitive swimmers are anticipated to participate in the race. The special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of race participants, participant vessels, and the general public during the event. The special local regulation establishes a race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels who are participating in or supporting the race, will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is finalizing the policy harmonizing personal flotation device (PFD) standards between the United States and Canada by accepting a new standard for approval of PFDs. As a result, PFD manufacturers can meet a single North American standard instead of separate standards for the United States and Canada. The standard is outlined in a policy letter with a supporting deregulatory savings analysis. This policy letter is intended to promote the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions. This policy does not affect existing PFD approvals and does not require any action on the part of boaters or mariners who have approved PFDs on board.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Mission Bay Parade of Lights special local regulations on the waters of Mission Bay, California on December 14, 2019. 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 removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the DSX Railroad Bridge (CSX Railroad Bridge) across the Kissimmee River, mile 37 near Fort Basinger, Florida. The drawbridge was converted to a fixed bridge in 2016 and the operating regulation is no longer applicable or necessary.

The Coast Guard will enforce the San Diego Parade of Lights special local regulations on the waters of San Diego Bay, California on December 8, 2019 and December 15, 2019. 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 publishing this notice to satisfy a requirement of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act that requires a detailed accounting of the projects, programs, and activities funded under the national recreational boating safety program provision of the Act be published annually in the Federal Register. This notice specifies the funding amounts the Coast Guard has committed, obligated, or expended during fiscal year 2019, as of September 30, 2019.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the Tammany Trace swing bridge across Lacombe Bayou, mile 5.2, at Lacombe, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This action is necessary to effectively coordinate Tammany Trace trail operations and maintenance with drawbridge operations.

The Coast Guard is extending the duration of a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters within an area of one half mile around each Liquefied Gas carrier entering and departing San Juan Harbor and a 50-yard radius around each vessel when moored at the Puma Energy dock, Cata[ntilde]o Oil dock, or Wharf B. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel, transiting vessels, and Liquefied Gas carriers. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation on December 14, 2019 to provide for the safety and security of navigable waterways during the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade. During the enforcement period, all non-participant persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative. The operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with instructions from the Coast Guard or designated representative.

This document provides notification of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard that were made temporarily effective but expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. This document lists temporary safety zones, security zones, special local regulations and regulated navigation areas, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval for the following collection of information: 1625-NEW, Intermodal Container Inspection Program. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.