Coast Guard 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship on September 29, 2019, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for Clearwater Super Boat National Championship identifies the regulated area for this event in Clearwater Beach, FL. During the enforcement period, no persons or vessels will be permitted in the Race Area without permission of the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg (COTP), unless they are authorized race participants. If permission is granted by the COTP, all persons and vessels receiving such permission must comply with the instructions of the COTP or a designated representative. Also during the enforcement period all vessels in the Spectator Area are to be anchored or operating at a ``no wake speed''.

On September 08, 2019, the Captain of the Port (COTP) Savannah issued an Emergency Safety Zone in response to the grounding/capsizing of the M/V GOLDEN RAY (31[deg]07'39.66 North, 081[deg]24'10.58 West, between Saint Simons Lighthouse and the north end of Jekyll Island, in the vicinity of green buoy #19). This Emergency Safety Zone prohibited all vessels from approaching within 0.5 nautical miles of M/V GOLDEN RAY, unless authorized by the COTP. As of September 13, 2019, this Emergency Safety Zone remained in effect for all vessels of 500 GT and above. No vessels 500 GT and above were able to transit within 0.5 nautical miles of the M/V GOLDEN RAY unless specifically authorized by the COTP. For all other vessels, the Emergency Safety Zone was enforced for 150 yards surrounding the site. No vessel could transit within 150 yards of the M/V GOLDEN RAY unless specifically authorized by the COTP. As of September 19, 2019, USCG Captain of the Port Savannah has adjusted the safety zone surrounding the M/V GOLDEN RAY, so that no vessel is authorized access within 150 yards of the M/V GOLDEN RAY, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port. The previous safety zone established on September 12, 2019 is terminated.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Straits of Mackinac near Mackinac City, MI. The temporary safety zone is needed to protect vessels and spectators from the hazards associated with a fireworks show during the Mackinaw City Fall Colors Fireworks. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Sault Sainte Marie or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a recurring special local regulation for certain waters of Kailua Bay, Hawaii. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at Kailua-Kona, HI, during the swim portion of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon and practice swim held on consecutive weekends annually in October. On both days, the swim events are held from 3:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area each day of the event unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Honolulu.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Neches River extending 500-feet on either side of the Kansas City Southern Railroad Bridge that crosses the Neches River in Beaumont, TX. The safety zone is necessary to protect the bridge as well as persons and property on or near the bridge from potential damage from passing vessels until missing and/or damaged fendering systems are repaired or replaced. Entry of certain vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative.

The Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee (CFSAC) will meet via teleconference to discuss CFSAC task statement #01-19. The U.S. Coast Guard will consider CFSAC recommendations as part of the process of developing voluntary guidelines for fishing vessel construction, maintenance, and repair. The teleconference will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the Motor Vessel (M/V) HIGHLAND EAGLE while conducting geotechnical sampling operations in the Straits of Mackinac. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by geotechnical sampling operations in the Straits of Mackinac. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Sault Sainte Marie.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Columbia River between river mile 142 and 143 in vicinity of Bonneville, Oregon. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by salvage operations of the tug DIANE. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia River.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Delaware River to restrict and protect vessel traffic during the offloading of two Post-Panamax gantry cranes at the Port of Philadelphia. This action is intended to protect mariners and vessels from the hazards associated with these offloading activities. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is 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-2019-0782 addressing navigation risks while the vessel carrying the cranes is anchored or underway in Delaware Bay and River.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters within a 500-foot radius of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) I-95 bridge structures to the north, and south, of the Unionport (Bruckner Expressway) Bridge, construction vessels, and machinery at mile 1.7 over Westchester Creek. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by installation of two temporary vertical lift bridges during the replacement of the existing Unionport (Bruckner Expressway) Bridge at mile 1.7 over Westchester Creek. When enforced, this regulation prohibits entry of vessels or persons into the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New York or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Head of the Cuyahoga Regatta located in the federal regulations for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Buffalo zone. This action is necessary and intended to protect the safety of life and property on navigable waters prior to, during, and immediately after this event. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Buffalo.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary Special Local Regulation for all navigable waters of the Tennessee River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile marker (MM) 254.0 to 258.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Florence, AL, during a Triathlon on September 22, 2019. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0079, Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1995, 1997 and 2010 Amendments to the International Convention; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0028, Course Approval and Records for Merchant Marine Training Schools; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its table of annual and recurring safety zones that take place within the Eighth Coast Guard District listed in section 165.801 Table 2 of the Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

The Coast Guard will enforce the special local regulation for the Ocean City Air Show on September 15, 2019 from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event as Ocean City, NJ. During the enforcement periods, 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 on the waters of the Indian River Bay near Long Neck, DE, on September 14, 2019, with September 15, 2019 as an alternate date for inclement weather, to provide for safety of life during the Long Neck Style fireworks display. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of participant vessels, spectators, and the boating public during the event. This regulation prohibits persons and non-participant vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Delaware Bay or a designated representative.

The U.S. Coast Guard may cease broadcasting Navigational Telex (NAVTEX) over Medium Frequency (MF) after first ensuring the information contained in NAVTEX broadcasts is available via International Maritime Organization (IMO) recognized satellite services. This notice requests public comment on the possibility of terminating the MF NAVTEX broadcast.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 300-foot radius of the Kosciuszko Bridge spans crossing Newtown Creek at mile 2.1. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by final stay cable adjustments at each bridge tower anchorage conducted from barges within Newtown Creek. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector New York Captain of the Port (COTP) or the COTP's designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Missouri River in a work zone located from Mile Marker (MM) 116.5 through MM 117. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the installation of electrical lines across the river. Entry of persons or vessels 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 announces the availability of the Merchant Mariner Medical Manual, Commandant Instruction Manual (COMDTINST M16721.48). The guidance in this Manual should assist medical practitioners, the maritime industry, individual mariners, and Coast Guard personnel in evaluating a mariner applicant's physical and medical status to meet the requirements of the merchant mariner medical certificate. This Manual incorporates and consolidates prior guidance on the medical evaluation of merchant mariners contained in several Coast Guard documents. The Manual includes guidance on the medical certificate and related processes, including procedures for application, issuance, and cancellation of the medical certificate.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones for navigable waters within 50 yards of certain swim routes of a marine event in the Les Cheneaux Islands, in Cedarville, MI. The safety zones are needed to protect event participants from risks associated with the boating public near highly trafficked areas of the waterway. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie or his representative.

This notice informs the public that the Coast Guard has recertified the Cook Inlet Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (CIRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Cook Inlet, Alaska. This certification allows the CIRCAC to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under an alternative composition, other than prescribed, Cook Inlet Program established by statue.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for the Havapalooza 2019 marine event that will be held on the navigable waters of Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City, AZ. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters on Thompson Bay in Lake Havasu during a waterside concert on September 14, 2019. This rule prohibits spectators from anchoring, blocking, loitering or transiting through in the event area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Diego or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters within 100 yards of the North Washington Street Bridge, Charles River, Boston, Massachusetts, from December 1, 2019 through December 31, 2023. The temporary safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created during the replacement project of the North Washington Street Bridge. When enforced, this proposed rule would prohibit vessels and persons from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Boston or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.