Coast Guard February 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway. The safety zone is needed to protect participants of the Stockton University-AC Double Duel Regatta on these navigable waters near Atlantic City, NJ, during the rowing competition on April 4, 2020, and April 5, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit non- participant persons and 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. We invite your comments on the proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 50-yard radius of USCG Station Juneau. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a Navy test involving remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) with a tethered cable which could tangle in a boat's prop. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Southeast Alaska.

The Coast Guard is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on January 31, 2020. The final rule announced technical changes to local regulated navigation areas, special local regulations, safety zones and security zones within District 1 of the U.S. Coast Guard. The rule has an effective date of March 2, 2020. This correction fixes an incorrect table entry number in the amendatory instructions of the final rule for an entry related to safety zones, fireworks displays, air shows and swim events in the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound Zone.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of Hilo Harbor, Hawaii. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with ongoing lightering operations of the vessel MIDWAY ISLAND grounded along the northwest side of Hilo Harbor, particularly through helicopter to shore hoisting ops and swimmers in the water. The USCG is overseeing contractor lightering ops to mitigate the pollution threat from the vessel in this area. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu.

The Coast Guard is requesting applications from persons interested in membership on the National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (``Committee''). This recently established Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. Please read this notice for a description of the Committee positions we are seeking to fill.

The Coast Guard will enforce safety zones surrounding vessels involved in Coast Guard training exercises in Hood Canal, WA, from May 11, 2020, through May 15, 2020. This enforcement is necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public and vessels near training exercises. During the enforcement period, entry into the safety zones is prohibited, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or her Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard is requesting applications from persons interested in serving as a member of the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (``Committee''). This Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, via the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, on matters relating to national maritime security, including on enhancing the sharing of information related to cybersecurity risks that may cause a transportation security incident, between relevant Federal agencies and State, local, and tribal governments; relevant public safety and emergency response agencies; relevant law enforcement and security organizations; maritime industry; port owners and operators; and terminal owners and operators. Please read this notice for a description of 21 Committee positions we are seeking to fill.

We are requesting your comments on the planned consolidation of redundant Coast Guard boat stations. Many stations were established at a time when boats lacked engines and were powered by oars and paddles. With modern boat operating speeds and improved direction finding technology, many calls for Coast Guard assistance can be responded to by multiple units significantly faster than when these boat stations were first established. The combination of significantly improved response times, along with an overall reduction in rescue calls due to boating safety improvements throughout the nation, has resulted in a number of boat stations becoming redundant. This consolidation will result in a more robust response system by increasing staffing levels and capacity at select nearby boat stations. Such a consolidation creates synergy and more opportunities for boat operators to properly train instead of missing training opportunities while standing ready to respond to calls that do not come.

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 informs the public of regularly scheduled events that require additional safety measures through establishing a safety zone. Through this, the current list of recurring safety zones is proposed to be updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place. When these safety zones are enforced, vessel traffic is restricted from the specified areas. Additionally, this proposed rulemaking project reduces administrative costs involved in producing separate proposed rules for each individual recurring safety zone and serves to provide notice of the known recurring safety zones throughout the year. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Upper Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters of the Washington Channel adjacent to The Wharf DC, Washington, DC, for recurring fireworks displays from April 4, 2020, through December 31, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is revising existing regulations and consolidating into one table special local regulations for recurring marine events at various locations within the geographic boundaries of the Seventh Coast Guard District Captain of the Port (COTP) Miami Zone. Consolidating marine events into one table simplifies Coast Guard oversight and public notification of special local regulations within COTP Miami Zone.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Isabel S. Holmes Bridge (US 74/SR 133), across the Northeast Cape Fear River, at mile 1.0, at Wilmington, North Carolina. This temporary modification will allow the drawbridge to be maintained in the closed position and is necessary to accommodate bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on certain navigable waters of the Cooper River within a 500-yard radius of the South Carolina State Port Authority Cruise Ship Terminal in Charleston, SC during a visit by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. This action is necessary to protect personnel from potential hazards and security risk associated with the Commandant's speaking engagement. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is requesting applications from persons interested in membership on National Navigation Safety Advisory Committee. This recently established Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to maritime collisions, rammings, and groundings; Inland Rules of the Road; International Rules of the Road; navigation regulations and equipment, routing measures, marine information, and aids to navigation systems. Please read this notice for a description of the Committee positions we are seeking to fill.

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 an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0066, Vessel and Facility Response Plans (Domestic and Int'l), and Additional Response Requirements for Prince William Sound; without change. Our ICR describe 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.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Main Street Bridge, mile 1.58, the Walnut Street Bridge, mile 1.81, and the Tilleman Memorial Bridge, mile 2.27, all over the Fox River at Green Bay, WI to allow them to operate remotely.

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, and special local regulations, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone from mile 23.8 to mile 26.0 of the Monongahela River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Elrama Power Plant, Pittsburgh, PA, during an electrical conducter pull from March 23, 2020 through April 6, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.