Coast Guard May 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
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Proposed Distribution of Scheduled Navigation Safety Messages (Broadcast Notices to Mariners) by Mobile and Internet Methods
The Coast Guard will begin making broadcast notices to mariners containing locally relevant navigation information accessible by mobile devices and the internet. New methods of information delivery will include Rich Site Summary also known as Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, email, and other means such as web-based graphic interfaces. The Coast Guard believes the internet and mobile availability will allow greater numbers of mariners to access this information, and to do so in a more-timely, reliable, convenient, and customized manner. Currently, the only way to obtain this information is to tune in to local Coast Guard broadcasts that take place on very high frequency (VHF) marine radio two or more times per day.
Information Collection Request to Office of Management and Budget; OMB Control Number: 1625-0073
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: 1625-0073, Alteration of Unreasonable Obstructive Bridges; 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.
Safety Zone; Apra Outer Harbor, Naval Base Guam
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of Apra Outer Harbor. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Polaris Point, Guam, during a fireworks display on July 4, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Guam (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Anchorage Grounds; Lower Chesapeake Bay, Cape Charles, VA
This final rule establishes new, deep-water anchorage grounds for the Hampton Roads area near Cape Charles, VA, and increases the size and relocates the existing quarantine anchorage from near Cape Charles to further south in the lower Chesapeake Bay. The intended effect is to protect the environment, facilitate safe navigation of maritime commerce and national defense assets, and more safely and effectively support commercial vessel anchoring needs in the lower Chesapeake Bay.
Person in Charge of Fuel Transfers
The Coast Guard is amending the requirements regulating personnel permitted to serve as a person in charge (PIC) of fuel oil transfers on an inspected vessel by adding the option of using a letter of designation (LOD) in lieu of a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with a Tankerman-PIC endorsement. Obtaining an MMC with a Tankerman-PIC endorsement is now optional for PICs of fuel oil transfers on inspected vessels. This change is not limited to towing vessels, but one effect of this rule is that a PIC currently using the LOD option on an uninspected towing vessel may continue to do so once the vessel receives its Certificate of Inspection.
Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 01-16 Change 2-Use of Electronic Charts and Publications in Lieu of Paper Charts, Maps and Publications
The Coast Guard announces the availability of the Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-16 Change 2 issued May 21, 2020, together with a Deregulatory Savings Analysis. The NVIC 01-16 Change 2 allows for U.S.-flagged vessels to use previously downloaded, electronic copies of Inland Navigation Rules and Vessel Traffic Service Rules, and to access voyage planning navigation publications electronically, including through underway connectivity, to meet domestic carriage and International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea certification requirements.
National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee; Initial Solicitation for Members
The Coast Guard is requesting applications from persons interested in serving as a member of the National Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (``Committee''). This recently established Committee advises the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to: Medical certification determinations for the issuance of licenses, certification of registry, and merchant mariners' documents with respect to merchant mariners; medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels; medical examiner education; and medical research. Please read this notice for a description of 14 Committee positions we are seeking to fill.
Port Access Route Study: The Areas Offshore of Massachusetts and Rhode Island
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announces the completion of The Areas Offshore of Massachusetts and Rhode Island Port Access Route Study. The study focused on the seven adjacent leased areas of the outer continental shelf south of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, and east of Rhode Island that together constitute the Massachusetts/ Rhode Island Wind Energy Area (MA/RI WEA). The study was conducted to (1) determine what, if any, navigational safety concerns exist with vessel transits in the study area; (2) determine whether to recommend changes to enhance navigational safety by examining existing shipping routes and waterway uses as any or all of the lease areas within the MA/RI WEA are partially or fully developed as wind farms; and (3) to evaluate the need for establishing vessel routing measures. This notice summarizes the study's recommendations.
Anchorage Grounds; Lower Mississippi River Below Baton Rouge, LA, Including South and Southwest Passes; New Orleans, LA
The Coast Guard is adopting a 2017 interim rule involving four anchorage grounds on the Lower Mississippi River below Baton Rouge as a final rule. The interim rule established two anchorage grounds and revised two others which increased the available anchorage grounds necessary to accommodate vessel traffic. After considering comments on that rule we have decided to adopt it as final without change which now completes this rulemaking.
Special Local Regulations and Safety Zones; Recurring Marine Events and Fireworks Displays and Swim Events Held in the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port Zone
The Coast Guard is adding, deleting, and modifying the special local regulations for annual recurring marine events, safety zones for firework displays, and swim events in the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port Zone. When enforced, these special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from transiting regulated areas during certain annually recurring events. The special local regulations and safety zones are intended to expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain marine events.
Special Local Regulation; Upper Potomac River, National Harbor, MD
On April 2, 2020, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish temporary special local regulations on June 20, 2020, to provide for the safety of life on certain navigable waters of the Upper Potomac River during the Washington, DC Sharkfest Swim. The Coast Guard is publishing this revised notice of proposed rulemaking because the event sponsor has postponed the event until September 27, 2020. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Special Local Regulation; Ohio River, Louisville, KY
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker (MM) 597.0 to MM 607.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Louisville, KY, during Thunder over Louisville. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Security Zone; Potomac River, Montgomery County, MD
The Coast Guard is finalizing regulations for a security zone for certain waters of the Potomac River to prevent waterside threats and incidents while persons protected by the United States Secret Service (USSS) are at the Trump National Golf Club at Potomac Falls, VA. This regulation prohibits vessels and people from entering the security zone unless specifically exempt under the provisions in this rule or granted specific permission from the COTP Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative. This regulation also governs activities of vessels and persons already in the security zone when it is activated.
National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee; Initial Solicitation for Members
The Coast Guard is requesting applications from persons in interested in membership on the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (``Committee''). This recently established Committee will advise the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters relating to personnel in the United States merchant marine, including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners. Please read the notice for description of Committee positions we are seeking to fill.
Special Local Regulations; Marine Events Within the Fifth Coast Guard District
The Coast Guard is withdrawing its proposed rule to establish temporary special local regulations for certain waters of the Choptank River. The rulemaking was initiated to establish a special local regulations during the ``Maryland Freedom Swim,'' a marine event to be held on certain navigable waters of the Choptank River between Trappe, MD, and Cambridge, MD, on May 30, 2020. The proposed rule is being withdrawn because it is no longer necessary. The event sponsor has cancelled the swim event.
Information Collection Request to Office of Management and Budget; OMB Control Number: 1625-0102
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: 1625-0102, National Response Resource Inventory; 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.
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Back Bay of Biloxi, Biloxi, MS
The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the I-110 bascule bridge across the Back Bay of Biloxi, mile 3.0, Biloxi, Harrison County, Mississippi. This proposed action would require a 12 hour notification to open the bridge to vessels on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The bridge has not opened for vessels on these holidays over a four year period. This proposed action is intended to allow the bridge owner to effectively manage bridge tender resources during these federal holidays.
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Belle River, LA
The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the State Route 70 (SR 70), pontoon bridge across the Belle River mile 23.8, near Pierre Part, Assumption Parish, Louisiana. The bridge owner, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) provided the Coast Guard with information that demonstrated that significant vehicle queues were created during daylight hours in the months June, July and August and that these queues could be significantly decreased by changing the drawbridge operating schedule to open the bridge during the day on the hour instead of on signal as currently prescribed by regulations. This proposed action is intended to enhance vehicle safety and allow the bridge owner to effectively manage bridge operations during federal holidays.
Drawbridge Operation Regulations; Industrial Seaway Canal, MS
The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating schedule that governs the State Route 605 highway, Wilkes Road bascule bridge across the Industrial Seaway Canal mile 11.3, Hansboro, Harrison County, Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) submitted this request for a change in schedule, which would allow the bridge to close to vessel traffic. This change is expected to better serve the needs of the community while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of vessel navigation.
Safety Zone; Tug Kimberly Anne and Barge Big Digger Operating in the Straits of Mackinac, MI
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of a tug and barge in the Straits of Mackinac. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the work, inspection, and surveying of underwater infrastructure. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie or their designated representative.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Trent River, New Bern, NC
The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the U.S. 70 (Alfred C. Cunningham) Bridge across the Trent River, mile 0.0, in New Bern, North Carolina. This proposed modification will allow the drawbridge to be maintained in the closed position during peak traffic hours and provide daily scheduled openings to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.
Special Local Regulations; Marine Events Within the Fifth Coast Guard District; Withdrawal
The Coast Guard is withdrawing its proposed rule concerning amendments to the regattas and marine parades regulations. The rulemaking was initiated to establish a special local regulations during the ``Cambridge Classic Power Boat Regatta,'' a marine event to be held on certain navigable waters of the Choptank River at Cambridge, MD on May 16, 2020, and May 17, 2020. The proposed rule is being withdrawn because it is no longer necessary. The event sponsor has cancelled the power boat races.
Financial Responsibility-Vessels; Superseded Pollution Funds
The Coast Guard proposes to expand its regulations on vessel financial responsibility to apply to all tank vessels greater than 100 gross tons as required by statute, and to make other amendments that clarify and update reporting requirements, reflect current practice, and remove unnecessary regulations. This proposed rule would ensure that the Coast Guard has current information when there are significant changes in a vessel's operation, ownership, or evidence of financial responsibility, and would reflect current best practices in the Coast Guard's management of the Certificate of Financial Responsibility program.
2013 Liquid Chemical Categorization Updates; Correction
On April 17, 2020, the Coast Guard published a final rule updating the Liquid Chemical Categorization tables. The final rule contained minor typographical errors. This document corrects those errors.
Anchorage Ground; Cape Fear River Approach, North Carolina
The Coast Guard is considering establishing an anchorage ground offshore in the approaches to the Cape Fear River, NC, and removing, relocating or otherwise modifying the existing Lockwoods Folly Inlet explosives anchorage ground. We are considering establishing an offshore anchorage ground in response to requests suggesting an anchorage ground is necessary to accommodate current and future vessel traffic, improve navigation safety, and because traditional anchorage areas may be impacted by offshore renewable energy development. Our consideration of changing or removing the explosives anchorage grounds is based on growth in both the size and draft of vessels that call on the Port of Wilmington and Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point. We invite your comments on whether we should initiate a rulemaking to address these issues or maintain the status quo.
Special Local Regulation; Ohio River, Louisville, KY
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker (MM) 597.0-605. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Louisville, KY, during a steamboat race. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Special Local Regulation; Choptank River, Hambrooks Bay, Cambridge, MD
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish temporary special local regulations for certain waters of the Choptank River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at Cambridge, MD, during a high-speed power boat racing event on July 25, 2020, and July 26, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or the Coast Guard Patrol Commander. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Port Access Route Study: Seacoast of New Jersey Including Offshore Approaches to the Delaware Bay, Delaware
The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to determine whether existing or additional vessel routing measures are necessary along the seacoast of New Jersey and approaches to the Delaware Bay. The 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, existing and potential anchorage areas, changing vessel traffic patterns, weather conditions, or navigational difficulty. Vessel routing measures are implemented to reduce the risk of marine casualties. Examples of potential measures include 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 international agreements.
Safety Zone; San Juan Harbor, San Juan, PR
By this final rule, the Coast Guard is making non-substantive changes to the final rule that published on March 19, 2020. The final rule became effective on April 20, 2020. However, the amendatory instruction in the rule issued on March 19, 2020 erroneously created a new section rather than amend the section that already existed in the CFR. We are reissuing this final rule with updated amendatory instructions in order to implement the changes that were intended to be implemented by the final rule that published on March 19, 2020.
Special Local Regulation; Tred Avon River, Between Bellevue and Oxford, MD
The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations for certain waters of the Tred Avon River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located between Bellevue, MD, and Oxford, MD, during a swim event on June 6, 2020. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or the Coast Guard Patrol Commander.
Safety Zone: Monongahela River Mile Marker 76.6, Pittsburgh, PA
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Monongahela River at mile marker 76.6. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by construction on a new raw water intake, from April 27, 2020 through May 8, 2020. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh or designated representative.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Hackensack River, Jersey City, NJ
The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Route 1 & 9 Bridge, mile 1.8, and Route 7 Bridge, mile 3.1, both crossing the Hackensack River, at Jersey City, NJ. The bridge owner, New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), submitted a request to allow two hours advance notice for nighttime transits due to infrequent bridge openings. This final rule would align the advance notice requirement for the PATH Bridge at mile 3.0.
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