Coast Guard November 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces that the Eighth Coast Guard District's Prevention Division has issued certificates of alternative compliance from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS), to vessels of special construction or purpose that cannot fully comply with the light, shape, and sound signal provisions of 72 COLREGS without interfering with the vessel's design and construction. We are issuing this notice because its publication is required by statute. This notification of issuance of certificates of alternative compliance promotes the Coast Guard's marine safety mission.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Neuse River in New Bern, North Carolina. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable water near New Bern, NC, during an aerobatic airshow on December 05, 2020. This rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) North Carolina or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to remove an existing regulated navigation area in Sparkman Channel, located in Tampa, FL. The regulated navigation area is no longer needed to protect vessels navigating in the area. This proposed action would remove the existing regulations related to restricting vessel draft in the channel due to an underwater pipeline that is no longer a navigational concern. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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 2020, as of September 30, 2020.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a recurring 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. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The U.S. Coast Guard is proposing to cease monitoring four, High Frequency (HF) voice distress frequencies within the contiguous United States and Hawaii because they are rarely used. We would continue to monitor HF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) distress alerting for all existing regions and voice distress and hailing from Kodiak, Alaska and Guam. We invite your comments on this proposed action.

The United States (U.S.) Coast Guard (Coast Guard), as the lead agency, announces its intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (POEIS) for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) Program's Stage 2 acquisition of up to 21 OPCs and operation of up to 25 total OPCs. This acquisition is a continuation of the OPC Program of Record for acquiring up to 25 total cutters. Notice is hereby given that the public scoping process has begun for the preparation of a PEIS/POEIS that will address the reasonable alternatives and potential environmental impacts associated with implementing the Proposed Action. The scoping process solicits public comments regarding the range of issues, information and analyses relevant to the Proposed Action, including potential environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to address in the PEIS/POEIS. The Coast Guard has determined that a PEIS/POEIS is the most appropriate type of NEPA document for this action because of the scope and complexity of the proposed acquisition and operation of up to 25 OPCs.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary 900-foot radius security zone on the navigable waters of the U.S. off of Broadway Pier in San Diego Bay, San Diego, CA, in support of Fleet Week San Diego on November 11, 2020. This action is necessary to provide for the safety and security of U.S. Coast Guard surface and aerial assets, crews and support personnel who will be performing mission search and rescue demonstrations. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from entering, transiting, or anchoring in the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Diego or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is adopting portions of the Navy's Mariana Islands Training and Testing (MITT) Final 2020 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement/Supplemental Overseas Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS/SOEIS), dated June 2020. The Coast Guard is doing this in its role as a cooperating agency to the lead agency, which is the Department of the Navy. The Coast Guard is issuing a Record of Decision to implement Alternative 2 to fully meet current and future training requirements.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish permanent safety zones for certain waters of the Christiansted Harbor, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands when liquefied gas carriers are in transit to, moored, or aredeparting from the Virgin Island Water and Power Authority (WAPA) dock. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near the WAPA dock. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Juan or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.