Coast Guard 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: 1625-0025, Carriage of Bulk Solids Requiring Special Handling; 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 proposing to change the location of the special local regulation for the annual Great Western Tube Float, which is held on the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, AZ. The change of the location for the special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the event. This action will restrict vessel traffic in certain waters of the Colorado River, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. one Saturday in June, from Buckskin Mountain State Park to La Paz County Park. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to modify special local regulations and annual recurring marine events and safety zones regulations for firework displays and swim events in Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound 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 proposed amendments to 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. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

On July 8, 2019, the Coast Guard published a final rule that established two special anchorage areas in the Passagassawakeag River in the vicinity of Belfast, ME, effective August 7, 2019. That rule contained errors in the coordinates describing the boundaries of these special anchorage areas, causing parts of them to extend into the navigable channel. This document corrects those errors.

The Coast Guard is establishing 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 regulation prohibits 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.

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its notice of proposed rulemaking concerning the Mathers Bridge across the Banana River, mile 0.5, at Indian Harbour Beach, FL. The bridge owner, Brevard County Public Works Department, proposed to change the bridge operating schedule to allow for scheduled openings in order to reduce traffic delays. After careful consideration of the comments from all parties, it was determined to be in the best interest of navigation to withdraw the NPRM.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker (MM) 731.0 to MM 734.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Troy, IN, during a wire-crossing event. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of the Milwaukee Harbor. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters within the Lake Shore State Park Lagoon during a triathlon swim event taking place from August 7, 2020 through August 9, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard authorizes the Canadian National Railroad Bridge, mile 85.0, across the Rainy River to operate remotely. The bridge owner made the request. This temporary deviation will test the remote operations with tenders onsite, and will not change the operating schedule of the bridge.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (Committee) and its working groups will meet via teleconference to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, and merchant mariners' documents, medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research.

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet via teleconference to discuss Committee matters relating to the safety of operations and other matters affecting the offshore oil and gas industry.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish special local regulations for certain waters of the Upper Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at National Harbor, MD, during a swim event on June 20, 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.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within Mamala Bay, Honolulu Hawaii. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel and vessels who may want to exercise their First Amendment in the vicinity of Honolulu Harbor and Honolulu Channel. Entrance into the safety zone does not require notification to the COTP or the COTP's designated representative; however persons or vessels operating within the safety zone shall travel at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course. Addtionally, each person in the safety zone must comply with all lawful orders or directions given to them by the COTP or the COTP's designated representative. Vessels wishing to enter the safety zone will not be allowed to cross an active security zone and should make alternative arrangements if necessary.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Lake of the Ozarks. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters, during fireworks displays scheduled for May 23, June 20, June 27, July 4, July 11, July 18, July 25, August 1, August 8, and August 15, 2020. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 01-20, titled Guidelines for Addressing Cyber Risks at Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Regulated Facilities. This NVIC clarifies the existing MTSA requirements related to computer system and network vulnerabilities of MTSA-regulated facilities. It also provides owners and operators of the facilities with guidance on how to analyze these vulnerabilities in their required Facility Security Assessment (FSA) and address them in the Facility Security Plan (FSP).

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the rules that regulate vessel traffic and control navigation on portions of waterways in the Lake Michigan Captain of the Port Zone during events that will introduce extra or unusual hazards to the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States. This proposed rulemaking will reorganize five separate regulations of a similar nature currently listed in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) into a single regulation, make minor formatting changes for consistency, move six existing events into this regulation, update the dates listed for events, and list these regulations in table form. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is establishing an emergency temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Cumberland River extending from mile marker (MM) 182 to MM 194 near Nashville, TN. This emergency safety zone is needed to protect life, vessels, and the marine environment due to damage caused by a tornado near Nashville, TN. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.

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 North Carolina and in the approaches to the Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet (hereinafter, ``NCPARS''). The study is focused on routes between port approaches and international entry and departure transit areas affecting North Carolina ports. The NCPARS 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. The aim of vessel routing measures are to reduce the risk of 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 appropriate international agreements.

On February 6, 2020 (85 FR 25, Page 6962), the U.S. Coast Guard published a notice that announced a meeting of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee, which was scheduled to take place on March 24th and March 25th 2020. The Coast Guard is publishing this notice to announce that this federal advisory committee meeting has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. The rescheduled meetings will be announced in the Federal Register.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation on the waters of the Boca Ciego Bay in the vicinity of Gulfport, Florida, during the Gulfport Grand Prix High Speed Boat Race. Approximately 75 boats, 14-30 feet in length, traveling at speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour are expected to participate. Additionally, it is anticipated that 100 spectator vessels will be present along the race course. The special local regulation is necessary to protect the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on navigable waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the event. The special local regulation will establish the following regulated areas: A race area where all non-participant persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg (COTP) or a designated representative; and a buffer zone where designated representatives may control vessel traffic as deemed necessary by the COTP St. Petersburg or a designated representative based upon prevailing weather conditions.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend and establish several permanent safety zones in the Captain of the Port San Francisco zone. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay, Carquinez Strait, Mare Island Strait, Sacramento River, Lake Tahoe, and Monterrey Bay during annual fireworks displays. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.