Coast Guard January 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the Humboldt Bay Bar Channel and the Humboldt Bay Entrance Channel, of Eureka, CA. This emergency safety zone is in support of the safe navigation of piloted vessels transiting and is needed to protect life, vessels, and the maritime environment from potential hazards posed by the wreckage of a fishing vessel that sank near the Channel on January 24, 2021. The location of the wreckage is currently unknown. Due to heavy weather conditions, a proper survey of the wreckage cannot be immediately completed. Unauthorized piloted vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission from the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the CSX Transportation Railroad drawbridge across Bayou Sara, mile 0.1 near Saraland, Mobile County, Alabama. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), between Mile Marker 368 and 370. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, and the marine environment from the potential safety hazards associated with line pulling operations in the vicinity of the Natchez, MS. Entry of persons or vessels into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is issuing a final rule extending the validity of a recreational vessel endorsement on a Certificate of Documentation (COD) from 1 to 5 years. Congress passed and the President signed the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, which requires the Coast Guard to issue recreational vessel CODs for 5 years. By updating the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect this change, the Coast Guard anticipates this final rule to harmonize with the requirements of the 2018 Act that decreased the burden on recreational vessel owners by requiring COD renewals every 5 years rather than annually.

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: 1625-0040, Applications for Merchant Mariner Credentials and Medical Certificates; without change. Our ICR describes 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 re-soliciting applications from persons interested in membership on the National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (Committee) to represent the viewpoint of those credentialed with ratings as a qualified member of the engine department. 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 the Committee position we are seeking to fill.

The Coast Guard will enforce a security zone along the Potomac River and Anacostia River, and adjacent waters at Washington, DC, for activities associated with the 59th Presidential Inauguration. The zone will be enforced on the days leading up to and through the cessation of activities associated with the 59th Presidential Inauguration taking place on January 20, 2021. This action is necessary to protect government officials, mitigate potential terrorist acts and incidents, and enhance public and maritime safety and security immediately before, during, and after these activities. During the enforcement period, entry into or remaining within the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone on certain waters of Garrison Channel, Seddon Channel Turning Basin, and the Hillsborough River, in the vicinity of downtown Tampa, Florida during the Super Bowl LV celebrations from January 29, 2021, through February 7, 2021. The safety zone is necessary to protect the public and Super Bowl event personnel from the hazards associated with potential vessel traffic within the area of the safety zone. All persons and vessels would be required to transit through the safety zone at a steady speed and may not slow down, stop or anchor except in the case of unforeseen mechanical failure or other emergency unless given prior authorization from the Captain of the Port. Any person or vessel forced to slow or stop in the established zone must immediately notify the Captain of the Port Tampa via VHF channel 16. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.