Coast Guard July 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is withdrawing its proposed rule to establish temporary special local regulations for certain waters of the Patuxent River. The rulemaking was initiated to establish a special local regulation during the ``Chesapeake Challenge/Solomons Offshore Grand Prix,'' a marine event to be held on certain waters of the Patuxent River, between the Governor Thomas Johnson (MD Route 4) Bridge and the West Patuxent Basin at U.S. Naval Air Station Patuxent River, MD. The proposed rule is being withdrawn because it is no longer necessary. The event sponsor has cancelled the power boat racing event.

The Coast Guard is conducting a Port Access Route Study (PARS) to evaluate safe access routes for the movement of vessel traffic proceeding to or from ports or places along the western seaboard of the United States and to determine whether a Shipping Safety Fairway (``Fairway'') and/or routing measures should be established, adjusted or modified. The PARS will evaluate the continued applicability of, and the need for modifications to, current vessel routing measures. The data gathered during this Pacific Coast PARS (PACPARS) may result in the establishment of one or more new vessel routing measures, modification of existing routing measures, or disestablishment of existing routing measures off the Pacific Coast between Washington and California. To assist us in conducting the PACPARS, we invite your responses to questions in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section. The recommendations of the study may consider future rulemaking action or potential international agreements.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the St. Clair River in the vicinity of Port Huron, MI. This zone is intended to restrict and control movement of vessels in a portion of the St. Clair River. Though this is an unsanctioned, non-permitted marine event, this zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a float down event near Port Huron, MI.

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 approval for the following collection of information: 1625-NEW, State Registration Data. 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 proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Indianapolis Boulevard Bridge, mile 2.59, over the Indiana Harbor Canal at East Chicago, IN. Indiana Department of Transportation, the owner and operator of the bridge, has requested to stop continual drawtender service to the bridge due to a lack of openings. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Patapsco River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters during the movement of the M/V ZHEN HUA 24 while it is transporting four new Super-Post Panamax container cranes to the Port of Baltimore, anticipated to arrive between August 26, 2021, and September 15, 2021. 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 amending the operating schedule that governs the Canadian National Railroad Bridge, mile 55.72, across the Fox River to operate remotely. The request was made by the bridge owner. This rule re-establishes remote operations of the bridge and will not change the operating schedule of the bridge.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone from mile marker 190.5 to 191.5 of the Cumberland River. The safety zone is needed to protect life and the marine environment from potential hazards created by Music City Grand Prix fireworks display. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Pointe to La Pointe Swim event in Bayfield, WI, from 7 a.m. through 11 a.m. on August 7, 2021. This action is necessary to protect participants and spectators during the event. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Duluth or a designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters near Waterview Lofts in the Detroit River. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards during a firewroks event. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Detroit.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations for certain waters of the Choptank River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters located at Cambridge, MD, during a high-speed power boat racing event on July 24, 2021 and July 25, 2021. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or Coast Guard Event Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Sabine River, extending the entire width of the river, adjacent to the public boat ramp located in Orange, TX. The safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with a high-speed boat race competition in Orange, TX. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on a portion of the Ohio River in Olmsted, IL. This action is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the demolition of Lock and Dam 53 involving explosives. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary fixed and moving safety zone for all waters within 300 yards of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Bank Grading Units and USACE Mat Sinking Unit while operating on the Lower Mississippi River between MM332 through MM862. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, infrastructure, and the marine environment from the potential safety hazards associated with the bank grading and mat sinking operations performed by the USACE. During the effective period, USACE operations may require at times one way traffic, or complete closures during daylight hours when no traffic will be allowed to transit within 300 yards of the operation. Broadcast Notice to Mariners will be used to inform marine traffic of these times based on notice provided by the USACE. Deviation from the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Lower Mississippi River, or a designated representative.

In 2020, the Coast Guard began making broadcast notices to mariners containing locally relevant information accessible by mobile devices and the internet. Previously, the only way to obtain this information in a timely fashion was to tune in to local Coast Guard broadcasts that take place on very high frequency (VHF) marine radio two or more times per day. The new methods of information delivery have included Rich Site Summary, also known as Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds, email, and other means such as map-based filtering. The Coast Guard has received public feedback indicating that mariners prefer the real-time accessibility of mobile and internet access to this information over scheduled VHF broadcasts, because access is more timely, reliable, convenient, and customizable. Also, some mariners have reported that VHF broadcast notice to mariners are bothersome, because they are perceived as unnecessary radio clutter that can be distracting when maneuvering along a dock, in ports or other areas of congested traffic. The Coast Guard is considering phasing out the process of distributing this information by routine VHF radio broadcasts, and is seeking public comment.

The Coast Guard announces the cancellation of several obsolete Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVIC). NVICs are guidance documents issued by the Coast Guard that do not have the force of law. However, NVICs ensure Coast Guard inspections and other regulatory actions conducted by field personnel are complete and consistent. Similarly, the marine industry and the general public rely on NVICs as a way to assess how the Coast Guard will enforce certain regulations or conduct various marine safety programs. Thus, it is important that the public is made aware when NVICs are cancelled so as to avoid confusion.

From June 29, 2020, through June 28, 2021, the Coast Guard conducted the Northern New York Bight Port Access Route Study (NNYBPARS) and is now requesting your comments on a draft version of the study report. The goal of the study is to evaluate the adequacy of existing vessel routing measures and determine whether additional vessel routing measures are necessary for port approaches to New York and New Jersey and international and domestic transit areas in the First District area of responsibility. To accomplish this goal, the Coast Guard has undertaken measures to determine 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, effects of weather, or navigational difficulty. We seek your comments on the content and development of the report.

The Coast Guard will issue special local regulations for an annual Mystic Sharkfest Swim event on the Mystic River. This rule is intended to ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with this marine event. Once enforced, these special local regulations would restrict vessels from transiting the regulated area during this annually recurring event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of the Southwest shores of Oahu, Hawaii, near Barbers Point. The temporary safety zone encompasses all waters extending 3 nautical miles in all directions from position 21[deg]16'36'' N, 158[deg]01'42'' W. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with ongoing operations to salvage a downed aircraft in this area. Entry of vessels or persons in this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone from mile marker 191.1 to 191.5 of the Cumberland River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Korean Veterans Bridge, Nashville, TN, during Music City Grand Prix on August 6 through August 8, 2021. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone for certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean near the town of Surfside, Florida. The security zone will cover all navigable waters from approximately one-half nautical mile north and south of the Champlain Towers South (accident site) and 500 yards offshore. This action is necessary to prevent vessels from approaching and possibly interefering with search and rescue operations at the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, FL. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Miami or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard published a document in the Federal Register on June 17, 2021, concerning a safety zone intended to restrict vessels from certain portions of Lake Charlevoix, MI, during air show activities on July 23, 2021. The document contained incorrect starting and ending times in the description of the effective date.

The Coast Guard will enforce certain safety zones located in the Federal regulations for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie. This action is necessary and intended to protect the safety of life and property on navigable waters prior to, during, and immediately after these events. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Sault Sainte Marie or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of Back River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located in Baltimore County, MD, during a high-speed power boat event on July 10, 2021, and July 11, 2021. 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 Event Patrol Commander.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Main Street Bridge, mile 55.97, the Jackson Street Bridge, mile 56.22, the Wisconsin Street Bridge, mile 56.72, the Congress Avenue Bridge, mile 58.01, all over the Fox River at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. This deviation will test the remote operations at each bridge with a drawtender in attendance to supervise each remote opening. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.